Plus: Conservatives Blast Jimmy Kimmel For Not Apologizing During ABC Return

Good evening,

Things have definitely changed since I was in college!

Social media videos for sorority recruitment, also called “rush,” have become big business for both individual members and sorority chapters. It’s been dubbed #RushTok, and works through paid partnerships and deals.

Popular brands like sparkling prebiotic drink Poppi and makeup company Anastasia Beverly Hills have teamed up with thousands of sorority members to promote their products.
- Poppi alone distributed more than 430,000 customized cans across 2,500 chapters for fall rush this year. Some sorority chapters have brand coordinators to help secure deals.
#RushTok typically features choreographed dance videos and “get ready with me” content. It has launched some influencer careers, including Kylan Darnell of the University of Alabama and Blythe Beardsley of the University of Arizona.
- Partnerships with ESPN College Gameday and Hard Candy Cosmetics have helped Darnell, nicknamed “The Queen of #BamaRush,” earn up to six figures a month and pay for her college education.

The hype is paying off for sororities, too. Recruitment registrations are up 13% since 2022, according to the National Panhellenic Conference.

If these videos were around circa 2000 when I was rushing, I would have probably been in the back row cheering everyone on.

Jill
Managing Editor

🎧 In the meantime, check out our podcast if you’re not listening already.

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Sniper-Style Attack On Dallas ICE Facility Kills Detainee, Leaves Bullets With Messages

A 29-year-old gunman left shell casings marked “ANTI ICE” after opening fire from a rooftop at a Dallas ICE facility on Wednesday morning. He killed one immigration detainee and critically wounded two others before dying by suicide. Officials previously stated that two detainees were killed, but corrected reports Wednesday afternoon. No ICE officers were injured.

“The shooter fired indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van in the sallyport where the victims were shot,” the Department of Homeland Security said. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blamed far-left rhetoric, while FBI Director Kash Patel called it a politically motivated attack.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Rothrock said Wednesday’s shooting was an act of “targeted violence.”

It’s the latest in a series of deeply unsettling/deadly attacks in the U.S. that have used sniper-like tactics and/or political messaging on ammunition.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE TEXAS SHOOTING
The shooter, Joshua Jahn, was not especially interested in politics, his brother told NBC News, nor openly voiced criticism of ICE. He was registered as an Independent and last voted in November 2024.

Jahn grew up in Allen, Texas, but public records list recent addresses in Oklahoma. He was unemployed, and his brother said he knew how to use the family’s rifle, but “he’s not a marksman.” Records show John pleaded guilty in 2016 to felony marijuana delivery in Texas.

It marks the latest attack on an ICE facility in a matter of weeks. In July, two separate attacks targeted ICE facilities in Texas.

On July 4, eleven suspects set off fireworks and opened fire outside a detention center near Alvarado, wounding an officer. Ten of the individuals were later arrested for attempted murder.
On July 7, an armed man wearing tactical gear attacked the Border Patrol facility in McAllen, injuring three before being killed in a shootout.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Texas officials said there is too much political violence.

“There are people out there who are seeing what is being placed online and they’re coming in, they’re doing acts of violence against ICE employees... It’s just gotta stop. It’s dangerous and people are losing their lives,” Joshua Johnson, acting field office director for ICE in Dallas, said.

BIGGER PICTURE
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot two weeks ago in a politically motivated attack, with the shooter more than 400 feet away, on top of a building, and using bullets with several memes and messages.

Luigi Mangione, who is charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in late 2024, is accused of using bullets inscribed with common words in the insurance industry: “Delay,” “Deny,” “Depose.”
Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Trump in July 2024 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, from about 500 feet away on a roof before authorities fatally shot him.

Research shows the risk of follow-on violence, or copycat crimes, is highest in the days immediately after a high-profile incident.

“Somebody who is sort of on the brink of carrying out an act of violence, somehow now feels empowered by what they’re seeing in the media, whether social media or mass media,” former FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force official Randy McAlister told CBS in January.

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🚨 ONE THING TO FOLLOW UP ON

Kimmel Returns To Late Night — Turning Point USA Asks Where Was The Apology?

Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel returned to his late-night show on Tuesday, after nearly a week-long suspension. In his comeback monologue, Kimmel mixed comedy with criticism of the Trump administration.

At times emotional, Kimmel said while choking up, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” He also praised Erica Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, for her grace in forgiving her husband’s killer during a memorial speech.

TURNING POINT USA REACTION: A Turning Point USA spokesperson said Kimmel’s attempt to clarify comments he made about the assassin in Kirk’s shooting — remarks that led to his show’s brief suspension — fell short. “Where was the ‘I’m sorry’?” asked Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, on Fox News Wednesday.

Kolvet argued that true healing requires accountability: “Erika Kirk was the aggrieved party and she didn’t do anything wrong. She’s a victim and her husband is the victim. Jimmy Kimmel did something wrong, and he’s still not owning it, and that’s the difference.”

KIMMEL RESPONDS
On his show, Kimmel said, “Want to make something clear... it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man... I understand that, to some, it felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both ... I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way.”

At the time of this publication, Kimmel’s full, nearly 30 minute monologue and sketches poking fun at Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has over 15 million views on YouTube.
Kimmel joked that Trump’s plan had backfired, saying his show — which had been losing viewers — is now getting a surge of attention from the controversy.

Here’s how Trump responded:

Kimmel also didn’t shy away from the controversy, making light of Disney+ cancellations (“To reactivate your Disney Plus and Hulu account open the Disney Plus app on your smart TV or TV-connected device.”) and also criticizing Disney’s decision to take him off the air, though also thanking them for allowing him to come back.

📲 We heard from many members of the Mo News community about Kimmel’s return to Late Night. Here are some of your reactions:

⏳ THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

Trump administration rehires hundreds of federal employees laid off by DOGE (NBC)
After mechanical challenges, UN says Trump’s team to blame for the nonworking escalator and teleprompter (AP)
Statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands appears on National Mall (FOX)
Camp Mystic set to partially reopen summer camp 1 year after flooding killed 27 (ABC)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

Gaza-bound aid flotilla targeted by explosions, blasted with ABBA music (MO NEWS) as drone fired from Yemen hits southern Israeli city of Eilat, wounding 22 (AP)
Ukraine issues a stark warning about a global arms race and AI war (NPR)
China, world’s largest carbon polluting nation, announces new climate goal to cut emissions (AP )
Man arrested in connection with cyberattack that disrupted European airports (CNN)
Typhoon Ragasa hits China after killing at least 20 in Taiwan and the Philippines (NBC)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

New home sales soar 20% in August to a three-year high (CNBC)
Trump admin considers government stake in lithium mining company (FOX)
‘Nightmare’ drug-resistant bacteria cases are rising in US (NEW YORK POST)
Landmark deal paves the way for cheaper HIV protection jab (BBC)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Apple is pausing the release of domestic violence series ‘The Savant’ in wake of Charlie Kirk murder, star Jessica Chastain says she’s ‘not aligned’ with decision (CNN)
Italian actress and star of The Pink Panther Claudia Cardinale dies aged 87 (EURO NEWS)
Horror film ‘Together’ digitally altered in China to make gay couple straight (GUARDIAN)
Cleveland Guardians’ David Fry hospitalized after being hit in face by pitch during crucial win over Tigers (AP)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… The Trump White House unveiled a new “Presidential Walk of Fame” on Wednesday with gold-framed portraits of all U.S. presidents— except for Joe Biden. For Biden, the display shows a framed photo of an autopen machine signing his name.⚙️ 🖋️

An autopen is a mechanical device that can reproduce a person’s signature and has been used by several past presidents for routine letters and ceremonial items.
Presidents have used autopens in office at least as far back as Lyndon Johnson, but Biden has used the device more than any other past president.
- Over his presidency, Biden used the device to sign hundreds of pardons, commutations, and other executive actions, sometimes on days he was physically elsewhere.

Trump and allies have cited Biden’s heavy autopen use to question whether aides, not Biden, were making major political decisions.