Conservative Commentator Charlie Kirk Murdered At University Event; Suspect In Custody
Plus: Kamala Harris Goes After Biden In New Book & Russian Drones Over Poland
🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Conservative Commentator Charlie Kirk Murdered At Utah Valley University Event
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. President Trump announced the death on Truth Social: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”
🚨 The FBI announced Wednesday evening: “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.”
A university spokesperson said the shooter fired from a campus building roughly 200 feet away from where Kirk was sitting. The weapon used to assassinate Kirk has also not been recovered.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vowed to work with the FBI and Utah law enforcement to “bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy."
WHAT WE KNOW
Horrific video — linked here, with a content warning ⚠️ — shows Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18, being struck by a single bullet in the neck during an outdoor Q&A session with students in front of a large crowd.
The event was part of the conservative youth organization’s Q&A format, where audience members could ask Kirk anything, and he would engage in discussion and debate with people in the crowd.
HIS LEGACY
Kirk was one of the most prominent conservative activists and a rising star in the party. He motivated hundreds of thousands of young conservatives and will be remembered for bringing open debate to college campuses.
Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Charles Hurt praised Kirk — who has guest-hosted the show — and talked about how Kirk dropped out of college when he felt like it was more about “indoctrination” than education.
Hurt added that Kirk’s ability to engage young people as adults made him a powerful political force, arguing, "there's probably no person outside of President Trump himself who is more important in helping President Trump reach the people he needed to win reelection" in 2024 — a sentiment echoed by many in conservative circles.
PRAYERS FROM ACROSS PARTY LINES
Kirk is a close ally to President Trump, who survived his own assassination attempt in July 2024. Politicians across the political spectrum condemned the violence.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who interviewed Kirk for his inaugural podcast, posted on X: “The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), whose home was set on fire in April, said, “this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society.”
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) posted on X: “Utterly devastating. Charlie was a close friend and confidant. He will be sorely missed by so many. Every political leader must loudly and clearly decry this violence.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said, “Charlie Kirk was a loving husband and father who inspired young people across America to get married, have children, end abortion, and live boldly for God.”
At the same time, the reaction online has been heated. Elon Musk posted: “The Left is the party of murder”
An attempt to hold a moment of silence on the House floor ended in clashes between Democrats and Republicans.
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🚨 ONE THING THAT’S ESCALATING
Russian Drone Incursion Into Poland, Activating NATO Article 4 Talks
Poland’s military said early Wednesday it shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace — a move seen as a potential major provocation in Europe. The first drone in Polish airspace was recorded around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the last was detected around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
“Weapons have been deployed, and services are actively working to locate the downed objects,” according to a statement from Poland’s Operational Command posted.
Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the incident a “large-scale provocation” by Moscow.
The Kremlin denied targeting Poland, while the Defense Ministry falsely said Poland was out of drone range.
BIGGER PICTURE
Warsaw has formally invoked NATO Article 4 crisis talks after detecting 19 Russian drones in its airspace, downing four. The move triggers consultations with NATO’s 32 members when a member is under threat.
Since its founding in 1949, Article 4 has only been invoked seven times. Under NATO’s Article 5, an attack on one ally is treated as an attack on all, but Poland did not invoke that.
NATO leaders condemned the incursion as a deliberate Russian test of the alliance’s defenses or “grey-zoning,” warning it came just days before Russia and Belarus began joint military exercises near NATO’s borders.
"Grey-zoning" involves military tactics that are aggressive and meant to gain intelligence, but stop short of open armed conflict-so the target country can't easily justify responding with force.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called Russia’s drone violation of Polish airspace on Tuesday reckless and dangerous. He warned: "Stop violating allied airspace and know that we stand ready, that we are vigilant and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory."
State of play: Russia launched its largest single-day barrage of drones and missiles last week and killed more than 20 civilians in Donetsk yesterday.
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
At least 3 injured in shooting at Colorado high school (ABC)
Trump says Charlotte train stabbing suspect should face death penalty (GOOD MORNING AMERICA)
Police arrested a 13-year-old in Washington state who had ‘everything ready to go’ for a mass shooting (CNN)
Texas A&M University viral video over clash on gender content in class leads to removals (THE HILL)
In lawsuit, three former FBI leaders say they were fired for insufficient loyalty (REUTERS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages with Doha airstrike (CNN)
Prince Harry meets King Charles for first time in more than a year (BBC)
French police clash with ‘Block Everything’ protesters while Macron installs a new prime minister (AP)
More children in the world are now obese than underweight, UNICEF finds (WASHINGTON POST)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Oracle’s Larry Ellison gains $100 billion in net worth and surpasses Elon Musk as world’s richest person (MO NEWS)
Judge temporarily blocks Trump's firing of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook (NBC)
OpenAI is developing an AI-powered animated film (THE VERGE)
Martian rock contains ‘clearest sign’ yet of ancient life on Mars, NASA says (CNN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Jerry Seinfeld compares “Free Palestine” movement to the KKK (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)
Ticket prices surge as Leslie Odom Jr. returns to ‘Hamilton’ on Broadway (NEW YORK POST)
Banksy mural scrubbed from Royal Courts of Justice (BBC)
Ryan Seacrest reveals Wheel of Fortune secret, surprising Vanna White (MO NEWS)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… Former Vice President Kamala Harris writes that letting former President Biden have the final choice of whether to run in the 2024 election was “recklessness." The revelation comes in the first excerpt of her upcoming book, 107 Days, published in The Atlantic on Wednesday.
The excerpt marks the first time Harris has publicly criticized Biden’s choice to run for re-election.
Harris writes that fellow Democrats on her team were “hypnotized” into giving Joe and Jill Biden the final say on whether to run.
Harris said she felt pressured not to speak up to Biden about running out of fear of seeming "disloyal" and having "naked ambition."
Harris still defended Biden’s mental fitness, despite his poor performance in the presidential debate last July. She says that she would have spoken up if she believed Biden, 82, was unfit for office.
"As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country," Harris writes.
107 Days comes out September 23rd. The title refers to the length of Harris’ campaign: the shortest presidential run in modern history.