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Good evening,

Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on Wednesday, remembering the day the U.S. dropped the world’s first atomic bomb, killing about 70,000 people instantly.

The ceremony took place by the Genbaku Dome, the only structure left standing after the U.S. struck the city on August 6, 1945. Commemorators observed a minute of silence and laid flowers and wreaths around the memorial. On the other side of the dome, children and other mourners placed candle-lit lanterns into the Motoyasu River.

The atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and, three days later, Nagasaki, killed an estimated 200,000 people.

The U.S. goal was to prevent a ground invasion of Japan, which they estimated would cost millions of lives. The Japanese emperor surrendered about a week after the bombings.

Sam
Associate Producer

🚨 ONE THING THAT’S BREAKING

Five Soldiers Shot At Fort Stewart; Shooter In Custody After Being Subdued By Other Soldiers

A shooting at a Georgia military base injured several service members Wednesday. All five soldiers wounded in today’s shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia are in stable condition and expected to recover, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division.

Law enforcement was dispatched at 10:56 a.m., and a base lockdown began at 11:04 a.m. The shooter was apprehended by 11:35 a.m.

Lubas identified the suspected shooter as Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old automated logistics sergeant assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. He does not have any combat history and is believed to have used a personal handgun in the shooting.

WHAT WE KNOW
Local law enforcement arrested Radford for a DUI, which had been unknown to his chain of command in the Army.

The shooting happened at Radford’s place of work and involved his co-workers, officials said. Those co-workers were able to subdue the shooter.
- Lubas thanked the other soldiers who he said “immediately intervened” and "without a doubt, prevented further casualties."
He allegedly shot five soldiers, two of whom were taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. The other victims are being treated at a local hospital.

The Georgia base is home to more than 10,000 people.

🚨 ONE THING WE’RE WATCHING

Kennedy Cancels $500 Million In Federal Funding For mRNA Vaccine Research

The federal government will stop funding the development of mRNA vaccines through its emergency preparedness agency, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday.

BARDA will terminate 22 mRNA vaccine development investments, with Kennedy claiming — widely disputed by scientific studies — that mRNA vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like Covid and flu.”
- Now, future investment will be redirected to older vaccine platforms – like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms.

The mRNA platform was key to the record-fast COVID vaccine rollout during the first Trump administration and has since been heralded for its versatility, with potential to combat future pandemics, cancers, and other diseases. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts and former Trump administration officials.

INSIDE THE CRITICISM
Skeptics like Kennedy (see above) have raised concerns over the long-term effects of mRNA vaccines. His claims about their ineffectiveness at preventing upper respiratory infections reflect a narrow interpretation of the data; most studies continued to show the vaccine’s ability to reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, he has hailed this move as part of his efforts to restore trust in the vaccine approval process.

Critics of Kennedy’s move warn that pulling funding could slow vaccine innovation and weaken U.S. biodefense. Scientists argue that improving the tech — not abandoning it — is the way forward.

“This isn’t prudent oversight — it’s self-inflicted vulnerability,” said Rick Bright, former BARDA director. “This decision will have severe consequences, measured in lost lives.”
Chris Meekins, who served as deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response under President Trump, warned the move “creates a national security vulnerability,” calling mRNA a critical deterrent against biological threats due to its speed and adaptability.

Critics are also concerned about what’s replacing it: the administration is now steering funds toward vaccine platforms using whole, killed viruses — a 70-year-old technology that requires months of manufacturing time.

BIGGER PICTURE
Distrust in public health and vaccines continues to have real-world impacts. The 2024-2025 school year saw the lowest vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners in at least a decade, as vaccination exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to CDC data.

Mo News talked with economist and parenting data expert Emily Oster for our latest Mo News Premium workshop, which looked at overall public health trends, MAHA, wellness culture, and data. She explained why public trust in health messaging dropped during COVID, when officials made confident claims one day — only to reverse them the next.

Watch or listen to the full workshop by becoming a Mo News Premium member, where we answer your questions about the latest headlines.

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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

FBI Reports Violent Crime Dropped In 2024; Numbers Continue To Fall In 2025

Violent crime in the U.S. decreased by 4.5% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the FBI — a trend that appears to be continuing in the first half of 2025.

Homicides and non-negligent manslaughter decreased by 14.9%, while rape and robbery decreased by 5.2% and 8.9% respectively in 2024 compared to estimates from the year before.
- A separate analysis by the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows homicides dropped by nearly 20% in major U.S. cities during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

These 2024 crime improvements occurred during the Biden administration, while then former President Trump repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail that crime was surging in the U.S. They follow a spike in violent crime amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which researchers have connected to unemployment and school closures in low-income areas.

ZOOM IN/OUT
The violent crime rate in the U.S. has dramatically decreased over the past 25 years. However, on average, about every 25 seconds, there was a violent crime in the U.S. last year.

This year's report used data submitted by nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies, which the FBI said covers more than 95% of the U.S. population.

Alarming trends: Hate crimes in 2024 reached their second-highest level on record, behind only 2023, according to modern data dating back to the early 1990s. Black Americans were the most targeted group, followed by Jewish Americans and gay men.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

Democratic state legislators from Texas evacuated from their hotel in Illinois after threat (NBC)
Trump suggests possible FBI role in Texas redistricting fight (MO NEWS)
Trump threatens India with 50% tariff as negotiations fizzle and Modi keeps importing Russian oil (CNN)
UCLA announces it has more than half a billion dollars in funding suspended by Trump administration (POLITICO)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

Trump plans to meet with Putin to discuss ending Ukraine War (WSJ)
Israeli military chief warns against takeover of Gaza as Netanyahu considers ‘full conquest’ of besieged territory (CNN)
Italy approves $15.5 billion construction of world's longest suspension bridge, from Sicily to mainland (CBS)
About 100 people missing as flash flood tears through town in northern India (GUARDIAN)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

Apple plans to invest another $100B in U.S. manufacturing as Trump applies pressure (AXIOS)
Tween accessories retailer Claire’s files for bankruptcy again as debt pile looms (CNBC)
Excessive screen time is linked to heart health risks in kids, new research shows (CBS)
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffers worst coral decline on record (BBC)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Hamilton’ movie sets September theatrical release (VARIETY)
South Park hits back against Homeland Security using an image from show to promote ICE (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)
ESPN joins with WWE; to stream WrestleMania beginning in 2026 (ESPN)
Kelley Mack, 'Walking Dead' actress, dead at 33 (FOX)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… McDonald’s is bringing back the adult Happy Meal. And yes, the toy is included.

The “McDonaldland Meal” will launch on August 12th and will include your choice of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, fries and the new Mt. McDonaldland Shake.
- Each meal will come with one of six collectable tins featuring one of the restaurant's iconic characters like Grimace, Birdie and Hamburgerler.

Why now? It could be a big moneymaker for the fast food giant. The last time they offered adult happy meals in 2022, the Golden Arches sold out of them within days of their release, with toys from the meals selling on eBay for as much as $250. And while McDonald’s reported rising sales last quarter after a four-quarter slump, the chain is hoping that specialty meals like the ‘McDonaldland Meal’ will help counter declining visits from low-income customers.

Army Sergeant Shoots Five Fellow Soldiers At Georgia Military Base