Plus: Trump Vetoed Israeli Assassination Plot, Rejects Joining Attacks On Iran For Now

Good evening,

Some Europeans are fed up with tourists — and are shutting down major attractions because of it. Thousands of confused visitors were left stranded outside the Louvre in Paris — the world’s most-visited museum — on Monday as a staff strike halted operations. The reason: frustration over mass tourism.

“There are too many visitors, and the rooms are in very bad condition,” Christian Galani, a spokesman for the CGT-Culture labor union, said. “It’s very difficult for the workers.”

The strike follows a weekend of widespread protests against overtourism in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, where locals say tourists are driving up housing costs and harming the environment.

Mosh will have to report back on how the Japanese are feeling about his visit.

Lauren
Producer

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Minnesota Shooting Suspect Targeted Multiple Lawmakers, Prosecutors Outline As More Charges Filed

The man suspected of killing Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman (D), a former state House Speaker, and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning was arrested late Sunday and charged with murder after a nearly two-day manhunt.

More details are emerging about the attack allegedly led by 57-year-old Vance Boelter, who is also accused of shooting State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife. Officials have charged Boelter with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder — some of which carry life sentences.

INSIDE THE ISRAELI OPERATION
Israel said Mossad, its national intelligence agency, spent years preparing for Friday’s attack, which involved smuggling missiles and building a drone base deep inside Iran to prepare for the operation dubbed “Rising Lion.”

Agents reportedly began infiltrating the heart of Iran several months ago, leading to a multi-pronged operation that included strike systems hidden in vehicles that destroyed Iranian air defense systems, and explosive-laden drones pre-positioned deep inside Iran that destroyed its surface-to-surface missiles.
- The covert operation weakened Iran’s air defenses and appeared to allow Israel to strike targets without opposition.

INSIDE THE ATTACKS
Boelter arrived at the lawmakers' homes in a black SUV outfitted with emergency lights and a license plate that read “POLICE.” He wore body armor, a black tactical vest, and a hyper-realistic silicone mask, while carrying a 9 mm handgun and flashlight. Authorities say Boelter allegedly “stalked his victims like prey” before making his moves.

His first stop was State Sen. John Hoffman’s (D) house around 2 a.m. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot after Boelter pretended to be a police officer – shining a flashlight in their faces and saying there was a shooting reported in the house – then claimed to be a burglar after they doubted his legitimacy. Both are alive and remain hospitalized.
- Their daughter Hope, whom Yvette shielded during the attack, called 911 and alerted police after the incident. Authorities credit her quick action with saving countless lives, as Boelter had a “hit list” of 45 Democratic politicians in his car, along with papers referencing the anti-Trump “No Kings” protests being held later that day.
Next, Boelter is accused of targeting at least two other state politicians at their homes, federal officials said Monday.
- One was away on vacation. At a second location, a police officer encountered Boelter in his car, but believed he was law enforcement, as Hope’s 911 call alerted police to check on nearby politicians’ homes.
  - The suspect ignored the officer when he was approached, and then fled the scene.
His final stop was at State Rep. Melissa Hortman’s (D) house, where Boelter is accused of fatally shooting her and her husband, Mark. Police confronted him at the Hortman’s home, but he fled the scene.

In the nearly two days that followed, the state’s largest manhunt ever zeroed in on Boelter — with help from a resident who spotted him on a trail camera in a wooded area near his home outside Green Isle, MN. Officers tracked him using drones and police dogs. Officials said Boelter was armed at the time but was taken into custody without incident.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HIM
Friends described Boelter as religious, a Trump voter, and someone who passionately opposed abortion. “He’s not a Democrat. He would be offended if people called him a Democrat,” David Carlson, his friend and roommate, said. Boelter texted both Carlson and his family after the crime, texting his wife, “Dad went to war last night.”

FBI agents found two handguns, $10,000 in cash, and passports for the suspect’s wife and children in Boelter’s wife’s car after the shootings.
Boelter was recently working for a funeral home to make ends meet, while aspiring to start a security company. He previously worked in the food industry and traveled to Africa for an agricultural project.
- He had served on the same state economic board as State Sen. Hoffman. He was appointed to the 41-member Workforce Development Board in 2016 by then-Gov. Mark Dayton and reappointed by Gov. Tim Walz, both Democrats.

On his motivation: Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson on Monday said, “His primary motive was to go out and murder people. They were all elected officials. They were all Democrats. Beyond that, I think it’s just way too speculative for anyone that’s reviewed these materials to know and to say what was motivating him in terms of ideology or specific issues.”

POLITICAL VIOLENCE
The shootings come amid an uptick of political violence, from the attempted assassination of Trump in PA this past July, to the 2022 attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) husband, and the recent arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) home in April.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of Americans agree that "patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country," a 2023 survey by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Brookings Institution found. That was up from 15% in 2021.

Walz condemned the violence and urged a national reckoning: “This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences.” On Sunday, Trump said "such horrific violence will not be tolerated," but also took a jab at Walz, calling him a "grossly incompetent person."

Getting mobile data while traveling is still way harder than it should be. Public Wi-Fi is sketchy, roaming charges are the worst, and buying SIM cards in a foreign language after a 12-hour flight is about as fun as playing with a dead moth.

That’s where Saily comes in. It’s an app that gives you instant access to eSIM data plans in over 200 destinations — so you can get online the moment you land.

Just open the app, choose a plan, and you’re instantly connected. Best of all, plans start at just a few bucks, there’s no subscription, and you only pay for what you need. AND, if you haven’t activated your data plan or installed the eSIM, Saily offers a full refund within 30 days — no questions asked.

You can get 15% off any data plan by heading to saily.com/MoNews and using the code “monews” at checkout.

🚨 ONE THING WE’RE WATCHING

Trump Reportedly Vetoed Israeli Plan To Kill Iran’s Leader; U.S. Declines Joining Strikes On Iran

Netanyahu visits Trump in Feb. Via: Reuters.

President Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a U.S. official, amid strikes that have targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and top military leaders since Friday.

Trump's veto was reportedly over fears such a move could escalate the conflict and destabilize the region.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not directly address the report, but said in an interview on Fox News that regime change is not the goal of Israel's operation, but "could certainly be the result" of the conflict "because the Iranian regime is very weak."

In recent days, Israel has escalated its operation by targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, which is key to its economy and could increase oil prices. Tehran also hit an oil refinery in northern Israel during a missile strike Sunday. The death tolls have risen to more than 200 in Iran and at least two dozen in Israel after four days of attacks.

Happening now: Sirens are sounding across central and southern Israel following a ballistic missile attack from Iran.

DEAL OR NO DEAL
Despite the escalation, Tehran has reportedly told Arab intermediaries that it may be open to returning to negotiations if the U.S. does not join the Israeli fight, according to a WSJ report.

Iran’s willingness to talk is likely more about preventing further escalation, as there's no indication it's willing to make new concessions on its nuclear program.
Israeli leaders appear determined to continue the offensive, and say the operation could take “weeks, not days" to inflict maximum damage on Iran’s nuclear sites and weaken the regime’s hold on power.

Bottom line: While the United Nations’ atomic watchdog says Israel’s strikes have caused critical damage to several nuclear facilities, analysts warn that if Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment site remains operational, Israel will have failed in its goal. Most analysts agree that Israel either needs U.S. support and weaponry to destroy the heavily fortified Fordow site, which is buried deep inside a mountain, or “unforeseen tactical ingenuity.”

For now, the Trump administration is keeping its distance. Trump told reporters Sunday, “It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved.” He noted on Truth Social Sunday that if the U.S. is attacked, "the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before." Publicly, he is still pushing for a ceasefire and a renewed nuclear deal with Iran.

⏳ THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

Trump orders ICE to expand deportation efforts in Democrat-run cities (MO NEWS)
‘No Kings’ demonstrator dies after being shot at Utah protest, police say (GUARDIAN)
Judge extends block on Trump ban prohibiting Harvard students from entering U.S. (ABC)
Two detainees who escaped from Newark immigration detention center have been recaptured (CNN)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

Trump meets with G7 leaders at summit in Canada (AP)
Russia and Ukraine fulfill deal to repatriate dead soldiers (BBC)
Tourists sprayed with water guns by protesters as European anti-tourism trend grows (FOX)
German court sentences Syrian doctor to life in jail for crimes against humanity (GUARDIAN)
Cape Town safety fears force parents to seek former white-only schools (BBC)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

Trump sons announce wireless service called Trump Mobile (CNN)
Anne Wojcicki to buy back 23andMe and its data for $305 million (CNBC)
US moves to protect all species of pangolin, world's most trafficked mammal (AFP)
Mysterious radio signal rising from Antarctica's ice baffles scientists (NEWSWEEK)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Juror dismissed in Diddy trial over 'inconsistencies' (BBC)
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ soars in box office debut with $83.7 million, beating ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (AP)
Sabrina Carpenter scores her first-ever No. 1 debut single with ‘Manchild’ (VARIETY)
J.J. Spaun captures first major title, wins 125th U.S. Open (ESPN)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… The Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona, Italy, was hit with “every museum’s nightmare” last week when a man accidentally crushed a valuable piece of art — a chair covered in hundreds of Swarovski crystals. Watch as he poses for a photo, slips, and falls onto the chair — then quickly exits the room with his companion.

The chair, created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, was described by the museum as priceless. The good news: it was salvageable.