Trump News for Thursday, September 11, 2025

Charlie Kirk's Casket on Board Air Force Two, Heading Back to Arizona

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Charlie Kirk's body is officially on its way to Arizona ... 'cause new photos show the conservative commentator's body being flown to his home state on Air Force Two. Vice President J.D. Vance just took off from Utah after Charlie's body and casket…

They want a COVID shot to protect their health or at-risk family. They can't get it

Rob Stein, NPR

Though the FDA narrowed criteria for the shots, many people still want them, to avoid illness and protect vulnerable family members. Some are turned down at the pharmacy or have to jump through hoops.

WATCH: Governor criticizes Trump for 'cherry-picking' political violence

ABC News

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said, "The president missed the mark last night in his Oval Office address. He should be condemning all political violence."

Water firm bans tankers from transporting water for billionaire's lake

BBC News

Tankers taking water for US billionaire Stephen Schwarzman have been told to stop by Southern Water.

Jazz head at Kennedy Center is the latest firing at the beleaguered arts institution

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR

The firing of Kevin Struthers is the latest in a line of dismissals and resignations at the D.C. arts behemoth.

Senate Republicans turn to 'nuclear option' to speed confirmation of Trump nominees

Barbara Sprunt, NPR

The change will allow certain nominees to be confirmed in groups rather than by individual vote. It follows months of GOP complaints that Democrats were dragging out the confirmation process.

US Energy chief tells BBC nuclear fusion will soon power the world

BBC News

AI will soon enable harnessing of the energy that powers the sun and stars, says Chris Wright

"Sounds Like Dictator Talk. We Have An Amendment For That": Here's How Americans Are Reacting To Trump's "I Have The Right To Do Anything I Want" Claim

Victoria Vouloumanos, Buzzfeed

"I was talking to a buddy of mine at work about this. One of the few things I remember about American government in school was the concept of checks and balances: no single branch of government could have absolute power."View Entire Post ›

Republicans pledge censorship crackdown to avenge Charlie Kirk’s death

Lauren Feiner, The Verge

In the wake of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting, some political figures are threatening a crackdown on free speech - a cause Kirk claimed to fight for. Members of Congress, the State Department, and President Donald Trump have all attacked pe…

US DoJ asks court for emergency ruling to remove Cook from Fed board

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump administration wants Lisa Cook to be removed from the Fed Reserve board by Monday, ahead of interest rate meet.

Projects designed by BIG and KPF among eight vying for New York casino licenses

Ellen Eberhardt, Dezeen

BIG, Gensler, and KPF are among the architecture studios involved in ongoing bids for three casino licenses set to be awarded later this year for developments around New York, with multiple including skyscrapers. Currently, eight projects throughout Manhattan…

Donald Trump is lying about political violence

Abdallah Fayyad, Vox

Charlie Kirk, the influential right-wing activist, was shot and killed Wednesday on a college campus in Utah. The shooter is still at large, and as of this writing, little is publicly known about the shooter’s identity or the potential ideological motive behi…

The right side of the president’s face sparked a wave of online speculation on Thursday.

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

President Donald Trump was sporting a doozy of a droopy face as he ventured outside the White House Thursday amid mounting questions about his health. The 79...

Majority of Brazil top court panel votes to convict Bolsonaro of coup plot

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Brazil's far-right former president faces the possibility of decades behind bars.

What Charlie Kirk meant to young conservatives

Avishay Artsy, Noel King, Vox

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and firebrand, developed an enormous following, particularly among young people, for his brash, unapologetic positions on social issues. The investigation continues into the circumstances of his killing on W…

Comedy Central pulls 'South Park' episode following Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting

Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News

The "South Park" episode, which features one of its main characters, Eric Cartman, parodying Charlie Kirk, was pulled after Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday.

Bolsonaro's coup trial gripped Brazil - and his conviction will divide the country

BBC News

The ex-president's conviction is a milestone critics will welcome, though his punishment remains unclear.

After Buying Paramount, MAGA Billionaire Larry Ellison’s Son Now Wants Warner Bros. Discovery: Report

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

After bending the knee to Trump, David Ellison is getting greedy and gunning for the crown jewel of American movie studios.

Framingham teacher is on leave after posting about Charlie Kirk's death

Norman Miller, The MetroWest Daily News, MetroWest Daily News

A Framingham teacher has been placed on leave after she posted a video on Instagram that allegedly shows her celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination.

The right’s vicious, ironic response to Charlie Kirk’s death

Eric Levitz, Vox

Millions of Americans just witnessed a killing.  On Wednesday, scattered amid social media’s banal ephemera — tired memes, partisan agit-prop, and celebrity gossip — appeared a video of a young man speaking into a microphone, then recoiling from a gunshot to …

The Guy Who Trey Parker and Matt Stone Nearly Sued Is Now Running Paramount

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

Parker and Stone’s lawyers accused current Paramount president Jeff Shell of illegally interfering in the show’s contract negotiations

Federal Judges Are Done Playing Nice: NBC Reports Full-Scale Revolt Against SCOTUS Shadow Docket Bullshit

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

Last week, we wrote about two federal judges who were clearly fed up with the Supreme Court’s shadow docket nonsense—one sarcastically “apologizing” to Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, the other flat-out calling their approach “Calvinball.” Turns out those wer…

Belarus frees political prisoners in exchange for easing of US sanctions

BBC News

Fifty-two prisoners have been released,, but more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in jail.

South Korean workers detained in immigration raid leave Atlanta and head home

The Associated Press, NPR

A plane carrying more than 300 workers from South Korea who were detained during an immigration raid at a battery factory in Georgia last week left Atlanta around noon Thursday, bound for South Korea.

Comedy Central pulls a 'South Park' episode poking fun at Charlie Kirk from its TV lineup

Alice Tecotzky, Business Insider

Kirk praised the South Park episode after its release, calling it "hilarious" and an example of "our viral cultural domination."

Jury trial of Ryan Routh, man accused of trying to kill Trump, begins in Florida

Greg Allen, NPR

Routh is charged with attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate. A conviction carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Routh, who is not a lawyer, is representing himself in this case.

Bomb Threat Called into Democratic National Committee Headquarters

TMZ Staff, TMZ

The Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. has been swarmed by police after a bomb threat was reportedly called in. Burgess Everett -- a longtime reporter with Politico -- broke the news Thursday morning that Senate staff…

Trump Keeps Making This Dangerous Threat — And Experts Say It's Becoming More Credible

Yahoo Entertainment

Right-Wing Activists Are Targeting People for Allegedly Celebrating Charlie Kirk's Death

David Gilbert, Wired

Extremists and an anonymously run website are posting identifying details about people accused of celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder online. Some of those targeted are now getting death threats.

Ryan Routh cut off by judge as trial in attempted Trump assassination begins

BBC News

Routh, who is defending himself, addressed jurors during opening remarks Thursday before the judge said he was off-topic.

Russia just inched closer to open war with NATO

Joshua Keating, Vox

Nineteen suspected Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Monday, where they were intercepted by a joint operation that included Polish, Dutch, and Italian aircraft as well as German Patriot missiles. This marked the first time that NATO militaries had fir…

Activists Are Using AI To ‘Identify’ ICE Officers And That’s Definitely Not Good News

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

I know it’s never great to blame the victim, but this all could have been avoided if ICE officers hadn’t decided they all needed to act like paramilitary death squad members while raiding Home Deport parking lots. If you’re in the sort of business you feel yo…

America Circles the Abyss

Maria Fontoura, Rolling Stone

With Charlie Kirk's assassination, political violence in America is reaching a terrifying climax. It must stop.

Indiana lawmaker flips from ‘hard no’ to ‘hell yes’ as mid-cycle redistricting gains momentum

Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indianacapitalchronicle.com

Rep. Jim Lucas's switch to a "HELL YES" prompted a social media scuffle with a fellow Indiana House Republican lawmaker.

Even killings are content

Mia Sato, The Verge

Minutes after news that right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk had been shot at a planned campus event at Utah Valley University, the wheels of social media engagement farming and clout chasing had already begun to grind to life. Kirk, despite being in his 30s, w…

WATCH: FBI releases images of person of interest amid manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer

ABC News

The FBI released images of a person of interest sought in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

WATCH: Multiple students injured in Colorado high school shooting

ABC News

A student who authorities say opened fire at his Colorado high school on Wednesday, wounding two classmates before turning the gun on himself, has died, according to the local sheriff's office.

Charlie Kirk Praised ‘Hilarious’ Send-Up of Himself on ‘South Park’ — Comedy Central Pulled It from Re-Airing

Brian Welk, IndieWire

Charlie Kirk prior to his death praised what he called the 'hilarious' send-up of himself on 'South Park,' which will not air a re-run of the episode.

What We Know About the Manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s Killer

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

The FBI is trying to track down the shooter who killed right-wing activist Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Microsoft dodges EU antitrust fine — unbundles Teams from Office 365

Adam Hales, Windows Central

After a five-year antitrust battle, Microsoft will offer Office 365 without Teams at a lower price — and improve interoperability with rival platforms.

Charlie Kirk's Alleged Shooter Put Pro-Transgender, Antifascist Remarks on Cartridges

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter scrawled political messages on the equipment brought to the murder scene ... expressing support for the transgender community while making antifascist remarks. A bulletin -- posted online by conservative commentator…

We can’t “make American children healthy again” without tackling the gun crisis

Jessica Hamzelou, MIT Technology Review

Note for readers: This newsletter discusses gun violence, a raw and tragic issue in America. It was already in progress on Wednesday when a school shooting occurred at Evergreen High School in Colorado and Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley Unive…

Charlie Kirk Shooting Site Captured By Drone Footage After Evacuation

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Charlie Kirk's shooting death led to a hasty evacuation of the Utah Valley University campus ... and, a drone camera captured the deserted quad shortly after the incident. New video taken from the sky shows the area ... first focused on the tent…

The Murder Of Charlie Kirk Didn’t Help Anyone

Stephen T. Stone, Techdirt

I didn’t like Charlie Kirk. His morals and principles, as expressed through his rhetoric and actions, disgusted me. I’ve no reason to mourn his death—and no plans to celebrate it. Kirk was killed in what is most likely an act of politically inspired violence.…

FBI Releases Image of Charlie Kirk Shooting Person of Interest

TMZ Staff, TMZ

The feds just released an image of a person of interest in the Charlie Kirk shooting. The FBI says ... "We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley…

Trial begins in US for man accused of Trump assassination attempt

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Ryan Routh represents himself as he faces five charges, including an attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump.

WATCH: 'The heinous event that happened yesterday is not Utah,' safety commissioner says

ABC News

Utah's Department of Public Safety commissioner said the state "will not stand for what happened yesterday" and is "investing everything we have" into bringing Charlie Kirk's killer to justice.

The killing of Charlie Kirk adds to a time of political upheaval and violence

Domenico Montanaro, NPR

The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday at a college in Utah is the latest in a series of politically motivated violent acts just in recent months.

‘Mussolini: Son of the Century’ Review: Joe Wright’s Flashy Rise-of-Fascism Series Feels All Too Familiar

Ben Travers, IndieWire

Driven by Luca Marinelli's dynamite performance, MUBI's limited series follows the Italian leader from his influential start in media through a capital insurrection and chaotic government takeover.

Mexico not looking for conflict over tariff measures, president says

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday said her government was not looking for a conflict with countries on which it plans to increase tariffs...

With the Doha strike, Netanyahu has declared war on the world

Belén Fernández, Al Jazeera English

No matter where you are, Israel’s ‘long arm’ may be coming for you next.

Councillor resigns after 'good riddance' Kirk post

Bill Jacobs - Local Democracy Reporting Service, BBC News

Councillor Fiona Wild deletes a post saying US activist Charlie Kirk "brought this on himself".

Belarus frees 52 political prisoners after US mediation

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The release comes as the Belarusian president has sought to mend ties with the West in the hopes of sanctions relief.

TB is the #1 killer among infectious diseases. A new study says its toll could mount

Jonathan Lambert, NPR

New research estimates that as many as 2.2 million more people could die of tuberculosis if U.S. cuts to foreign aid become permanent.

Kamala Harris Is Finally Creating Some Distance From Joe Biden

Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic

In her new memoir, Kamala Harris takes on the issue that has haunted Democrats for more than a year.

Magic Mushroom Edibles Found to Contain No Psilocybin

Allison Parshall, Scientific American

Researchers tested 12 “magic mushroom” edibles. None contained psilocybin, but most contained undisclosed ingredients, including synthetic drugs whose safety hasn’t been tested in humans

WATCH: New Mexico to offer universal childcare assistance

ABC News

Elizabeth Schulze has more on the state's move, which begins Nov. 1.

WATCH: 'Bachelorette' Taylor Frankie Paul plays 'This or That'

ABC News

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star is the newest member of Bachelor Nation.

Nato strengthens defences after Russian drones shot down over Poland

BBC News

Nervousness is growing among countries neighbouring Russia, with Latvia and Poland limiting access to their airspace.

Trump’s Dangerous Response to the Kirk Assassination

Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic

Rather than condemning violence and calling for unity, the president of the United States accused his political opposition of being accessories to murder.

Trump to posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News

President Donald Trump announced he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Polish PM Tusk vows military upgrade after Russian drone incursion

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Poland has introduced air traffic restrictions along its eastern border that will apply until December 9.

Bolsonaro verdict likely: What to expect in Brazil, and from Trump

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Landmark case against former president has set Brazil on edge, with fears of violent protests against a guilty verdict.

Why simple tasks like charging your phone rely on quantum measurements

Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, New Scientist

A hidden world of quantum metrologists ensure that everyday devices perform safely and correctly, but their work is never done

How Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA helped Trump and MAGA win

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

He combined social media-era lingo, campus activism and a readiness to embrace controversies to drive young conservatism

Venezuela military, militias deploy to 'battlefronts', Maduro says

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

The Trump administration has ratcheted up the U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean, as part of what it says is a crackdown on drug smugglers, and...

What we know about US conservative activist Charlie Kirk shooting

Al Jazeera English

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead when giving a talk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

NPR's next news chief built an international career at CNN

David Folkenflik, NPR

NPR has promoted Thomas Evans, its editorial review chief, to lead the newsroom through a period of change, following Congress' decision to end federal funding of public media.

South Koreans arrested in Atlanta raid being sent home

Anthony Kuhn, NPR

U.S. immigration authorities are preparing to send more than 300 South Korean workers home on a chartered flight from Atlanta, a week after detaining them for allegedly working illegally.

‘No consignments’ to the US as tariffs hit India’s carpet industry

Gurvinder Singh, Al Jazeera English

US tariffs have rocked India's carpet industry as orders have nearly stalled.

Israeli-Russian captive in Iraq Tsurkov was freed in exchange deal: Report

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Tasnim reports a naval officer seized by Israel and another prisoner were released for Elizabeth Tsurkov's freedom.

Scientists link hundreds of severe heat waves to fossil fuel producers' pollution

Julia Simon, NPR

A new study finds dozens of heat waves would be "virtually impossible" without the activity of major fossil fuel producers, including oil companies.

Did NASA's Perseverance rover actually find evidence of life on Mars? We need to haul its samples home to find out, scientists say

mwall@space.com (Mike Wall) , Mike Wall, Space.com

We'll likely need to get Perseverance's samples to Earth to determine if they do indeed harbor evidence of Mars life —but the prospects of such a mission are cloudy at best.

Love, drugs and condoms: Couples with different HIV status face a new reality

Viola Kosome, NPR

They're called "serodiscordant" couples. One is HIV positive, the other negative. Aid from the U.S. enabled them to obtain medicines and condoms for protection — until this year.

Charlie Kirk shooter remains at large. And, 9/11 families still seek justice

NPR

Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk has died at 31. He was shot at a college campus speaking event. And, two people who lost their fathers during 9/11 share differing views on seeking justice.

Opening statements on tap in trial of man who allegedly tried to kill Trump

Peter Charalambous, ABC News

Opening statements are set to begin Thursday in the criminal trial of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to kill Donald Trump on his golf course last year.

Trump response to Israel’s Qatar attack undermines US credibility: Analysts

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Experts say Trump's failure to rein in Israel raises questions over the US role as a military partner in the Gulf region

What we know about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

Ayana Archie, NPR

Kirk was killed Wednesday while speaking at a campus event in Utah. There is no suspect in custody.

EV sales are setting records ahead of the tax credit going away. It isn't helping Tesla.

Tom Carter, Business Insider

Electric vehicle sales in the US hit a record in August as buyers rushed to take advantage of the $7,500 tax credit before it ends in September.

After 10 years of black hole science, Stephen Hawking proven right

Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR

Researchers have spent ten years improving the massive detectors they use to catch shockwaves from colliding black holes, and now the science is precise enough to test one of Stephen Hawking's key ideas.

Donald Trump's UK state visit is next week - this is what we know

BBC News

US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will carry out their second UK state visit in September.

South Korean workers arrested in US raid being released, Seoul says

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

President Lee Jae-myung warns raids could see South Korean companies 'hesitate' to make bigger investments in the US.

High-speed train from California to Las Vegas tries to slow rising costs

Joel Rose, NPR

Brightline West is betting it can build the first true high-speed rail line in the U.S. But the company says costs are rising, despite its best efforts to keep them down.

When and where Charlie Kirk was shot: A visual timeline

AJLabs, Al Jazeera English

Charlie Kirk, 31, a well-known Trump ally and conservative activist in the US, has been shot dead in Utah.

Charlie Kirk shooting: FBI appeals for tips as manhunt continues

Meredith Deliso, David Brennan, ABC News

The FBI said it is working alongside state and local law enforcement to "to fully investigate and seek justice in the fatal shooting” of Charlie Kirk.

Charlie Kirk Didn't Seem Concerned For Safety Before Fatal Shooting, Friend Says

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Charlie Kirk was loving every minute of his college campus tour, was in great spirits and never indicated he had any concerns about his personal safety ... according to a friend who talked to the conservative activist the day before he was shot in the neck in…

Business leaders including Bill Ackman, David Sacks, and Jared Kushner, react to Charlie Kirk's death

Aditi Bharade,Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Business Insider

Business leaders including Jared Kushner, David Sacks, and Bill Ackman took to X, where they expressed dismay at Kirk's death.

Bowen Yang Pays Tribute to Heidi Gardner After Her Exit From ‘Saturday Night Live’

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

Bowen Yang paid tribute to his 'Saturday Night Live' co-star Heidi Gardner after her exit from the late-night sketch show.

'I'll never get the image out of my head': Witnesses describe Charlie Kirk event

BBC News

Witnesses describe screaming and running to flee the scene after hearing the fatal gunshot that killed Kirk.

Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Condemn ‘Monstrous’ Charlie Kirk Shooting Death

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

Late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel responded to the shooting death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

LIVE: Charlie Kirk killing stokes fears of rise in political assassinations

Nils Adler, Al Jazeera English

Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on President Trump.

Inside nuclear startup Terra Innovatum's plan to cash in on the SPAC comeback

Riddhi Kanetkar, Business Insider

Terra Innovatum is embracing the SPAC revival, aiming to raise around $200 million for its micro-modular nuclear reactors.

U.S. marks 24th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

The Associated Press, NPR

Many loved ones of the nearly 3,000 people killed will join dignitaries and politicians at commemorations Thursday in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,295

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Here are the key events on day 1,295 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Tributes pour in for Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and Trump ally

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US President Trump and other political leaders have sent their condolences after slaying of 31-year-old activist.

Firms will hesitate to invest in US after raid – S Korea president

BBC News

More than 300 South Koreans who were arrested in the raid are due to return home on Friday.

Who was Charlie Kirk? What we know about the shooting and the suspect

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Video of the incident shows Charlie Kirk speaking to a large outdoor crowd when a gunshot rings out.

Dollar steady as inflation data and central banks take focus

Gregor Stuart Hunter, Yahoo Entertainment

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar stabilised in early Asian trading hours on Thursday after an unexpected drop in U.S. factory-gate prices bolstered...

Graphic video of Kirk shooting was everywhere online, showing how media gatekeeper role has changed

DAVID BAUDER, Yahoo Entertainment

Traditional news organizations were cautious in their midafternoon coverage of Charlie Kirk's assassination Wednesday not to depict the moment he was shot...

The Artwork That Spawned 9/11 Conspiracy Theories and Mystery

Kate Storey, Rolling Stone

Twenty-five years ago, art collective Gelitin illicitly built a balcony, installed it on the 91st floor of the World Trade Center, and stood above New York City. A year later, the planes struck and conspiracy followed