Good evening, everyone. I hope your day has gone well. Mine has been another busy one, tracking several major stories. Tonight, I’m covering breaking developments: the 16-year-old behind the Colorado school shooting now identified as a likely right-wing extremist, the surge of misinformation spreading through right-wing circles about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and a major update in the Jeffrey Epstein files fight that could shake Washington.
To those who already subscribe — thank you. Your support makes independent journalism possible at a moment when the truth is under relentless attack from powerful forces determined to distort it. If you believe in fearless reporting that refuses to bow to politics, intimidation, or disinformation, I invite you to subscribe today. Together, we can ensure the facts still break through the noise.
With that, here’s what you missed:
Desmond Holly, a 16-year-old Evergreen High School student who had engaged with Columbine-related, antisemitic, and white supremacist content online and shared photos of a revolver shortly before the attack, shot and critically wounded two classmates on Sept. 10, 2025, before fatally shooting himself; investigators say he was radicalized through extremist networks, his social media showed interest in past mass shootings and tactical gear, and the Evergreen community has held vigils as the two victims remain hospitalized in serious and critical condition.
Tyler Robinson’s grandmother, Debbie Robinson, 69, emphasized that their family is proudly MAGA, saying “most of my family members are Republican” and noting Tyler had never spoken politics to her, was the “shyest person,” and had never been in trouble before.
Investigators found bullet casings from the Utah Valley University shooter’s weapon engraved with phrases and symbols, including “Hey fascist! Catch!” paired with an arrow sequence that matches a bomb-strike command in the video game Helldivers 2, and “O Bella Ciao,” which is also referenced in the game; while The Verge reports these links, law enforcement has not yet confirmed any connection.
Robinson, the 22-year-old lead suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing, has a family home in Washington, Utah, about 260 miles from the crime scene, where neighbors described the area as safe and expressed surprise at the news; one neighbor, Walter Williams, noted that while he appreciated some of Kirk’s views as a Mormon, he emphasized respect for differing opinions and the importance of open dialogue without violence.
There has been significant misinformation regarding the Charlie Kirk shooting, including the motivations of the suspect allegedly responsible for the shooting. I broke it all down here:
Asked about coping with the loss of Charlie Kirk, Trump said he was “very good” and quickly shifted to touting the start of construction on a long-sought new White House ballroom, calling it a “magnificent structure” that had been planned for 150 years.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) urged President Trump and others to tone down rhetoric following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, noting that Trump himself has used “ridiculous” language that some may take literally; the comments come amid an escalating feud between the two, with Trump labeling Massie “the worst Republican Congressman” and seeking a primary challenger, while Massie continues pushing for the release of Epstein files, a move that has heightened tensions inside the House after Kirk’s death.
Rep. Thomas Massie’s bipartisan discharge petition to force release of the Jeffrey Epstein files is now just one signature shy of the 218 needed, after newly elected Democrat James Walkinshaw became the 217th signer; Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna expect to clinch the final signature later this month despite White House pressure, as House GOP leaders concede a floor vote is likely, while in the Senate, Chuck Schumer’s parallel push to mandate disclosure was blocked by Republicans, who dismissed it as a “political stunt.”
NATO announced an expanded Eastern Sentry mission to defend Poland from Russian drone incursions, with France, Germany, and Denmark committing fighter jets and naval assets, and the UK expected to add Typhoons; the move follows a large Russian drone incursion into Poland that forced airport closures, prompting NATO to stress that Russia violated allied airspace whether intentional or not, while leaders in Kyiv and London reiterated that Moscow’s aggression shows no sign of stopping and vowed continued support for Ukraine.
ICE officers fatally shot Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, an undocumented immigrant, during a traffic stop near Chicago after he allegedly tried to ram and drag an officer with his car; DHS said the officer, who was seriously injured but is stable, acted in self-defense, while the incident sparked heightened tensions as protests against ICE operations unfolded the same day outside a nearby immigration processing center in Broadview, Illinois, where demonstrators clashed with federal agents.
Missouri Republicans approved a new congressional map that dismantles Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s district in Kansas City and creates an additional GOP-leaning seat, giving the party seven of Missouri’s eight seats; the move, seen as part of Donald Trump’s push for mid-decade redistricting to cement Republican power ahead of the 2026 midterms, faces opposition from voting rights groups who plan to force a statewide referendum, while critics including Eric Holder call the map a blatant and immoral gerrymander.
UC Berkeley disclosed the names of 160 faculty, staff, and students — including prominent scholar Judith Butler — to the Trump administration as part of federal investigations into alleged antisemitic incidents, a move Butler condemned as a “McCarthy era” tactic that threatens academic freedom and due process; critics warn the disclosures could endanger vulnerable international students and chill political debate on Israel-Palestine, while the university defends its cooperation as a legal obligation under federal oversight.
The FDA plans to present data at next week’s CDC vaccine advisory meeting that it claims link Covid shots to 25 child deaths, based on VAERS reports, though experts stress the database cannot prove causation and prior studies show the vaccines are safe and protective; the move comes amid Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reshaping of the CDC’s advisory committee with vaccine-skeptic members and his decision to restrict updated Covid shots mainly to older and at-risk groups, sparking confusion and criticism from medical organizations.
Harvard University says it has begun receiving notices that federal research grants frozen by the Trump administration will be reinstated after a judge ruled $2.6 billion in cuts unconstitutional, calling them retaliation masked as antisemitism concerns; while no funds have yet been released and the government plans to appeal, the decision marks a potential thaw in months of deadlock, though Trump continues to pressure Harvard to pay $500 million as part of any settlement amid broader efforts to reshape higher education.
The EPA, under the Trump administration, announced plans to end the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which since 2010 has required thousands of major polluters like coal plants, refineries, and steel mills to report emissions data; officials argue it cuts “red tape” and saves $2.4 billion in compliance costs, but critics warn the move cripples the government’s ability to track and curb climate change, undermines international reporting obligations, and delays oil and gas reporting until 2034 in line with Republican-backed rollbacks.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
