Inflation has continued to climb, and that could impact how annuities fit into your retirement portfolio.
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The latest inflation data is in, and unfortunately, it comes with more bad news for consumers. The Consumer Price Index data, released today, shows that inflation climbed to 2.9% in August, marking yet another uptick in prices. And Americans are clearly feeling the impact, with two-thirds of consumers reporting in a recent poll that they feel prices are continuing to rise and are likely to continue that trend, a sentiment that hits particularly hard for those living on fixed incomes.
For seniors who depend on retirement savings and predictable income streams, these inflationary pressures create a unique challenge, one that goes beyond simply paying more at the grocery store. As inflation creeps further away from the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate, retirees are in a particularly vulnerable position, because as the purchasing power of their dollars continues to erode, they face limited options to increase their income.
This economic reality may leave some seniors reconsidering their retirement income strategies, with annuities emerging as one potential solution. By purchasing an annuity, retirees can secure a guaranteed income stream for life, but given today’s unusual landscape, there are a few things retirees should know before buying one.
What seniors should know about inflation and annuities now
Here are three key considerations for seniors who may want to protect their retirement money from the effects of inflation with the help of an annuity:
Inflation can still erode fixed annuity payments over time
Traditional fixed annuities promise a steady stream of income, but that promise comes with a hidden catch: The payments generally stay the same while everything else gets more expensive. So, if you’re receiving $2,000 monthly from a fixed annuity today, that same $2,000 will buy significantly less in 10 or 15 years. With current inflation running at 2.9%, your purchasing power decreases by nearly 3% annually, meaning what costs $100 today will cost about $135 in just 12 years.
This erosion happens gradually, too, which makes it easy to overlook, at least until the impact becomes undeniable. Many seniors who purchased fixed annuities years earlier are now discovering that their seemingly generous monthly payments no longer cover the same expenses they once did. The challenge becomes even more pronounced when you consider that healthcare costs, which consume a disproportionate share of senior budgets, often inflate faster than the general economy.
Variable and indexed annuities can act as potential inflation hedges
Though they come with increased risk, variable annuities can offer a potential solution to the inflation issue by tying your returns to market performance. When the stock market performs well, your annuity payments can increase, potentially outpacing inflation. However, market downturns can also reduce your income, compounding the problem and leaving you with less money when you need it most.
Indexed annuities are another option, as these annuities attempt to split the difference by linking returns to a market index while providing some downside protection. These products typically offer a minimum guaranteed return while capping potential gains. So, while they won’t capture the full upside of a bull market, they can provide some protection against inflation without exposing you to the full volatility of direct market investment. The trade-off, though, is complexity. Indexed annuities often come with intricate terms and conditions that can be difficult to understand.
Inflation protection riders could be your shield against rising costs
Perhaps the most direct solution for inflation-conscious seniors, though, is adding an inflation protection rider to your annuity contract. These riders automatically increase your payments by a predetermined percentage each year, which typically ranges from 2% to 4%. Some riders even tie increases directly to the Consumer Price Index, ensuring your payments keep pace with actual inflation rather than an arbitrary percentage.
The cost of these riders varies, but they will typically reduce your initial annuity payment in exchange for the future increases. For a 65-year-old, this might mean starting with $1,800 monthly instead of $2,000, but ultimately having payments that grow to $2,400 by age 75 and $3,200 by age 85. While the math looks favorable over time, you need to live long enough to reach the break-even point where the accumulated increases offset the reduced starting amount. So, keep that in mind when weighing your options.
The bottom line
The current inflationary environment demands that seniors take a more active approach to protecting their retirement income. While annuities can provide valuable income security, not all annuity products are created equal, especially when it comes to inflation protection. Fixed annuities may offer peace of mind in the short term, but they can become a liability over longer retirement periods.
Before making any decisions, carefully evaluate your overall financial situation and options, and make sure you understand the true costs and benefits of different annuities. And, remember that the goal isn’t just to preserve your money. It’s to preserve your purchasing power and maintain your quality of life throughout retirement.
Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications.
The August unemployment rate among Black Americans marked a 0.3-point increase from July and a full 1.3-point rise since January, which is far outpacing the increase among white workers, whose jobless rate rose just 0.3 points this year to 3.7 percent. The Black unemployment rate is also significantly higher than the national unemployment rate, which currently sits at 4.3 percent.
Economists cite the Trump administration’s deep cuts to the federal workforce as a key factor in increasing unemployment for Black Americans.
“Black workers were overrepresented in the federal workforce,” Gary Hoover, an economics professor at Tulane University, said in a statement. “So indiscriminate cuts have hit them harder.”
According to a Pew Research report, 18.6 percent of federal workers are Black, well above the 12.8 percent share of the overall U.S. population. Nearly 200,000 federal workers have lost their jobs under what the administration has termed “sweeping reductions to the civil service.”
Economists are warning that this year’s sharp rise in unemployment among Black workers may signal broader trouble.
“The rise in Black unemployment may show a slackening of the labor market overall,” Marlene Kim, a labor economist, said, noting that Black workers are often the first to be laid off during downturns and the last to be rehired.
In August, the U.S. added just 22,000 new jobs, far below the 75,000 expected and down from the 73,000 in July. Trump responded by firing the country’s top employment statistician, blaming faulty data.
For the first time since April 2021, the number of unemployed workers now exceeds total job openings, according to Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi, who called it “a strong tell that the job market is struggling.”
Labor market strains are also affecting college graduates and young workers, who are reporting increased difficulty in finding jobs.
“In downturns, it’s typically young people and Black Americans who suffer first with layoffs,” Heather Long, Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said.
“Black and young workers are tenuously attached to the economy,” Hoover said. “When we see faults appearing there, we can reasonably expect a broader downturn to follow.”
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Brandon Young has spent nearly two decades shaping some of the nation’s most complex energy and infrastructure projects. As President and CEO of Young Management & Consulting (YMC), Young has built a reputation as both an innovative engineer and avalues-driven leader whose work extends far beyond project sites.
With more than 18 years of experience in project management, construction management, and electrical engineering, Young has consistently brought both technical skill and strategic leadership to his profession. A certified Project Management Professional(PMP) and recipient of Auburn University’s prestigious Outstanding Young Engineer “20 Under 40” Award, he has guided YMC through the delivery of large-scale projects for clients including Georgia Power, PSE&G;, and Entergy. His approach emphasizes safety, efficiency, and innovation while ensuring that every project meets business needs and minimizes risk.
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Young’s story, however, is not defined by professional milestones alone. In 2019, his life was shaken by tragedy when his brotherwas murdered in a racially motivated attack. Rather than allowing grief to consume him, Young transformed the pain into purpose. “I stopped asking what I could gain from life and started asking what I could give back,” he says. This change in perspective redirected his leadership and inspired him to build a company rooted in service, resilience, and community impact.
Since that moment, YMC has grown from a small consultancy into a thriving firm with more than 200 employees and a portfolio of over 300 projects across the country. Under Young’s guidance, the company has generated more than $100 million in revenue and has become a trusted partner in energy, electric, gas, renewable, infrastructure, and technology sectors. For Young, thesenumbers are not just business metrics but symbols of what can be achieved when leadership is driven by values rather than ambition.
YMC distinguishes itself through its cutting-edge approach to engineering and infrastructure. The firm has become known for its use of advanced 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology for high-voltage substations, enabling more efficient planning, design, and operations. This innovation, combined with expertise in smart infrastructure, renewable energy integration, and complex project management, positions YMC as a forward-thinking player in an industry critical to modern life.
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Equally important is YMC’s commitment to sustainability and community. The company actively helps clients reduce energyconsumption, lower operational costs, and embrace environmentally responsible practices. Its mission is to modernize infrastructure while navigating regulatory challenges and contributing positively to global communities. Young sees this work not only as building stronger systems but also as building stronger societies.
As Brandon Young looks to the future, his vision is as much about legacy as it is about leadership. Through YMC, he hopes to create lasting impact, proving that business can be both profitable and purposeful. For him, every project is an opportunity toengineer not just power systems, but positive change.
Dionna Brown was two weeks shy of her 15th birthday when her world turned upside-down. An outstanding public high school student in Flint, Michigan, with a report card most of her peers would envy, she suddenly began to struggle in the classroom for no obvious reason.
“I was in AP and honors classes — straight-A student,” she recalls. “Then all of a sudden, I couldn’t remember things. I couldn’t concentrate.”
Rushed to the hospital, doctors pinpointed the problem: tests revealed elevated levels of lead, a potent neurotoxin, in Brown’s blood. In high enough concentrations, lead can cause permanent brain damage, lower IQ, learning disabilities — and even death.
Without knowing it, Brown became one of the many young victims of the Flint water crisis. But her story is being repeated in cities across the country.
For generations, America’s crumbling infrastructure has quietly poisoned its most vulnerable populations. From peeling paint in public housing to unsafe water pipes beneath city streets, lead has lingered long before and after its federal ban in 1978.
But while the government has taken action against lead exposure in homes, experts say its impact in our schools remains overlooked.
In January, the issue made headlines again when a child attending a Milwaukee public school tested positive for elevated lead blood levels. The discovery triggered emergency inspections and forced at least four other schools in the district to close temporarily.
Subsequent data found that children in cities like Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago also face disproportionately high levels of lead exposure in schools. Cleveland topped the list, with nearly 9% of children under the age of six showing signs of elevated lead levels in their blood.
“Once a child is exposed to lead, the impacts are irreversible,” says Dr. Denae King, Associate Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University. “There’s not a lot you can do to undo that damage — and it’s still happening.”
These cities share more than aging infrastructure: they also serve large Black K-12 student populations, often in racially segregated neighborhoods. And even Flint, whose water crisis made national news, still hasn’t fully established safe drinking water for its children.
While Milwaukee’s crisis may feel like the beginning for some, the poisoning of Black communities by lead — especially in schools — began long before 2025.
Today, Brown, now the National Youth Director of Young, Gifted, & Green, a non-profit organization, has spent years fighting for environmental justice. But what still haunts her the most is how little has changed.
“That was over a decade ago,” she says. “And we’re still here. Kids are still being poisoned in our schools and communities.”
Schools Built to Fail?
Nationwide, more than 38% of public K-12 schools were built before 1970, well before the government banned the use of lead-based paint. Many of the schools were built to serve Black students in underfunded, segregated neighborhoods, and these aging buildings often contain lead service lines, contaminating the water that flows into cafeteria faucets and hallway water fountains.
According to a 2022 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Black children face higher levels of early lead exposure. The report found that exposure was linked to significantly lower standardized test scores in fourth-grade reading and math compared to their white peers.
“Most of the Black kids we’re talking about attend schools built before the ban,” King says. “That means many of them are still walking into buildings that are not only failing structurally, but failing them academically, too.”
The Educational Cost
King explains that the root of the lead crisis in schools often begins underground, with lead service lines — city-owned pipes that deliver water from municipal systems to homes, businesses, and schools.
“Most cities still have lead service lines,” she says. “So it’s no surprise students are being exposed. She adds that even if a school updates its internal plumbing, “students remain at risk” if city pipes aren’t upgraded.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even low levels of lead exposure in children can cause irreversible damage, including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and behavioral problems.
“The data is very consistent when we think about learning and cognitive ability with lead exposure in children ages zero to six,” King adds. “By the time you get to first or third grade, you start to see the results of that early exposure.”
Just as striking as the exposure itself is the uneven response.
In wealthier districts, King says, active parent-teacher organizations (PTOs), can quickly raise money for water filtration systems. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in predominantly Black or low-income communities, where PTOs and other resources are underfunded or absent altogether.
When asked about lead in students’ blood, CMSD told Word In Black they’re “concerned” about the health hazard and will “continue to strongly support the work done by the City of Cleveland and the Lead Safe Coalition to identify and remediate lead in our neighborhoods.”
While the school district did not directly address the problem, Dr. David Margolius, the city’s director of public health, says school systems aren’t entirely to blame.
“This is the fault of the generations of disinvestment in housing and public infrastructure in poor communities — which leads to exposure in the first place,” he says.
However, both King and Brown say the problem is nuanced.
“There are different levels of accountability that include the municipality and homeowners,” King says. “But on the school side, they are responsible for ensuring their campuses are safe. You send your child to school expecting they’ll be protected, not poisoned.”
She also adds that parents are often left in the dark.
“Many parents have shared that they are concerned that their children are not learning at the same level as other students in their classes,” she says. “And I am surprised that schools don’t do a better job of educating parents about the risk of lead exposure and that they don’t provide wraparound services once a child has been exposed.”
Brown agrees: “Schools still have a responsibility. Kids spend 8-plus hours in school buildings every day.”
Moreover, federal programs intended to address the crisis have faltered. While the Biden administration’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act was designed to fund the replacement of lead service lines, access to the resources remains inconsistent across cities, often leaving underfunded and de facto segregated school districts behind.
“There’s no agency that owns the problem,” Margolius adds. “There’s no one taking ownership for how to fix this at the federal level. That’s the real issue.”
Making matters worse, the CDC recently laid off its entire childhood lead poisoning prevention staff, shifting responsibility to the newly formed Administration for a Healthy America under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Experts are concerned about whether the federal government is prepared to meet a crisis of this scale.
Communities as First Responders
Houston offers a glimpse of what’s possible. There, the Bullard Center and community groups are training parents and neighborhood leaders to identify lead hazards and demand answers from school officials.
King also encouraged students to write letters to the district. She said systems have begun to respond.
Community groups “did all the education themselves,” she says. “We trained them on what lead looks like, how it’s affecting their children, and then they got out there and educated others. The community stepped up where the system failed.”
Back in Cleveland, Margolius hopes to see a similar momentum, but on a national level.
“Keeping these stories alive in the media and community discussions is essential. Without sustained attention, the crisis will quietly continue.”
Nearly a century ago, brothers John and Oscar Noel decided to build the tallest building in Nashville on their family’s downtown lot, introducing a 12-story luxury hotel—fittingly dubbed the Noel Hotel—to the rapidly growing area. For more than 40 years it thrived, hosting the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt and Babe Ruth. After being purchased by a bank in 1972, its doors were closed to overnight guests—that is, until 2017, when it reopened with a refreshed name and look. Enter: Noelle.
A love letter to Nashville, the 224-room property perfectly marries its past and present. The bones of the grand lobby from the 1930s remain intact, with resplendent Tennessee marble walls and columns, intricate crown molding, and other original details, including an ornate water fountain and mail chute. The modern rooms have a polished aesthetic accented by minimalist art deco touches. Along every hallway you’ll find a series of portraits depicting notable Nashvillians; each floor features works by a different local artist, and placards provide background on each piece, giving the hotel a museum-like feel. Its location along Printers Alley and two blocks from Broadway ensures you’re right in the middle of Music City’s action.
Drinks at Rare Bird, Noelle’s rooftop bar
Courtesy of Noelle
Though you’re near a wealth of dining and nightlife options, Noelle makes a case for staying where you are. Its new restaurant, Lona, features upscale Mexican fare in an upbeat atmosphere (order the carne asada tacos and esquites), and freshly renovated rooftop bar Rare Bird is an ideal spot for an espresso martini while taking in the photo-worthy views. Be sure to seek out the moody speakeasy, Hidden Bar—if you can find its entrance behind a nondescript storage-closet door.
Insider Intel Managing director Ben Thiele shares his Music City musts
Game Night “Catch a Nashville Predators game at Bridgestone Arena. There isn’t a bad seat in the house, and most tickets are pretty affordable. It’s right down the street from Noelle. The fan base is wild, and the arena is electric.”
Fun in the Sun “To get outdoors, check out Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway. It’s close to the city but perfect for tapping into nature, whether you’re running, hiking, or cycling.”
Dealer’s Choice “Attaboy in East Nashville is a unique speakeasy. They don’t have a menu—just incredibly creative cocktails based on your tastes and preferences made by some of the friendliest bartenders in town.”
This article appears in the Summer 2025 issue of Southbound.
In the two decades since the September 11 attacks, America’s war on terror has reshaped not only foreign policy but the very streets of its own cities, especially Black communities. What started as a national response to global terrorism has evolved into the militarization of local police.
Federal funding for local law enforcement surged following the 2001 attacks. Through programs like the Pentagon’s 1033 Program, billions of dollars in surplus military gear, from armored vehicles to assault rifles and flashbang grenades, were transferred to local police departments across the country. By 2020, nearly 65% of U.S. law enforcement agencies had received military equipment under these programs, according to the Brookings Institution.
Police departments also began to embrace counterterrorism training, recruit military veterans, and adopt “warrior” mentalities that prioritized combat readiness over community connection.
“It fundamentally shifted the role of police from guardians to soldiers,” Dr. Jessica Katzenstein, an anthropologist who studies police militarization, said. “The idea of public safety was replaced by public control—particularly in communities of color.”
The use of SWAT teams also became routine after 9/11. According to a study in SAGE Journals, SWAT deployments have increased by over 1,400 percent since the 1980s, most often for executing search warrants. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that Black neighborhoods are disproportionately targeted for militarized police actions, even when local crime rates don’t justify such force.
Following the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, protests were met with riot police, MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles), and flashbang grenades, images that echoed those seen in war zones.
“It’s constantly under police surveillance,” one Ferguson resident said, per the Washington Post. “Military-grade equipment in people’s neighborhoods… not just anyone’s neighborhoods. Black people’s neighborhoods.”
Experts say the influx of military gear also came with an attitude shift of “warrior policing,” where officers are trained to treat every interaction as potentially deadly, where de-escalation is optional, and where the community is perceived as a threat.
“When police departments are given tanks, they start to act like an occupying force,” Andrea Ritchie, author of “Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color,” said. “We need to start thinking about public safety not in terms of force, but in terms of care.”
Community members have reported heightened anxiety and trauma from police militarization.
“Militarized policing doesn’t just criminalize individuals—it criminalizes entire communities,” Anthony Normore, a criminal justice professor specializing in use-of-force policies, said. “It reinforces the narrative that Black life is inherently dangerous and disposable.”
As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of 9/11, experts and activists say it’s time to rethink what public safety should look like.
“Militarized policing was never about terrorism—it was always about control,” Ritchie said. “And we can’t talk about justice in America until we dismantle that mindset.”
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HEREto tune in live.
Lazy Betty, Aaron Phillips and Ron Hsu’s Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant, is expanding its offerings to include a four-course dessert tasting menu, as well as pre-ordered specialty cakes for diners. Founding pastry chef Lindsey Davis has returned to steer the sweet ship after five years honing her skills at Aziza, the Kiawah Island Club, and Kimpton Hotels. A few months in and she’s ready to showcase what she’s learned.
The dessert tasting is available to 12 people per night in the Bar Lounge. For $105, guests can dig into a lighter pre-dessert and three full-size desserts, including one that is vegan. The beverage pairing includes a dessert wine, sparking wine, and a cocktail, for an additional $85. Desserts will change seasonally. To start, expect green apple siphon with olive oil ice cream, followed by a sweet potato sable with coconut sorbet, calamansi, spiced graham cracker crumb, toasted Italian meringue, and mandarins.
“I like to add citrus, salt, or ginger because they make desserts pop,” Davis says. “I like a nice balance in textures. I don’t like things to be overly sweet.”
Cookies and cream bar
Photo by Matt Wong of Graftable
The other tasting menu courses include a vanilla noisette made with vanilla hazelnut praline, mille feuille, hazelnut cream, vanilla caramel, vanilla cream, and dulcey ice cream, and a cookies and cream bar with vanilla mascarpone cream, caramel milk, brown butter dulcey crumb, salted white chocolate ice cream, toasted chocolate cake crumbs, and a chocolate shell.
“I like things to be playful,” Davis says.
Previously, Lazy Betty offered a 6-course tasting menu and a 10-course tasting menu for dinner. Now, it is transitioning to an 8-course dinner tasting menu, plus a four-course tasting menu at the bar, with vegan options for both. The 8-course includes a pre-dessert, petit fours, and the sweet potato sable from the dessert tasting menu. Davis is also bringing back her creamsicle dessert from the original Lazy Betty tasting menu, per popular request.
“Aaron and I like to empower our team members to turn their creative ideas into a reality. When Lindsey came to us with the idea of a dessert tasting menu, we thought it would be a great way to showcase her talent and offer something new and different for our guests,” says Ron Hsu, chef-partner and culinary director at Lazy Betty.
Strawberry shortcake
Photo by Matt Wong of Graftable
In addition, diners can now pre-order specialty cakes and entremets (ornate mousse-based cakes with various textures and layers) for celebrations at the restaurant. Available for $175 to $225 with at least five days’ notice, these offerings serve a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 30 people, depending on the selection. Entremet options include strawberry shortcake, dark chocolate raspberry, exotic fruit with coconut mousse, and hazelnut-chocolate noisette. The traditional cakes come in chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet with custom colors.
“I want to offer people an elevated experience,” Davis says.
A search was continuing Thursday for the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University. Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who co-founded the right-wing advocacy group Turning Point USA, was 31.
Authorities have not yet identified or apprehended a suspect nor specified a motive, but on Thursday officials revealed new details about the shooter’s movements, a weapon that was recovered and the investigation.
Officials took two people into custody in the wake of the shooting but later said neither was tied to the shooting and both were released.
Here is what we know so far about the ongoing investigation.
Suspect at large
Authorities said the suspect remained at large Thursday and that a manhunt is underway to identify and capture the person responsible.
Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said the suspect was a male who “blended in” with the college community and appears to be “college-age.”
Mason said investigators have been able to track the shooter’s movements before and after the assassination. He said the gunman is believed to have arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. local time Wednesday and moved through stairwells to the roof of a building near where Kirk’s event was taking place, which was the shooting location.
Mason said the shooter moved to the other side of the building after firing a single shot, then jumped off and fled into a neighborhood off campus. Investigators contacted homeowners with cameras, and witnesses, to identify leads, he said.
Weapon recovered
FBI special-agent-in-charge Robert Bohls said Thursday that investigators recovered a “high-powered, bolt-action rifle,” which they believe was the weapon used in the assassination. It was found in a wooded area where the shooter fled and will be analyzed by the FBI, according to Bohls.
Investigators also have a footwear impression, palm print and forearm imprints that will be analyzed, the FBI official said.
Mason also said authorities “have good video footage” of the suspect, which they hope will help as they work to identify him. Footage will not be released to the public unless authorities are unable to determine who he is.
“We’re working through some technologies and some ways to identify this individual,” the commissioner said. “If we are unsuccessful, we will reach out to the media and we will push that publicly. But we’re confident in our abilities right now and we’d like to move forward in a matter that’s safe and moves this process appropriately.”
The FBI’s Salt Lake City field office established a tip submission form where people can share information or about the shooting. The agency said it has “full resources devoted to this investigation, including tactical, operational, investigative and intelligence.” It is investigating along with Utah state authorities.
A “targeted attack”
Kirk was struck in the neck at around 12 p.m. local time Wednesday by a single gunshot, which the perpetrator fired as Kirk addressed a large crowd at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate on Utah Valley University’s campus in Orem, Utah.
The “Prove Me Wrong” debate is a trademark event for Kirk’s Turning Point USA, a conservative organization focused on young people, where he would hold political debates with a group that usually consisted of left-leaning attendees. Kirk had visited the Utah school as part of a nationwide tour of college campuses that was scheduled to continue for the next two months. About 3,000 people attended the outdoor event, the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
While authorities have not specified a potential motive for the shooting, Mason said they believe it was a “targeted attack toward one individual.” Only one shot was fired, and Kirk was the only victim, according to the commissioner.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the shooting “a political assassination,” while President Trump, in a video posted to Truth Social, blamed it on “radical left political violence,” which he said “has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives.” Mr. Trump vowed to “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity.” Kirk was a close Trump ally and was credited with galvanizing younger voters during his campaign.
Bohls reiterated Thursday that investigators consider the shooting to be a “targeted event,” and do not believe there are lingering risks to the public.
Shooting location
A map produced by CBS News’ Confirmed team shows where Kirk was located when he was shot, in the central courtyard of Utah Valley University.
CBS News Confirmed
According to a university spokeswoman, a single shot is believed to have been fired from the Losee Center. The building, which is also known as the Losee Center for Student Success, houses a number of student services and resources, including academic advising, tutoring services and other student support offices, according to the university.
A law enforcement source told CBS News that the gunman appeared to have fired from the building’s roof.
On Thursday, Bohls of the FBI said investigators had received over 130 tips and that those tips and other leads were being “fully investigated.”
Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.
Ever since riding around in my father’s Town Car in the early 80s, the Lincoln brand has instilled a feeling of nostalgia in my heart. In 2025, this Lincoln Navigator brought me into an entirely different universe. This luxury SUV is a straight stunner, with the Black Label trim combining bold design, space-age technology, and a level of opulence that has been unmatched in its segment so far this year.
Immediately, the Navigator I reviewed flaunted an exterior color I have never seen before: the custom “Sunrise Copper Metallic” captivates with a reminiscent of a hue of rose gold while maintaining gender neutrality. This gorgeous tone was accentuated with a refined grille boasting the illuminated Lincoln star logo, extended LED lights, power split gate in the rear, and running boards in black that deploy upon every entrance and exit. The Black Label package also delivers 24-inch alloy wheels and a matching roof dressed in black for more sophistication and overall eye candy.
Photos courtesy of Lincoln
Inside, I was greeted with an interior rivaling a private jet; the cabin was spacious with posh paneling, and a futuristic dash a pilot would appreciate. The premium Venetian leather seating comes quilted thanks to the all-new “Atmospheric” theme, complemented with real wood accents, and the true star—the infotainment system flaunting a vibrant, 48-inch panoramic display. With three rows to comfortably seat up to six adults (seven with a third-row bench seat); ambient lighting; an aroma diffuser; tri-zone climate control; a panoramic sunroof; multiple 110-volt household-style power outlets; Wi-Fi connectivity; and numerous other pampering appointments, no ride will be denied regardless of the mission. Want more? The driver is treated to several access options including keyless entry, remote start, and a digital key via the smartphone to control virtually every operation, while the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and premium Revel Ultima 3D audio system funneling through 28 speakers brings the concert wherever the Navigator goes. Black Label also offers more exclusivity, including concierge services to maintain the owner’s four-wheeled gem.
Photos courtesy of Lincoln
Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine flexing 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque using a standard 10-speed automatic transmission operated with the traditional Lincoln push-button arrangement. The ride is smooth, the steering is light, and the four-wheel drive maneuverability makes you forget how large this vessel truly is. Safety is another highlight, with the Navigator coming equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 package including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind spot detection, and a greatly valued 360-degree camera for extra peace of mind.
Photos courtesy of Lincoln
Ultimately, the fifth generation of the 2025 Navigator Black Label is more than just the rebirth of a luxurious large SUV—it’s a statement exclaiming Lincoln is here to stay in a big way. When I gave my father a surprise visit, he was stunned, wowed, and immediately demanded one for Christmas. Honestly, I want one, too.
Fuel Economy: 15 MPG city/ 22 highway/17 combined
Price: $116,495 MSRP, and $126,345 ($7,850) with the Black Label Package and Sunrise Copper Metallic ($2,000)
A new crop of bookstores has popped recently, such as Sincerely Yours in Smyrna. They hope to offer readers community and comfort.
Photograph courtesy of Sincerely Yours
In an era of book bans, Atlanta’s bookstores matter more than ever. A new wave of shops focuses on specific interests and identities, creating desirable third spaces and building community.
“The benefit of having a brick-and-mortar is that people have a place to go, and people have a place to hang out, and people have a place to connect,” says Kate McNeil, owner of Kirkwood’s romance bookstore All the Tropes, the first of its kind in the city. “I wanted to work and live in my neighborhood, and I just had this vision of the community it would create.” It opened in August 2024, following a nationwide rise in the romance genre, and McNeil employs people from her neighborhood for graphic design, painting, and other needs and has made it a cozy place to unwind.
It’s a sentiment reflected by the owners of the newly debuted Sincerely Yours in Smyrna. Helmed by best friends Mallory Gay and Madison Glines, the store styled in vintage decor has a chock-full calendar of author signings, themed craft nights, and coffee pop-ups to support fiction genres such as romance, thrillers, literary fiction, and nonromantic fantasy. “We wanted to create more than a bookstore. Our vision is to have a place where you can hang out, meet new friends, and engage in the community,” says Glines. “We knew it was important to have a place where women felt comfortable and safe buying books that might be considered taboo in certain environments.”
Beyond comfort, some bookstores hope to offer readers a safe space. The Lavender Bookshop in Marietta exclusively carries books by authors who feature LGBTQ+ characters or stories across a variety of genres. “I’ve purposefully set up my store in a way that leaves areas for people to just spend time, even if they aren’t shopping,” says owner Sara Williford, who opened the store in 2024. “It gives them a place to be comfortable and meet others.”
Books & Brew opened as a hybrid book bar in Tucker last year as a place for the neighborhood to gather beyond the traditional bar and club scene. It serves a selection of beer, wine, tea, and coffee, along with fare such as charcuterie boards and protein bowls. “It needed to be a place where people could feel like they were home,” says Quinelle Bhandari, who owns Books & Brew along with her husband, Nate, and her mother, Irene Bethelmie.
The same goes for Grace and Tyler Smith, who opened Wild Aster Books in Chamblee earlier this year. They wanted to create a beloved adult- and child-friendly space in their neighborhood. “I envisioned it to be kind of like the attic in Little Women, super whimsical, and have that Victorian vibe to it,” says Grace.
As Atlanta continues to expand its bookstore scene, these spaces become even more sacred. “I think the resurgence of bookstores reflects a deep desire among consumers for tangible, meaningful experiences,” says Gay from Sincerely Yours. “It’s about more than just books. It’s about belonging.”
William McNeil, a 22-year-old Black college student who was violently pulled from his car and beaten by officers during a traffic stop, is suing the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday (September 10), McNeil filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that Jacksonville officers violated his rights during the February traffic stop, which he says left him with a traumatic brain injury, facial injuries, and long-term emotional trauma, per HuffPost.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, names Officer D. Bowers, Officer D. Miller, Sheriff T.K. Waters, the City of Jacksonville, and Duval County as defendants, accusing them of excessive force, racial profiling, and failing to train and discipline officers appropriately.
“It’s an unjustifiable, unnecessary, and most importantly, unconstitutional use of force,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing McNeil alongside attorney Harry Daniels, said in a statement.
McNeil was pulled over on February 19 for allegedly failing to turn on his headlights and wear a seatbelt. Now-viral video shows McNeil questioning why he was stopped and asking to speak to a supervisor before Bowers smashed his window, pulled him from the vehicle, and punched him in the face.
Despite widespread backlash over the video, prosecutors declined to bring charges against the officers in August, stating that Bowers had issued “a dozen lawful commands” which McNeil ignored.
“This was police violence at its most blatant,” Crump said. “My client remained calm. It was the officers—trained to de-escalate—who did the opposite.”
McNeil’s injuries included a fractured tooth, cuts to his face, and a diagnosis of ongoing traumatic brain injury. He also experiences nightmares and flashbacks, consistent with PTSD, his attorneys said.
McNeil’s attorneys are also calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into what they describe as a pattern of excessive force and systemic failures in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
“This lawsuit isn’t just about justice for William,” Crump said. “It’s about holding a system accountable that continues to brutalize Black bodies without consequence.”
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London — Prince Harry made a rare trip back to the United Kingdom this week, and while most of the visit was filled with public events at charities the Duke of Sussex supports, he also met with his father, King Charles III, for the first time since February 2024.
Harry has said previously that he wants to rebuild his relationship with his family, which has been strained since he and his wife Meghan formally stepped down from their roles as working royals and moved to California.
This meeting was at Buckingham Palace, the monarch’s official residence in London. CBS News has been told they met privately, for tea, but that all other details of the encounter were private.
While Harry hasn’t been a “working royal” for a couple years, he seemed keen to show on this visit to his home nation that he is still prince charming.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives for a visit to the Community Recording Studio in St. Anns, Sept. 9, 2025, in Nottingham, England.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
The four-day visit was a clear effort to show he hasn’t lost any love for the causes he holds dear, including supporting sick children and wounded military veterans.
Absent on this trip were Harry’s wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
In an interview with CBS News’ partner network BBC News in May, Harry said he couldn’t envision bringing them all back to the U.K. with him since he has lost a legal bid to have his downgraded state security detail restored.
Harry said his battle with the U.K. government to get full state-security restored for himself and his family during visits back to Britain caused a rift between himself and his father.
“Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile,” he told the BBC.
That reconciliation may have begun on Wednesday. Harry arrived at Buckingham Palace in the afternoon and was seen leaving less than an hour later.
Prince Harry is seen in the back of a vehicle as he arrives at Clarence House, the official residence of his father King Charles III, Sept. 10, 2025, in London, England.
Ben Montgomery/Getty
The father and son relationship is not the only bond that has been strained by the circumstances of Harry and Meghan’s departure — and the prince’s tell-all book “Spare,” and their interviews, and a documentary, in which they were highly critical of their treatment at the hands of the royal family.
It has been even longer since Harry met with his brother, Prince William, who is next in line to sit on the British throne.
This week, Prince William and Harry appeared at charity events at the same time, only about 10 miles from each other. But those who follow the royal family say they remain far apart.
“William and Harry haven’t seen each other in person since 2022, since the late queen’s funeral. And I believe they haven’t spoken personally for the same period. So, there’s been no contact,” Roya Nikkhah, the royal editor for the Sunday Times newspaper, told CBS News on Tuesday. “There’s no chance that William and Harry are going to meet up anytime soon… There is no desire on either side to do that. You know, the brothers haven’t seen each other for such a long time and relations are as bad as they’ve ever been — non-existent.”
Located in Sandy Springs, this new location marks the company’s seventh opening in the last year, bringing its physical presence to 10 total clinics across the U.S., in addition to virtual care nationwide. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
knownwell, the first-of-its-kind weight-inclusive primary care and metabolic health company, officially unveiled the physical expansion of its care offering to the metro Atlanta area.
Located in Sandy Springs, this new location marks the company’s seventh opening in the last year. It brings the company’s physical presence to 10 clinics across the U.S., in addition to virtual care nationwide.
Coming on the heels of knownwell’s most recent opening last month in Woburn, Massachusetts, the new Atlanta location will continue to advance the company’s mission to deliver care, free of bias and shame, for individuals affected by overweight or obesity.
Offering comprehensive metabolic health services, including the prescription of GLP-1s, nutrition, and behavioral counseling, knownwell’s goal is not solely to help patients lose weight, but to provide a space where their health problems are not dismissed or written off because of their weight.
knownwell, the first-of-its-kind weight-inclusive primary care and metabolic health company, officially unveiled the physical expansion of its care offering to the metro Atlanta area. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice
Having struggled with obesity since childhood, Brooke Boyarksy Pratt, CEO and co-founder of knownwell, says she is extremely passionate about bringing inclusive care to communities across the U.S.
“Georgia has one of the highest obesity rates in America, yet few options for obesity-focused health services exist, leaving its residents underserved and without access to the comprehensive, compassionate care they deserve,” she said. “knownwell’s arrival in Atlanta is the next step in our nationwide expansion and continued goal to reach more lives across the U.S.”
The importance of bringing the clinic to Atlanta, Pratt says, is for patients with overweight and obesity conditions who are looking for thoughtful, comprehensive health care.
“We take Medicare, Medicaid, and other commercial insurance. We’re super accessible,” she said.
Pratt also said many patients avoid care because of their size as well which another reason they wanted to expand to other markets.
“We’ve made the clinic that’s literally and physically comfortable for patients, regardless of their body size,” she said. “There’s interesting research that suggests that it’s not just about the doctor, but also how they are treated by the front desk or in the billing department
As for services, knownwell offers two primary things, which is inclusive primary care and specific metabolic care. The primary care, she describes, is thoughtful and accepts patients as they are and includes normal primary care such as physicals, preventive screenings, and virtual care.
Metabolic care, she says, offers patients ways to lose weight, manage diabetes, and focusing on managing hypertension.
“With those patients, we help them with those wellness goals,” she said.
Atlanta Market Development Lead Clinician Ijeoma Azonobi says she is thrilled to bring the knownwell model of care to Atlanta, a model that puts the patients at the center, offering compassion, respect, and evidence-based treatment.
“Our community deserves healthcare that makes them feel seen and supported, while addressing the full spectrum of their health needs, not just a number on the scale. I am excited to make that a reality here,” she said.
It was President Trump who announced that conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk had died after he was shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The president, who was close to Kirk, praised his appeal to young Americans and mourned him in a social media post.
“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. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
He also ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday evening to honor Kirk.
Later Wednesday evening, Mr. Trump released a video statement about Kirk, blaming the “radical left” for his killing. “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he said in a video posted to Truth Social. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.”
Democratic and Republican politicians alike condemned Kirk’s murder.
File: Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, enters the plaza and talks with his supporters, May 1, 2025.
Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Biden says there’s “no place in our country for this kind of violence”
Former President Joe Biden decried the attack on Kirk in a post on social media.
“There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones,” he said in a post shared to X.
Obama calls Kirk’s killing an act of “despicable violence”
Former President Barack Obama condemned the shooting, calling it “despicable violence” in a post on X.
“We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,” Obama said. “Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Bush says “violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square”
In a statement, former President George W. Bush said: “Today, a young man was murdered in cold blood while expressing his political views. It happened on a college campus, where the open exchange of opposing ideas should be sacrosanct.”
“Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square. Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens. May God bless Charlie Kirk and his family, and may God guide America toward civility,” he said.
Bill Clinton calls for “serious introspection”
Former President Bill Clinton said in a social media post that he was “saddened and angered” by the shooting.
“I hope we all go through some serious introspection and redouble our efforts to engage in debate passionately, yet peacefully,” he said.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox “heartbroken” over Kirk’s death, vows justice will be served
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said that he and his wife are “heartbroken” about Kirk’s death, and said they are praying for the conservative activist’s wife and two children.
“I just got off the phone with President Trump. Working with the FBI and Utah law enforcement, we will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy,” he wrote in a social media post on X.
Cox later said there is a “person of interest in custody” in connection with Kirk’s shooting. His comments came shortly after FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The subject for the horrific shooting” is in custody.
However, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said a suspect is still at large.
Patel later said on social media, “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” but it was not clear who he was talking about.
Sen. Mike Lee praises Kirk’s “boundless energy and great love for his country”
Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah told CBS News he spoke with Mr. Trump about Kirk, and said the president told him, “‘I’m sure they’ll stay after him,'” referring to the shooting suspect, and “‘they need to catch this guy.'”
“Whether you agree with him or not, you have to respect his boundless energy, his commitment to making the world a better place,” Lee also said.
In a post on X, Lee called Kirk an “American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great.”
He condemned Kirk’s murder, writing on X that it was “a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation.”
“The terrorists will not win,” he continued. “Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson says Kirk will be “sorely missed”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters that Kirk was “a close friend” and “confidant.”
“He will be sorely missed,” he said. “And we need every political leader to decry the violence and do it loudly.”
Eric Trump says Trump properties will fly flags at half-staff
Eric Trump described Kirk as a “dear friend” to the entire Trump family. He said all Trump properties would fly their flags at half-staff to honor him.
Donald Trump Jr.: “I love you brother”
Donald Trump Jr, who was close with Kirk, wrote on social media: “I love you brother. You gave so many people the courage to speak up and we will not ever be silenced.”
“There is no question that Charlie’s work and his voice helped my father win the presidency,” Trump Jr. wrote in a lengthy follow-up post. “He changed the direction of this nation…I know Charlie’s legacy doesn’t end here. He poured into millions of young people who will carry forward the torch he lit. He built something that will outlast him, because it was grounded in faith, in truth, and in courage. And as his friend, I will never forget him. I’ll honor him by loving boldly, speaking truth without fear, and continuing his spirit of courage. His fight lives on in all of us who loved him. This is an unimaginable loss.”
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, Republican of Kentucky, said shooting was “awful”
GOP House Oversight Chairman James Comer of Kentucky said he watched the video of the shooting and said it was “awful.”
“It’s just, it’s just terrible. I mean, I think we’ve been saying for months now the political temperature is too high in America, and we’ve got to tone it back,” Comer told CBS News. “And political violence is on the rise. And, you know, I know that most of my colleagues and myself included are getting a lot more threatening calls, and it’s just, it’s a terrible environment now and again. I just feel awful for Charlie Kirk and his young family.”
GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina: Kirk meant a lot to “the right to speak freely and share your beliefs”
Rep. Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina, told CBS News at the Capitol that “there’s no room for violence, and it’s terrible. She said she’s encouraged by the bipartisan response to the attack on Kirk and noted the House Oversight Committee had paused for a moment of prayer for Kirk.
Foxx told CBS News that Kirk represented “a category of people in our culture that’s very important,” and noted he was “very proud of the fact that he doesn’t have a college degree.”
“He means a lot, and he means a lot, not just to the conservative movement and to the, and to that aspect of our culture, but again, the right to speak freely and share your beliefs and be safe in our country, and it’s just so unfortunate. It’s unfortunate when anybody has violence perpetrated on them, whether you’re liberal or conservative. It’s just wrong.”
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia: “There really aren’t words”
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said of Kirk’s shooting, “There really aren’t words,” and told reporters that it will “be hard for anybody to fill his shoes.”
“Charlie Kirk leaves a huge legacy,” she said.
GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas suggests Kirk’s killing “is going to be one of those things that, you know, changes some things”
Far right Republican Chip Roy said of Kirk, “This is a guy that you can disagree with him — I disagreed with him on most things.” But Roy admired that “he was trying to open up dialog and engage in civil discourse across college campus, appeal even those that disagree with them.”
Roy suggested that Kirk’s murder, “is going to be one of those things that you know changes some things.”
“I haven’t quite yet figured out how or what, but you know, it’s, you know, this one, this one hits,” he told reporters at the Capitol.
“We should be able to speak freely and speak with passion and regard about what we believe, without it coming to that. That’s the thing … we’re here for something bigger and greater than all of ourselves,” Charlie lived it, tweeted out three days ago about his faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so, I know where he is.”
He blamed “a country that’s turning its back on our collective faith as a nation,” saying that “this is why we’re seeing a breakdown and our ability to band together. We got to do something about that.”
GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna blames Democrats
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, blamed Democrats for Kirk’s shooting. “They did cause this — that type of rhetoric. You calling people fascists? You basically saying that we’re Nazis, taking away people’s rights. Charlie Kirk was literally murdered,” she told reporters. Law enforcement does not have a suspect in custody.
Nancy Pelosi calls shooting “reprehensible”
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, condemned the shooting in a post on X, calling it “reprehensible.”
“Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation,” she said, adding Americans should “hold the entire UVU community in our hearts as they endure the trauma of this gun violence.”
Pelosi, whose husband Paul Pelosi was bludgeoned with a hammer by a man who broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home in 2022, has frequently condemned political violence.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls on Americans to “engage with each other”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who hosted Kirk on his podcast earlier this year, wrote on social media that Kirk’s killing is “a reminder of how important it is for all of us, across the political spectrum, to foster genuine discourse on issues that deeply affect us all without resorting to political violence.”
“The best way to honor Charlie’s memory is to continue his work: engage with each other, across ideology, through spirited discourse. In a democracy, ideas are tested through words and good-faith debate — never through violence,” Newsom said. “Honest disagreement makes us stronger; violence only drives us further apart and corrodes the values at the heart of this nation.”
Conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk died after he was shot at an event at Utah Valley University. Scott MacFarlane, Robert Costa, Ed O’Keefe and Kris Van Cleave have details.
The Missouri House on Tuesday approved a congressional map designed to weaken one of the state’s two Democratic incumbents, intensifying the partisan redistricting battles that are shaping the political landscape ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
The measure, which passed in late August by a 90-to-65 vote, makes Missouri the second Republican-led state to adopt a plan targeting the seats of Black Democratic representatives. The Missouri Democrat most impacted, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), said that he will run for re-election. Earlier this summer, Texas Republicans pushed through a map that could put as many as five Democratic lawmakers at risk. Democrats in California have mounted a counteroffensive of their own: last month, the Legislature advanced a proposal to the ballot that would reshape five Republican-held districts.
As the vote was taking place in Missouri, thirteen members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Rep. Cleaver, spoke emphatically about the state of play for Black elected officials targeted by redistricting. They spoke about what happened in Texas and how they knew that other states would follow. The group was strong in their statements on the current situation. “Texas has more African Americans than any other state in this country right now. Under the proposed maps, they want to make it so that Texas only has two districts in which African Americans have an opportunity to choose their representation. What does that mean for black voices in Texas? That means that it is approximately 1/5 the voting strength of their white Texan neighbors. That is what is going to be, not three-fifths, but we are going to be reduced to 1/5, so my colleagues have laid out a number of things that they believe are going on as to why it is that this is happening. But I’m going to start with number one, Trump himself. He’s racist,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas).
“We will not be silenced. They’ve tried to bury us before, not knowing that we were seeds. We will grow and we will be resilient, just as we have time and time before,” added Crockett. “We are about to experience something that we never thought we’d see in our lifetimes, especially after having experienced what happened at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which is probably the reason a good many of us in Congress are in Congress. It was at the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday that John Lewis and a host of other people of goodwill suffered grave, gross, and inhumane injustices… Bloody Sunday is the reason we have the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We would not but for Bloody Sunday,” said Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). “We are going to fight this. We are not going to back down. And I believe that the Voting Rights Act will be upheld and that these maps in Texas will be overturned. But again, Texas is just the beginning. This is a nationwide fight, and it’s bigger than who holds the majority in the House of Representatives. This is about maintaining our democracy and our republic,” Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas). When asked by Black Press USA whether or not there is an actual plan to combat what is happening to Black elected officials around the country, several members answered yes. Rep. Veasey added that perhaps there needed to be a special group to deal with the redistricting attacks against Black members at the DNC. The members also relayed that legal strategies are ongoing, and in some cases have been for years, on redistricting.
A sold-out crowd at the Eastern welcomed Garbage on their 2025 tour on Monday night. Garbage has carved out a legacy by blending rock, electronica, and pop into a sound that’s both darkly cinematic and defiantly catchy. At the Eastern, frontwoman Shirley Manson—still as magnetic and uncompromising as when the band first broke through in the ’90s—commanded the stage with her mix of grit and glamour. Three decades on, Garbage continues to prove why their music resonate. Opening for Garbage was Starcrawler, a Los Angeles band formed in 2015 and fronted by Arrow de Wilde. Here, check out the scenes photographer Perry Julien captured at the show.
Turning Point USA’s Arizona headquarters blocked off after Charlie Kirk shooting – CBS News
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Turning Point USA’s Arizona headquarters were blocked off and employees were sent home early following the shooting of co-founder Charlie Kirk. CBS News’ Kris Van Cleave has more.
(CNN) — Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed Wednesday after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He was 31.
As Trump remade the Republican Party, Kirk embodied the party’s newfound populist conservatism in the social media age. Trump has credited Kirk with galvanizing and mobilizing the youth vote for him.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” the president wrote. “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
Kirk, himself a college dropout, was influential with college students and young voters — not only in helping to elect Trump to the presidency but also to inspire a new movement of conservative activists. His involvement began in the wake of the tea party movement and grew with Trump’s ascendance.
Having co-founded Turning Point in 2012 at the age of 18, Kirk was a prominent supporter of Trump who courted young voters and used his network of nonprofits to seek to turn out voters on campuses and churches for Trump in 2024.
Kirk frequently traveled to college campuses, speaking and taking questions from audience members in exchanges that often led to viral videos. Kirk’s appearance at Utah Valley University on Wednesday was the first of a 14-city fall “American Comeback Tour.”
Kirk was answering a question at the event when a single pop was heard. Video taken by attendees shows the crowd screaming as Kirk recoiled in his seat and appeared to reach for his neck.
The scene after Charlie Kirk was shot on Wednesday. Credit: Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune / Reuters via CNN Newsource
Among those in attendance was former US Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican. He said on Fox News he was at the event with his wife, daughter and son-in-law. He said Kirk “came out, he was throwing hats, riling up the crowd,” and then started taking questions before the shot rang out.
“I was watching Charlie. I can’t say that I saw blood. I can’t say that I saw him get hit, but I did see him fall immediately backwards into his left,” he said.
The American Comeback Tour had Kirk’s signature “Prove Me Wrong Table,” where he would urge those who disagreed with him to debate an issue.
Kirk traveled with a private security contingent, a Turning Point USA aide traveling on the tour told CNN, whether he was speaking to large rallies like the one in Orem, Utah, or at smaller events.
Kirk most recently appeared in the Oval Office in May, attending the swearing-in ceremony of Judge Jeanine Pirro as US attorney for Washington, DC.
The president and dozens of other Kirk allies – as well as Democrats who had sharp disagreements with him – posted well-wishes and calls for prayer online in the wake of the shooting.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with moderator Charlie Kirk during a Generation Next White House forum in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2018. Credit: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP via CNN Newsource
Kirk argued Trump was saving the American dream
Kirk was known for debating college students about abortion rights, which he opposed; climate change, which he downplayed; and transgender rights, which he rejected. He frequently sought to rally young people around traditional gender roles. He also backed Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
Kirk spoke at the last three Republican conventions. In 2024, he said that marriage and home ownership were elusive for too many young Americans, and faulted former President Joe Biden.
“Under Biden, our young people own nothing and they are miserable. Donald Trump refuses to accept this fake, pathetic, mutilated version of the American dream,” he said. “Donald Trump is on a rescue mission to revive your birthright, one your grandparents and those before them gave everything to hand down to you.”
Kirk was an outspoken advocate for gun rights.
At an April 2023 Turning Point USA Faith event, he said that “you will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won’t have a single gun death.”
But, Kirk added, “I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks before Donald Trump arrives at the Turning Point Believers’ Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, in July 2024. Credit: Alex Brandon / AP via CNN Newsource
He started in politics as a teenager
Kirk got his first experience in politics as a student at Wheeling High School in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, when he volunteered for the winning 2010 Senate campaign of Republican former Sen. Mark Kirk.
He earned national attention in 2012 when, as a high school senior, he wrote in Breitbart News that high school students were being indoctrinated by liberal textbooks. He briefly attended Harper College, but dropped out to become a full-time conservative activist, and went on to argue that college is unnecessary for many people.
Kirk and retired businessman and conservative activist Bill Montgomery co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012. The two had met when Kirk was 18, at a speaking engagement at Benedictine University that followed his Breitbart piece. The organization was quickly backed by a roster of major Republican donors, including Foster Friess.
He went on to become a best-selling author and well-known media personality who hosted a daily three-hour show.
In 2021, Kirk married Erika Frantzve, with whom he shared two young children.
This story has been updated with additional details.
