Trump reveals Kirk shooting suspect in custody
During an appearance on the Fox New program “Fox and Friends” this morning, President Trump revealed that a suspect is in custody in the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody,” Trump said. The suspect was later identified by Utah officials as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. CNN’s sources said that the man confessed to his father that he was the shooter. His father told authorities and said he had secured his son until he could be formally detained. The FBI had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter. Robinson was identified as the person seen in videos and photos that investigators had accumulated. The Utah Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation along with the FBI.
Threats at Black colleges and universities
Multiple historically Black colleges and universities in the South went on lockdown or canceled classes are getting back to normal today following the cancellation of classes on Thursday because of potential threats. Hampton University, Virginia State University, Bethune-Cookman University and Alabama State University were among several schools that reported receiving potential threats to campus safety. Spelman and Morehouse Colleges in Atlanta also briefly issued shelter-in-place orders after neighboring Clark Atlanta University received a threat. The alerts came a day after Charlie Kirk was killed in a campus shooting in Utah — and amid a wave of active shooter hoaxes nationwide. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the threats as “despicable” and urged the Justice Department to investigate them as domestic terrorism.
Stock market closed above 46,000
Stocks surged to record highs on Thursday after August inflation data largely met expectations, bolstering hopes the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this month. The Dow jumped 617 points, or 1.36%, to close at 46,108 — its first time above 46,000. The milestone marks a symbolic win for the blue-chip index, highlighting the market’s resilience despite tariff concerns and signs of weakness in the economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.85%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.72%. All three major indexes closed at record highs. Traders are now pricing in a 93% chance that the Fed will cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point when policymakers meet next week.
South Korean workers arrive home
More than 300 South Korean workers detained by immigration authorities in Georgia last week arrived home today on a chartered flight, ending a saga that has strained U.S.-South Korea ties. A recent ICE raid at a Hyundai-LG Energy Solution plant in southeast Georgia sparked dismay in South Korea after workers were chained up during the raid and held in detention for days. South Korea’s top diplomat then rushed to Washington to negotiate their release, while public fury swelled back home over what many see as a slap in the face from their longtime ally. It’s not yet clear what lies ahead for the workers, or what the future of Korean investment in the U.S. may look like.
Uber sued by government
The U.S. government sued Uber on Thursday, accusing the ride-sharing company of disability discrimination. In a federal complaint, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Uber drivers routinely refuse to serve people with disabilities, including riders who travel with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. The DOJ also said Uber and its drivers impose impermissible surcharges by charging cleaning fees for service animals and cancellation fees to riders who are denied service. The suit seeks to bar further alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, changes to Uber’s practices, monetary damages and a civil fine. Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Republicans change Senate rules to give themselves more power
Republicans jammed through a change to Senate rules on Thursday that will allow them to more quickly confirm many of President Trump’s nominees. The move came over the objections of Democrats after bipartisan negotiations collapsed. The rules change vote was 45-53. Republican senators have complained for months that Democrats have abandoned what they call Senate “precedent” that allowed confirmation of many lower-level jobs by voice vote or unanimous consent and in groups of nominees, not just individually. The Republicans’ rule change will apply only to executive branch civilian nominees, not Cabinet members nor the judiciary.
