Liberal professors’ group backs faculty speech after Charlie Kirk assassination, silent on condemning attack
The nation’s leading professors’ group defended faculty speech rights after the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, but stopped short of condemning his killing. Rather, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), founded in 1915, called for leaders of universities to avoid “political pressure” to fire faculty members over comments made about the conservative powerhouse in the aftermath of his death. “The AAUP notes with great alarm the rash of recent administrative actions to discipline faculty, staff, and student speech in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk,” the AAUP wrote in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “We write to remind leaders of colleges and universities of their fundamental duty to protect academic freedom and the absolute necessity to ensure that the freedom to discuss topics of public import without constraint is not curtailed under political pressure.” ‘SLEEPING GIANT’ LIKELY WOKE UP FOR TURNING POINT USA AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION “At a moment when higher education is threatened by forces that seek to destroy it and its role in a democratic society, the anticipatory obedience shown by this rush to judgment must be avoided,” it continued. Prior to that statement Monday, the AAUP only released a statement last week condemning “the recent and recurring bomb and terroristic threats against multiple historically Black colleges and universities,” but no separate statement condemning Kirk’s assassination. The AAUP has 44,000 members, according to its website. The AAUP published material about TPUSA in October 2024, accusing the organization of engaging in “racist, homophobic and transphobic speech while on campus,” and described Kirk as a “professional provocateur,” saying he “has built a career perfecting how to provoke college students,” and is “actively hostile to higher education.” CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING DETAILS ATTACK, MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT Faculty were also encouraged to hold administrators accountable for bringing Kirk or TPUSA events to campus through petitions, votes of no confidence and pressuring donors. Professors were advised to add syllabus language or push for campus policies restricting unauthorized classroom filming, as TPUSA-affiliated students have recorded left-wing professors and submit their names to the organization’s Professor Watchlist. When asked by Fox News Digital whether it stands by its past descriptions of Kirk and TPUSA — and how it balances support for faculty with the principles of academic freedom and free speech for groups it opposes — the AAUP said: “Colleges and universities should exercise restraint and not interfere with legitimate invitations to outside speakers, except in the most extraordinary circumstances where strong evidence of imminent danger justifies rescinding an invitation.” The AAUP did not answer a follow-up question about whether TPUSA and Kirk fall under the “extraordinary circumstances” where “danger” justifies revoking an invitation to college campuses. The AAUP has long staked out progressive positions in higher education, frequently siding with faculty who oppose restricting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Last year, the group also reversed its longtime opposition to academic boycotts policies. PASTOR RECALLS LAST MOMENTS WITH CHARLIE KIRK: ‘AMERICAN MARTYR’ Conservative leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and Attorney General Pam Bondi have demanded accountability for rhetoric they argue fosters hostility toward conservatives and can escalate into violence. Meanwhile, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has urged an “off-ramp” from the cycle of political antagonism. FBI Director Kash Patel said people who know primary suspect Tyler Robinson, including family members, have told investigators that Robinson “subscribed to left-wing ideology.” Family members also allege Robinson expressed hatred for Kirk’s views. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Since Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10 on his “American Comeback Tour,” multiple higher education educators and administrators have been investigated, suspended or fired for social-media posts celebrating or justifying his death. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Education for comment.
Gun seller takes stand in Trump assassination attempt trial with key testimony about rifle purchase
The Justice Department plans to call a fresh lineup of witnesses Wednesday as the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024, enters its eighth day. Prosecutors told the court they expect testimony from Ronnie Jay Oxendine, the man who allegedly sold Routh the rifle tied to the case, as well as multiple FBI agents and specialists. The list includes Patrick M. Lantry, a task force officer with the FBI; Aaron Thompson; Matthew S. Perry, an FBI special agent; Garett L. Foo, an FBI special agent; and Laura E. Haller, an FBI special agent and digital forensic examiner. Also scheduled are Lazaro and Samuel Plata, whose testimony will be aided by two Spanish-English translators in the courtroom. FBI PHONE EXTRACTIONS, DNA TESTIMONY HEADLINE DAY 7 OF RYAN ROUTH TRIAL Tuesday’s proceedings centered on forensic evidence from Routh’s alleged phones and DNA. Jurors saw WhatsApp messages and texts allegedly recovered from Routh’s seized devices, including one exchange where Routh wrote, “I hate him… shan’t get elected again,” referring to Trump. Another message read, “If I can help just let me know what to do.” TRUMP TRIAL CONTINUES WITH MORE FBI TESTIMONY AFTER RIFLE CALLED ‘PREPARED TO FIRE’ FBI experts also testified that Routh’s DNA was strongly linked to the rifle grip, a bag, a glove and other items prosecutors say were found in the alleged sniper’s nest. Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon kept a tight rein on the pace of testimony, pressing prosecutors to shorten questioning and reminding Routh — who is representing himself — to stop interrupting. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP With prosecutors expected to rest their case by the end of the week, Wednesday’s testimony could prove pivotal as jurors weigh the government’s evidence against the self-represented defendant who will bring his witnesses forward beginning next week.
Kash Patel faces House grilling after tense Senate clashes over Kirk assassination
FBI Director Kash Patel is testifying before House lawmakers on Wednesday in a hearing focused on the bureau’s dramatic reforms in the second Trump administration and the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. Patel is facing questions in five-minute rounds from Republicans and Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee as part of an annual oversight hearing, marking the director’s second appearance in as many days on Capitol Hill after he testified before the Senate one day prior. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, raised what he said was a weaponization of the FBI against conservatives, reviving concerns his committee regularly brought up during FBI Director Christopher Wray’s tenure. Jordan praised Patel for what he said was a course correction. “No more spying on parents at school board meetings,” Jordan said in his opening remarks. “No more pre-dawn raids on pro-life Catholics, no more retaliation against whistle-blowers, and he’s given us information that Chris Wray didn’t. Maybe said better, he’s given us information that Chris Wray wouldn’t.” ‘MOST TRANSPARENT’ FBI EVER: PATEL UPDATES SENATE ON KIRK ASSASSINATION PROBE Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University last week has been both unifying for House lawmakers and at times led to criticisms about Patel’s handling of the investigation and sparked broader debate over the driving causes of political violence. Jordan opened the hearing by calling Kirk a “good man” and “happy warrior,” while ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., called the shooting incident horrifying and shocking and said, “We all stand together categorically against political violence in America.” Early on in the hearing, Patel faced sharp rebukes and tough questions from House Democrats about the controversial firings of senior FBI officials and Jeffrey Epstein, a sore subject for the Trump administration amid a rocky rollout of information related to the disgraced financier’s sex trafficking case. Patel addressed similar concerns from Senate Democrats one day prior, as they zeroed in on Patel’s limited law enforcement experience and accusations that the firings of top FBI officials had happened without proper due process. FBI INVESTIGATING ‘A LOT MORE’ THAN 20 PEOPLE IN DISCORD CHATS WITH SUSPECTED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN Patel, a former public defender who worked in the first Trump administration, opened the hearing by addressing Kirk’s assassination, taking credit for being the one to decide to release video footage of the suspect, Peter Robinson, which Patel said prompted the suspect’s parents to recognize him. Patel also warned there was little more he could say at this stage, aside from what authorities have already revealed about Robinson, in light of his ongoing state prosecution for murder and the lingering possibility of federal charges. “It’s important for this FBI to be transparent without jeopardizing our investigation,” Patel told the committee. Raskin criticized Patel for initially misstating on social media that the alleged killer was in custody, echoing concerns raised by Sen. Pete Welch, D-Vt., and other Democrats during the Senate hearing. “When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, while his killer was still on the loose, you decided you didn’t need to be at FBI headquarters in Washington to work with your team,” Raskin said. “While the chaotic manhunt unfolded, you spent your evening dining in a swanky midtown Manhattan restaurant and tweeting out false information that the subject of the shooting was in custody, a statement you had to retract one hour later.” Patel has conceded that he could have worded his social media post better but that he does not regret it because he issued it in the name of transparency. The Department of Justice’s handling of Epstein’s sex trafficking case is another topic expected to crop up throughout the hearing. President Donald Trump’s base has long demanded more information about the case, but in a turnabout, DOJ leadership said this year there was nothing further they could disclose to the public about it.
Donald Trump’s first vice president snags new job
Former Vice President Mike Pence is heading back to school. Pence, who served as vice president during President Donald Trump’s first term in the White House but who later ran against his former boss in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, is joining George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government as a distinguished professor of practice. The northern Virginia-based school said that Pence will begin teaching undergraduate courses and public-facing seminars starting in next year’s spring semester. The school, in a Tuesday announcement, also said that Pence will be available via moderated discussions and mentorship programs with students pursuing degrees in political science, law, public administration and related fields. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE RECEIVES JFK ‘PROFILE IN COURAGE’ AWARD Schar School Dean Mark Rozell said that the former vice president’s “disciplined approach to communication and his deeply rooted conservative philosophy provide a principled framework to discussions of federalism, the separation of powers, and the role of values in public life.” And Pence, in a statement, said that “throughout my years of public service, I have seen firsthand the importance of principled leadership and fidelity to the Constitution in shaping the future of our nation. I look forward to sharing these lessons with the next generation of American leaders and learning from the remarkable students and faculty of George Mason University.” CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING, ANALYSIS AND OPINION ON MIKE PENCE The now-66-year-old Pence, a former congressman, was Indiana’s governor when Trump named him his running mate in 2016. For four years, Pence served as the loyal vice president to Trump during the president’s first term in the White House. However, everything changed on Jan. 6, 2021, as pro-Trump protesters — including some chanting “hang Mike Pence” — stormed the U.S. Capitol aiming to upend congressional certification of now-former President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, a process overseen by Pence in his constitutional role as vice president. The attack on the Capitol took place soon after Trump spoke to a large rally of supporters near the White House about unproven claims that the 2020 election was “rigged” due to massive “voter fraud.” Pence rejected the advice of the Secret Service that he flee the Capitol, and after the rioters were eventually removed from the Capitol, he resumed his constitutional role in overseeing the congressional certification ceremony. The former vice president has repeatedly refuted Trump’s claim that he could have overturned the presidential election results. Despite that, Trump loyalists have never forgiven Pence, whom they view as a traitor, for refusing to assist the president’s repeated efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Pence in June 2023 launched a presidential campaign of his own, joining a large field of challengers to Trump gunning for the 2024 GOP nomination, becoming the first running mate in over 80 years to run against their former boss. Pence ran on a traditional conservative platform, framing the future of the Republican Party against what he called the rise of “populism” in the party. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Among the slim anti-Trump base of the Republican Party, Pence received praise for his courage during the attack on the Capitol, often receiving thanks at town halls during his campaign for standing up to Trump. While Pence regularly campaigned in the crucial early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, his White House bid never took off. Struggling in the polls and with fundraising, he suspended his campaign just four and a half months after declaring his candidacy.
Senate Republicans brand looming crisis a ‘Schumer Shutdown’ as Democrats dig in
Senate Republicans are calling foul on Senate Democrats’ opposition to the GOP’s short-term plan to keep the government funded, calling it hypocritical. House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled their seven-week funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), which congressional Republicans argue is as “clean” as can be. That means that the bill largely lacks any additional spending or policy riders. But Senate Democrats have dug in deep on their rejection of the proposal, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown come Sept. 30. It comes after Democrats previously warned Republicans not to use government funding as a political weapon when Democrats were in charge of the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., will ultimately need Democrats to pass a government funding patch. GOP UNVEILS PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, INCLUDES $30M SECURITY HIKE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK KILLING He argued that under former President Joe Biden’s administration, Senate Democrats overwhelmingly voted for 13 CRs. “Ninety-six percent of the Democrats voted for all 13 of those,” Thune said. “This is, again, a new practice that’s been invented because of Trump Derangement Syndrome, and because these Democrats hate giving this president anything.” Senate Republicans are now titling the possibility of a partial government shutdown as a “Schumer Shutdown,” given Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus’ unwillingness to support the GOP-authored bill. “Now, all of a sudden, they can’t vote for it? It’s ridiculous,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told Fox News Digital. “That’s exactly where they’re coming from, and it should be called the ‘Schumer Shutdown.’” HOUSE REPUBLICANS SPLIT WITH TRUMP TEAM OVER ‘VERY FRUSTRATING’ FUNDING FIGHT AS SHUTDOWN LOOMS When asked why Democrats were entrenched against the Republicans’ bill, given their previous push for clean stopgaps, Schumer argued that “we’re in a much different situation” after the GOP passed President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” the $9 billion clawback of foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, and the administration’s move to claw back an additional $5 billion in foreign aid. He also ripped Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for not sitting down with him and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to negotiate a spending deal. Thune countered that his office is right around the corner from Schumer’s. “They even refuse to have bipartisan negotiations,” Schumer said. “We’ve always had bipartisan negotiations on this. Johnson put his bill in. No Democratic input, and that is why the Republicans are heading for us for a shutdown. We don’t want it.” Part of the disagreement with the bill also stemmed from Trump’s edict that Republicans shouldn’t “even bother” with Democrats and that “we have to get Republican votes.” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told Fox News Digital that all Democrats needed was for Trump “to take back what he said about the process needing to be more partisan rather than less.” “If they go it alone, then it’s not unreasonable for us to say, ‘We wish you the best, but you won’t be getting our votes,’” Schatz said. Despite the saber-rattling, they haven’t said precisely what they dislike about the House GOP’s offering. They say it’s not so much about what’s in the bill, but rather what’s not. TRUMP’S FOREIGN AID CLAWBACK RATTLES SENATE AHEAD OF FUNDING FIGHT The top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., told Fox News Digital that it was a “lack of language on impoundments and the pocket rescission, things like that that we’ve been talking about.” The other part is that the CR does not contain an extension to ObamaCare premium subsidies passed during the COVID-19 pandemic that are set to expire in December. Democrats argue that an extension should be attached to the stopgap because insurance providers are teeing up new insurance rates ahead of the Nov. 1 open enrollment start date for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, argued that lawmakers could wait until November to move on an extension. “You can wait,” Collins said. “Because… they can keep the eligibility criteria steady for next year and have the revised eligibility.” While Schumer and Democrats are expected to give Thune headaches throughout the ordeal, he may have to wrangle some fiscal hawks weary of CRs on his side of the aisle, too. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., argued that the spending levels set in the House GOP’s bill were the same as those set under Biden, which Republicans “all decried in the election.” “So any Republican who votes for this, I guess maybe they should apologize to Biden for being against his spending levels,” Paul said. “Because they’re actually voting for his spending levels now.” And Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital that he hadn’t thoroughly reviewed the text of the bill yet, but he noted he was not typically a fan of funding extensions. “The goal was always that we start having a real budgeting process, and so it’s really frustrating that we haven’t done that,” he said.
Trump, Vance, other prominent political figures to speak at Sunday stadium event honoring Charlie Kirk
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other prominent political figures are slated to speak Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during an event honoring Charlie Kirk. The website fightforcharlie.com also lists other speakers, including Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor. The website indicates additional names will be announced. State Farm Stadium has fixed seating for 63,400 and can expand to over 73,000 for larger events, according to the venue. The attendance for Sunday’s NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers was 64,003. HUNDREDS MOURN CHARLIE KIRK AT KENNEDY CENTER MEMORIAL: ‘HONOR HIS UNMATCHED LEGACY’ The dress code is “Sunday Best- Red, White, or Blue,” according to the site. “Seating will be first come, first served based on stadium capacity. Overflow seating will be available at the Desert Diamond Arena,” according to a frequently asked questions section which also notes that the “event will be live-streamed on Charlie Kirk’s Rumble account.” TRUMP EYES REMARKS AT CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL IN ARIZONA, BLAMES LEFT FOR SUSPECT’S RADICALIZATION Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and commentator, was assassinated in Utah last week. He was only 31 years old and would have turned 32 next month. ERIKA KIRK DELIVERS MOVING TRIBUTE TO HUSBAND, CHARLIE: ‘I WILL NEVER LET YOUR LEGACY DIE’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Charlie was a servant of the Lord, a devoted husband to Erika, a loving father to two beautiful children, and a leader of uncommon clarity and strength,” a portion of a tribute on fightforcharlie.com notes. “He did not seek influence for its own sake. Instead, he poured his life into others, raising up a generation who would be bold in their faith, steadfast in their love of freedom, and unafraid to defend their country.”
Minnesota House deadlocked after Democrats win special election to fill seat of slain lawmaker
Democrats will hold onto the legislative seat once held by Melissa Hortman, the former Democratic Minnesota House speaker who, along with her husband, was killed at their home in June in what prosecutors describe as a political assassination. Democratic Party nominee Xp Lee defeated Republican nominee Ruth Bittner in a special election Tuesday in a suburban Minneapolis state House district, according to the Associated Press. Lee’s victory in the blue-leaning district will once again deadlock the Minnesota House, with Democrats and Republicans each holding 67 seats in the chamber. And it will restore a power-sharing deal between the two parties hammered out after the Democrats lost their majority in the 2024 elections. MINNESOTA GOV. WALZ LAUNCHES BID FOR THIRD TERM: ‘I’M STAYING IN THE FIGHT’ The special election was held a week after the assassination of conservative firebrand, commentator, and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk rocked the nation and thrust Hortman’s murder back into the spotlight. CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON THE CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION Prosecutors charge that alleged gunman Vance Boelter impersonated a police officer as he carried out what they call the “political assassinations” of Hortman and her husband, Mark. Boelter is also charged with shooting and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their nearby home. Lee, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled the Vietnam War, told the AP ahead of the election that continuing Hortman’s legacy was a major motivator in his campaign. TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONS “I wouldn’t be running if it wasn’t for the murder of Melissa Hortman. So, I am very conscious of political and gun violence. So, I want to help our community heal,” Lee said. Bittner, a real estate agent, told public radio in Minnesota that Hortman “was a very unique individual. We will not be trying to replace her.” Minnesota was further rocked by violence late last month, when two young school children were killed and 21 people injured in a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Social Security pushes back on Warren, touts transparency and service under Trump
The Social Security Administration is pushing back against Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., after she accused the agency of removing key data and covering up dysfunction. In a Sept. 16, 2025 letter and data report shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano claimed Warren’s analysis was inaccurate. He said the agency is more transparent and performing better under the Trump administration than it did under the prior administration. The documents reflect SSA’s position and have not been independently verified. “SSA currently reports nearly three times the number of data elements on the performance webpage under the Trump Administration (30) than it did under the Biden Administration (11),” Bisignano wrote. EXCLUSIVE: MEDICAID DIRECTS STATES TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ENROLLEES WITH MONTHLY CHECKS “These facts conclusively demonstrate that you are wrong in alleging a lack of transparency.” He also pushed back on Warren’s charge of a cover-up, saying SSA has made improvements in customer service, including “shorter wait times on the phones and in offices, as well as reduced backlogs.” Bisignano said 81 percent of performance measures are better than before, with the rest about the same. According to SSA’s data, average phone wait times dropped from 29 minutes in 2024 to 16 minutes in 2025, with August down to just 9 minutes. SOCIAL SECURITY STRONGER UNDER TRUMP, CRITICS PUSHING ‘FALSE’ NARRATIVE, COMMISSIONER SAYS Pending disability determinations fell from nearly 1.2 million in August 2024 to about 907,000 a year later. Disability claim processing sped up from 231 days to 217 days. SSA reports retirement and survivor claims were processed on time 87% of the time in August 2025. Bisignano wrote that the agency’s goal is to become a “digital-first” operation that runs efficiently and serves people whether they call, visit an office or use the website. He said constant monitoring of key performance indicators is part of that effort. He also urged Warren to work with SSA instead of spreading what he called “fearmongering and reckless lies that Social Security is going away.” “The time has come to stop weaponizing Social Security,” he wrote. “The American people do not want a Social Security War Room. They want their leaders to protect and preserve Social Security, just as President Trump has promised.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The office of Senator Elizabeth Warren did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Red hats and chants of ‘USA’ mark vigil honoring slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk: ‘Act’
A candlelight vigil at Desert Financial Arena on Arizona State University’s campus Monday highlighted Charlie Kirk’s legacy. The campus is just miles from Turning Point USA’s headquarters. Volunteers sported “I am Charlie” T-shirts, and many attendees wore red, including MAGA hats, to show their support for the slain conservative leader. The speakers used the moment to channel the tragedy into activism and share the Christian faith, including many of his close friends and colleagues. CHARLIE KIRK VIGILS HELD AT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS AMERICA FOLLOWING ASSASSINATION OF CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST “2026 is going to be the Charlie Kirk election. 2028 will be the Kirk-Vance election,” Tyler Bowyer, who runs Turning Point Action, said as volunteers were registering voters at the events. Bowyer encouraged people to use the tragedy as an opportunity to get active in the conservative movement, specifically calling on people to register to vote. Peter Gentala, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, said it’s “personal” when a “great man dies,” speaking highly of the influence Kirk had in the Grand Canyon State and the nation. At times, the attendees chanted “Charlie” and “U-S-A” during the vigil organized by Arizona State University’s College Republicans chapter and TPUSA. FROM GRIEF TO GROWTH: TURNING POINT USA BECOMES A RALLYING FORCE FOR GEN Z IN BATTLEGROUND ARIZONA “Act. Start a Turning Point chapter, get involved in a Turning Point chapter, register to vote, register other people to vote and share your faith with others,” Troy Holderby, president of ASU College Republicans, told Fox News Digital. “This is gonna be a game changer for our entire country. We’re gonna see substantial amounts of people coming to vote for our country because Charlie Kirk cared about that.” Luke Mosiman, chairman of the Arizona Young Republicans, told Fox News Digital this tragedy could be a defining moment for Generation Z because Kirk held a strong influence among young Americans. ‘SLEEPING GIANT’ LIKELY WOKE UP FOR TURNING POINT USA AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION “So many people are looking at this right now, and they’re realizing that American culture and the left as a whole has rotted America’s ability to have a dialogue, and I think Gen Z will hold strong to the ideas of the First Amendment,” he added. After Kirk’s assassination Wednesday, his casket was flown on Air Force Two to Phoenix, where a large celebration of life service is slated for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Bowyer posted to X Tuesday that voter registration efforts will be underway at Sunday’s event. “County Recorder [Justin Heap] is providing as many Voter Registration forms as humanly printable and possible for Charlie’s celebration of life this Sunday. We anticipate tens of thousands of new voters will register this week in AZ and across the country in CK’s honor,” Bowyer wrote. Large memorial displays have been set up outside the Hansen Mortuary Chapel, where his casket is being held, as well as outside TPUSA’s headquarters in south Phoenix. A 19-year-old man is facing vandalism charges for allegedly trying to destroy the memorial on Sunday, which was seen by Fox News cameras.
House plans Thursday vote on government funding bill to extend spending through November
This is cobbled together from speaking to multiple sources on both sides of the Capitol. The House is now aiming to vote Thursday on the “clean” interim spending bill which would fund the government through November 27. But Republicans must first get the bill through the House. Several senior House Republican sources said that they were still talking to the “usual suspects.” Republicans can only lose two votes to pass a bill on their own. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) expressed confidence he could hold all of his Democrats together and oppose the bill. Jeffries said that will be the focus of a Democratic Caucus on Thursday. TRUMP PRESSURES REPUBLICANS TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN It is also still not a done deal that the House would move on Thursday. This could slip to Friday. There is now the distinct possibility of a weekend session in the Senate, potentially Saturday. Here’s why: If the House approves the government funding package, this must go through two rounds of “cloture” to break a filibuster. That needs 60 yeas. It is advantageous to Senate Republicans to have the House approve the bill Thursday. If so, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) can file cloture to set up a test vote on Saturday. By rule, the Senate cannot take that test vote without an “intervening day.” SCOOP: GOP RAMPS UP SHUTDOWN FIGHT, TARGETS 25 VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS IN NEW AD BLITZ To wit: Let’s say the House theoretically approves the bill on Thursday. Thune gets the bill on Thursday and files cloture to cut off debate and break a filibuster. Friday is the “intervening day.” That tees up a procedural vote just to get onto the bill (needing 60 yeas) on Saturday in the Senate. But if the House votes (and passes) the CR on Friday, none of this can happen until Sunday. There’s the rub: Multiple Senate Republicans want to attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral in Arizona on Sunday. So, a Saturday scenario is much better for the GOP. Why not wait until Monday, you may ask? GOP LAWMAKERS CLASH OVER STRATEGY TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CRISIS Well, the Senate is scheduled to be out for Rosh Hashanah next week. Same with the House. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Monday and runs through nightfall Wednesday. So, the Senate could punt and deal with it next Thursday. However, the Senate also needs to take another procedural vote down the road if it could ever get 60 yeas (more on that in a moment) to finish the bill. So, it may be helpful to do this sooner rather than later. That said, one senior Senate GOP source suggested to Fox that the Senate could remain in session through Rosh Hashanah to deal with the procedural steps. That could be interpreted as a direct sleight to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the highest-ranking Jewish figure in American political history. Keep in mind, the government is funded through 11:59:59 p.m. ET Sept. 30. So, they have time. But the period is collapsed because of the scheduled recess next week. Regardless, the Senate needs 60 yeas to break a filibuster. Republicans only have 53 votes in the Senate, 52 if Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) opposes an interim spending bill. This is why Republicans are trying to blame a potential shutdown on the Democrats. And Democrats are saying they need something (likely a renewal of Obamacare subsidies) in exchange for their votes. And there will likely be a lot more drama between now and the end of the month.