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NEWS: Trump Blames the "Radical Left" Vowing Crackdowns and Purges Following Kirk's Shooting

Trump blames the "radical left" for Kirk's shooting vowing crackdowns, jobless claims surge to highest levels in four years, staffing shortages and delays at World Trade Center Health Program

Aaron Parnas Sep 11

Good morning everyone. Overnight, Donald Trump and right-wing commentators escalated their attacks on the center and left in response to the killing of Charlie Kirk. Trump vowed sweeping crackdowns and blamed the so-called “radical left,” while prominent voices online declared that America is “at war.” Some even went so far as to call for the Democratic Party to be designated a domestic terrorist organization.

These claims have gone viral, reaching millions of people, and they have already fueled a surge in threats against public figures across the country. I have received several myself. Many of you have asked if I am safe — I am. But out of caution, and to protect my loved ones, I will be sharing less about my personal life moving forward. But, I will not stop this work because the truth is too important.

To those who already subscribe — thank you. Your support makes independent journalism possible at a time when truth is under relentless attack. If you believe in reporting that refuses to bow to politics or intimidation, I ask you to consider subscribing today.

With that, here’s the news:

Colorado shooting update:

• A teenage student opened fire at Evergreen High School, about 30 miles west of Denver, shooting two classmates before fatally turning the gun on himself. The incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m., with shots fired both inside and outside the school building.

• Three students were taken to St. Anthony Hospital, where one later died, another remains in critical condition, and the third is stable. Authorities confirmed that responding officers did not fire any shots, and the suspect died from self-inflicted injuries.

• The shooting sent shockwaves through the small community of Evergreen, where parents rushed to nearby schools to reunite with their children. Some students found shelter in nearby homes, with residents helping calm and care for them until parents arrived.

Charlie Kirk update:

• Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old ally of Donald Trump, was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem before a crowd of about 3,000. Officials described the daylight attack as a “political assassination,” saying the single fatal shot appeared to come from a distant rooftop on campus.

• Donald Trump responded by blaming “the radical left” for the killing, accusing their rhetoric of fueling violence. In an Oval Office address, he promised a crackdown and highlighted examples of what he called “radical left political violence,” with his rhetoric directly flaming the passions of right-wing agitators online to target those on the left.

• Vice President JD Vance changed his schedule to visit Kirk’s family in Utah, instead of the 9/11 memorial in New York, calling him a “true friend.” On campus, students initially divided over the shooting have since voiced unity, insisting that violence has no place in public debate.

• No suspect is in custody as of this post, though authorities believe it was the work of a lone sniper. Two men were briefly detained and questioned but later released. The campus remained on lockdown into the night, with police blocking entrances as the manhunt continued.

• At Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where Kirk was pronounced dead, mourners held a vigil, one of several gatherings across the region that evening. The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed the shooter remained at large.

• Connecticut young democrats and young republicans came together to issue this statement yesterday:

All other news:

• U.S. jobless claims rose to 263,000 last week, the highest level in nearly four years, signaling potential softening in the labor market. At the same time, inflation ticked higher as rising gas and food prices added pressure on consumers.

• Peter Mandelson was fired as the UK’s ambassador to the United States after newly released emails and a handwritten note revealed the depth of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Foreign Office said Mandelson’s support for Epstein, even after his 2008 conviction, was “materially different” from what was known at the time of his appointment, forcing Prime Minister Keir Starmer into another political crisis just days before Donald Trump’s planned state visit to the UK.

• Democratic senators are pressing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over delays and staffing shortages at the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides care for 9/11 responders and survivors. They warned that missed deadlines to expand coverage for illnesses like lupus, stroke, and early-onset dementia, combined with long wait times and a nearly $3 billion funding shortfall, are endangering lives. Lawmakers urged Kennedy to lift the hiring freeze and address systemic failures, stressing that delays in treatment could have fatal consequences for those still suffering from 9/11-related conditions.

• Senate Republicans narrowly blocked an amendment from Democratic leader Chuck Schumer that would have required the Justice Department to release all Jeffrey Epstein files, voting 51–49 to table the measure. Only Rand Paul and Josh Hawley broke with their party to join Democrats in support, while Schumer argued the public deserves transparency after years of “cover-ups.” A similar bipartisan push is advancing in the House, where backers say they are close to forcing a vote that could pressure the Senate to act.

• Several construction workers fleeing an ICE raid near Langley tried to climb the fences surrounding CIA headquarters, briefly triggering a security lockdown. The CIA said the perimeter was never breached, but access to the campus was temporarily shut as a precaution. ICE did not notify the agency about the operation in advance, and the incident caused traffic delays during the morning commute.

• More than 300 South Korean nationals detained in a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai electric vehicle plant in Georgia are being flown back to Seoul after a delay reportedly ordered by President Trump. The Foreign Office in Seoul said the workers, most of them engineers and specialists, were released from ICE custody without restraints following outrage over images of them shackled, while South Korean leaders warned the incident could chill future investment in the U.S.

• According to exclusive NBC News reporting, American diplomats say they increasingly fear retaliation for offering candid assessments under Trump’s second administration, with some reassigned after providing unwelcome analysis. The Foreign Service union warned members that even private advice can be politicized, as the State Department now emphasizes “fidelity” to the president’s agenda in promotions. Critics argue the pressure to prioritize loyalty over objectivity risks depriving U.S. leaders of accurate information needed for sound foreign policy decisions.

• A veteran zookeeper in his 50s was killed at Safari World in Bangkok after being mauled by at least three lions when he stepped out of his work vehicle in violation of safety rules. The attack, witnessed and filmed by visitors, lasted around 15 minutes before colleagues pulled him away; he later died at the hospital. Authorities are investigating the zoo’s animal permits and safety protocols, while Safari World pledged support for the victim’s family and stricter safety measures.

• U.S. influencer Mike Holston, known as The Real Tarzann, is under investigation in Australia after posting viral videos of himself capturing and wrestling wild crocodiles in Queensland. Authorities condemned the stunts as “dangerous and illegal,” warning of possible fines up to $25,000, while conservationists, including Bob Irwin, criticized the posts for encouraging reckless behavior that endangers both people and wildlife.

Good news:

• After nine years of rehabilitation, Popi, a female orangutan rescued as an infant from the illegal pet trade, has been released back into the wild in East Borneo. Trained in “Jungle School” by the Borneo Orangutan Rescue Alliance to learn survival skills like climbing, foraging, and nest building, Popi quickly returned to the rainforest canopy upon release. Conservationists say her story highlights both the threats facing orangutans and the success of long-term rescue efforts, which not only save individuals but also strengthen the species’ survival in its natural habitat.

• Tuskegee University, once home to the pioneering Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, is now training a new generation of Black pilots to tackle the nation’s pilot shortage. Its aviation science program, based at the historic Moton Airfield, expects to graduate about 50 commercial and private pilots, including students like Kembriah Parker, who recently earned her license. Carrying forward the legacy of the Airmen, these young aviators say they are inspired by history while breaking barriers of their own.

See you this evening.

— Aaron