9-14-25
From the desk of Rich Stephens
News for the week ending September 13, 2025.
Below find the expanded text from tonight’s broadcast. For corrections or additions, contact Rich directly.
Charlie Kirk Assassination
We begin tonight with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The conservative speaker, political activist was also the CEO and founder of turning point USA. He was holding a speaking event at Utah Valley University. I mistakenly and falsely reported Thursday that this was Utah State University. At 12:23, a single shot was fired from a Mauser model 98 .30-06 rifle. Recovered later, the shell casings still in the magazine were engraved with messages including “If you read this, you are gay LMAO” and “Hey Fascist! Catch! ↑→↓↓↓”. The arrows reference a call code in a video game called Helldivers 2 and is the command to call in a bomb. Condemnation for the killing was swift and came from both supporters and detractors including progressives like AOC and hosts of The View. Ilhan Omar’s response was somewhat mixed with condemnation of the shooting alongside criticism of Charlie Kirk himself.
The manhunt for the killer took 33 hours and resulted in the suspect being turned in by his father.
Charlie Kirk was 31 years old.
The View Reacts To Charlie Kirk Killing
Current Event
Evergreen High School Shooting
The same day, A 16 year old student at evergreen high school in Colorado shot and wounded two other students before taking his own life. He used a revolver and reloaded several times. Authorities credit lockdown drills and procedures with saving lives.
Full Press Conference Of Evergreen Shooting
Jerusalem Ramot Junction Shooting
Another shooting this week took place in Jerusalem at the Ramot Junction bus stop Monday morning. Two men boarded a bus and shot 18 people, killing 6 before an IDF soldier, aided by an armed civilian intervened, killing the terrorists. Hamas took credit for the shooting. The following day, Israel conducted air strikes in the Qatari capital of Doha, targeting senior leadership of Hamas.
The White House Statement: White house statement: “this morning, the trump administration was notified by the united states military that Israel was attacking Hamas, which very unfortunately was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the united states that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza is a worthy goal. President Trump immediately directed special envoy Whitcoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did. The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the united states and feels very badly about the location of this attack. President Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released and this war to end now. President trump also spoke to prime minister Netanyahu after the attack. The prime minister told president trump that he wants to make peace and quickly. President trump believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace. The president also spoke to the Amir and prime minister of Qatar and thanked them for their support and friendship to our country. He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
Video of Ramot Junction Shooting (not graphic)
Israel Foreign Ministry Statement
White House Statements on Doha Attack
DEA Sinaloa Cartel
Monday, the DEA released a statement announcing the results of a recent operation in which 23 domestic field divisions coordinated with seven foreign regions to target the Sinaloa cartel. The one week surge resulted in six hundred seventeen arrests, seizure of four hundred twenty firearms and thousands of pounds of drugs, including four hundred eighty kilos of fentanyl, over seven hundred thousand counterfeit pills and nearly seventy five hundred kilos of cocaine.
Florida Open Carry
Wednesday morning, an appellate court in Florida ruled that the state’s ban on open carry of firearms, citing Heller, McDonald and Bruen. Ultimately they determined that “The Constitution protects the right to carry arms openly and for self defense”.
Florida Open Carry Court Ruling
Florida Attorney General Statement
Florida Second Amendment Tax Holiday
Ron Desantis announced Monday that Florida will hold a sales tax holiday through the end of this year on all camping, fishing and hunting equipment, including firearms and ammunition. He credited low debt and a budget surplus as the foundation for tax cuts.
He noted that Florida is the number one ranked state economy three years running in a CNBC rating report and has a triple A credit rating from all major ratings agencies. The Florida unemployment rate has been lower than the national average for 57 straight months.
He also mentioned his desire to eliminate property tax on primary residences in Florida, saying that you should be able to own your primary home free and clear, not paying rent indefinitely to the government.
Official State Release on 2A Holiday
Ron Desantis Press Conference On 2A Holiday
Supreme Court On ICE Enforcement In Los Angeles
Monday, the Supreme Court ruled on an injunction request from the Department of Homeland Security. A lower court had issued a temporary restraining order, barring DHS and ICE from considering various criteria when deciding to speak to individuals about their immigration status. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court granted a stay with Justice Kavanaugh saying officers are authorized to “interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or to remain in the United States.” Protesters in LA staged 24 hour protests outside an ICE facility there. The ACLU also held a press conference to protest what they called unlawful policing by the federal government, DHS and ICE.
Finance
In financial news, after hitting an all time high in August, lumber futures have fallen to (what After hitting an all time high in August, lumber futures have fallen to five hundred eighty eight dollars at close on Friday. This drop of thirty seven dollars includes a recovery from Thursday’s low of five hundred seventy one dollars and fifty cents.
Home starts were up in July, but permits were down from June. This week, the United States Census Bureau will release the August builder numbers and the Fed will meet to discuss interest rates. We will update this story next week when those numbers are available.
Financial markets added modest gains after the last two weeks of loss with the Dow closing Friday at fourty five thousand, eight thirty four, a gain of about 1 percent for the week. The nasdaq gained nearly one and a half percent, closing at twenty two one fourty one and the s&p had similar gains, closing at sixty five eighty four. Gold meanwhile continued to climb, closing at thirty six fourty one, up three hundred dollars in a month.
In Sports, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner Sunday in 4 sets to win the US open and take the number one world ranking away from Sinner. Alcaraz commented after the match that he sees jannik more than his own family. The two have combined for the last eight Slam trophies.
At Monza Sunday, Max Verstappen won from pole after setting the formula one track record in qualifying Saturday. The McLaren pair completed the podium with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc finishing fourth.
President Trump was in attendance for Thursday night’s MLB matchup at Yankee Stadium to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the nine eleven terror attacks. After meeting briefly with the president before the game, Aaron Judge sent a 3-2 pitch into the bullpen for his 45th home run of the year and 260th of his career. Leading off in the third, Judge sent another ball to the bullpen to tie Joe Demagio for fourth on the Yankees all time home run list. Friday he sent a home run over the green monster and out of Fenway to pass Demagio. Judge is now tied with Bryce Harper for 89th on the MLB career home run list.
In college football yesterday, unranked Georgia tech upset number twelve Clemson 24 to 21 by kicking a 55 yard field goal as time expired. Number 16 Texas A&M beat 8th ranked Notre Dame 41-40 and 6th ranked Georgia escaped number 15 Tennessee in overtime to win 44-41. Miami covered the spread, beating USF 49-12.
Remembering 9/11
Thursday’s special edition was to remember the victims of the World Trade Center attacks 24 years ago today. Richard Cyril Rescorla was born in England in 1939. After serving with the British Army in Cyprus and northern Rhodesia, he moved to Brooklyn and joined the US Army. He became a platoon leader in Hal Moore’s famous air cavalry and fought in the battle of Ia Drang. After Vietnam, he began working in corporate security the World Trade Center. Together with another veteran who specialized in counter terrorism, he accurately predicted the 1993 bombing and helped to identify the perpetrators. Convinced that the building still represented a significant target for terrorism, Rick pushed for and then conducted fire and evacuation drills with all of Morgan Stanley’s employees, spanning 22 floors of the South Tower. On September eleventh, 2001, Rick disregarded Port Authority messages to stay in place and instead calmly evacuated the 2700 Morgan Stanley employees and re entered the building. He was last seen on the tenth floor of the south tower, heading up. His awareness of the risks and preparation saved hundreds of lives on nine eleven.
Rick Rescorla was 62 years old.
Rich Stephens
The Cold Take