“We were all blessed to know Mary Rose Oakar — a highly gifted, indefatigable, extraordinary woman of deep faith. Mary Rose was elected to Congress from inside the working class of people. She exhibited raw courage, loyalty, perseverance, high learning, precious humor, and stellar insight into human nature. Her hearty laugh elevated people’s spirits. She suffered no fools,” the statement said. “She not only stood her ground but made her own ground — to serve senior citizens, housing, pay equity, and better health care for women, moving into the ranks of Democratic House leaders where she firmly stood as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus.”
According to the statement, Oakar was the first Arab American woman, Syrian-American and Lebanese-American to serve in Congress.
“She dedicated endless hours and years to build new bridges toward peace in the Middle East, and understanding of its complexity for communities here at home,” Kaptur said.
“Mary Rose worked hard to promote an economy that serves everyone, across Northern Ohio, and throughout our nation. Her abilities sparkled as she brought joy, wit, keen insight, kindness, and dynamism to every occasion. I am grateful for her abiding friendship and counsel, which she generously shared. She was one of a kind,” the statement concluded. “Holding all of her family, friends, and her community in Cleveland in prayer. She truly loved them with all her heart and soul.“
Provo, Utah – In a stark affirmation of justice for one of America’s brightest conservative voices, Utah prosecutors laid out a damning case against Tyler James Robinson on Tuesday, charging the 22-year-old radical leftist with aggravated murder in the cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk. With seven felony counts on the table—including obstruction of justice and witness tampering—authorities announced their intent to pursue the death penalty, a fitting end for the monster whose hatred-fueled plot ended the life of the 31-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder. This isn’t just a prosecution; it’s a declaration of war against the violent extremism festering in leftist online cesspools that radicalized Robinson into a killer.
Kirk, a devoted husband, father of two, and unyielding champion of American values, was gunned down last Wednesday afternoon at a packed Turning Point USA event on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Speaking to over 3,000 supporters about mass shootings—ironically, including those tied to trans ideology—Kirk was struck in the neck by a single sniper shot from a rooftop perch about 150 yards away. The graphic footage that went viral captured the horror as pandemonium erupted, but Kirk’s final words, defending freedom and truth, echoed as a testament to his unbreakable spirit.
President Trump, who called Kirk “like a son” and credited him with mobilizing young voters, hailed the charges as a step toward “real justice,” vowing that such attacks on conservatives won’t go unpunished in his America First era.
Robinson, a third-year electrical apprentice from St. George, Utah, faces the full weight of the law after a 33-hour manhunt ended when his own father recognized him from surveillance photos and convinced the coward to turn himself in. Held without bail in Utah County Jail since Friday, the suspect’s digital trail paints a picture of obsession and ideological poison. Court documents reveal a chilling handwritten note found under a keyboard at his apartment: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.” Text messages to his live-in boyfriend—a biological male in the process of transitioning—show Robinson confessing in real time after the shooting: “I’ve had enough of his hatred.
Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” He admitted planning the hit for over a week, even engraving unspent shell casings with pro-trans and anti-fascist slogans, like a twisted manifesto of woke rage.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, in a riveting press conference, detailed the evidence tying Robinson to the crime: DNA on the trigger of the bolt-action Mauser .30-06 rifle recovered in nearby woods; palm and shoe prints at the scene; and messages on Discord where Robinson allegedly admitted, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all…It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this.” Gray didn’t mince words, calling the killing “an American tragedy” and Kirk “first and foremost a husband and father.” He emphasized aggravating factors: the political targeting of Kirk and the presence of children among the witnesses, including Kirk’s own kids in the crowd. “I do not take this decision lightly,” Gray said of seeking death, “but it’s based solely on the evidence and the nature of this heinous crime.” Under Utah law, aggravated murder qualifies for execution—by lethal injection or, if drugs are unavailable, firing squad—a poetic justice for a sniper who ambushed a patriot.
Robinson’s radicalization, authorities say, was a rapid descent into leftist lunacy. Once a straight-A Mormon kid from a seemingly normal family, he veered hard left in the past year, influenced heavily by his trans boyfriend and online echo chambers. His mother warned family of his shift toward pro-gay, pro-trans views, sparking tensions in their MAGA-leaning household—his dad a die-hard Trump supporter. Family gatherings revealed Robinson’s growing disdain for Kirk, with one relative recounting a dinner chat where he ranted about the activist’s “hate.” FBI Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino, on Fox News, described “multiple warning signs,” including coworkers noting Robinson’s detachment on politics and his “obsession” with Kirk via digital footprints. Bongino hinted at family and friends who might have seen the storm brewing but stayed silent.
The plot thickens with the FBI’s probe into an “extended network” that may have aided and abetted this monster. Bongino told Fox’s “America’s Newsroom” that agents are issuing subpoenas to uncover if anyone—from pro-trans Steam gaming groups to the now-deleted Armed Queers SLC Instagram page—had foreknowledge or provided support, even financial. They’re scrutinizing the TikTokker who questioned Kirk on trans mass shooters right before the shot, wondering if it was a diversion. At a Senate Judiciary hearing Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed Robinson’s Discord chat had far more than 20 participants: “We’re running them all down,” he said, investigating “anyone and everyone” for complicity. Patel cited a text where Robinson boasted of his “opportunity” to kill Kirk over “hatred for what Charlie stood for,” and a destroyed note with similar threats—though the bureau has forensic evidence of its contents. President Trump, in an Oval Office briefing, nailed it: Robinson was “radicalized over the internet… on the left,” a product of the toxic sludge from Biden-era tolerance of extremism.
This assassination isn’t isolated—it’s the latest in a surge of left-wing violence, from Trump’s near-misses to the Minnesota lawmaker slaying. Vice President JD Vance blamed “left-wing extremism,” while Gov. Spencer Cox called Robinson “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” despite no party registration. The roommate, cooperating fully, handed over the incriminating texts and note, stunned by the confession: “You were the one who did it, right?” Robinson’s reply: “I am. I’m sorry.” He even fretted about retrieving his grandpa’s rifle—left in a towel in the bushes—and explaining its loss to his dad.
Robinson’s virtual arraignment is set for 5 p.m. ET Tuesday in Utah County Justice Court. Federal charges could follow, but state prosecutors are leading the charge for swift, severe justice. Kirk’s widow, Erika, vows to carry on his legacy, saying the “cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.” Turning Point USA plans a massive memorial at a 60,000-seat Arizona stadium. As Trump put it, “Charlie was brilliant… He didn’t deserve this.” In an America reclaiming its strength, Robinson’s date with destiny will send a message: Attack our heroes, and you’ll face the full fury of the law. No mercy for those who sow hate and reap death.
The Israeli military intensified its ground assault on Gaza City on Friday, September 19, 2025, warning residents it would deploy “unprecedented force” against Hamas fighters as tanks and airstrikes hammered the territory’s largest urban center. The escalation, which began with a major incursion on Tuesday, comes amid a fresh United Nations report accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—a finding that has drawn sharp rebukes from Israeli officials and renewed calls for international intervention nearly two years into the devastating war.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued stark evacuation orders via social media and leaflets, directing the estimated remaining population—down from about one million at the end of August—to flee southward along the coastal Al-Rashid road, the only remaining open route after the closure of the main Salah al-Din artery. “From this moment, Salah al-Din Road is closed for south-bound travel,” IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, urging civilians to “take this opportunity and join the hundreds of thousands of city residents who have moved south to the humanitarian area.” The military estimates that 480,000 people have evacuated Gaza City since late August, though Gaza’s civil defense agency put the figure at 450,000 as of Friday. Many families, burdened by elderly relatives, young children, and scant belongings, described harrowing journeys on foot or in overloaded vehicles, with some resorting to carts or sleeping on streets while awaiting transport they could ill afford.
The offensive aims to dismantle Hamas’s command structure and seize control of the city, which Israel views as the group’s symbolic stronghold. IDF troops, including armored and infantry divisions, have advanced deep into neighborhoods like al-Rimal and al-Sabra, dismantling over 20 suspected militant sites in the past day alone, according to military statements. Overnight strikes and tank fire have leveled buildings and infrastructure, with witnesses reporting “hellish” barrages that shook the enclave. Gaza health officials, citing hospital tallies, reported at least 22 deaths across the Strip on Friday, including 11 in Gaza City, bringing the war’s toll to nearly 65,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023.
For those heeding the warnings, escape is no salvation. Nivin Ahmed, a 50-year-old mother of seven, recounted walking more than 15 kilometers to Deir el-Balah on Thursday, her family “crawling from exhaustion” as her youngest son wept from fatigue. “We took turns dragging a small cart with some of our belongings,” she told reporters. Mona Abdel Karim, 36, has spent two nights on Al-Rashid street with her elderly in-laws and children, too weak or ill to trek further without a vehicle. “I feel like I am about to explode,” she said, highlighting the prohibitive costs of transport amid widespread poverty and famine. Footage from the road showed endless lines of pedestrians and cars piled high with mattresses and essentials, snaking toward the southern “humanitarian area” of Al-Mawasi—a zone Israel designated early in the war but has repeatedly struck, citing Hamas presence.
The push into Gaza City unfolds against a grim international backdrop. Just days earlier, on September 16, a United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry released a 72-page report concluding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, fulfilling four of the five acts outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention: killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction, and imposing measures intended to prevent births. Chaired by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, the panel analyzed statements from Israeli leaders—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—as direct evidence of genocidal intent, alongside patterns of conduct like starvation tactics and attacks on healthcare and fertility clinics. The report also documented “systematic” sexual and gender-based violence, direct targeting of children, and the destruction of educational and religious sites.
“The Commission concludes that the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have had and continue to have the genocidal intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” the inquiry stated, holding the state responsible for failing to prevent or punish the acts. It urged Israel to immediately halt operations and comply with International Court of Justice provisional measures from March 2024, while calling on all states to enforce accountability. Amnesty International echoed the findings, warning that “the very existence of Palestinians in Gaza is under threat” as the offensive intensifies.
Israel vehemently rejected the report as “distorted and false,” with Netanyahu’s office insisting the war is a legitimate defense against Hamas, which killed 1,139 Israelis and took over 200 hostages on October 7, 2023—48 of whom remain captive. The IDF maintains it takes “all feasible measures” to minimize civilian harm and accuses Hamas of using human shields. Yet critics, including the European Commission, are preparing measures to pressure Israel, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas set to present a plan on Wednesday for member states to reassess ties. Canada labeled the offensive “horrific,” while Hamas decried it as “unprecedented” and “barbaric.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, a staunch ally, suggested the operation could hasten hostage releases, telling reporters the risks to captives might rise but “also may be freed” in the chaos. His administration continues providing military aid, even as the UN warns of famine gripping Gaza City, with 441 deaths attributed to starvation alone. Aid groups report overwhelmed hospitals and acute malnutrition among children, half of Gaza’s displaced population.
As smoke billows over Gaza City’s skyline and families press southward under fire, the offensive raises profound questions about the war’s endgame. Israel seeks to “force an end” by crippling Hamas, but with the enclave in ruins and global outrage mounting, the path to resolution remains as elusive as safety for those caught in the crossfire.
FBI Director Kash Patel said “multiple” electronic devices were seized from the Utah home of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk last week, as part of the ongoing investigation.
“We are going to be interviewing scores of people, not just these chats on Discord, but any communications this individual have,” Patel said Monday evening during an appearance on Fox News’s “Hannity.”
“We’ve seized multiple electronic devices from the home of the suspect and his romantic partner,” he continued. “We’ve got computers, we’ve got laptops, gaming systems, cell phones.”
Law enforcement identified 22-year-old Robinson as the shooter who allegedly shot and killed Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University.
“The evidence and information will come out. I won’t stylize the evidence, but I will say what was found in terms of information was a text message exchange where he, the suspect, specifically stated that he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and he was going to do that,” the FBI director told host Sean Hannity.
On Monday, Patel, who is facing growing scrutiny over his handling of the case, said the bureau reconstructed a note from Robinson, stating the alleged suspect planned to take Kirk out.
“The suspect wrote a note saying, ‘I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.’ That note was written before the shooting. Evidence of its existence — we now have learned existed before the shooting — was in the location in the suspect and partner’s home,” Patel said Monday on “Fox and Friends.”
He said that the note was destroyed, but “we have found forensic evidence of the note, and we have confirmed what that note says, because of our aggressive interview posture at the FBI.”
The agency also collected DNA evidence from a screwdriver located at the scene and a towel used to wrap the rifle allegedly used in Kirk’s killing, according to Patel.
Over the weekend, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said Robinson was in a romantic relationship with his roommate, who is cooperating with law enforcement.
Robinson is set for his first court appearance on Tuesday. He has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder.
Joe Biden, the doddering architect of America’s near-collapse under socialist policies and endless scandals, is now reaping what he sowed in the form of a post-presidency that’s as bankrupt as his administration’s border strategy. Eight months after handing the White House back to a resurgent Donald Trump, Biden finds himself persona non grata among the elite circles that once propped him up. Corporate boards won’t touch him, speaking gigs are evaporating faster than his poll numbers, and donors are treating his presidential library like a toxic asset. This isn’t just bad karma; it’s a market correction on a failed leader whose unpopularity and the looming shadow of Trump’s retribution have turned “Diamond Joe” into fool’s gold.
Let’s face it: Ex-presidents typically glide into golden parachutes, cashing in on their Oval Office stint with seven-figure speaking fees, cushy board seats, and memoir deals that could fund small nations. Bill Clinton turned influence-peddling into an art form, raking in $200 million post-White House. Barack Obama? He and Michelle scored a $60 million book bonanza and Netflix gigs while hobnobbing with billionaires. Even George W. Bush paints his way to quiet millions. But Biden? At 82, battling a severe prostate cancer diagnosis that’s metastasized, he’s reduced to haggling over scraps. The Wall Street Journal lays it bare: No corporate sinecures for old Joe, thanks to his glaring cognitive decline—evident in that fateful 2024 debate that sealed his fate—and the baggage of a presidency marred by inflation, crime waves, and foreign policy blunders.
Speaking fees? Sure, he’s quoting $300,000 to $500,000 a pop, but the invites are scarce, and bookers are lowballing him like a yard sale find. Why? Fear of Trump’s wrath. With the 47th president vowing to drain the swamp deeper than ever, companies dread audits, investigations, or lost contracts if they align with the man who weaponized the DOJ against conservatives. As one insider whispered to The Journal, “Who’s going to risk it for Biden?” Instead of jet-setting on private planes—avoiding those pesky “unsavory flight logs” à la Epstein—Biden’s slumming it in coach on American Airlines or breaking Amtrak quiet car rules with his endless chatter. His Fourth of July? Holed up in a luxury trailer in Malibu, courtesy of Hunter’s pal Moby. Nice, but hardly the Hamptons elite circuit where real power brokers summer.
The real kicker is the Biden Presidential Library—or lack thereof. NBC News reports a donor drought that’s turned the project into a punchline. John Morgan, the Florida lawyer who funneled $800,000 to Biden’s doomed reelection, scoffed: “I don’t believe a library will ever be built unless it’s a bookmobile from the old days.” Another top bundler? A flat “Me? No way.” Over a dozen major Democratic funders are sitting on their wallets, blaming Biden’s ego-driven refusal to bow out gracefully, which gifted Trump a landslide. The projected $200-300 million price tag? Forget it; they’re saving for the party’s post-Biden rebuild. Contrast that with Trump’s library plans, already flush with MAGA millions and set to be a monument to American greatness in Florida.
Biden’s not destitute—far from it. His $250,600 presidential pension, plus $166,000 from Senate and VP annuities, keeps the lights on. A $10 million Hachette book deal for his memoirs will pad the nest, though it’s a pittance next to the Obamas’ haul—ego bruise alert. But obligations mount: He’s bankrolling Hunter’s post-pardon legal circus (despite the get-out-of-jail-free card, debts linger) and supporting Ashley amid her divorce woes. Then there’s the $800,000 mortgage on his Rehoboth Beach mansion, compounded by a 20% property tax spike this year. For a guy whose “lifestyle” screams modest (read: boring), these hits sting, especially as Trump’s economy booms, lifting all boats except Biden’s leaky dinghy.
This financial flop isn’t misfortune; it’s market justice. Biden’s presidency was a disaster: Skyrocketing costs from “Bidenomics,” an open border inviting chaos, and a foreign policy that emboldened adversaries from Beijing to Tehran. Voters rejected it resoundingly, and now the donor class is following suit. Trump’s shadow looms large—his promises of accountability have executives thinking twice about associating with the Biden brand, synonymous with corruption and incompetence. As the Journal notes, even universities are wary after the Penn Biden Center’s classified docs fiasco. The cold shoulder? It’s conservatives’ quiet revenge, proving that in Trump’s America, failure has consequences.
Biden’s diminished twilight serves as a cautionary tale for the left: Peddle radical agendas, ignore the will of the people, and watch your legacy evaporate. While Trump builds empires and rallies crowds, Biden fades into irrelevance, a footnote in the history of American resurgence. If he’s lucky, that bookmobile library might tour nursing homes—fitting for a president who put the nation to sleep.
WASHINGTON – FBI Director Kash Patel is bracing for a grilling from both sides of the aisle as he prepares to testify before Congress on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, amid swirling controversies over his handling of the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a wave of internal firings that have plunged the bureau into turmoil.
Patel, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump confirmed in February 2025 in a razor-thin, party-line Senate vote, returns to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first time since his January confirmation hearing. There, he pledged to Democrats that he would steer clear of retribution against perceived political enemies within the FBI. Now, with the bureau reeling from high-profile missteps and lawsuits alleging a “campaign of retribution,” Patel faces skeptical lawmakers eager to probe whether he’s lived up to those assurances.
The hearing, which will also include an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee later in the week, comes just days after the FBI’s response to Kirk’s killing on a Utah college campus last week drew sharp bipartisan criticism. Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who authorities say had increasingly embraced a “leftist ideology” and become more politically radicalized in recent years. Robinson turned himself in late Saturday night, September 13, after acquaintances tipped off law enforcement, but not before Patel’s public handling of the case ignited a firestorm.
Patel drew immediate backlash for a social media post hours after the shooting, announcing that “the subject” was in custody—a claim he walked back less than two hours later, stating the individual had been released following an interview. The swift reversal fueled accusations of incompetence, with conservative commentator Chris Rufo questioning Patel’s “operational expertise” in a Friday morning post on X (formerly Twitter). “He performed terribly in the last few days, and it’s not clear whether he has the operational expertise to investigate, infiltrate, and disrupt the violent movements—of whatever ideology—that threaten the peace in the United States,” Rufo wrote.
Steve Bannon, another prominent Trump supporter, piled on, noting that those close to Robinson had turned him in, calling the arrest “not great law enforcement work.” Even President Trump, while defending Patel in a Saturday interview with Fox News Channel’s Maria Bartiromo, acknowledged the scrutiny: “Kash and the FBI have done a great job,” Trump said, but the praise rang hollow amid the GOP infighting.
Undeterred, Patel pushed back aggressively on Monday morning during an appearance on Fox & Friends. Defending his transparency pledge—a cornerstone of his vow to dismantle the “deep state” bureaucracy he inherited—Patel dismissed the criticism as partisan noise. “I was being transparent with working with the public on our findings as I had them,” he said. “I stated in that message that we had a subject and that we were going to interview him, and we did, and he was released. Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment, sure, but do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not.”
He added: “I challenge anyone out there to find a director that has been more transparent.” Patel also highlighted his decision to release photographs of Robinson while he was at large, crediting it with facilitating the eventual arrest. The FBI rarely comments publicly on ongoing probes, making Patel’s approach a deliberate departure from precedent.
The Kirk investigation isn’t the only flashpoint. Democrats, led by Senate Judiciary Committee members like Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), have teed up questions about broader politicization of the bureau. Schiff posted a video on X last week previewing his line of inquiry, compiling past Patel statements critical of the “deep state.” Patel fired back swiftly: “Let’s find out who law enforcement backs… and who supports defunding the police—answer coming tomorrow, but we already know.”
On the left, concerns center on a recent FBI review of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, which culminated in a memo deeming further releases unnecessary despite earlier promises. House Judiciary ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) fired off a letter to Patel last week demanding details: “Obvious questions abound: why were so many agents tasked with reviewing documents that were never released? What specific instructions were they given during the review? What information did these agents uncover that led DOJ and FBI to reverse their promise to release the files, and how are these decisions related to the President?”
Raskin specifically asked when Patel became aware of references to Trump in the files and for a breakdown of resources devoted to the review. The Epstein matter has faded somewhat amid the Kirk fallout, but it’s expected to resurface as evidence of alleged favoritism.
Compounding the pressure is a federal lawsuit filed last week by three top FBI officials ousted in August, including former acting director Brian Driscoll. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses Patel of orchestrating the firings as part of a White House-directed purge targeting those seen as disloyal. Driscoll, who clashed with Trump administration officials early in the president’s second term, and two other high-ranking agents allege the removals were illegal and retaliatory.
The suit details a conversation between Patel and Emil Bove, then a senior Justice Department official, in which Patel reportedly admitted the firings were non-negotiable to safeguard his position. “Patel explained that he had to fire the people his superiors told him to fire, because his ability to keep his own job depended on the removal of the agents who worked on cases involving the President,” the complaint states. It further claims Patel referenced the FBI’s past investigations into Trump, saying, “the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.” Driscoll believed “superiors” meant the Justice Department and White House, a claim Patel did not refute in the recounted exchange.
White House aide Stephen Miller is named in the suit, with allegations that he demanded “summary firings” via Bove. The firings have decimated FBI leadership: Since Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, the administration has axed all top career officials overseeing key branches, multiple special agents in charge of field offices, and counterterrorism expert Mehtab Syed, who was set to lead the Salt Lake Field Office in February. Current and former officials say the upheaval has sapped morale and hampered operations at a time of rising political violence.
Democrats argue these moves echo Patel’s confirmation hearing promises gone awry, while Republicans on the committee—holding the majority—plan to rally around him. They expect to laud his emphasis on combating violent crime and illegal immigration, and press for updates on the Kirk probe, including Robinson’s motives tied to leftist extremism.
Patel’s tenure, now eight months old, has been marked by vows to root out institutional bias. A vocal critic of the multiple probes into Trump during his first term, Patel has redirected resources toward reexamining the 2016 Russia investigation into potential Trump campaign coordination. Agents and prosecutors are reportedly seeking interviews on those long-dormant threads, which Patel frames as correcting past weaponization of the FBI and DOJ.
As the hearing looms, Patel shows no signs of backing down. His combative style—evident in his X clapback at Schiff and on-air defenses—suggests Tuesday’s testimony will be as much a battle as an oversight session. For a director who campaigned on transparency and reform, the spotlight could either solidify his reformist image or expose fractures in his leadership of America’s premier law enforcement agency.
The swift hammer of accountability is falling hard on left-wing radicals who dared to celebrate the cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk, as dozens of American workers—from pilots and teachers to media hacks and corporate drones—face the consequences of their vile social media rants. In a nation reeling from the murder of the 31-year-old conservative icon, employers are finally drawing a line in the sand against the toxic hatred that fueled Tyler James Robinson’s execution-style shooting of Kirk last Wednesday at Utah Valley University.
This isn’t cancel culture run amok; it’s righteous pushback against an assassination culture cultivated by the left, and it’s reshaping workplaces by forcing bosses to choose between decency and defending the indefensible.
Kirk, the dynamic co-founder of Turning Point USA and a relentless warrior for American exceptionalism, youth empowerment, and traditional values, was gunned down mid-sentence during his “American Comeback Tour” in Orem, Utah. The graphic video of the attack—Robinson firing point-blank while Kirk discussed mass shootings—spread like wildfire, but so did the depraved glee from anti-conservative corners. Robinson’s manifesto, railing against “right-wing fascists,” exposed the deadly fruits of years of leftist incitement, from campus radicals to MSNBC echo chambers.
President Trump, who lowered flags to half-staff and decried the “evil” behind the killing, has vowed to eradicate such threats, and the grassroots response is proving his America First spirit alive and kicking.
The firings have been nothing short of a purge, triggered by a coordinated conservative campaign that’s doxxing these hatemongers and flooding their employers with evidence. A site called “Expose Charlie’s Murderers”—anonymously registered and boasting nearly 30,000 submissions by Saturday—has become the digital guillotine, archiving posts that revel in Kirk’s death as a “victory” or quip that he “spoke his fate into existence.” Though the site went dark Monday, its impact lingers, with Canadian journalist Rachel Gilmore publicly terrified of “far-right fans” after her neutral post drew threats— a stark reminder that even mild criticism now invites scrutiny in this post-assassination climate.
Far from vigilantism, this is community justice against those who normalized violence against conservatives, a far cry from the unchecked leftist mobs that targeted Trump supporters for years.
Aviation took the first hits, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blasting American Airlines pilots “caught celebrating” the murder. “Immediately grounded and removed from service,” Duffy posted, demanding firings because “glorifying political violence is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!” American Airlines confirmed it had “initiated action,” stressing that “hate-related or hostile behavior runs contrary to our purpose.” Delta Air Lines suspended multiple employees for posts “well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” with the carrier warning that social media breaches could end careers.
Microsoft, under fire from Tesla CEO Elon Musk for Blizzard employees “trashing” Kirk, announced Friday it’s reviewing “negative remarks” by staff, a nod to the tech giant’s need to clean house amid conservative pressure.
Schools and universities, long bastions of leftist indoctrination, are crumbling under the weight of their own hypocrisy. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn called out a Middle Tennessee State University staffer for her “ZERO sympathy” post, leading to an “effective immediately” termination.
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace targeted a South Carolina public school teacher, who was quietly shown the door by her district. Idaho’s West Ada School District fired an employee over an “inappropriate video,” vowing to “address harmful actions thoughtfully.” In Oregon, a middle school science teacher resigned after boasting on Facebook that Kirk’s death “brightened up” his day. Clemson University suspended a worker pending investigation for undisclosed posts, while nationwide, over a dozen educators—from California to New York—have been axed or sidelined for gloating like “Another one bites the dust.”
Healthcare providers aren’t sparing the rod either. The University of Miami Health System canned an employee for “unacceptable public commentary,” affirming that while “freedom of speech is a fundamental right,” endorsements of violence violate core values.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta fired a staffer for “inappropriate comments,” declaring such rhetoric a breach of social media policy. Even law firm Perkins Coie—infamous for its ties to George Soros and anti-Trump ops—booted a lawyer for Kirk-bashing posts, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Media and entertainment faced their own reckonings. MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd was unceremoniously dumped after implying on-air that Kirk’s “awful words” invited “awful actions.” Network president Rebecca Kutler labeled it “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable,” despite Dowd’s whiny Substack defense claiming a “right-wing media mob” forced the decision. DC Comics yanked its new “Red Hood” series after author Gretch Felker-Martin snarked, “Hope the bullet’s OK,” in deleted tweets—a rare win against Hollywood’s woke brigade.
Corporate cleanups abound: Nasdaq fired a staffer for posts “condoning or celebrating violence.” Office Depot terminated a Michigan employee who refused to print Kirk flyers, calling it “completely unacceptable.” The Carolina Panthers axed a PR flack for his remarks, insisting employee views don’t reflect the team. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers condemned a worker’s Satanic Temple donation plea and “Another one bites the dust” post, confirming the individual is gone. As one HR consultant told NPR, “This is very different from past political controversies at work”—no more kid gloves for anti-conservative venom while right-leaners got the boot.
This wave of terminations—over 50 confirmed cases and counting—is a seismic shift, proving that in Trump’s resurgent America, tolerance for leftist assassination cheerleading has zero runway. The left’s cries of “doxxing” and “retaliation” ring hollow after years of silencing conservatives; now, the mob they unleashed is turning inward. Kirk’s legacy endures not just in policy but in this cultural firewall against hate. Employers who act aren’t caving—they’re leading, ensuring workplaces prioritize patriotism over poison.
U.S. military officers observed joint war games between Russia and Belarus on Monday for the first time since Moscow used Belarus as a launchpad to enter Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trump deepens ties with Moscow’s closest ally.
The presence of the U.S. officers, less than a week after neighbouring Poland shot down Russian drones that crossed into its airspace, is the latest sign that Washington is seeking to warm ties with Belarus.
Last week, Trump’s representative John Coale visited Minsk and said Trump wanted to reopen the U.S. embassy there soon, normalise ties and revive trade.
The U.S. military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Western foreign policy analysts speculate that Trump may be trying to peel Belarus away from Russia, a strategy widely viewed as unlikely to succeed, or to exploit its close ties with Moscow to promote a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
At least two U.S. military officers – Air Force Lt. Col. Bryan Shoupe and another unidentified officer – were in Belarus to observe the “Zapad-2025” war games, which were also being watched by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.
Fighter jets, attack drones and helicopters flew over a training ground hemmed in by trees as infantry practised firing automatic weapons, mortars and missile systems and riding into combat on motorcycles.
The exercise, being held at training grounds in both countries, is a show of force that Russia and Belarus say is designed to test combat readiness.
But it has unnerved some neighbouring countries after the drone incursion into Poland as Moscow’s war in Ukraine grinds towards its fourth year. Warsaw has temporarily closed its border with Belarus as a precaution.
Long a staunch Russian ally, President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarus to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, and has since allowed Russia to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Trump, who has suggested that the drone incursion may have been the result of a mistake, last week lifted sanctions on Belarus’s national airline Belavia, allowing it to service and buy components for its fleet, which includes Boeing aircraft.
He did so after Lukashenko – who regularly talks to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was given a friendly hand-signed letter from Trump by Coale – agreed to free 52 prisoners, including journalists and political opponents.
Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenikov personally greeted the two U.S. officers, who shook his hand and, speaking in Russian, thanked him for inviting them.
“We will show whatever is of interest for you. Whatever you want. You can go there and see, talk to people,” the minister told the Americans, who declined to speak to reporters afterwards.
Their attendance was presented by the Belarusian defence ministry as a surprise.
“Who would have thought how the morning of another day of the Zapad-2025 exercise would begin?” it said in a statement, noting their presence among representatives from 23 countries including fellow NATO member states Turkey and Hungary as well as China, Ethiopia and Indonesia.
The last time the Zapad (“West”) drills were held, in 2021, a U.S. military official based in Ukraine travelled to Belarus to watch them.
Donald Trump flies into Britain on Tuesday evening for a three-day state visit, with the US and UK promising to boost financial ties, including by exploring closer alignment of their capital markets.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wants to use Trump’s visit to showcase Britain as an inward investment hotspot, with US private equity company Blackstone pledging to invest £100bn in British assets over the next decade. US officials said there would be at least $10bn of investment deals in the technology sector, an agreement on nuclear co-operation and an exploration of “how the deep connections between our leading financial hubs can be maintained into the future”. But Trump’s arrival could throw up problems for Starmer.
The US president is unpopular in Britain and his schedule has been designed to shield him from any public or political protest. Trump will not address the UK parliament and is expected to travel by helicopter from the US ambassador’s residence in London to Windsor Castle and later to Starmer’s country retreat at Chequers. Trump has not yet finalised a deal, agreed with Starmer in May, to exempt British steel exports from US tariffs, although they do benefit from lower 25 per cent levies compared with the 50 per cent applied to other countries.
British officials were in Washington on Monday holding urgent talks with US trade officials to try to conclude a deal that would exempt Scotch whisky from a 10 per cent tariff imposed on other UK exports.
A senior US official said the White House was not “tracking” any announcement to reduce US tariffs on whisky, in a sign that an agreement was unlikely. But the official suggested it may well be discussed. Meanwhile, US officials would not be drawn on whether Trump would endorse Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist who is admired by figures on the American right and who organised a “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London on Saturday, attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people.
Asked whether he would speak out in support of Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, or even meet him, a US official said: “I don’t have anything on that right now.” For Trump, the highlight of the visit is expected to be a stay with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, where he will be feted with a fly-past by military jets, a carriage procession and a state banquet.
But Starmer will try to use the visit to focus on financial, tech and nuclear co-operation, in an attempt to bolster his claims to have a “growth agenda” and to move on from a series of scandals that have rocked his government. Starmer is facing a wave of anger among Labour MPs and questions over his judgment after sacking his US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson last week over his links to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump is likely to be grilled over his own connections to Epstein at a press conference on Thursday, his last official business before returning to the US.
The state visit will be preceded on Tuesday by talks in Downing Street between UK chancellor Rachel Reeves and US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent over closer financial co-operation.
By aligning UK standards more closely with the US, Reeves would be hoping to increase access to the world’s deepest and most liquid financial markets, as well as attract greater American investment into Britain.
Stock Widget
The push follows a period of intense political anxiety over an exodus of London-listed companies to the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, as businesses seek higher valuations on the other side of the Atlantic. Trump will bring leading figures from Big Tech including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and chipmaker Nvidia’s NVDA +2.45% ▲ Jensen Huang on his delegation, while companies such as Rolls-Royce RYCEY +1.80% ▲, GSK GSK +1.35% ▲ and Microsoft MSFT +1.95% ▲ will attend a business roundtable at Chequers.
US officials did not indicate to what extent Trump would press Starmer on Britain’s Online Safety Act, which has been a source of tension between Washington and London as some US tech companies have decried it as censorship.
“How that may or may not play into the bilateral discussion that will take place with the prime minister is yet unknown. It may well arise, but it may not,” a senior US official said. “Free speech in the UK, but free speech elsewhere, is something that we in this administration are very much focused on,” they added.
Stock Widget
Blackstone BX +2.65% ▲ is making its commitment to Britain as part of a broader $500bn investment push across Europe, which co-founder Stephen Schwarzman told The Financial Times aimed to profit from economic reforms and a revival of growth. Blackstone’s top leaders like Schwarzman and president Jonathan Gray have long considered the UK a key market for the $1.2tn in assets investment group, and they have strong ties with Downing Street.
Blackstone is already one of the largest foreign investors in the UK, with billions put into digital infrastructure and ecommerce warehouses, among other things. It also has large corporate investments including Merlin Entertainments, the owner of Legoland, and was a major shareholder in the London Stock Exchange’s parent company until fully divesting its shares last year.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Israel on Sept. 13, announcing a renewed effort to win the return of hostages taken by Hamas and address humanitarian concerns after nearly two years of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
“On my way to Jerusalem. My focus will be on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas,” Rubio said in a post on X on Saturday afternoon.
On my way to Jerusalem. My focus will be on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas.
“Hamas cannot continue to exist if peace in the region is the goal.”
Rubio’s visit comes on the heels of an Israeli strike on the Qatari capital of Doha that targeted Hamas leadership there. Hamas officials had recently received a U.S. proposal to secure the release of hostages remaining in Gaza.
Following the Sept. 9 Israeli strike on Doha, Hamas issued a statement asserting that the attack proved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government “do not want to reach any agreement.”
The Qatari monarchy, which has acted as a mediator for negotiations between Israel and Hamas, also condemned the Israeli strike.
Before the Sept. 9 Israeli strike on Doha, President Donald Trump had said his administration was in “very deep negotiations with Hamas” to bring an end to the fighting in Gaza.
The U.S. president said Israel acted alone in its strike on Doha. He said eliminating Hamas remains a worthy goal, but assured Qatari leaders that such a strike would not occur again on their soil.
“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,” Trump wrote in a Sept. 9 post on his Truth Social platform.
Qatar has played a key role hosting U.S. forces in the region. In June, U.S. forces stationed at Al Udeid Air Base defended against an Iranian missile barrage that Tehran ordered in retaliation for a U.S. strike that targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani visited the United States on Sept. 12 and met with Trump, Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Speaking with reporters before his departure on Saturday, Rubio said his focus will be on helping win the release of 48 hostages, the permanent defeat of Hamas, and rebuilding the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. Rubio acknowledged he would also have to address how the Israeli strike on Qatar’s capital would impact the discussions surrounding the Gaza conflict.
Rubio said that, despite the Doha strike, the U.S.–Israeli relationship remains strong.
“Sometimes things happen or come up in those relationships that perhaps we’re not 100 percent aligned with, or unhappy. But it’s not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis. But we are going to have to talk about it,” he said.
Rubio’s visit to Israel also comes amid mounting pressure in the international community for recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Trump administration has argued that international recognition of a Palestinian state would amount to a reward for Hamas.
Speaking with reporters in Ecuador last week, Rubio warned that Israel could respond to international recognition of a Palestinian state by annexing the West Bank, a territory viewed as the heart of the Palestinian statehood claim. Additionally, Rubio warned that a move to legitimize the cause of Palestinian statehood could also undermine efforts to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
“We told all these countries, before they went out and they did this—we told them that if they did this, they went through with this thing, there wasn’t going to be a Palestinian state because that’s not the way a Palestinian state is going to happen—because they have a press conference somewhere,” Rubio said on Sept. 5. “And we told them that it would lead to these sort of reciprocal actions and it would make a cease-fire harder.”
A Bob Vylan concert in the Netherlands has been cancelled after comments made by the performer on stage about the assassination of Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk.
A member of the outspoken punk duo, who caused controversy when they chanted for the “death” of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) at Glastonbury Festival, told the audience “if you chat shit you will get banged” in footage widely shared on social media.
In response, their planned performance on Tuesday September 16 at the 013 in Tilburg has been cancelled, with the venue saying the statements made by the performer “go too far”.
During their performance at Amsterdam’s Paradiso on Saturday, frontman Bobby Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, told fans: “I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of shit of a human being.
“The pronouns was/were. Cause if you chat shit you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of shit.”
Mr Kirk, who was a prominent political commentator in the US and ally of the president, was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday, in what authorities called a political assassination.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil for Mr Kirk in central London on Saturday with speakers hailing him as a “Christian martyr” and calling for people to wage a “war on evil”.
A translated statement on the 013 website on Sunday said: “The planned performance by British rap-punk group Bob Vylan on Tuesday, September 16th, at Poppodium 013 in Tilburg has been cancelled.
“The reason for the cancellation is the controversial statements the artist made last night during a show at Paradiso in Amsterdam.
“Despite the controversy that arose after their Glastonbury performance, 013 decided to let Bob Vylan perform in Tilburg.”
The venue said it had an “understanding for the artist’s anger” regarding the violence in Israel and said the duo clarified in a statement that the “death to the IDF” chant was “not an antisemitic slogan, but rather criticism of the Israeli army”.
The statement added: “While we understand that these statements were made in the context of punk and activism, and that the reporting on them is sometimes less nuanced than what actually happened, we still believe these new statements go too far. They no longer fall within the scope of what we can offer a platform.”
In a statement on its website, Club Paradiso said: “On Saturday September 13, during his performance at Paradiso, artist Bob Vylan made statements that many experienced as harsh and offensive.
“Paradiso believes in the power of artistic freedom. Music, and punk in particular, has traditionally been a form of art that amplifies anger, discontent, and injustice without filter.
“In a world on fire, artists sometimes choose language that sounds confrontational or violent. That is part of artistic expression, but not automatically language that we as a venue endorse.
“Paradiso shares the outrage and concern regarding the genocidal violence taking place in Gaza.
“That Bob Vylan raises his voice against it is legitimate and necessary. Should the Openbaar Ministerie (public prosecution service) wish to investigate whether any criminal offences have been committed, Paradiso will cooperate.”
After reports that his comments “celebrated” Mr Kirk’s death, Bobby Vylan said in an Instagram video: “At no point during yesterday’s show was Charlie Kirk’s death celebrated. At no point whatsoever did we celebrate Charlie Kirk’s death.”
The duo, comprised of frontman Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, have another gig in the Netherlands at Doornroosje which is billed for Monday.
A translated statement on the Doornroosje website, which appears to have been online prior to the recent comments, said: “Bob Vylan plays at Doornroosje because he’s an act that fits within our programming. The band has previously been booked for Doornroosje and played at the Valkhof Festival.”
Following Bobby Vylan’s comments about the IDF at Glastonbury in June, Avon and Somerset Police launched an investigation.
Earlier in the month, BBC director general Tim Davie said the corporation’s decision to broadcast Bob Vylan’s set live was “a very significant mistake”.
While facing questions from MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Davie said the punk duo’s set was “antisemitic” and “deeply disturbing”.
The corporation issued an apology after the Bob Vylan set at Glastonbury, saying: “We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to apologise to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community.”
Bobby Vylan said in a social media post that “there was nothing antisemitic or criminal about anything I said at Glastonbury”.
In the high-stakes world of American healthcare, where billions of dollars in federal funds hang in the balance, UnitedHealth Group Inc. UNH -2.45% ▼ is pulling out all the stops to navigate a storm of regulatory scrutiny and policy shifts under the Trump administration. The nation’s largest health insurer, grappling with criminal investigations into its lucrative Medicare Advantage business and looming threats to its billing practices, has turned to a time-tested Washington strategy: leveraging connections to former President Donald Trump’s inner circle. From high-level meetings with Justice Department officials to dinners with Medicare overseers and a surge in lobbying expenditures, UnitedHealth is working overtime to plead its case directly with the powers that be.
This aggressive outreach comes at a pivotal moment for the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based giant. UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage segment, which generated over $100 billion in revenue in 2023 according to Medicare data, has long been the crown jewel of its operations. These private plans, which manage federal benefits for seniors and disabled individuals, have been a boon for insurers, offering higher reimbursements than traditional fee-for-service Medicare. But recent changes to federal payment rules under the Biden administration, coupled with ongoing probes, have eroded profitability and wiped out nearly 40% of the company’s market value since April.
The company’s troubles intensified in May when The Wall Street Journal first reported that the Justice Department’s criminal fraud unit had launched an investigation into UnitedHealth’s Medicare practices. Shortly thereafter, UnitedHealth secured an unusual meeting with senior Justice Department officials, including Chad Mizelle, the attorney general’s chief of staff. According to people familiar with the meeting, the discussion touched on the probes targeting the company—a move that former prosecutors described as atypical for a firm in the early stages of a criminal inquiry.
“You don’t typically see companies under investigation getting face time with top brass like that,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and a legal analyst who has followed similar cases. “The goal in investigations is to maintain independence and avoid any perception of favoritism or leaks. This kind of access raises eyebrows.”
UnitedHealth’s CEO, Stephen Hemsley, who returned to the role in May after serving as chairman and previously as CEO, has been at the forefront of these efforts. Hemsley, a veteran of the company since the 1990s, recently met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to discuss Medicare policy and other healthcare issues, though government investigations were not on the agenda, according to a White House official. Earlier in the summer, Hemsley dined with Chris Klomp, the official overseeing Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where they delved into topics like Medicare-plan billing policies and the supplemental benefits offered through private plans, sources familiar with the matter said.
These engagements underscore a broader playbook in Washington: direct access to decision-makers. UnitedHealth has also sought meetings with President Trump himself, though it has not yet secured one, according to people close to the discussions. The company is particularly focused on resolving the ongoing investigations, which include not only the criminal probe but also civil and antitrust inquiries.
The backdrop to these maneuvers is a company in recovery mode. UnitedHealth’s stock has shown some tentative signs of stabilization since Hemsley’s return, but the Washington overhang persists. The insurer was already reeling from the tragic public murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of its UnitedHealthcare insurance unit, in December 2024—an event that shocked the industry and added to operational disruptions. Amid this, Hemsley has outlined a recovery plan emphasizing cost controls, operational efficiencies, and advocacy in policy circles.
Financially, the hits have been hard. Changes to Medicare billing rules implemented by the Biden administration began impacting results in earnest this year, squeezing margins in the Medicare Advantage business. Investors are now laser-focused on how the Trump administration will handle these practices. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s nominee for CMS administrator and a high-profile television personality turned public health advocate, has vowed a crackdown on certain insurer tactics, including those employed by UnitedHealth. “We’re going to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare,” Oz said during his confirmation hearings earlier this year, signaling potential further reimbursement cuts or stricter oversight.
To counter these threats, UnitedHealth has ramped up its Washington presence dramatically. In the first half of 2025, the company spent $7.7 million on lobbying—roughly double the amount from the same period in 2024, according to its own disclosure filings with the Senate. This surge outpaced rivals: Humana Inc. and Cigna Group saw only modest increases in their lobbying budgets during the same timeframe.
A key part of this strategy involves hiring influencers with deep Trump ties. UnitedHealth brought on Brian Ballard, a prominent fundraiser for the president and founder of Ballard Partners, as its top outside lobbyist. Ballard’s firm, which started representing UnitedHealth in 2024, has become the company’s highest-paid external advocacy group, per disclosure records. Ballard, known for his access to the White House and Capitol Hill, has been instrumental in facilitating connections.
The company also enlisted Jesse Panuccio, a former senior Justice Department official from Trump’s first term who now partners at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP. Panuccio played a role in arranging the meeting with Justice Department officials, including Mizelle, sources said. Additionally, in a shareholder lawsuit filed against the company, UnitedHealth in July replaced its legal team from WilmerHale—a firm criticized by Trump—with Robert Giuffra, the president’s personal lawyer and a securities litigator at Sullivan & Cromwell, along with his colleagues.
This shift in legal representation highlights the personalized nature of influence-peddling in the Trump era. “Lobbying spending often ticks up year over year, but 2025 is on track to shatter records,” said Anna Massoglia, a researcher at OpenSecrets.org, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics. “With the administration’s inner circle so accessible, companies are going all-in on direct relationships. It’s more nuanced now—you can court the president, his family, and allies outright.”
UnitedHealth’s disclosures paint a picture of an all-hands-on-deck approach. The company has increased its roster of lobbyists and lawyers with Trump-era credentials, aiming to shape policies on Medicare payments, supplemental benefits, and regulatory relief. In a statement to reporters, UnitedHealth emphasized its proactive stance: “Public policy shapes healthcare across America, and it’s our responsibility to engage with the administration and Congress at all levels to improve patient access and affordability,” a spokesman said. “This is especially true now as critical decisions are being made.” The spokesman added that lobbying expenditures fluctuate annually based on needs.
Executives have been candid with Wall Street about these efforts. In a recent earnings call, Hemsley told analysts that the company has been “engaged and collaborative with the administration,” providing management with “a seat at the table,” according to notes from a Morgan Stanley investor briefing last week. This engagement yielded a tangible win in August, when the Justice Department cleared UnitedHealth’s long-stalled $3.3 billion acquisition of home-health provider Amedisys Inc. after the company agreed to divestitures. The deal, first announced in 2023, had been bogged down in antitrust reviews.
The White House has downplayed any special treatment. “The Administration routinely meets with insurers to deliver on the President’s mandate of improving healthcare and lowering costs for everyday Americans,” said Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, in response to inquiries about UnitedHealth’s outreach.
Yet, the investigations remain a thorn in UnitedHealth’s side. When the Journal broke the story of the criminal probe in May, the company initially stated it had not been formally notified and robustly defended its Medicare Advantage integrity. “We have full confidence in our practices,” a spokesman said at the time. But by July 24, in a securities filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, UnitedHealth disclosed that it had proactively reached out to the Justice Department and was complying with formal criminal and civil requests. The filing reiterated the company’s commitment to cooperation.
The probe, led by the Justice Department’s criminal fraud unit, is examining potential overbilling and other practices in Medicare Advantage, sources familiar with the matter confirmed. It remains active, with no resolution in sight. Civil investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services and antitrust scrutiny of mergers add layers of complexity.
Former Justice officials like McQuade stress the rarity of such high-level interventions. “You don’t want to give anyone a heads-up,” she said, referring to the risks of discussing active cases. Panuccio, who helped orchestrate the meeting, did not respond to requests for comment.
For UnitedHealth, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Medicare Advantage accounts for a significant portion of its $371 billion in total 2024 revenue, and any adverse policy changes could derail its growth trajectory. The company serves about 8 million enrollees in these plans, making it the market leader with a roughly 30% share. Rivals like Humana, which derives even more of its business from Medicare Advantage, are watching closely, though their lobbying increases have been more measured.
Broader industry dynamics are at play. The Trump administration has promised to overhaul healthcare, with Oz’s CMS nomination signaling a focus on efficiency and fraud reduction. Insurers fear this could mean clawbacks on prior payments or caps on supplemental benefits like dental and vision coverage, which have driven enrollment surges. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans hit 33 million in 2025, up from 29 million the prior year, per CMS data.
UnitedHealth’s pivot to Trump allies reflects a sea change in corporate advocacy. In Trump’s first term, industries from tech to energy hired former administration officials to navigate deregulation. Now, with a second term underway, the trend is accelerating. “Companies are figuring out how to win over the new guard,” Massoglia said. “It’s not just about money—it’s about relationships.”
As UnitedHealth pushes forward, the outcomes of these efforts will shape not only its fortunes but the future of privatized Medicare. For now, Hemsley and his team are betting on personal diplomacy to turn the tide. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but in Washington, access is everything.
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