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Local official: Ukrainian drone strikes apartment building in Russian Yekaterinburg
The regional governor announced on Saturday that a Ukrainian drone had struck a multi-storey apartment building in Russia's fourth largest city, Yekaterinburg. This was the first attack in the city since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Denis Pasler wrote in the Telegram app that there were no deaths, but minor injuries had been reported and one woman was admitted to hospital. He said that residents of the building were evacuated. "All emergency services work quickly." A video posted on X, a social media site, and confirmed by showed smoke pouring from the top of a high-rise modern building. The building's facade was blackened heavily and several windows were blown. Ukraine has not yet commented. The Yekaterinburg drone incident came after an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine that killed seven people and injured dozens. The city of Yekaterinburg has 1.5 million inhabitants and is situated in the Ural Mountains,?in Sverdlovsk, a region that is home to many defence-related factories. It is located 1,900 km away from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. During the Ukraine Conflict, which began in 2022?, Russia bombarded Ukrainian target with artillery and drones. Ukraine?struck deeply inside Russia? with sabotage group and drones. They killed Russian generals while attacking oil refineries, oil pipelines, and oil refineries.
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Source: US considering using Defense Production Act for Spirit Airlines restructuring
Sources say that the administration of U.S. president Donald Trump is looking at using the Defense Production Act as a legal basis to bailout Spirit Airlines. CBS News reported the potential plan for the first time on Friday, citing U.S. officials who were familiar with the discussions. Sources said that the U.S. Government could use Title 3 of the Defense Production Act to invest in industrial capacities to ensure supply chains to support national defense. Kush Desai, White House spokesperson, said that the Trump administration is "continuing to explore possible options" in order to keep the airline?in operation' for both its employees and passengers. He said that reporting on the'mechanism or the structure of financing should be considered as speculation. Defense Production Act (DPA) is a?emergency authority which allows the U.S. Government to force private companies to prioritise federal contracts and increase output of critical goods. The Defense Production Act?allows loans to private companies for national defense purposes. This measure could offer support to the airline. Trump said that his administration is looking to buy the airline at "the right price" on Thursday. He told reporters in the White House that if the price of crude oil drops, he would be able to sell it at a profit. Budget carrier Spirit, based in Florida, is running out of time. Spirit's lawyer said that the budget carrier needs to access its cash or obtain new financing by the end next week. A court hearing has been scheduled for?next Monday as the lawyers of the company and creditors try to reach an agreement on a bankruptcy exit plan. Spirit's outside lawyer said that the Trump administration had made a financial offer to help it exit bankruptcy. This was being reviewed by major creditors. Spirit creditors' lawyer said they reviewed the terms of the government's offer on Thursday. Sources say that the offer includes $500 million of?financing, and a condition for the government to receive warrants equivalent to 90% of Spirit equity. Spirit would be able to exit bankruptcy with the senior debtor in possession financing. This is its second restructuring since 2025. (Reporting and editing by Bhargav Aharya, Chris Reese and Bhargav Shepardson; Kanishka Singh, Christian Martinez and David Shepardson)
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Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, says that US is ignoring international conventions and pursuing its own interest
In an interview broadcast Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the United States had abandoned internationally recognised "diplomatic conventions" in pursuit of their own interests, particularly dominating the energy markets. Lavrov said, when he was interviewed by the Russian state television, that Washington's "dealings" with Latin America and Middle East were "returning us to a time where there was no international law." In an interview posted on the Foreign Ministry website, he stated that "the United States has declared that no one is allowed to dictate to them." It only cares about its own wellbeing and is prepared to defend that well-being through any means, including coups, kidnappings, or assassinations against leaders of countries who possess the?natural resources? needed by Americans. "Venezuela and Iran, our American friends do not conceal that it is all about oil." They have "a doctrine of dominance on global energy markets." Lavrov made reference to the 'capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro' in a U.S. military action in January and the death of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ayatollah Khamenei by joint U.S. - Israeli airstrikes towards the end of the month. Lavrov claimed that the United States had "cut off' Europe. He urged European states to abandon Nord Stream, a pipeline which carries Russian gas from Russia to Germany. This is not a way to approach international relations. Lavrov denounced 'European policy' as being driven by 'arrogance and disrespect for others. He said that the United States, in seeking to settle the four-year conflict in Ukraine, was also promoting "huge economic opportunities." "At the exact same time, all that I have just described happens in parallel. He said that we are being forced out of all global energy markets. If we are willing to do projects that will benefit both us and the Americans, then it is important that our interests are respected. We have not seen this yet. Rod Nickel, Editor of the Reporting (by Rod Nickel)
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New York Sues US over cancellation of $73.5 Million in highway funding
New York has sued the Trump administration over its decision to withhold more than $73.5m in highway funding because of the'state's refusal to revoke some commercial driver licenses. New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that the legal challenge seeks to reverse last week's decision by the U.S. Transportation Department to cancel funding after the state refused to comply with the federal government's demand to revoke some driver's licenses. New York claims that the loss of funding places New Yorkers in danger, while USDOT reported in December that an audit had found New York was issuing commercial licenses illegally to foreign drivers. USDOT declined to comment immediately. Hochul stated that "New York is once again facing devastating federal cutbacks for no more than political revenge." "It is reckless and illegal to take money from our roads that is needed for safety upgrades." USDOT also threatens to withhold $147 million annually in future years. New York stated that revoking the licenses would "disrupt key industries who rely on commercial driver and could lead to bus shortages affecting families and schools." New York, California and other states have sued the Trump Administration over its refusal to release transportation funds. They accused it of political motives. A judge in March ordered the USDOT to unfreeze funding of about $3 billion for rail projects in Chicago. USDOT had canceled at least $9.5 millions in reimbursements since October, from grants previously approved by former president Joe Biden. The city called the funding suspension a political act of retaliation. (Reporting and editing by Edward Tobin; David Shepardson)
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The Avis rollercoaster brings a large index along with it
This month, the stock index of car rental company Avis Budget was taken on a roller coaster ride by white-knuckle traders. Avis shares fell 70% on Wednesday and Thursday. This was their largest-ever two day decline. They had previously quadrupled, a sign of investor euphoria for "meme stocks" that have taken on 'life of their own. These moves are often made by firms that do not have an exciting future and are subject to bets on their share price falling. Matthew Maley is the chief market strategist for Miller Tabak. He said: "Avis has matured - it doesn't do AI, and it won't cure cancer." It's chasing a short-term squeeze, which is ridiculous. It's a sign that money is sloshing about the system, looking for a place to go. DOW TRANSPORTATION'S WILD RIDE The Dow Jones Transportation Average was also dragged down by Avis, which is often seen as a barometer of the health of the U.S. Economy. The transport index was launched in 1896 and rose up to 33%, before falling back after Avis returned to earth. It also experienced its biggest single-day drop since March 2020. Investors said that the Avis incident -- where a company?currently worth $8 billion? moved an index that included firms like Uber, United Parcel Service and Delta Air Lines which are worth tens or hundreds of billions -- was the latest example of the limitations of "price-weighted" indexes. Price-weighted indexes are calculated by summing component share prices, rather than the market values used by the more widely employed market-value-weighted indexes such as the S&P 500. James St. Aubin said that a small company could wag the tail if it is compared to a benchmark. St. Aubin stated, "If you take a look at Avis it shows the types of problems with weighting schemes." On a market capitalization basis, it is only a fraction of the index. If you look at the index of prices, it's more like 20% since the share price is higher. The S&P Transportation Select Industry FMC Capped Index - a market-capitalization-weighted gauge tracking the same sector - posted muted swings. The index grew by 1.8% after a 2.4% drop on Wednesday. S&P Global declined to comment. The company owns Dow Jones and S&P and maintains them both. SQUEEZE MECHANICS Short squeezes were the primary cause of Avis Budget shares' action. Investors buying heavily shorted stocks pushed the price higher, forcing bearish traders to cover their shorts at higher prices. Investors borrow shares, sell them and then buy them back later at a lower price. They pocket the difference. According to LSEG, two hedge funds, SRS Investment Management Management and Pentwater Capital Management own together about 70% of Avis's outstanding shares. Pentwater Capital increased its stake recently, shrinking the float. Retail traders bought it up, adding momentum to meme-stocks and driving short sellers to billions of dollar losses in April. Avis was the single largest holding in the Roundhill Meme Stock ETF, an actively managed fund which targets stocks driven more by social media than fundamentals. The weighting for this ETF is 6.44%. Analysts are questioning if the Dow transport index provides meaningful insight on the sector and the U.S. economic - especially given the recent spike in oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. St. Aubin stated that no exchange-traded funds track the Dow Transport index. However, the S&P transport index is the basis for several funds including the $1.8billion iShares Transportation Average Fund. He said that most investors don't want to invest using a weighting system based on the price per share. The Dow Transport Index is based on Dow Theory, a century-old framework that holds that sustained movements in transportation stocks can confirm or deny trends of industrial activity. Some say that the Dow Theory has lost its relevance. Jay Hatfield is the chief executive officer and chief investment office at Infrastructure Capital Advisors. He said, "I don't think that Dow Theory really works, so I will just wish you Godspeed if you do follow it." "I find it anachronistic."
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Galp doesn't expect a shortage of jet fuel in Portugal
Galp, Portugal's sole refiner and dominant jet fuel supplier, said that it does not anticipate any disruptions in supply despite the concerns expressed by certain European airlines ahead of the holiday travel season. Galp has said that it produces around 80% jet fuel for Portuguese airports at its Sines refinery. The crude oil is sourced primarily from Galp’s offshore fields in Brazil. The import of smaller quantities is primarily to meet the European standards for sustainable aviation fuel and to cover periods of high demand. European airlines have warned of the possibility that the Iran conflict could trigger jet fuel shortages. Europe imports about 75% of its jet-fuel from 'the Middle East. Galp stated that in the past, imports were primarily sourced from refineries located in Asia and the Middle East. However, it will now prioritise the purchase of jet fuel imported from the United States and West Africa. It added that these imports are likely to be concentrated from May through October. Galp stated that "at this'stage and under the current circumstances, there are no supply disruptions expected in the next few months." The demand is fully met by the national production of the Sines refinery and the stock levels, as well as the jet fuel imported through contracts already in place. Galp has been implementing mitigation measures to bolster supply resilience since early March. These include daily monitoring of supply and demand, tracking geopolitical risk, contracting cargo earlier, increasing stocks, and diversifying sourcing.
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Union: Spirit Airlines employees must be protected by the US bailout
The?union that represents workers at Spirit Airlines stated on Friday?that any U.S. bailout for the bankrupt low cost carrier must protect its?employees. Marshall Huebner said that the Trump administration had'made a financial offer' to?help Spirit Airlines exit bankruptcy, which was being evaluated by its major creditors. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), which represents Spirit's employees in the ramp service, has said that any bailout should not include "furloughs or layoffs" and must not involve shifting the burden to the people who run the airline. Spirit's problems predate the Iran War, but the spike in fuel prices that began late February has?made it worse. Huebner stated that the liquidation of Spirit will eliminate over 17,000 jobs, and result in billions of claims. The union cited an airline rescue program from the pandemic era that included restrictions on stock buybacks, dividends and executive compensation. Lawyers for Spirit creditors testified in court Thursday that they had studied the terms of the government offer, which sources claim includes $500 million of financing. The government is also required to receive warrants equivalent to 90% of Spirit?s equity. Spirit's second bankruptcy restructuring after 2025 would be able to be avoided with the senior debtor in possession financing. Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration is 'looking to buy the embattled carrier at the "right" price. He told reporters in the White House that if the price of oil drops, he would consider selling the airline for a profit. Spirit, a budget airline based in Florida, is running out of time. Huebner said Spirit needed a new financing plan or access to $240 millions of funds by next week. A?deal' would keep Spirit Airlines afloat at a time of higher fuel prices that are eating into the profits of carriers. However, the prospect of an American government-funded bailout is causing a backlash from the airline industry as well as members of Trump’s Republican Party. (Reporting and editing by Rod Nickel.)
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Airline cancels flights due to Middle East conflict
The global air travel industry is still severely affected by the Iran War. Many people are unable to fly when they planned, after major Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi were closed. The following is the latest information on flights in alphabetical order. AEGEAN AIRLINES The largest airline in Greece will resume its flights to Tel Aviv on April 28 from Athens, from Heraklion on?April 30 and from Rhodes & Larnaca on?May 21. Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv flights are cancelled up until June 26. Riyadh will resume its flights on May 21. The flights to Beirut, Dubai and Erbil are all cancelled until the end of June. AIRBALTIC AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, has announced that flights to Tel Aviv are cancelled until May 31, 2019. Dubai flights are cancelled until 24 October. AIR CANADA The Canadian carrier has canceled flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until September 7. AIR EUROPA Spanish Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv till May 31. AIR FRANCE-KLM Air France has suspended Tel Aviv flights to Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh until May 3. KLM suspends flights to Riyadh and Dubai until the 14th of June. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines has suspended its flights to Dubai, Riyadh and cargo freighter service to Dubai, Riyadh and Dubai until May 31. In April, the airline will increase passenger flights from Hong Kong to London, Paris, and Zurich to meet an increased demand for travel to Europe. It intends to continue operating all scheduled flights beyond June. The U.S. carrier cancelled flights between New York and Tel Aviv, and has delayed the start of its Atlanta to Tel Aviv route till September 5. The launch of the Boston-Tel Aviv flight, originally scheduled for late October, was delayed until further notice. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES Israel's carrier announced that it will continue to expand its operations and, from April 27, operate flights to around 40 active gateways. All flights to Dubai have been cancelled until May 31, 2019. EMIRATES The UAE airline announced that it would be operating a reduced schedule and flying to more than 100 different destinations. ETIHAD AERWAYS The UAE carrier has announced that it operates a commercial flight schedule from Abu Dhabi to around 80 destinations. FINNAIR The Finnish airline has cancelled all flights to Doha until July 2 and continues to avoid the airspaces of Iraq, Iran Syria, and Israel. The airline will only resume its Dubai flights by October. British Airways, owned by IAG, will reduce flights to the Middle East once services resume. Jeddah is no longer a destination. From July, it plans to reduce the number of flights to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv from two daily flights to just one. Riyadh will be reduced from two daily flights in mid-May to just one. The changes will be in effect until the end of the summer season on October 24. One Dubai service will resume on October 16th. Iberia Express, the Spanish low-cost carrier of IAG, has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until May 31. KUWAIT AIRWAYS On April 26, the airline will resume flights to 17 destinations out of Kuwait International Airport after authorities reopened Kuwait's airspace. Jazeera Airways is another Kuwaiti carrier that has resumed service from Kuwait to nine destinations after temporarily moving operations to Saudi Arabia. JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines suspends scheduled Doha-Tokyo and Tokyo-Doha flight schedules until June 1. Japan Airlines will operate additional flights between Tokyo, London and Doha on April 25. The Polish airline has suspended flights to Tel Aviv till May 31. The airline also cancelled flights from March 31 to May 30, and Riyadh to June 30. The airline will operate its winter route from Dubai to October. LUFTHANSA GROUP Lufthansa and other airlines, including Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, have suspended flights from Dubai and Tel Aviv to Dubai until May 31. Flights to Abu Dhabi and Amman, Beirut Dammam, Riyadh Erbil Muscat Tehran, Riyadh Erbil, Brussels Airlines, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Edelweiss have been suspended until May 31. Eurowings, a low-cost carrier, has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv and Erbil from May 11 to May 14, and to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until October 24. ITA Airways has extended the suspension of flights from Tel Aviv, Riyadh, and Dubai to May 31. MALAYSIA AIRLINES Malaysian Airlines has suspended all flights to Doha until June 14 NORWEGIAN AIR The low-cost carrier has delayed the launch of Tel Aviv and Beirut flights until June 15. PEGASUS Pegasus Airlines, Turkey's national airline, has cancelled all flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman Beirut, Kuwait Bahrain Doha Dammam Riyadh Dubai Abu Dhabi Sharjah and Abu Dhabi until June 1. QANTAS Australia's flag-carrier is increasing flights to Rome and Paris in response to an increase in demand for European destinations. The number of flights to Paris will be increased from three to five per week, and the Perth to Singapore service will go up to 10 per week. A new schedule for flights will be implemented gradually from mid-April until late July. QATAR AIRWAYS From April 23, the carrier will resume daily flights from Damascus to Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. ROYAL MAROC Moroccan airline said that flights to Doha and Dubai were cancelled up until June 30, while those to Doha were canceled through May 31. SINGAPORE Airlines In response to increased demand, the carrier has extended its Singapore-Dubai suspension until May 31 and added services on the Singapore-London Gatwick route from late March until 24 October. TURKISH AIRLINES SunExpress, Turkish Airlines joint venture with Lufthansa has cancelled flights from Dubai to April 30. WIZZ AIR Low-cost carrier suspends flights from Europe to Amman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until mid-September. All flights to Medina are suspended indefinitely. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Jamie Freed. Elviira Loma, Tiago Branao, Agnieszka Olesska, Bernadette HOG, Boleslaw LaSocki, Romolo Tosiani. Editing by Sumana Nady, Joe Bavier Mark Potter Milla Nissi -Prussak Susan Fenton Rod Nickel
SPECIAL RELEASE-The Charlie Kirk Purge: How 600 Americans suffered in a pro Trump crackdown
Lauren Vaughn is a kindergarten assistant from South Carolina. When she saw that Charlie Kirk, a right-wing influential, had been shot during an event in Utah. She opened Facebook and typed a quote by Kirk.
Kirk, in 2023, said that gun deaths were "unfortunate" but "worth it," if they protected "the Second Amendment, to protect our God-given Rights." Vaughn then added, "Thoughts, and prayers."
Vaughn is a 37-year old Christian who has made missionary trips in Guatemala. She said that her request for prayer was genuine. She said that she hoped Kirk's words, in context with the shooting, would prompt her friends to pray.
Rethinking their opposition to gun controls
She thought, "Maybe they will now listen."
Vaughn was fired a few days later. Vaughn was among more than 600 Americans who were terminated, suspended, investigated or disciplined for their comments regarding Kirk's assassination on September 10, according to an analysis of court documents, public statements, reports from local media and interviews with 20 people who had been fired or otherwise disciplined.
Some people were fired for celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death. At least 15 people received discipline for invoking "karma," "divine justice," or variations of "Good riddance"; nine other people were disciplined for saying "Good riddance." One poster said, "One down and plenty more to go."
Some, such as Vaughn say that they simply criticised Kirk's political views.
At least one academic in the pro-Kirk group was placed on administrative leave for threatening to "hunt" down those who celebrated the assassination.
The most comprehensive account of the backlash to Kirk's critics to date, this report traces how local Republican legislators and other influencers mobilized in support of Donald Trump's movement. This story outlines the pro-Trump retaliation machinery that is reshaping American politics. It details its size and tactics, from public humiliation to social media shaming.
Pressure
on employers
Threats to defund institutions. Previous reports have documented how
Trump has purge the federal government
Employees he deems to be opponents of his agenda
Law firms are being targeted for a crackdown
People in the crosshairs of the administration need to be defended.
Sometimes, Americans lose their jobs for speaking out during heated political moments. In 2020, 22 academics lost their jobs.
George Floyd is murdered
According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (a group that advocates for free speech), a Minneapolis officer has fired more than 160 people, many for making comments that were deemed offensive. According to Palestine Legal, a group that protects civil rights for American supporters of Palestinian cause, in 2024, after the outbreak of the most recent Israel-Gaza conflict, more than 160 individuals were fired because of their pro-Palestinian activism.
It is notable that Trump, JD Vance, and other government officials have publicly backed the backlash against comments made about Kirk's shooting. This is a dramatic change for Republicans who, for years, have criticized the left's "cancel-culture" -- the exclusion or punishment of people whose opinions were deemed unacceptable.
The supporters of the firings claim that freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequences. Doctors, lawyers and teachers should all have high standards of conduct.
They said that emergency workers in positions of trust by the public are not included.
Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, said in a statement: "President Trump, and the entire Administration, will not hesitate to tell the truth. For years, radical leftists slandered political opponents as Nazis or Fascists. This has inspired left-wing violence. It must stop." She continued: "No one understands the dangers associated with political violence better than President Trump", after he survived his two assassination efforts.
Turning Point USA (the youth movement Kirk founded) said in a press release that it supports the right to freedom of speech. "This includes the right of private employers to decide when an employee has crossed a line and deserves to be terminated." The organization cautioned, however, that while celebrating Kirk's death is "evil and unqualified behavior," respectfully disagreeing to his ideas, values, or statements is every American’s right.
Vaughn filed a federal lawsuit on September 18 seeking her reinstatement. She submitted a
Letter
Vaughn filed a lawsuit against the Spartanburg County school district after it received a letter from its superintendent describing her remarks as 'inflammatory, unprofessional and inappropriate.' The district responded by saying Vaughn was unable to prove the allegations.
s post "a
"Pared to endorse Mr. Kirk’s murder or to indicate that it was ‘worth' his losing his life to defend Americans' constitutional rights."
The district has declined to comment further.
Social media campaigns have been used to punish offenders. They circulate screenshots, names, and phone numbers of employers and messages such as "Internet, do what you want." What follows is usually hundreds of angry and threatening messages. In interviews, several people who were targeted claimed that they received a flood of phone calls. One person recalled getting a phone call every minute of the day. At least two people said that the harassment was so severe they were planning to sell their home.
Julie Strebe lost her job as a sheriff deputy in Salem Missouri after she posted comments about the shooting on Facebook, including: "Empathy isn't owed to oppressors." Later, she said that she viewed Kirk, who she described as an oppressor, because he used his platform to rally white conservative Christians around "racists, sexists, and hateful views."
Strebe says she has installed five cameras in her home to monitor her and her family. She also fuels her vehicle only at night, so as not to disturb her neighbors. Salem is a small town, and moving would mean leaving extended families. But she says the city has become too hostile for her to stay. In an interview, she stated: "I don't think I can ever let down my guard." The Dent County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on Strebe's previous employer.
Many Republican officials are in favor of the punitive campaigns. Some have
Proposed extraordinary measures
The U.S. government has banned those who are deemed to have revelled in Kirk's murder from using social media. The U.S.
State Department revoked visas
The agency has said that six foreigners are "
"We celebrated the horrendous murder of Charlie Kirk."
On September 15, Vice-President JD Vance called on his listeners in a special podcast episode of Kirk to punish those who celebrate Kirk's demise.
Vance said, "Call out their employer, hell, even call them." Vance's Office pointed out comments made by the vice president earlier this year, in which he said: "Where I draw the lines is encouraging violence against politicians."
Academics have compared this backlash with the "Red Scare," an anti-Communist purge which peaked in 1950, when government officials, union leaders, and Hollywood stars were accused of Communist connections. In a climate that was characterized by fear, thousands were investigated. This influenced American politics and culture over a period of a decade. Landon Storrs is a history professor at the University of Iowa. He said that there are "very troubling parallels".
The crackdown has caused concern among several prominent Republicans, particularly after the Federal Communications Commission publicly pressured ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's talk show following his monologue where he implied that Kirk Kirk's killer was a member of the political right. The police have not fully revealed the results of their investigation on Tyler Robinson or his motives. Robinson has not entered a guilty plea to the murder charges and other charges brought against him.
Ted Cruz, a Republican senator, warned in his podcast that allowing the government to decide "what speech is acceptable and what is not" creates a dangerous precedent. He said that while it might be nice to silence voices such as Kimmel, "we will regret it when it is used to quiet down every conservative in America." His spokesperson declined any further comments.
'MASSIVE PURGE THESE EVIL PSYCHOS
Kirk's critics were punished almost immediately.
Right-wing influencers mobilized about 30 minutes after Trump announced that Kirk was dead. Chaya Raichik of the popular Libs of TikTok posted "THIS Is War" on X before highlighting a Massachusetts Teacher who wrote: "Just a Reminder, We're Not Offering Sympathy."
By the end of the night, Libs of TikTok published or reposted 37 professional details, often accompanied with commentary like "absolutely vile," Your tax dollars pay her salaries," or "Would he teach your kids?"
The next day, Libs from TikTok wrote: "It is actually frightening how many of these people are teachers and doctors." We need to purge these evil psychos, who are out to kill us all for having different political views.
Libs of TikTok, in the week following the shooting, shared the profiles and names of at least 134 individuals accused of celebrating violence and mocking Kirk’s memory. They frequently tagged Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The influencer has posted information about disciplinary measures taken against government employees.
"BREAKING! This Marine was Fired," Libs of TikTok wrote on September 12th, a day after calling a Marine Corps Captain out. According to a screenshot shared by the influencer, the officer responded to Kirk's passing with an emoji showing clinking beer cups. The captain refused to comment on the post. Libs of TikTok reported similar disciplinary action against an Army Reserve officer, and an Army Colonel who commented on the death via social media.
The Pentagon and Justice Department released
The following are some statements that may be helpful:
They condemned the celebrations surrounding Kirk's death, but didn't address questions regarding their relationship with Libs from TikTok.
Scott Presler, a right-wing influencer, began to post screenshots of Kirk's comments.
On September 10, he instructed his followers to take a screenshot of every single person who was celebrating. He told his followers on September 10: "You can bet that we will make these people infamous." Presler then shared on X posts about 70 people who commented on the murder, writing in one message, "Almost everyone we posted about - who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination - has been fired." Presler did not respond to comments.
The wave of shootings was a catharsis for many right-wingers who were outraged at the celebrations of the left.
Matt Walsh, a right-wing podcaster who discussed the firings, told his listeners that it was good for them to be humiliated. They would have to live with their consequences the rest of the time. Walsh replied by email: "F**k off."
Video blogger and recovery coach on YouTube
JD Delay expresses glee
He read out the names of those people who lost their jobs because of their remarks.
"I'm having a good time!" He shouted and raised his hands, expressing excitement. Delay said that he believed in "accountability" and "consequences", and that "if publicly saying abhorrent words and getting fired from your work, I will laugh at you."
Sometimes the punishment campaign veered from its original course. In at least five instances, people were wrongly blaming for the comments of others. Another case.
A website that created a blacklist
After receiving tens and thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency donations, the website "Expose Charlie's Killers" disappeared. The site's creators could not be identified or contacted for comment.
Online influencers claimed to have received tips from people who wanted Kirk's critics fired. Was unable to verify these figures. Presler, Libs on TikTok, and other right-wing personalities have publicly urged tippers to be patient while they work through the large volume of submissions.
Presler, who wrote "Can't stay up with you all" on X September 12, said: Post your submissions and I will go through them as soon as I can.
The post received more than 2,700 responses a day later.
It is possible that the number of people who were punished for criticizing Kirk was undercounted. Many government and private organizations have not publicly announced terminations or suspensions.
The people who were punished represented at least 45 different states, and a wide range of professions, including doctors, nurses, and police officers, as well as soldiers, pilots, and other professionals.
An Office Depot employee in Michigan was fired for refusing to print Kirk's memorial poster. A Starbucks barista in Ohio lost her job when she was accused of writing a message against Kirk on a mint tea cup.
The barista and Office Depot employee's identities were not known. Office Depot and Kroger, the grocery chain that operates the Ohio Starbucks, condemned the anti Kirk incidents and said that the people involved are no longer employees.
The requests to 21 federal agencies, including Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and the Defense Department, for the number or suspensions or dismissals related to the Kirk murder were either ignored, or declined. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's deputy chief of staff responded to the inquiry on social media by accusing the office of trying "to generate sympathy for the ghouls that celebrate his death."
EDUCATORS ARE ONE OF THE MAIN TARGETS
Teachers, university administrators and academics were the most commonly punished for criticizing Kirk. In the days after the assassination more than 350 education workers, including 50 senior university administrators and academics, three high-school principals, two cheerleading coach and a theology teacher, were either fired, suspended, or investigated.
It is possible that educators are at the forefront of the backlash due to a number of factors. Teachers, as the people tasked with molding young minds, have been portrayed by conservatives for years as ideologues whose goal is to push their students to the left. Teachers' status as taxpayer funded employees made any perceived political commentary particularly explosive.
Six teachers have also spoken out in interviews and public statements. They cited their concern about the prevalence of gun violence in schools across the country, and their anger towards those like Kirk who advocated for widespread access to guns.
Vaughn, a South Carolina kindergarten assistant said she was thinking about this when she posted Kirk's 2023 comment on Facebook, dismissing fatal shootings as a price to be paid to protect gun rights. She said that, like other teachers in the United States, she practiced active shooter drills regularly at her elementary school. She saw the fear on her 5-year-olds faces as they learned to hide from a armed gunman.
She told a friend on Facebook that the day Kirk was killed, she had "no satisfaction" with the murder. She said: "Just heartbreak and hope for anyone and everyone affected by gun violence, and that one day enough will be enough." Later, she told a friend that her message was motivated by concern for children.
Right-wing influencers circulated screenshots of the posts. The original posts may have been deleted, or made private. The Virginia teacher has been suspended, and the Texas internship terminated. Both could not be reached for comment.
Some private employers cited a violation of their company values or safety issues as the reason for terminating employees. The corporations that were caught up in this backlash had a number of reasons for their actions. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated in a press release that some employees' statements were "starkly in contrast" with the company's core values and violated the social media policy. United Airlines said it has "zero tolerance" for any form of politically motivated violence.
Some of the Kirk critics, who had taken pains to condemn this shooting, were also fired or suspended after Republican legislators got involved.
Joshua Bregy shared a Facebook post by another user in the wake of Kirk Kirk's death. The post read: "Nobody should be shot down. Not a child, not an influential, not a political figure -- no one. Will I allow others to turn a flawed person whose words have caused significant damage into a martyr? Not a chance."
Clemson Republicans reposted a part of the message in which they called him "ANOTHER LEFTIST PROFESSOR" and demanded his dismissal. Right-wing influencers amplified the post, and Republican state legislators threatened to defund Bregy's public university if he wasn't fired.
Clemson first pledged, in a statement on September 12, to "stand firm on the principles the U.S. Constitution including the protection for free speech."
Clemson fired Bregy after the South Carolina House Speaker and Senate President sent a letter demanding "immediate and appropriate action" from Clemson trustees. Bregy’s Facebook post "was blatantly unprofessional," and "seriously detrimental to the university," Clemson said.
In a letter, Bregy was informed that he had been fired.
Bregy is
Clemson filed a reinstatement petition in federal court in South Carolina. Allen Chaney, his lawyer, said that the academic would still be in the same position "but for the aggressive and coercive tactics used by elected officials in South Carolina."
Clemson's State House Speaker Murrell Smith, and Senate President Thomas Alexander have not responded to requests for comments. Clemson is yet to respond to Bregy’s lawsuit.
At least six times, Republican officials threatened to deny taxpayer funding to universities and schools if Kirk's critics were not fired.
Chaney, the legal director for the South Carolina chapter American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said that the threats of defunding Clemson, and other universities, crossed a constitutional boundary. He said that the government cannot police speech through third-party pressure. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously last year that government officials could not use their authority to "attempt coerce" third parties to punish or suppress speech they don't like.
Paul McGreal, constitutional law professor and Kirk critic at Creighton University Law School (Nebraska), said that the threats of defunding schools who refuse to fire Kirk's critics are "stunning". Government officials threaten speakers with punishment if they don't agree with their views. They are violating the core First Amendment rights."
KIRK HONORED AS '13TH DELIGIOUS' OF CHRIST
Many Republicans have portrayed Kirk as a saintly champion for free speech since Kirk's murder. Evangelicals have compared him to Saint Stephen who is revered as Christianity’s first martyr. One Republican lawmaker said that Kirk would have been the "13th disciple" if he had lived in Biblical time. When he awarded Kirk the posthumous award, Trump compared him to ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and slain president Abraham Lincoln.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom
Kirk's legacy, however, is complex. Kirk gained notoriety for his debates with college students, as part of Turning Point. Kirk advocated criminalizing expressions - like pornography -- that conflicted with Christian beliefs. Kirk backed Trump when Black footballers began kneeling in protest against police brutality during the National Anthem. Later, the White House said that Trump was making a declaration and not a proposal.
Kirk denigrated minorities repeatedly, calling transgenders an "abomination", warning against "prowling Blacks in cities", accusing wealthy Jews for inciting "hatred towards Whites", and declaring Islam to be incompatible with Western civilisation. He dismissed Pope Francis as being a Marxist.
Kirk's hagiography upset some of those who spoke against him after his death.
Kimberly Hunt said, "I felt compelled in an interview to remind people of who he was, and what he represented." Kimberly Hunt is a human resource worker from Arizona. She posted a video with the caption "Save your tears, not for him."
Hunt, in the video, cited Kirk’s history of using derogatory words about transgenders and Muslims before saying that his children were "better off without him". Hunt was promptly fired. Her employer, a construction company in Arizona, has not responded to requests for comments.
Hunt said she was aware that her words were harsh, but stood by them. She said that they were Kirk's position in a discussion last year, where he stated that if Kirk had a daughter of 10 years old who was impregnated by rape "the baby would have been delivered."
Many voices have been silenced by the retaliation. Many people who made anti-Kirk remarks have now deleted or locked their account. In interviews, others said they were pushing back.
Hunt has raised over $88,000 through a GoFundMe page titled "Doxxed - Fired - But Not Silenced". She plans to use the funds to continue her education, to become a content producer, and to keep calling people like Kirk out.
She said, "It has definitely emboldened me."
State and federal court documents show that at least 19 lawsuits were filed against employers who punished Kirk Critics. At least two plaintiffs were successful, including a South Dakota academic who was able to get his teaching job.
Karen Leader, associate professor at Florida Atlantic University took to social media to protest the narrative that Kirk was "a shining example for youth, and a noncontroversial person who wanted an open and civil dialog," she said. Anyone who works in higher education understands that it is not as simple as that.
She pointed out that Turning Point gained prominence because of its Professor Watchlist. This site encouraged students to report professors for holding "radical-left" views or supporting terrorism.
Kirk described the Watchlist not as a blacklist, but rather a tool for raising awareness. In interviews, on social media and in public forums, those who were listed said that the Watchlist encouraged harassment and intimidation. A Turning Point reporter in 2023 was accused of assaulting a professor from Arizona who was on the Watchlist, after confronting him about his sexuality on camera and pushing him to the floor. The reporter was sentenced to a diversionary program after he admitted to harassing, assaulting and disorderly behavior. Turning Point's cameraman confessed to harassing the reporter in this case.
Leader started posting Kirk's previous statements on X starting September 10. She deleted the post after admitting that she had made an error by accusing Kirk incorrectly of using an ethnic slur. She said that she stood by the rest of her posts, including one in which Kirk claimed that Black Americans had been "better" under Jim Crow.
Leader stated, "I never encouraged violence in any way." "I was sharing the evidence."
Jordan Chamberlain is a former employee of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She shared screenshots from several posts by Leader and asked her university if they approved the content. Libs from TikTok posted Leader's faculty photo. The president of the university announced that she was placed on administrative leave. The university's president announced that she had been placed on administrative leave.
menacing messages followed
The caller stated in a voicemail that was reviewed by us: "We are coming to get you." Karen Leader, you know where to find us. As soon as we know your address, we'll come to you. Leader hasn't left her apartment in years.
According to a police document, she reported the threats made to Boca Raton Police, who referred the matter to campus police officers. Florida Atlantic University Police said that their report couldn't be released due to an ongoing criminal investigation.
Florida Atlantic University confirmed that Leader was among three academics on leave while investigations were underway. The university declined to comment further. Chamberlain did not return an email asking for comment.
Leader replied, "I don't really know if my career has ended or not." But my life has changed." Additional reporting by Phil Stewart in Washington, Jana Winter and Courtney Rozen, in Los Angeles, and Isaac Vargas, in Washington. Jason Szep, Linda So and Jason Szep edited the story.
(source: Reuters)