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Newsweek
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
How Trump's Near-Assassination Was Downplayed and Memory-Holed in the Media
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A year after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, some political commentators are arguing the incident was minimized by the media, while marveling at how quickly the near-murder of the former and future American president has faded from public consciousness. On the eve of the 2024 Republican National Convention, a gunman opened fire on Trump from a rooftop near the Butler fairgrounds, grazing Trump's ear, killing a local firefighter, Corey Comperatore, and injuring two others. While the attack could have been a galvanizing national moment, some media critics say it was instead overshadowed by election coverage, partisan concerns, and editorial decisions meant to avoid amplifying Trump's near-death experience. This week, Veteran political journalist Mark Halperin, on his Next Up podcast, called the muted response "one of the best ways to understand what we're still going through as a country." In a conversation with Journalist Salena Zito, ahead of the release of her book 'Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America's Heartland,' Halperin highlighted what he saw as a stark disconnect between how the media treated Trump's shooting and how it might have covered similar attacks on Democratic leaders. This aerial photo of the Butler Farm Show, site of the Saturday, July 13, 2024 Trump campaign rally, shown Monday, July 15, 2024 in Butler, Pa. This aerial photo of the Butler Farm Show, site of the Saturday, July 13, 2024 Trump campaign rally, shown Monday, July 15, 2024 in Butler, Pa. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar "The left, the people who do not like Donald Trump, did not treat his attempted assassination the way they would have if it had been Barack Obama or Joe Biden," Halperin said, describing what he saw as an "extraordinary failure" to confront the shooter's motive or scrutinize the security breakdown. Footage and investigations have since raised more questions about how the would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, was able to position himself with a clear line of sight toward the presumptive Republican candidate for president. But as a cascade of security failures have come to light, public attention has waned. Conservative commentator Drew Holden wrote in The Spectator that the effort to downplay the shooting "started moments after the shots rang out," with networks using vague language like "loud noises" and "popping sounds" to describe the scene — even after the Associated Press confirmed Trump had indeed been hit by live fire. Holden noted that within weeks, coverage in major outlets dropped off dramatically, comparing it unfavorably to the media's treatment of the January 6 Capitol riot. "Just a couple of months before the 2024 election, I think the press was afraid of adding fuel to the Trump campaign, especially since some polling at the time showed the assassination attempt had boosted his popularity," Holden told Newsweek about his findings. 'Abandoned Coverage' Halperin and Holden have both sharply criticized the way media outlets covered — and then quickly abandoned — the story of Trump's near-assassination, framing it as a revealing moment about U.S. politics and journalism. On his podcast, Halperin argued that the muted response reflected deep-seated hostility to Trump from mainstream institutions, which failed to interrogate the story the way they would have if the target were a Democrat. He cited examples of commentators and anchors — including Martha Raddatz of ABC News and Margaret Brennan of CBS News — who quickly pivoted to blaming Trump's own rhetoric rather than focusing on the attack itself. 'Can you imagine that? Someone tries to kill the president, former president, front runner, and between the government and the media, it is an absolute mystery…'@markhalperin reflects back on how the media and the Left blamed TRUMP for Butler assassination attempt – and… — Next Up with Mark Halperin (@NextUpHalperin) July 8, 2025 "You see in the immediate aftermath of the near-death of Donald Trump, people wanting to hold him accountable for his own near murder. It's kind of incredible," Halperin said. He also criticized commentators who cast doubt on the seriousness of Trump's injuries, including MSNBC's Michael Steele, the former Republican operative turned fierce Trump critic who speculated on-air whether the ear wound was caused by glass instead of a bullet. JUST IN - YOUR REACTION: Former RNC Chair Michael Steele Demands Answers, Says, 'If Trump Was Shot with a High-Caliber Bullet, There Should Be Very Little Ear There,' Asks, 'Where is the Medical Report from the Hospital or Campaign?' Suggests a Cover-Up. WATCH — Simon Ateba (@simonateba) July 17, 2024 "Even a week after he'd been shot and the doctors had spoken out, you heard all this skepticism from the left," Halperin noted. Holden highlighted the media's coverage of the shooting in a detailed X thread, posting screenshots of early headlines from USA Today, NBC News, CNN and the Los Angeles Times that downplayed the attack as "popping noises" or an "incident." He also pointed out that some in the media, including Joy Reid, formerly of MSNBC, and Raddatz of ABC, blamed Trump's own rhetoric for the shooting, even in the hours immediately afterward. It was a trend that, as Holden noted, continued even after the second attempt on Trump's life was thwarted last September. Joy Reid of MSNBC is now suggesting that Donald Trump was never hit by a bullet, and that his campaign and the Secret Service colluded to kill two people in a fake assassination attempt just so Trump could have a photo op. Outrageous. Insane. Defamatory. NBC must take Reid off… — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 18, 2024 ABC's Martha Raddatz's seething hate is all apparent in her haggard face. Here she is blaming Trump for the assassination attempt on his life using the 'bloodbath' hoax. — John Ocasio-Rodham Nolte (@NolteNC) July 14, 2024 NBC's Lester Holt: "Today's apparent assassination attempt comes amid increasingly fierce rhetoric on the campaign trail. Mr. Trump, his running mate JD Vance continue to make baseless claims about Haitian immigrants" in Springfield, Ohio, resulting in bomb threats. — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 15, 2024 On X, Holden highlighted coverage from networks like CBS, which questioned whether Trump "really needed all that bandaging on his ear" when he spoke days later at the Republican National Convention to formally accept the party's nomination. Trump didn't require stitches on his ear because it was a scratch, not a gaping bullet wound. So the wad of gauze was slapped on his ear for dramatic effect, as suspected. — Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) July 20, 2024 Coverage in the print press also quickly dwindled, despite a flood of questions about Crooks' motives and background and the security failures on behalf of Secret Service and local law enforcement. Holden pointed to New Yorker columnist Jay Caspian Kang, who observed that just three days after the shooting "there were no stories about the shooting in the top slots on the websites of the New York Times, the Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal." By late August, he said, the coverage had all but ceased. "The shooting happened less than a month after Biden stepped aside as the nominee following his disastrous debate performance. The last thing the press wanted was to make that worse," Holden told Newsweek. The Butler assassination attempt came in the midst of a summer that many commentators across the political spectrum have acknowledged as the wildest few weeks in modern American politics. In the days that followed, Trump picked his running mate, JD Vance, while President Joe Biden — already reeling from the fallout from his debate performance weeks earlier — announced he was stepping aside as the Democratic nominee and endorsed his running mate to lead the ticket. Trump would be reelected 15 weeks later.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mizzou QB Reveals He Was Originally Recruited as a Free Safety
Mizzou QB Reveals He Was Originally Recruited as a Free Safety originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the Missouri Tigers prepare for the 2025 season, there are more questions than answers, especially at quarterback. Advertisement With the departure of three-year starter Brady Cook and several key offensive pieces, head coach Eli Drinkwitz was forced to look outside Columbia for solutions. One of those new faces under center is Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, a player who, not long ago, wasn't even seen as a true quarterback. 'My whole life, I was always a good athlete,' Pribula said on the Next Up with Adam Breneman podcast. 'I was recruited at free safety. I had to play wide receiver and free safety — and ended up being really good at it.' Despite his proven athleticism, the perception for a long time was that he couldn't throw well enough to play quarterback at a high level. Advertisement 'I could see how people would think that. Like, 'He's a good athlete, he can run, but I don't know if he can really play quarterback,'' he admitted. 'Honestly, I'd probably agree with them my freshman year of college. I see clips from that first spring, and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I was not ready to play this level of quarterback.'' But Pribula's development didn't stop there. He pointed to the 2023 Peach Bowl as a turning point, as the first time he felt he truly proved himself as a passer. 'After that Peach Bowl game, I had complete confidence in myself as a passer,' he said. 'People just didn't know it yet. I knew my teammates knew it. I knew my coaches knew it. But I understood why people on the outside didn't see it.' His real breakout moment, though, came in a 2024 matchup against Wisconsin. Advertisement 'It wasn't until the Wisconsin game where we were forced to call the whole playbook to win,' he said. 'That was the game where I had to make throws — and I did. That's when I felt like, 'Okay, here's 11 throws for you.'' Still, the narrative around Pribula has remained largely focused on his legs, not his arm. At Penn State, he racked up 571 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 carries, while only throwing for 424 yards and nine scores on 56 attempts. Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula (9) rushes up the Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK But that limited passing sample, he says, was by design. Playing behind Drew Allar, Pribula was primarily used in running packages. 'People didn't see the throws I was making in practice or the player I was becoming,' he said. 'But I know 100% that I'm a complete quarterback. There's no doubt in my mind. I can throw just as well as any quarterback in the country. I'm just excited to show it.' Advertisement As the Tigers head into fall camp, there's still technically a quarterback competition between Pribula and redshirt junior Sam Horn. But based on spring reps and overall momentum, Pribula holds the edge — especially with Horn spending most of the spring focused on baseball and recently landing at No. 128 on MLB's Top Draft Prospects board. While many had their doubts, Pribula made it a goal to prove them wrong. Still, replacing Cook means more than just producing on the field, it also means taking over as a team leader, which will be the next big question for Pribula. But if you ask him, he's ready to answer it. Related: Mizzou Football Loses Another Promising Defensive Recruit to SEC Opponent This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Scotsman
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh comedy award winner Joe Kent-Walters returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with more Frankie Monroe
Award winning comedian Joe Kent-Walters is set to return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year with a brand new hour, 'Joe Kent Walters is Frankie Monroe: DEAD!!! (good fun time)'. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This follows a triumphant debut run at the Fringe last year which saw Joe sell out his entire month-long run as well as extra shows added to keep up with demand. The end of last year's festival also saw Joe take home the award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. As well as the Best Newcomer Award, Joe also received nominations for NextUp's Biggest Award in Comedy, the 2024 ISH Comedy Awards' Best Newcomer and Best Newcomer in the Comedian's Choice Awards 2024. He has since been performing the show across the UK including three sold out runs at London's Soho Theatre. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last year, Joe delighted Fringe audiences with his devilish comedic creation Frankie Monroe (the MC of Rotherham's working men's club – The Misty Moon). In his debut show, we witnessed Frankie lose his club as he got dragged by his balls into the pits of hell. This year, we pick up where we left off, Frankie is down in hell and working as an Entertainments Officer. But while Frankie is thrilling hell dwellers like a Butlins Redcoat in the land of the dead, he hears whispers that back upstairs his club has been taken over by his old rival Vegas Dave, who is trying to gentrify the club for cash. Can Frankie get out from hell and save his club from a fate of IPAs and overpriced shite? Expect this show to be bigger and better with even more characters, even catchier songs, and even more trickier tricks. 'Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: DEAD!!! (good fun time)' is directed by Jonathan Oldfield and written by Joe Kent-Walters with Molly McGuinness. Joe Kent-Walters as Frankie Monroe As well as Best Newcomer, Joe is also the winner of the BBC New Comedy Award 2023 and winner of the Best Show award at the Leicester Comedy Festival 2024 with this debut hour as well as a past winner of the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2021.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NextUp Announces 2025 Executive Forum
Vision + Velocity: A Premier Gathering for Executive Leaders Driving the Future of Business CHICAGO, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NextUp, a leading membership organization building the next generation of business leaders, proudly announces that the 2025 Executive Forum will take place July 15–17 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. This premier, invite-only conference activates the full power of the NextUp community to shape the future of leadership, advance equity, and create lasting impact. "Vision + Velocity is the leadership mindset this moment demands," said Lisa Baird, CEO of NextUp. "It's about seeing what's possible for your business, your people, and your community — and moving boldly and inclusively to turn that vision into impact. This is how we lead with purpose and shape a future that works for everyone." Forum 2025 will bring together over 300 senior leaders from across the country for a three-day experience tailored for executives and strategic decision-makers. Attendees will be invited to challenge conventional thinking, build high-impact networks, and lead with purpose in a fast-evolving world. "Forum is such a valuable experience every year," said Dagmar Boggs, NextUp Executive Board Chair and President of Foodservice and On-Premise for the North America Operating Unit with The Coca-Cola Company. "Once again, NextUp is bringing together eminent thought-leaders for the opportunity to connect in an inspiring setting. This is an essential forum to confront challenges, exchange bold ideas, and shape what's next for business." This year's event, made possible through the generous support of Presenting Partners The Coca-Cola Company and Suntory Global Spirits, will be centered around the theme "Vision + Velocity," empowering leaders to act collectively and create real, sustainable change through future-focused insights, peer collaboration, and bold, actionable strategies. "We are once again proud to support the mission of NextUp at this prestigious event as a Presenting Partner," stated Carlo Coppola, President of North America at Suntory Global Spirits. "NextUp is an incredible organization, and we share their commitment to support the next generation of leaders." This year's keynote speakers include Dominique Shelton Leipzig, CEO of Global Data Innovation; Donna Morris, EVP and Chief People Officer of Walmart; Fraser Bullock, Executive Chair and President of the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; and from Kantar, Casey Ferrell, Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. and Canada MONITOR, and Adrienne Pulido, Vice President of Inclusion Insights. Each of these speakers brings a powerful lens on innovation, leadership, and global impact. The closing keynote speaker is Sarah Wynn-Williams. She's an author, former New Zealand diplomat and international lawyer. She joined Facebook after pitching a job and ultimately became director of global public policy. After leaving the company, she's continued to work on tech policy, including artificial intelligence. To learn more and register for the 2025 NextUp Executive Forum, visit About NextUpFounded in 2001, NextUp is the leading national membership organization building the next generation of leaders and inclusive workplace cultures that advance all women in business. We are a powerful, growing community of 100+ partner companies and 16,000+ members across 21 regions. NextUp works to create next-gen leadership opportunities, amplify women's voices, and provide equal opportunities for everyone in the workplace. To learn more about NextUp, visit or on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram (@nextupisnow). Prepared by: NextUp Contact: Shannon Hollingsworth | AMZG Agency press@ | (203) 424-1387 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Network of Executive Women, Inc. d/b/a NextUp Sign in to access your portfolio
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Here's why Kamala Harris could run for governor of California and bypass another White House bid
LOS ANGELES — Many of Kamala Harris' supporters and detractors alike think she'd have better odds running for California governor rather than president a third time. There are several reasons for Harris to make a bid to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. She would immediately become the early front-runner instead of entering a presidential primary with a dozen or more serious contenders. No other candidate in California could match her résumé of having served as San Francisco district attorney, state attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president. Beyond being expected to make a decision by the end of summer, Harris said little about her future. She told a crowd in Orange County in April: 'I'll see you out there. I'm not going anywhere.' Newsom has predicted that Harris would top the field in a contested primary but added, 'if she runs.' To run for governor, 'you have to have a burning 'Why?' ' Newsom said on the 'Next Up with Mark Halperin' podcast. 'And if you can't enunciate that, the answer is 'No,'' Newsom added. 'Why the hell would you want this job?' Here are some reasons why she might want it — and why she might not. Her office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Harris would have to convince national Democrats that she's the face of the party's future, despite losing to President Donald Trump last fall. She's also tied to former President Joe Biden, whom Democrats are increasingly criticizing as new books drive further discussion about his age and physical and mental readiness during his time in office. The 2028 presidential contest is expected to attract a large field, likely to include Newsom. Any candidate will have to unify a fractious Democratic Party with low approval ratings and struggling to slow Trump's agenda in Washington. Democratic consultant Bill Burton, who was national press secretary for former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, said Harris would enter a presidential primary with a proven fundraising network, strong recognition with voters and the experience of operating in a Trump-fueled media environment. But the looming question for Democrats is likely to be, 'Who is the best person to stand up to the MAGA movement and exhibit a strength that is going to need to be really formidable?' Burton said. Could Harris make that case? Some think her time has passed. 'She's had her chance,' Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement. 'Voters want authentic outsiders who will shake up our broken political system and challenge an economic status quo rigged for billionaires against working people,' Green added. 'That's why Kamala Harris lost, and it's why Democrats must turn elsewhere for leadership.' Harris calls herself a proud daughter of California, and after serving as vice president and in the Senate, she doesn't need to chase another title. That said, California is one of the world's largest economies by itself, and its governor becomes, by default, a national figure. She would most likely run as a proven hand with the experience to lead California's tussles with Trump — the state is known as the epicenter of the so-called Trump resistance — while dealing with its many problems, among them homelessness and a punishing cost of living. In her San Francisco speech last month, she said the nation was witnessing a 'wholesale abandonment' of American ideals under Trump. The contest to replace Newsom in California is crowded, with leading candidates including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra. It's expected that at least some of her rival Democrats would bow out rather than compete against her, including Porter, who in 2012 was appointed by then-attorney general Harris to be the state's independent bank monitor in a multibillion-dollar nationwide mortgage settlement. Democratic consultant Roger Salazar, who was a delegate in the party's 2024 presidential convention, said Harris would stand better odds in a race for governor in her home state. With multiple election wins in California, 'there is just more certainty,' Salazar said. 'I think she's got a leg up right now, but this race hasn't solidified' with the primary more than a year away. How will voters view her? As a favorite daughter of California returning home? Or a two-time presidential also-ran looking for a soft landing? Republican consultant Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, was dubious about her chances in either race. It's unusual for a candidate to capture the presidency after two losses — Biden was one example. As for governor, 'the California electorate is about as ideal as it gets for Harris, but nothing about her current electoral record indicates that primary or general election candidates should be scared off,' Madden added. Unlike many other states, California doesn't automatically advance a Democrat and a Republican to the November election. The state's open primary system has tormented many candidates — critics call it the 'jungle primary.' All candidates appear on a single ballot, regardless of party, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. The system can lead to strategic gambles. Last year's U.S. Senate race included three prominent Democrats — U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Porter and Barbara Lee. Schiff ran TV ads in the primary that spotlighted Republican Steve Garvey, presumably a weaker contender in the general election than either of his Democratic rivals. Garvey ended up advancing to November, where he was soundly defeated by Schiff, who now holds the seat. But Harris could come out of the June 2, 2026, primary facing a Democrat who ends up criticizing her in much the same way she'd have faced in a 2028 bid. San Francisco-based Democratic consultant Eric Jaye recalled another Californian who, after losing a presidential race, sought to rebound in his home state: Richard Nixon. After being narrowly defeated in the 1960 election by then-Sen. John F. Kennedy, Nixon lost the 1962 race for California governor. (Of course, Nixon ended up winning the White House six years later.) While Harris is a favorite with Democrats, a slice of the electorate has deeply negative views of her, Jaye noted. That doesn't leave her with many voters to gain, and the Democratic primary vote could be divided among multiple candidates. 'I don't think it's in any way guaranteed that she would win,' Jaye said. 'She's a highly polarizing figure.' Harris would be coming home to a long list of problems. The homeless crisis is playing out daily on the streets of Los Angeles and other big cities. Newsom this month said the state is facing a $12 billion deficit and he wants to freeze enrollment in a state-funded health care program for immigrants living in California without legal status. There is a home insurance crisis and a continuing threat from destructive wildfires. And as the last election made clear, Republicans will attempt to saddle her — fairly or not — with her home state's reputation for confiscatory taxes, gas prices and utility bills, seven-figure home prices and liberal social policies.
