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Charlie Kirk, a prominent voice among young conservatives, was assassinated on Wednesday.

What happened?
The 31-year-old was speaking at an outdoor Q&A at Utah Valley University when a single bullet was fired, striking him in the neck. Video shows Kirk discussing mass shootings involving transgender individuals before he collapses; security rushed him to the hospital, where he died. President Trump confirmed the activist’s death on Truth Social.

The university quickly went into lockdown while police searched for the shooter alongside the FBI. Authorities questioned and released two suspects shortly after the shooting.

Have they found the shooter?
Not yet. 

The FBI has released images of the person of interest, offering a $100,000 reward for information. They believe he is a college-aged male who fled into a nearby neighborhood after the shooting.

Tell me more about Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was best known for co-founding Turning Point USA—a conservative youth organization active on more than 3,500 college campuses—when he was 18 years old. He hosted a popular podcast and “Prove Me Wrong” debates, where he often referenced his faith in Christ, and played a prominent role in helping the Trump campaign reach young voters in 2024.

He was married with two young children.

How have people responded to the assassination?
Political figures on both sides of the aisle—from President Trump to former President Obama—have offered Kirk’s family condolences and condemned the violence. 

Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff through Sunday and announced that the “giant of his generation” will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.

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PRAY WITH US
God of mercy, come near. Come near to the family of Charlie Kirk as their world rips apart. Come near to the community that is shaken and gripped by fear. Come near to us as this act of violence unravels any sense of security, shatters any semblance of peace.

Emmanuel, you entered a violent world and suffered at the hands of violent men to buy a costly redemption. You have come near in bitter darkness. We cling to you. We depend on you for justice and for hope. Amen. 
(Scriptural basis: Isaiah 53:3-5; Matthew 1:20-2:18)

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Nepal’s government has collapsed under Gen Z-led protests. 

Anger had been brewing for weeks as young Nepalis launched a viral “Nepo Kid” campaign spotlighting political elites’ children and corruption. Then, last week, the government blocked 26 social media platforms, claiming they failed to meet registration requirements, sparking mass protests.

Demonstrators stormed parliament, set fire to buildings, and were met with police resistance; at least 19 were killed and hundreds were injured. The ban was lifted on Monday, but unrest only grew, and Prime Minister Oli resigned the next day. An interim leader hasn’t been determined yet.

Meanwhile, across continents, anger at political elites and economic stress in France fueled the “Block Everything” movement. Protestors obstructed highways, burned barricades, and clashed with police; nearly 200 were detained in Paris as riot police deployed 80,000 security personnel nationwide. 

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
It’s easy to become angry and indignant over world events, but much more difficult to live with the tension of desiring change while simultaneously loving everyone involved. Followers of Christ are called to live in that tension, loving the very people they work against.

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (CSB) (read full passage)

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A student opened fire at Evergreen High School in Colorado on Wednesday, injuring two classmates—one critically—before fatally shooting himself. More than 100 officers swarmed Evergreen within minutes, securing indoor and outdoor areas. Authorities have not publicly identified the shooter, but described him as a teenage boy with a handgun who attended the school.

NATO warplanes shot down Russian drones after an “unprecedented” incursion into Polish airspace on Tuesday. NATO also sent troops, weapons, and air defense systems to its eastern edge and issued a statement saying Russia’s “reckless” boundary-testing proved the alliance can “defend every inch of NATO territory.” Russia said the drones entered the airspace inadvertently.

King Charles and Prince Harry had a royal family reunion. The father and son met over tea in London on Wednesday—their first face-to-face since February 2024 when Charles was diagnosed with cancer. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left their royal roles and moved to California in 2020 amid family tensions, but Harry said the meeting was “great.”

A fatal stabbing in Charlotte, North Carolina, has become a public safety flashpoint. Last week, a man with a history of mental illness and arrests was charged with murdering 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the city’s commuter train last month. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles (D) called the attack “a tragic failure by the courts” and called for a “bipartisan solution.”

Oracle turned Hump Day into Mount Everest Day. The tech company’s stock climbed 36% Wednesday—its highest peak in 30 years—following news of a pending $300B cloud computing contract with OpenAI. The stock surge added ~$100B to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth, making him the richest man in the world (for a few hours… then Elon Musk took back the title).

If Athens, Greece, were a cake...

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