The Consumer Price Index rose to 2.9% in August, up 0.2% from July, the Labor Department reports. Inflation was up 0.4% month-over-month, with an 0.4% increase in shelter prices the index’s largest factor. Food was up 0.5%, energy +0.7% and gas +1.9%. Airline fares, used cars and trucks, apparel and new vehicles all were up in prices while medical care, recreation and communications reported decreases. [CHART: Bureau of Labor Statistics]
FRIDAY 9/12/25
UPDATE II: Suspect Tyler Robinson had earlier expressed to his family opposition to conservative activist Charlie Kirk's viewpoints, authorities said, The AP reports.
UPDATE: Authorities have identified the shooting suspect in the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Trump Says Alleged Killer in Custody – A suspect in the fatal shooting Wednesday of close Trump associate and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk is in custody, after a church pastor recognized photos released by the FBI and approached the suspect’s father, the president told Fox & Friends Friday morning.
“I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump said. The president said he hopes the suspect is convicted and given the death penalty.
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‘Trump of the Tropics’ Guilty of Coup Plot – Four of five of Brazil’s supreme court justices voted to convict “Trump of the Tropics” Jair Bolsonaro Thursday of overseeing a failed conspiracy to overturn the 2022 Brazilian election, The New York Times reports. Bolsonaro, 70, who tried to overturn his re-election loss in ’22, was convicted along with seven co-conspirators, including his running mate, defense minister and a navy commander, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison.
Bolsonaro’s coup plot included disbanding courts, empowering the military, and assassination of the president-elect.
Savor that coffee … Asked Thursday whether he is considering further sanctions against Brazil, President Trump told reporters, “I don’t see that happening.” Trump already has imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, including coffee, over the Bolsonaro trial even though the US has a trade surplus with the country.
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‘Conveyor Belt’ Confirmations – Senate Republicans in a 53-48 party-line vote have changed the chamber’s rules to speed up confirmation of President Trump’s sub-cabinet nominees, Roll Call reports. The change allows the chamber to confirm appointees en bloc, which means votes on groups of nominees at one time rather than one-by-one. The new rule does not affect confirmation of federal judges, according to NPR.
“It’s time to move,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said. “Time to quit stalling. Time to vote. Time to fix this place.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the change simply accelerates President Trump’s bidding, turning the chamber “into a conveyor belt for unqualified Trump nominees.” –TL
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THURSDAY 9/11/25
Kirk Assassinated – Turning Point USA co-founder and close Trump associate Charlie Kirk, who invited provocative debate with left-wing youth saying, “prove me wrong” was fatally shot Wednesday as he began a rally at Utah Valley University. The father of two children with his wife, Erika, was 31.
Law enforcement search for Kirk’s shooter was still underway Thursday morning, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) called the shooting a “political assassination” and a “dark day” for his state and the US, per The Hill, and has noted his state still has the death penalty.
Vice President JD Vance was on his way to Utah to pay his respects to Kirk’s family. President Trump called Kirk “a martyr for truth and freedom” and blamed leftist rhetoric for contributing to his death, according to the WSJ.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was “heartbroken and outraged” by the assassination and former President Barack Obama said, “This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy.”
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UPDATE on Russia’s Attack on Poland – The United Nations security council will hold an emergency meeting at Poland’s request, on Russia’s violation of Polish airspace Wednesday, The Guardian reports.
Poland is “drawing the world’s attention to this unprecedented Russian drone attack on a member of the UN, EU and NATO,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told RMF FM radio.
Poland said 19 Russian drones crossed into its eastern territory, leading to triggering of NATO’s Article 4, according to Newsweek. Russia’s ambassador to the UN said that Poland has failed to provide evidence. –Compiled and edited by Todd Lassa
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