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Trump Hands Ted Cruz A Surprise 2028 Boost

By
Madeleine Jackson
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White House image via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump just gave one of his fiercest former rivals a potentially valuable boost in the increasingly crowded battle to inherit the MAGA movement.

Trump praised Sen. Ted Cruz as “very talented” when asked whether the Texas Republican could become president—offering an encouraging assessment as Cruz openly flirts with another White House campaign.

“Ted Cruz keeps teasing a 2028 presidential run. You’ve run against him for president. Do you think he could be president? What’s your reaction to that?” Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese asked Trump during an Oval Office press conference.

“I would say that he’s very talented. He’s a very good friend of mine. I think he might do that. He’s a talented guy,” Trump responded.

It was far from an endorsement—but in a Republican Party still dominated by Trump, the president’s warm words are certain to attract attention.

Cruz Refuses To Clear The Field

Cruz’s ambitions spilled into the open after he was asked during an MS NOW interview whether Republicans had already settled on Vice President JD Vance as their presumptive 2028 nominee.

“I don’t think it’s accurate to say the party is universally settled,” Cruz said, according to The Hill. “I think there will be a full and vigorous discussion about who should carry on the legacy of President Trump.”

The senator became even more direct one day later during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s podcast.

“Do I want to be president? It’s no secret that I want to be president,” Cruz said, according to CBS Austin.

Cruz previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016, emerging as Trump’s toughest primary opponent before ultimately suspending his campaign. Their bitter rivalry eventually gave way to a powerful political alliance, with Cruz becoming one of Trump’s most dependable defenders in the Senate.

Now, Cruz appears unwilling to let the Republican nomination simply be handed to Vance.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Cruz has been visiting Iowa, promoting his latest book and hitting the podcast circuit as he weighs another campaign. The outlet described Vance as the early polling leader but said Cruz is already taking some shots at the presumed front-runner.

Trump Keeps Everyone Guessing

Trump has repeatedly entertained questions about who should succeed him, with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio most frequently mentioned.

The president reportedly told donors during a private Oval Office meeting, “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD,” according to a Washington Post report cited by the Daily Caller.

Trump later denied that the comment amounted to an endorsement.

“No,” Trump told the Caller when asked about the report. “I think he’s great, but we’re way too early to even be thinking about that.”

Trump has reportedly continued asking allies whether Vance or Rubio should lead the Republican ticket in 2028, suggesting that the president is in no hurry to crown an heir.

“Anyone assuming it’s a lock is just getting way ahead of themselves, or just doesn’t know the president very well,” one administration official told the Washington Post.

That uncertainty gives Cruz an opening—and Trump’s latest comments ensure that the Texas senator will not be dismissed as merely a long-shot challenger.

The 2028 race may still be years away, but the battle to succeed Trump has already begun.

FAA Seeks Permanent Airspace Restrictions Near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

The Federal Aviation Administration is moving to permanently tighten the airspace surrounding President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as federal officials confront persistent threats from unauthorized aircraft and potentially weaponized drones.

The proposed rule, requested by the U.S. Secret Service, would establish a permanent Special Flight Rules Area around President Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, formerly known as Palm Beach International Airport.

“At the request of the U.S. Secret Service in the interest of national security, the FAA is proposing Special Air Traffic Rules for the airspace near Donald J. Trump International Airport,” an FAA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The restricted zone would extend one nautical mile from Mar-a-Lago and reach from the surface to 2,000 feet above sea level.

According to the FAA’s proposed rule, the Secret Service requested permanent restrictions because of “adverse threat intelligence” and the agency’s continuing mission to protect Trump.

The Secret Service argued that stronger rules would “greatly increase” its ability to counter the “persistent risks” posed by unauthorized aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems operating near sensitive locations.

Strict New Rules For Aircraft

Pilots entering the proposed security zone would have to meet several conditions.

Aircraft arriving at or departing from the Palm Beach airport would need an active visual or instrument flight plan, authorization from air traffic control and continuous two-way radio communication. Pilots would also be required to transmit a unique transponder code assigned by controllers.

Military flights supporting the president or Secret Service, along with active law enforcement, firefighting and air ambulance operations, could still enter the area after receiving clearance and meeting the communication requirements.

The permanent zone would not replace the larger temporary flight restrictions imposed when Trump is in Palm Beach. Those presidential restrictions can stretch 30 nautical miles from Mar-a-Lago and reach nearly 18,000 feet.

Instead, the new rules would keep a smaller security perimeter in place even when the broader presidential restrictions are inactive.

A temporary version of the proposed one-mile zone has been operating since October 2025 and is scheduled to expire on Oct. 20. The FAA said converting it into a permanent, charted restriction would improve public awareness and provide greater security than a temporary notice.

FAA Tries To Avoid Airport Chaos

The agency stopped short of proposing a complete ban on flights through the area because Mar-a-Lago sits dangerously close to the airport’s primary commercial runway.

The FAA determined that establishing a fully prohibited zone could make Runway 28R/10L essentially unusable for many commercial aircraft. That runway averaged approximately 86 airline operations per day in 2025.

The proposed system is designed to preserve commercial service while making it easier for federal authorities to identify and track aircraft entering the sensitive zone.

According to the FAA, the plan would have “little to no impact” on the airport’s daily traffic because pilots are already following many of the same procedures under the temporary restriction.

But whether the regulatory line will stop a determined attacker is another question.

Drone Expert Sounds The Alarm

Brett Velicovich, a former Army special operations intelligence analyst and drone expert, warned that declaring an area off-limits cannot replace systems capable of actively detecting and disabling hostile drones.

“We’re going to have to have more counter-drone systems in place because it is not good enough simply for the FAA to send a message saying this area is a no-drone zone,” Velicovich told Fox News Digital. “When you’re a bad actor, that doesn’t matter.”

Velicovich pointed to the 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Investigators later determined that the gunman had flown a commercially available drone near the rally site before opening fire.

“When you look at what happened in Butler, it was discovered later on that the shooter had done very basic surveillance with a drone — a Chinese drone that you could buy off Amazon — before he conducted the attack against the president,” Velicovich said.

The threat has only become more serious as commercially available drones grow cheaper, more capable and easier to modify.

Fox News Digital reported that authorities disrupted a separate plot in June involving suspects accused of discussing an attack using explosive-laden drones during the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.

The FAA proposal is open for public comment through Oct. 2. The White House referred questions about the security plan to the Secret Service, which did not provide Fox News with additional comment.

Ted Cruz Quietly Builds 2028 Campaign Machine: Report

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Sen. Ted Cruz may be ready for another White House brawl — and this time, Vice President JD Vance could be standing in his way.

The Texas Republican has quietly begun asking political operatives whether they would consider working on a potential 2028 presidential campaign, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Cruz has not formally announced a campaign, and his spokesperson declined to comment on the report. But the behind-the-scenes recruiting represents the clearest indication yet that the senator is seriously considering another run for president.

Cruz Starts Putting In The Work

Cruz has been making trips to Iowa, appearing on podcasts and promoting his new biography of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas — moves that could help him reconnect with Republican activists and potential donors.

He traveled to Iowa twice this year, including a May appearance before the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition and a recent campaign swing with Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson.

The state holds special significance for Cruz. He won the Iowa Republican caucuses in 2016 before ultimately finishing second to Donald Trump in the GOP primary.

Cruz has also become increasingly open about his lingering presidential ambitions.

“It’s no secret that I want to be president,” Cruz said during an appearance on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast, according to The Texas Tribune.

“This is a bug that history has proved is rarely ended,” Cruz added. “It is a permanent and often fatal bug.”

When Patrick pressed him on whether he would run in 2028, Cruz stopped short of confirming a campaign.

“Time will tell,” he said.

A Collision Course With Vance?

Any Cruz campaign would likely put him on a collision course with Vance, who leads early polls of prospective Republican candidates and is widely viewed as a possible successor to Trump.

Asked recently whether the Republican Party had already settled on Vance, Cruz immediately rejected the premise.

“Oh no,” he told MS NOW. “There’s going to be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe.”

Cruz said he would “certainly be part of the discussion,” signaling that he intends to help shape the post-Trump Republican Party whether or not he ultimately enters the race.

The senator has already begun highlighting potential differences with Vance, particularly on foreign policy. Mediaite reported that Cruz criticized Vance’s involvement in negotiations over the abandoned memorandum of understanding with Iran.

“JD negotiated the MOU with Iran,” Cruz said. “That was a terrible deal.”

He has also taken aim at Vance’s association with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, opening another potential fault line over the party’s approach to foreign affairs.

People close to Vance have reportedly dismissed Cruz as a serious threat to the vice president’s path to the nomination. But Cruz has already demonstrated that he can compete nationally, winning 11 states during the 2016 primaries.

Trump Leaves The Door Open

Trump, meanwhile, has offered Cruz a notable public boost despite their vicious 2016 rivalry.

“He’s very talented. He’s a very good friend of mine,” Trump told the Daily Caller when asked about Cruz’s presidential ambitions. “I think he might do that.”

Trump has praised Vance behind the scenes, but he has resisted publicly locking in an endorsement for 2028, insisting it is too early to make that decision.

That uncertainty may be all Cruz needs to begin assembling a team — and prepare for another bare-knuckle Republican primary.

Trump-Appointed Judge Blocks DOJ Bid To Clear Steve Bannon

By
Madeleine Jackson
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A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump has thrown a temporary roadblock in front of the Justice Department’s effort to erase Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress case.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols declined to dismiss the indictment underlying Bannon’s 2022 conviction, ruling that federal prosecutors failed to provide an adequate explanation for abandoning the case.

The Justice Department’s request “does not explain its motivations for seeking dismissal,” Nichols wrote, according to Bloomberg Law.

Nichols said the government must provide “a statement of reasons and underlying factual basis” supporting its request—not merely a broad assertion that dropping the case would serve the interests of justice.

The ruling leaves Bannon’s conviction intact for now, but it does not necessarily represent a lasting defeat. Nichols denied the motion “without prejudice,” allowing prosecutors to return with a more detailed justification.

DOJ’s One-Sentence Explanation Falls Short

Bannon, who served as Trump’s White House chief strategist during the president’s first term, was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The committee sought documents and testimony related to Bannon’s communications with Trump and efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Bannon maintained that he declined to comply after Trump asserted executive privilege. He was nevertheless convicted by a Washington jury in 2022 and served a four-month federal prison sentence in 2024.

After Trump returned to office, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington moved in February to vacate the judgment and dismiss the indictment with prejudice, which would prevent prosecutors from bringing the same case again.

“The government has determined in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice,” prosecutors wrote.

That explanation, signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, did not satisfy Nichols. According to ABC News, the judge found that prosecutors had failed to comply with local court rules requiring the government to explain its reasons for seeking dismissal.

Pirro and Nichols were both appointed by Trump.

Supreme Court Cleared The Path—But Did Not End The Case

The procedural showdown comes months after the Supreme Court handed Bannon a significant victory in his appeal.

In April, the justices vacated the federal appeals court judgment that had upheld Bannon’s conviction and returned the case for further consideration in light of the government’s pending motion to dismiss the indictment.

The high court did not directly dismiss Bannon’s charges. Its brief April 6 order instead cleared the procedural path for Nichols to consider the Justice Department’s request.

In its Supreme Court filing, the Justice Department argued that Rule 48(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure permits prosecutors—with a judge’s approval—to dismiss an indictment even after a jury has returned a guilty verdict and the court has entered judgment.

Bannon had asked the Supreme Court to examine whether someone “willfully” defies a congressional subpoena when acting on a good-faith assertion of executive privilege. He also challenged the composition of the House Jan. 6 committee.

The Justice Department’s reversal made it unlikely that the justices would reach those broader constitutional questions. Instead, the court vacated the appellate judgment and sent the case back down.

Nichols’ latest ruling means the conviction remains on Bannon’s record while prosecutors decide whether to submit a renewed motion with the detailed factual and legal explanation the judge demanded.

Because Bannon has already completed his prison sentence, the immediate consequences are largely symbolic. Clearing the conviction, however, would still deliver an important legal victory to one of Trump’s most prominent and outspoken allies.

Coast Guard Pilots Save The Day After DHS Chief’s Plane Loses Engine

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Image via Pixabay

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is thanking a team of U.S. Coast Guard pilots after they calmly guided his aircraft to safety following a frightening midair engine failure.

Mullin was traveling from Georgia to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday when the right engine of his Coast Guard-operated C-37A jet suddenly failed, forcing the crew to declare an emergency and request an immediate landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

“We just lost our right engine and would like to declare an emergency and immediate landing at DCA,” the pilot told air traffic controllers, according to audio cited by CBS News.

There were 14 people aboard the aircraft, including Mullin and other senior Department of Homeland Security officials. The pilot reported that the plane still had approximately two and a half hours of fuel.

Despite the potentially dangerous situation, the Coast Guard crew brought the jet down safely—and apparently made the entire ordeal look far easier than it was.

“The United States Coast Guard pilots made the single-engine landing feel routine,” Mullin wrote on X. “No panic, just straight professionalism.”

Then came a stunning admission from the crew.

“After we landed, the pilots told me that was a first for them!” Mullin revealed. “We could not have been in better hands.”

The aircraft landed safely, was inspected by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority fire and rescue personnel and then moved off the runway. No injuries or significant disruptions to other flights were reported.

But the close call is already reviving questions about the age of the aircraft used to transport America’s top homeland security officials.

The C-37A is a military version of the Gulfstream V and is routinely used to carry senior Coast Guard and DHS leaders. Fox 5 DC, citing Fox News, reported that the aircraft had been flagged in 2025 because of its age.

DHS previously said the Coast Guard’s executive jet was 22 years old and suffered from “significant avionics and communications obsolescence issues.” The department argued that replacing it was a matter of safety, noting that the aircraft had exceeded the normal operational life of a corporate jet.

The aging aircraft is part of a broader challenge confronting the Coast Guard. A Government Accountability Office review found that several Coast Guard aircraft were approaching the end of their original service lives and that maintenance problems had contributed to the fleet repeatedly missing its availability target.

FBI Busts Ohio Man Over Chilling Threats Against Trump, GOP Lawmaker

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Image via Pixabay

An Ohio man is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to burn down a Republican congressman’s home, murder his family and parade the lawmaker’s body through the streets — all while calling for the death of President Donald Trump.

The FBI arrested Alex Justin Miller, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, on one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Fox News Digital identified the alleged target as Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., a Jewish lawmaker who said the profanity-laced email went far beyond the vicious political messages members of Congress routinely receive.

“It was so graphic,” Fine told the outlet. “I reported it immediately.”

According to the federal criminal complaint, the message arrived on the morning of Aug. 18 with a subject line threatening to shoot the congressman.

The sender allegedly vowed to travel to Fine’s home, set it on fire and kill the lawmaker and his family while they slept. The message also threatened to behead Fine, repeatedly invoked Nazis and ended with calls for the deaths of both Fine and Trump.

Fine was attending a meeting in Flagler County when the email arrived, while his family was at their Brevard County home, according to the complaint.

Investigators quickly began following the message’s digital trail.

Emergency records obtained from Google allegedly connected the email account to a Google Voice number and Google Pay records bearing Miller’s name. Login data then led investigators to an IP address registered to a Columbus residence that matched the address listed on Miller’s Ohio driver’s license, the complaint states.

Fine told Fox News Digital that authorities identified and arrested the suspect within 36 hours.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the U.S. attorney, the FBI, the Capitol Police, and all the law enforcement in Florida who took this seriously,” Fine said.

The congressman said the episode reinforced his belief that members of Congress need stronger security protections, particularly as political threats become increasingly personal and graphic.

Fine also stressed that violence against elected officials should never be tolerated, regardless of party.

“You want to call us bad people? Be my guest,” Fine told Fox News Digital. “But do not do this sort of thing.”

The FBI and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones will prosecute it.

Miller faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted.

Ted Cruz Responds To Trump Supreme Court Chatter

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America,

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has issued an unmistakable response to renewed talk that President Donald Trump could nominate him to the Supreme Court.

His answer: “Not just no, but hell no.”

Cruz delivered the fiery rejection during an appearance on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast, making clear that he would rather remain in the political arena than trade the Senate for a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court.

“So look, my answer is not just no, but hell no,” Cruz told Hannity. “And listen, I don’t say that lightly. I mean, it’s a big deal. The court is an institution I revere.”

Cruz acknowledged that his refusal may surprise those familiar with his legal career, much of which unfolded in and around the Supreme Court.

“A lot of people are surprised because I’ve spent an awful lot of my professional life around the court, in the court,” he said. “And for so many people, it is their life dream to do.”

Cruz Wants To Stay In The Fight

The Texas Republican explained that serving as a federal judge would require him to step away from the political and policy battles that have defined his Senate career.

“Because a principled federal judge stays out of politics and stays out of policy fights,” Cruz said, according to Fox News.

That restraint appears to be precisely what makes the position unappealing to Cruz. Although he expressed deep respect for the court, his comments suggest he prefers fighting publicly for conservative priorities rather than weighing cases from behind the bench.

Cruz also called Trump a “good friend,” signaling that his rejection was aimed at the job—not the president who has repeatedly floated his name.

Trump Keeps Floating His Name

Trump has long praised Cruz’s legal credentials, even after their famously bruising battle for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

During a Washington event in January, Trump called Cruz a “brilliant legal mind” before joking that a Cruz nomination could produce a rare unanimous Senate vote.

“If I nominate him for the U.S. Supreme Court, I will get 100% of the vote,” Trump said. “The Democrats will vote for him because they want to get him the hell out. And the Republicans will vote for him because they want to get him the hell out too,” according to the Houston Chronicle.

The joke drew laughs, but Trump’s interest has not always been hypothetical. He placed Cruz among 20 potential Supreme Court nominees on his 2020 shortlist, the Texas Tribune reported.

At the time, Cruz called the consideration “humbling” and “an immense honor,” but emphasized that he expected to continue defending Texans and constitutional liberties in the Senate.

His latest answer leaves considerably less room for speculation.

A Résumé Built For The Court

On paper, Cruz possesses many of the qualifications normally associated with a Supreme Court contender.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and graduated from Harvard Law School before clerking for Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Cruz later served as Texas solicitor general, arguing eight cases before the Supreme Court in that role and a ninth after returning to private practice, according to his official Senate biography.

He entered the Senate in 2013 and has since built a national profile as one of the chamber’s most aggressive conservative voices.

Cruz clearly reveres the Supreme Court. He simply does not want to join it.

And if Trump ever formally asks, the Texas senator has already prepared his answer.

Trump’s White House Ballroom Scores Another Supreme Court Lifeline

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
White House image via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump’s sprawling White House ballroom project just dodged another potentially devastating legal roadblock.

In a narrow 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court allowed construction of the new East Wing complex to continue while the Trump administration presses its appeal against a lower-court injunction.

The unsigned majority concluded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation likely lacks the legal standing necessary to challenge the project. The justices also found that halting construction could inflict “irreparable harm” on the government and interfere with critical security work.

That means crews can keep building the massive ballroom and underground military facility—even as the explosive fight over the project’s legality remains unresolved.

Trump wasted no time celebrating.

“The United States Supreme Court has just ruled, 5-4, that the magnificent Ballroom and Military Complex can continue, without any further contingency, doubt, or threat,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to Fox News.

“We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C.”

Trump said the project remains on track for completion in summer 2028 and predicted it will become “something that the entire Country is very proud of.”

He also insisted the ballroom is being financed entirely by private donors and corporations, calling it a “Gift” that will come at no cost to taxpayers.

Justices Cite Serious Security Concerns

The administration has argued that the ballroom cannot simply be separated from the fortified military installation being built beneath it.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court pointed to declarations from senior national-security officials—including the directors of the FBI, CIA, Secret Service and Office of the Director of National Intelligence—warning about the dangers of freezing construction midway through the project.

The Army secretary told the court that the planned ballroom’s height and mass are crucial to shielding the underground facility from potential attacks. Officials also warned that delays could disrupt Secret Service operations, expose the unfinished site to foreign intelligence gathering and create serious structural problems.

The majority stressed that it was not issuing a final ruling on whether Trump had the legal authority to undertake the project without congressional approval.

Instead, the court concluded that the National Trust’s lawsuit likely falters at the starting line because its alleged aesthetic and historical injuries do not amount to the concrete harm required to sue in federal court.

Roberts Breaks With Conservative Majority

The decision produced an extraordinary split, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissent.

Roberts argued that the project is “likely unlawful” because federal law prohibits the construction of structures on government parkland in Washington without express authorization from Congress.

“The ballroom is a building or structure being erected on federal park grounds—President’s Park—in the District of Columbia,” Roberts wrote. “Yet Congress has not passed any law resembling ‘express authority’ for the Executive’s construction of it.”

Roberts accused the majority of allowing a likely infringement on Congress’ power over federal spending and property to continue.

“Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers,” he wrote.

The National Trust seized on that dissent while acknowledging the painful setback. President and CEO Brent Leggs said the organization was “deeply disappointed” but emphasized that the court did not decide whether the ballroom itself is legal.

“This is not the final decision on the merits of our case,” Leggs said in a statement.

Tyler Robinson To Undergo Trial In Charlie Kirk Assassination Case

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk will stand trial on all seven charges against him—and prosecutors are still free to seek the death penalty.

Utah District Judge Tony Graf handed prosecutors the major victory Tuesday, ruling that the evidence against Tyler Robinson, 23, was sufficient to advance the case to trial. Robinson entered not-guilty pleas moments later.

“Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, this evidence is sufficient at this stage” to identify Robinson as the alleged gunman, Graf said, according to Fox News.

Graf stressed that prosecutors did not have to prove Robinson’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt during the preliminary hearing. They only needed to establish probable cause.

The higher burden will come at trial.

Judge Rejects Bid To Derail Capital Case

Robinson’s defense team had pushed the court to block the death penalty, arguing that the single shot that killed Kirk did not place other people at a sufficiently high risk of death to support an aggravated murder charge.

Prosecutors countered that the alleged gunman fired a high-powered rifle from a rooftop more than 400 feet away while thousands of people—including children—were gathered around Kirk.

Graf sided with the state, finding enough evidence to support the aggravating allegation that the attack created a grave risk for others. He also allowed prosecutors to move ahead with their claim that Kirk was deliberately targeted because of his political views.

Prosecutor Ryan McBride told the court that there was a “mountain of evidence” tying Robinson to the killing, including surveillance footage, DNA allegedly recovered from the rifle and messages prosecutors say contained admissions.

According to the New York Post, prosecutors also pointed to a handwritten note in which Robinson allegedly said he had an opportunity to “take out Charlie Kirk.”

Defense attorney Staci Visser argued that the state was stretching Utah’s aggravated murder statute because only one shot was fired and only one person was struck.

Graf ultimately rejected that argument and ordered Robinson to face trial for aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Prosecutors formally announced the seven charges in September 2025, alleging that Robinson planned the attack, concealed the weapon and instructed another person to delete incriminating messages, according to the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

Kirk Family Demands Swift Justice

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking before thousands of people at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Before Tuesday’s hearing concluded, attorney Jeff Neiman, speaking on behalf of Kirk’s family, urged the court to prevent needless delays.

“The defendant is entitled to a fair trial,” Neiman said. “But nothing more is owed.”

Kirk’s family later called Graf’s ruling “an important step” in its pursuit of justice.

“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken,” the family said, pointing especially to Kirk’s children, who will grow up without their father.

The family said it remains committed to seeking justice while praying for “a transparent and timely process.”

Trump Previously Condemned The Assassination

President Donald Trump had not issued a verified public response specifically addressing Tuesday’s ruling as of Wednesday morning.

Trump, however, has repeatedly condemned Kirk’s assassination and celebrated his friend and political ally as a martyr for American freedom.

At Kirk’s September 2025 memorial service, Trump called the assassination an attack on the nation’s fundamental liberties and declared that the killer had failed to silence Kirk’s movement.

“The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us,” Trump said, according to the White House.

Robinson is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 23 for a status conference, where Graf could set a trial date. He has been ordered to appear in person.

Until then, the cameras Robinson’s lawyers fought to remove will remain in the courtroom under restrictions imposed by the judge.

Adam Schiff Announces ‘Strong Agreement’ With Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Austin Green, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest political adversaries, offered rare and enthusiastic support for the president Monday after Trump called on Congress to approve a federal incentive aimed at reviving American film and television production.

    “I am in strong agreement with the President,” Schiff wrote on X, sharing Trump’s announcement.

    “Congress should immediately take up and pass a federal film tax incentive to bring back these good-paying jobs that we’ve lost to other countries,” Schiff continued. “Let’s work together — Republicans and Democrats — to get this done, and bring the movie magic back to America.”

    The declaration represented an extraordinary moment of agreement between Trump and the California Democrat who helped lead the president’s first impeachment and has remained a relentless administration critic.

    Trump unveiled his proposal after meeting with actor Jon Voight, whom the president appointed as a special ambassador to Hollywood alongside Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson.

    “I am going to suggest that Republicans and Democrats get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

    “Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America,” he added. “It can be done very easily, and EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY!”

    Trump argued that Hollywood had become a “Complete and Total Disaster” as productions increasingly moved to Canada and other foreign competitors offering generous financial incentives.

    “There is no incentive to be there, and it is hurting California very badly,” Trump wrote. “The amount of money spent on Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury’s coffers.”

    The president said Voight and others had persuaded him that federal tax incentives could “Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!”

    Voight and his advisers have promoted a federal credit covering as much as 20% of qualifying production costs. Trump did not endorse a specific percentage in his announcement, however, and Congress has not yet introduced a final bill.

    Schiff’s support was surprising politically, but not entirely unexpected on policy grounds.

    The senator has spent months advocating for a nationwide incentive and circulated a proposal offering a 15% credit on labor costs for productions made in the United States, according to Mediaite.

    During a March Senate hearing in Burbank, Schiff warned that state-level programs alone could not compete with the incentives offered by foreign governments.

    “State programs simply cannot substitute for the kind of globally competitive federal tax incentive that is needed to bring production back to American soil and stop its offshoring,” Schiff said at the hearing.

    Schiff said the industry directly supports roughly 800,000 American jobs and indirectly affects millions more, including carpenters, caterers, drivers, hotel workers and equipment suppliers. He also noted that Los Angeles County lost more than 42,000 motion-picture production jobs over two years.

    Trump’s endorsement marks a shift from his previous proposal to slap a 100% tariff on movies produced overseas. Studios and entertainment unions argued that tax incentives would offer a more practical way to compete with Canada, the United Kingdom and other foreign production centers.

    The Motion Picture Association welcomed Trump’s support, while the Wall Street Journal reported that studios, unions and lawmakers had been privately lobbying the White House for a national incentive since last year.

    Whether Congress can translate the unlikely Trump-Schiff alliance into legislation remains uncertain. For the moment, however, two of Washington’s most bitter rivals have found themselves reading from the same Hollywood script.

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