| | | |  | | By Adam Wren | With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine and Ali Bianco On today’s Playbook Podcast: Adam Wren and Megan Messerly discuss the fallout from the killing of Charlie Kirk, what it means for this moment in U.S. politics and whether there is any figure who can unite a grieving and angry America.
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| In today’s Playbook … — No suspect has been identified as investigators urge public to aid search for Charlie Kirk’s killer. — U.N. convenes emergency meeting over Russia’s incursion into Poland. — Missouri Republicans set to approve gerrymandered map to gain another seat.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
FBI Director Kash Patel, center, arrives at the scene of the shooting death of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Rio Giancarlo/The Deseret News via AP) | Rio Giancarlo/The Deseret News via AP | THE LATEST FACTS: The search for the shooter who killed Charlie Kirk is ongoing. Authorities have released new footage and images of a person of interest, which included some potentially identifiable clothing but no clear view of the person’s face. In the video, the person officials believe was the shooter could be seen “jumping off the roof of a campus building after he allegedly shot Kirk just after noon on Wednesday,” Deseret News’ Eva Terry reports. More updates … - The mounting evidence: Investigators “obtained clues, including a palm print, a shoe impression and a high-powered hunting rifle found in a wooded area along the path the shooter fled. But they had yet to name a suspect or cite a motive in the killing,” AP’s Eric Tucker and colleagues report.
- More footage emerges: Video captured by a house camera near the university appears to show “a person matching the description and images of the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk walking on a residential street before the shooting,” per CNN.
- Preparing a case: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said officials in the state will “pursue the death penalty” for the shooter once the suspect is found.
- On the ground: FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino are in Utah to oversee the investigation. Neither spoke during a news conference last night.
- Security measures increase: In light of the shooting of Kirk, President Donald Trump’s team is “having broader discussions about how to increase the president’s security,” WSJ’s Alex Leary and Tarini Parti report. The law enforcement presence with him at last night’s Yankees game was expanded.
- Trump speaks out: The president told reporters at the White House yesterday evening that “big progress” was being made in finding the shooter, though he offered no details. Trump said he had “a long talk” with Kirk’s widow, Erika, whom he said was “absolutely devastated.” He also said he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral service whenever it is held.
- Expect to hear more from Trump this morning: The president is scheduled to give an interview to “Fox & Friends” on Fox News during the 8 a.m. hour.
THE LATEST FALLOUT: It’s not yet been 48 hours since Kirk’s gruesome death — of which the perpetrator and motivations are still unknown. Kirk has not even had a memorial service. Video of VP JD Vance helping carry Kirk’s casket to Air Force Two is still fresh. The partisan recriminations are still incoming. Even as the opinions of the loudest and most partisan voices are hardening, so many factors remain unknown as officials clamor for information and the arrest of Kirk’s killer. It’s worth noting that this is a sprawling manhunt. For comparison, the search that followed the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 took place over the course of three days; the search for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year, took five days. The FBI has received more than 7,000 tips related to Kirk’s shooting, officials said, noting that the last time volume reached that high was during the Boston Marathon investigation. And that was before the new footage and images released last night. A remarkable admission: “We have no idea.” That was the answer from Beau Mason, the head of Utah’s Department of Public Safety, when asked by NBC whether officials believed the shooter was still physically located in Utah. “We’re exploring leads for individuals out of state and individuals that live close by,” he said. And then there is FBI Director Patel, who publicly stumbled on Wednesday evening in prematurely declaring that the shooter had been captured. “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,” Patel posted on X. Less than two hours later, he announced the person had been “released after an interrogation by law enforcement.” As our colleague Erica Orden sharply observes: “Patel’s blunder came at a time when the embattled director was already under scrutiny from all sides of the political spectrum — and from many current and former agents in the bureau itself. Even though Patel was President Donald Trump’s hand-picked choice to lead the bureau, some MAGA influencers have quickly soured on him for his handling of the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.” To wit: Patel’s “swift pronouncements about the inquiry have revived concerns about his lack of experience, obsession with social media and purge of some of the bureau’s most experienced investigators, according to current and former officials,” NYT’s Glenn Thrush, Devlin Barrett and Adam Goldman report. This all comes at a time when Trump has made his most potent public safety push — on the heels of his anti-crime takeover of D.C. and his vow to carry that effort into other cities. Now, his own FBI is under immense pressure to deliver results in an investigation that has gripped the attention of the entire country. The global picture: Nature — and America’s geopolitical rivals — abhor a vacuum. Enter GOP Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who said at a news conference alongside Patel last night that there’s “a tremendous amount of disinformation” going around. “Our adversaries want violence. We have bots from Russia, China, all over the world that are trying to instill disinformation and encourage violence. I would encourage you to ignore those.” But it’s not just an information vacuum: There’s a leadership one, too. Kirk’s killing immediately sparked a cacophony of condemnations and grief from leaders across the country and political spectrum. But missing from the din was the voice of a unifying political leader calling for calm, as your author and Brakkton Booker explore. “I’m looking, but I can’t claim that I can identify that person,” former Indiana GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels told your author yesterday. Despite calls from leaders in both parties to tone down the rhetoric, an “us vs. them” framing has emerged from some corners. Trump himself offered uneven messaging over a span of hours. He told reporters that Kirk was “an advocate of nonviolence,” which he said was “the way I like to see people.” And yet, Trump also said “we just have to beat the hell” out of “radical left lunatics,” speaking to reporters on the White House lawn. The new normal: Michael Wear, who was former President Barack Obama’s faith adviser and is founder, president and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, pointed to a stark new reality for America in this era of increased political violence. “Politicians used to be valued by their most strident supporters for their ability to speak and persuade others who were not among their core supporters,” Wear said. “Now, the common definition of a good politician is someone who excels at channeling and mobilizing anger among their core supporters against an enemy.” Further reading: “What Charlie Kirk Understood About Power in Trump’s GOP,” by POLITICO Magazine’s Ian Ward … “10 Political Violence Experts on What Comes Next for America,” by POLITICO Magazine
| | | | Introducing Global Security: POLITICO’s weekly briefing on the policies, regulatory fights and industrial shifts shaping defense and security across continents. We connect what happens in Washington, Brussels and beyond to what gets funded, what gets built and who benefits. Subscribe this week for daily coverage from DSEI. | | | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD RUSSIA-UKRAINE LATEST: The U.N. Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss Russia’s incursion into Polish airspace this week, which has triggered ardent defense from Poland’s allies, Reuters’ Pawel Florkiewicz and Barbara Erling write. The backdrop: European leaders yesterday accused the Kremlin of intentionally sending drones into the airspace as a test of NATO readiness, WaPo’s Aaron Wiener reports. “While it was not proved that Russia purposely breached Poland’s sovereign airspace — the violation occurred as a wide-scale Russian bombardment of Ukraine was underway — European officials said it was highly unlikely that multiple drones had veered off course. … In any case, experts said, the incursion and the reaction by Poland and its allies allowed Russia to gain intelligence into NATO’s response to a territorial violation.” The view from Washington: Trump told reporters at the White House that Russia entering Polish airspace may have just been a mistake — a remark that drew a rebuke from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. “No, that wasn't a mistake,” he said, per POLITICO’s Laura Kayali. With pressure mounting to respond to Russia’s provocations, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) became the first GOP lawmaker to officially sign onto a Democratic-led effort to force a vote on a bill sanctioning Russia and granting more aid to Ukraine, POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill reports. “I’m tired of the administration’s antics on Ukraine,” Bacon told reporters. MEETING ON THE MIDDLE EAST: Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is meeting with Trump administration officials today in New York City and D.C., just days after Israel’s stunning strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, POLITICO’s Eli Stokols and Nahal Toosi report. The PM will reportedly meet with Trump, Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Behind the scenes: Trump and his top aides are concerned that Israel’s strike has derailed ceasefire negotiations — possibly for good, Eli and Nahal write, noting that top administration officials are privately questioning whether PM Benjamin Netanyahu, “who authorized the strike and has threatened more, was trying to sabotage the talks.” The reaction: In a rare show of solidarity, the U.S. joined with the other 14 members of the U.N. Security Council to formally condemn the Israeli strike, per NYT’s Farnaz Fassihi. TRAIL MIX FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Deep in the heart: We’ve got fresh findings on the Texas Senate race via new statewide polling of more than 800 registered voters for Texas Public Opinion Research. The toplines: - Cornyn leads Paxton: In the intensely heated GOP primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state AG Ken Paxton, 35 percent of Republican voters say they’d vote for Cornyn, while 26 percent of those surveyed support Paxton. An additional — and significant — 29 percent said they were undecided in the race.
- Dems are split: For Democratic voters, Beto O’Rourke leads the hypothetical Senate primary pack with 27 percent, followed closely behind by Rep. Jasmine Crockett at 26 percent. Meanwhile, the only two declared Democratic candidates, Colin Allred and James Talarico, come in at 13 percent and 7 percent, respectively. Eighteen percent are undecided.
- Republicans hold the edge: Posed with the prospect of a generic ballot, Republicans have a five-point lead over Democrats, 48 percent to 43 percent.
- Musk misses the mark: Elon Musk, who recently set up residence in the Lone Star State, came in last among a list of notable names ranked by favorability. Musk slotted with a -10 unfavorable figure. See the full poll results
ANYBODY HAVE A MAP? The Missouri Senate is convening today, with Republicans expected to approve their gerrymandered congressional maps to pull Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district toward their column and give the GOP a better shot at picking up another seat in the midterms. The chamber held a hearing over the state House-approved maps yesterday, where Cleaver testified that lawmakers should fear the redistricting trend, AP’s David Lieb reports. On the flip side: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is getting heat from his own party as he continues to push for a Democratic counterattack against Trump’s redistricting efforts, POLITICO’s Nick Wu and colleagues write this morning. “Just two-and-a-half years into his party’s top House leadership job, he still has to be mindful of the wishes of the lawmakers who elected him,” they write. “He has also been limited by legal guardrails Democrats put up in some blue states to restrict gerrymandering.” The precarious balance has posed a potential “threat to Jeffries’ aspirations of becoming speaker in 2027.” More in POLITICO’s Inside Congress MONEY, MONEY, MONEY: National Republicans are making a major new investment in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. A super PAC backed by the Republican Governors Association is injecting $1 million into an ad buy over the next week to boost Jack Ciattarelli in his bid against Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, POLITICO’s Madison Fernandez scoops this morning. BEST OF THE REST FED UP: The Trump administration’s legal battle over Fed Governor Lisa Cook is ramping up, with the White House requesting an emergency ruling in its effort to oust Cook, representing “an extraordinary effort by the White House to shape the board before the Fed’s interest rate-setting committee meets next Tuesday and Wednesday,” AP’s Christopher Rugaber reports. The administration requested a decision by Monday. If this appeal fails, Trump could turn to the Supreme Court for a last-ditch emergency ruling. Still, Wall Street isn’t put off — at least not yet, POLITICO’s Victoria Guida writes in her latest Capital Letter column. “But the central bank’s insulation from the president could eventually hinge on whether investors start to panic.” What comes next: If Trump is granted “broad authority to decide the grounds on which Fed board members can be ousted, it could create a pathway to removing other central bank officials — even, theoretically, Chair Jerome Powell, an event that would send shockwaves through the global economy. But for now, the range of possible outcomes is so broad that it’s hard for investors to bet on any result with precision.” What could shake things up? “The answer I heard from several people on Wall Street: The freakout might not come until the Fed actually starts behaving less independently.” Mark these words: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, when asked what was behind the sagging August jobs numbers, told Newsmax in an interview that aired yesterday that “the Donald Trump economy is coming in the beginning of next year.” FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK: “Suspect in Trump assassination attempt veers off topic and forfeits opening statement at trial,” by AP’s David Fischer: “A suspect on trial for trying to assassinate President Donald Trump while he played golf in South Florida last year forfeited his right to continue making an opening statement on Thursday when he veered off topic and talked about Adolf Hitler and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.” BRUSHING OFF BIDEN: Longtime Democratic donors are balking at pitching in to help fund former President Joe Biden’s presidential library, NBC’s Natasha Korecki and Jonathan Allen report this morning. Donors “cited a range of factors, from not wanting to make themselves a target of the White House to holding their financial firepower for the party’s future. Some cited personal interactions with Biden’s inner circle as being so distasteful they believed it would be a barrier to ever raising significant funds for the 46th president.” SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said yesterday the chamber could vote as soon as next week on a continuing resolution that would extend the Sept. 30 government funding through Nov. 20, POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill reports. BOLSONARO SENTENCED: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in jail yesterday after he was found guilty of trying to stage a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election, per AP. THE WEEKEND AHEAD PROGRAMMING NOTE: Due to major breaking news events, the first episode of the second season of “The Conversation with Dasha Burns” will now air over the weekend. TV TONIGHT — PBS’ “Washington Week”: Peter Baker, Laura Barrón-López, Susan Glasser and Tom Nichols. SUNDAY SO FAR … ABC “This Week”: Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) … Colorado Gov. Jared Polis … Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). Panel: Donna Brazile, Reince Priebus, Alex Burns and Susan Glasser. CBS “Face the Nation”: Speaker Mike Johnson … Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) … Robert Pape … Jill Schlesinger. NBC “Meet the Press”: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) … Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). Panel: Kimberly Atkins Stohr, Peter Baker, Sara Fagen and Jeffrey Goldberg. CNN “Inside Politics Sunday”: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Panel: Jeff Zeleny, Mary Louise Kelly and Astead Herndon. MSNBC “The Weekend”: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) … David Hogg.
| | TALK OF THE TOWN | | OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at the VoteVets quarterly reception this week at the Duck and the Peach on Capitol Hill: Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), Herb Conaway (D-N.J.), Don Davis (D-N.C.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Derek Tran (D-Calif.) and Eugene Vindman (D-Va.). MEDIAWATCH — “Puck, the vertical newsletter brand founded by former Vanity Fair editor Jon Kelly (he created VF’s business vertical The Hive), has reached a deal to acquire Air Mail, the culture-focused media newsletter founded by the longtime Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter,” The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin reports. TRANSITIONS — Alexis Early is now a partner at BCLP’s antitrust, competition and trade practice. She previously worked at Jenner & Block. … Grace Zehner is now press secretary for Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). She previously worked for Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and is a House Foreign Affairs alum. … Ryan Carney is now VP of government affairs at Crypto.com. He most recently worked at K&L Gates. … … Tashi Chogyal is now campaign manager for Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. He previously worked on the Kamala Harris campaign, and is a Barack Obama campaign alum. … José Muñoz has launched a boutique comms firm, Six Twelve Strategies. He previously worked for the DCCC. … Erika Reynoso is joining Coupang’s D.C. office as head of global public affairs. She most recently worked at Amazon and is a POLITICO alum. WEEKEND WEDDING — Emily Schultheis, a reporter with POLITICO’s California team, and Will Fischer, principal engineer at Clairity Technology, got married Saturday at Frankford Hall in Philadelphia. They met in 2023 in Berlin, where they were both living at the time, and tied the knot in a German-style biergarten as a nod to their relationship’s roots. Pic, via Russ Hickman … Another pic, via Lukas Bezila WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Jared Jones, of counsel in the tax policy group at Brownstein and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and Caroline Darmody, a Joe Kennedy and Kirkland & Ellis alum, welcomed Connor Henry Jones on Sept. 3. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson … Max Boot … former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) … Matt Lewis … Fox News’ Andrea DeVito … POLITICO’s Ben Schreckinger and Walt Houseknecht … Derek Robertson … NBC’s Tom Costello … Greg Wetstone … former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback … Jason Stverak … Prism Group’s John Stanford … Melissa Schulman … Liz Wroe of Leavitt Partners … Kimberly Breier … Brett Thompson … John Lippman … Kelsi Browning … Venable’s Alex Botting … Ed Moy … former Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) and Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.) … Pam Stevens … Zack Pohl of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office … AP’s Ashraf Khalil … Jill Alper (6-0) … Anne Johnson of Grassroots Solutions … Marianna Deal of HB Strategies Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook misidentified the state GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan represents. It is Alaska.
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