United States of America - September 2025

On 10 September, conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University for his youth organization, Turning Point USA. A suspect (a 22-year-old man) surrendered and was arrested the following day and charged with several state crimes, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, firearms felonies, witness tampering and violence committed in the presence of a child. Several officials characterized or suggested the assassination was politically motivated, citing Kirk’s conservative activism and the accused’s political beliefs. Evidence against the accused includes texts in which he wrote that he ‘had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred’, and further texts, social media messages and conversations with family members in which he appeared to confess to the killing. The prosecutors’ charges against the accused do not cite a motive. 

Sources: AP News (1), AP News (2), PBS, The New York Times, BBC, 

In the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, government officials announced investigations into ‘left-wing extremism’, suggesting it played a part in Kirk’s killing. Some officials, including Vice-President J.D. Vance, also encouraged people to report negative opinions or comments on Kirk’s assassination to employers or authorities such as the State Department. As a result, reports have emerged of workers being fired or visas being revoked; days after the shooting, up to 33 people had been fired or suspended from their jobs. In this context, political leaders are openly targeting political opponents, who they accuse of fomenting violence without any evidence. Trump administration officials hinted that investigations into left-leaning organizations could take place; without naming specific action on them, some philanthropic organizations such as the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations were named. 

Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, BBC, Politico, Newsweek, ABC News

On 17 September, Brendan Carr, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, made an implied threat to fine or revoke the licenses of the ABC network’s affiliate stations, over a monologue by comedian Jimmy Kimmel. The monologue at issue referred to reaction among conservative politicians to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and to the possible political affiliation of the suspect. The same day, the ABC network issued a statement announcing the suspension of Kimmel’s show. The network reinstated his show days later after public outcry and criticism from politicians, including some Republican lawmakers. Mr. Carr later denied having a role in the suspension, which he characterized as a business decision by Kimmel’s employer.

Sources: The New York Times, CNN, Brookings, The Guardian

In September, the President issued an executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. It was followed by memorandum NSPM-7 on domestic terrorism and ‘organized political violence’. Congress has not established a legal basis for the government to classify domestic terrorism. Antifa (short for anti-fascist), is not an organized group, but an ideology related to radical and far-left beliefs. NSPM-7 selectively references incidents of political violence attributed to people with left-leaning ideologies, uses vague terms such as ‘anti-Americanism’ and ‘anti-Christianity’, directing Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate radicalization and the IRS to ensure no tax-exempt entities provide support to political violence or terrorism. The measures raised alarms over the use of broad terms that appear to target groups critical of the administration, and their impact on free speech and civil society.

Sources: The White House (1), The White House (2), ACLU, Washington Post, The Guardian, Axios, Brennan Center

On 19 September, the Department of Defense announced a series of restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon, arguing security risks. These included a requirement that officials approve journalists’ reporting, even if regarding unclassified information. Credentials and access to the Department of Defense’s headquarters would be revoked for those not in compliance. In the months leading to the announcement, some restrictive measures were implemented, such as the requirement that journalists be accompanied by an escort in some Pentagon locations, a departure from previous practice. On 15 October, ahead of the deadline to sign a pledge regarding the observance of the new guidelines, the vast majority of media organizations covering the Pentagon rejected the conditions, turning in their badges and leaving their workspaces. 

Sources: Politico, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, AP

On 25 September, a federal grand jury indicted James Comey, a former FBI director on charges of making a false statement and obstruction of justice. Comey pleaded not guilty to the charges, which relate to testimony he gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 2020 hearing, regarding whether he had authorized an FBI official to leak information to the press. It followed President Trump’s statements on social media appearing to pressure Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure indictments against Comey and other perceived political rivals, including Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. James was subsequently indicted on 9 October on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Given Trump’s public statements and the resignation and replacement of the prosecutor overseeing both cases (apparently after expressing concern over the insufficiency of evidence), critics have widely characterized the prosecutions as politically motivated and an alarming  politicization of the Department of Justice.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice (1), U.S. Department of Justice (2), BBC, ABC News, NPR, The New York Times

On 30 September, after an impasse in Congress over funding legislation, the federal government shut down. The last time the government shut down was between December 2018 and January 2019. Senate Republicans and Democrats disagreed over the terms of a bill to continue funding the government. Disagreement concerns the extension of health care subsidies and reversal of cuts to Medicaid (a program that assists some low-income families and other eligible people to cover medical costs), which Democrats have prioritized. The Trump administration warned that the lack of funding approval would result in mass firings of officials (thousands of whom have already been dismissed), and the cancellation of government funded programs. By mid-October, the shutdown continued.

Sources: CNN, BBC