Early Saturday morning, Minnesota got a hard slap of reality when gunfire rang out in two suburbs just miles apart. These weren’t random acts of violence—law enforcement is calling them “politically motivated assassinations.” That’s not hyperbole.
State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and former Speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, were gunned down and killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Over in Champlin, State Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot multiple times. They survived, but only after emergency surgery.
The shooter didn’t only show up with a grudge. He came dressed as law enforcement—vest, badge, Taser, the whole nine yards—and was driving a vehicle outfitted with police lights. He even exchanged gunfire with actual police at the Hortman residence before disappearing on foot. The manhunt is still active, and authorities have locked down the area with a shelter-in-place order.
Here’s where it gets worse. A hit list was found in the suspect’s vehicle—packed with the names of other lawmakers. State and federal agencies are scrambling to protect those on the list. Elected officials across the country are calling this an assault on democracy. And they’re right.
No matter what your politics are, if you think putting bullets into public servants is your way of making a point, you’ve crossed into enemy-of-the-state territory. There’s no room for that kind of extremism. Not here. Not now. Not ever.
Early Saturday morning, Minnesota got a hard slap of reality when gunfire rang out in two suburbs just miles apart. These weren’t random acts of violence—law enforcement is calling them “politically motivated assassinations.” That’s not hyperbole.
State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and former Speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, were gunned down and killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Over in Champlin, State Senator John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot multiple times. They survived, but only after emergency surgery.
The shooter didn’t only show up with a grudge. He came dressed as law enforcement—vest, badge, Taser, the whole nine yards—and was driving a vehicle outfitted with police lights. He even exchanged gunfire with actual police at the Hortman residence before disappearing on foot. The manhunt is still active, and authorities have locked down the area with a shelter-in-place order.
Here’s where it gets worse. A hit list was found in the suspect’s vehicle—packed with the names of other lawmakers. State and federal agencies are scrambling to protect those on the list. Elected officials across the country are calling this an assault on democracy. And they’re right.
No matter what your politics are, if you think putting bullets into public servants is your way of making a point, you’ve crossed into enemy-of-the-state territory. There’s no room for that kind of extremism. Not here. Not now. Not ever.
What You Should Know About Tonight’s Military Parade in DC
The tanks are rolling, the flags are flying, and downtown DC is locked down tighter than a nun’s diary in a Vegas hotel room. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, here’s the lowdown on tonight’s military parade, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
This isn’t your average small-town USA patriotic display. It’s got history, politics, and enough firepower on display to make Eisenhower sit up in his grave and take notice. Here’s the rundown:
Triple Milestone: The parade marks the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, Flag Day, and President Trump’s 79th birthday. Organizers insist the overlap is a coincidence. The optics say otherwise.
Rushed Execution: Planning for America’s 250th started nearly a decade ago, but this specific event? It came together in just over a month. That’s lightning speed for something of this scale.
Massive Soldier Turnout: 6,700 soldiers are marching, decked out in both historical and modern uniforms. The crowd will also see rare appearances by Army astronauts and Medal of Honor recipients.
Parachutes and Pyrotechnics: The Golden Knights parachute team will be jumping in, assuming weather holds. Not your average halftime show.
Hardware on Parade: Expect 7 million pounds of military equipment, including tanks and WWII-era aircraft. This is the biggest muscle-flex in DC since Desert Storm ended in 1991.
Price Tag? Up to $45 Million: That’s the estimated cost. Critics are blasting the expense and what they see as the politicization of the military.
Pre-Parade Festivities: The day started solemnly with a wreath-laying at Arlington. Things shifted into high gear with performances by NFL players, celebrity chef Andre Rush, and country singer Scotty Hasting.
250th Anniversary Kickoff: This parade is the official launch event for the nation’s bisesquicentennial—that’s the fancy term for America’s 250th birthday bash in 2026. Word is the Navy and Marine Corps might get similar parades later this year.
Tight Security: Central DC is fenced off, and if you didn’t reserve a ticket ahead of time, you’re out of luck. The scale of this thing has Secret Service and law enforcement on full alert.
Nationwide Protests: “No Kings” protests are happening in all 50 states, with the biggest crowds right here in DC. The groups are slamming what they see as Trump’s glorification of military power and a drift toward authoritarian pageantry.
Love it or hate it, this parade is making history. And not the quiet kind.
SECDEF Hegseth Told To “Get Out” of Armed Services Committee Meeting
Things got hot on Capitol Hill Thursday when Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) unloaded on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. What was supposed to be a review of the Pentagon’s 2026 budget turned into a public dressing down that left the room buzzing. Carbajal—himself a Marine Corps Reserve veteran—told Hegseth to “get the hell out” of the Department of Defense and accused him of being more loyal to political theater than to the Constitution.
At the center of Carbajal’s fury was the recent deployment of Marines to Los Angeles, which he slammed as a stunt that potentially violates the Posse Comitatus Act—the law that’s supposed to keep military boots out of domestic law enforcement. Carbajal wasn’t buying the excuses and pushed hard on whether today’s military leadership is starting to demand political loyalty to Trump as a job requirement. Hegseth brushed that off as “silly,” which only poured gas on the fire. Carbajal shot back with, “You’re an embarrassment to this country,” and called on him to step down, saying flat-out, “You should just get the hell out.”
Things didn’t cool off from there. Carbajal tore into Hegseth over his use of a compromised Signal group chat to pass along sensitive military intel. He accused Hegseth of breaking the law and putting troops at risk. The congressman demanded straight yes-or-no answers and grew visibly frustrated with what he saw as evasive, canned responses from the Defense Secretary.
The exchange was loud, raw, and pulled no punches. It underscored the widening divide between members of Congress and Pentagon leadership—especially over concerns that the military is drifting into partisan territory. Hegseth, a Trump appointee with a long line of critics on the Hill, walked out of that hearing with a target even bigger on his back.
Bottom line: Carbajal didn’t just throw shade—he fired a warning shot across the bow of a Defense Department already under pressure from both domestic unrest and global instability. Whether Hegseth stays or goes, one thing’s clear—he won’t be getting a warm welcome from Carbajal next time he walks into that committee room.
Iran Contemplating Closing Strait of Hormuz
Iran is rattling its saber again—this time threatening to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important oil arteries on the planet. About 20 million barrels of oil—roughly a fifth of global consumption—pass through that narrow stretch of water every single day. It’s the only maritime exit from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, and if Iran actually pulls the trigger on this move, we’re looking at a global mess of epic proportions.
Let’s start with oil. Close the Strait, and prices could skyrocket to $130 a barrel or higher. That means pain at the pump for you, me, and everyone else. Gulf states wouldn’t be able to ship their oil and gas to Asia, Europe, or the U.S. without rerouting all the way around Africa—a detour that jacks up both time and cost. Global trade would get slammed, and it could trigger an economic shockwave that hits everything from inflation to shipping to supply chains.
Then there’s the military angle. The U.S. Fifth Fleet is parked in the neighborhood and has made it crystal clear: this waterway stays open. A closure would be seen as a major act of aggression and almost certainly draw a military response. Iran could go with drones, missiles, or naval blockades to mess things up—but a total shutdown? Experts say that’s easier said than done.
Europe and Asia would feel the squeeze hard, since they’re hooked on Gulf oil. Even a credible threat of closure would send insurance premiums for shipping through the roof and scare vessels away from the area. We’ve seen this movie before—even limited attacks on tankers cause major disruptions.
Now here’s the kicker: Iran needs the Strait too. Its own oil exports—especially to China, its biggest customer—go through that same chokepoint. Cut it off, and they’re shooting themselves in the foot. Plus, closing the Strait would give the international community a reason to rally against Tehran, even the countries that have tried to stay on decent terms.
Bottom line? Iran’s talking tough, but a full closure isn’t likely. Still, the threat alone is enough to rattle energy markets and keep every navy within reach on high alert. If they’re trying to send a message, it’s coming through loud and clear—but whether they’re ready to deal with the fallout is another story entirely.
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