Tip News
Posts
FBI: Trump Shooter's Motive Still A Mystery

FBI: Trump Shooter's Motive Still A Mystery

Your unbiased daily news brief

James Kratch
August 29, 2024

Good Thursday morning. Pizza Hut has launched a box that doubles as a table in select markets. The fast food chain said it chose the country's top moving destinations for the rollout. Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

Swattings: Foreign indictments
UK: Germany deal
Harris: CNN interview
Berkshire Hathaway: $1T valuation
Nikki Glaser: Hosting gig

... and more

First time reading? Sign up here

Top Tips

1) 'Target of opportunity'

The FBI does not have a clear motive for the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

The news: The bureau has conducted almost 1K interviews and analyzed hundreds of hours of video footage, it said yesterday in a media call. But investigators have been unable to pinpoint what drove late gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks to fire on Trump during a July 13 rally in western Pennsylvania, killing one attendee and injuring two others while a bullet grazed Trump's ear. Nor have they identified any ideological lean.
New insights: Crooks made a "sustained, detailed effort" to plan a major attack and became "hyperfocused" when the Trump rally was announced. Crooks seemed to hone in on it as a "target of opportunity." The rally took place near the home he shared with his parents. Crooks conducted web searches related to Trump and President Joe Biden; he also searched for information about the rally venue, as well as how to construct and detonate bombs.
At the scene: The FBI released a photo of an improvised explosive device found in Crooks' car, as well as images detailing how he concealed his rifle in a backpack. Video obtained from a local business shows Crooks first scaled a building near the rally stage at 6:05 p.m. ET and opened fire six minutes later before being killed by a Secret Service countersniper.

2) Continental kerfuffle

The U.S. and Canada are in a diplomatic row with Mexico.

The news: Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his government is pausing relations with the American and Canadian embassies in the country. The move is a reaction to both nations criticizing a proposed judicial reform backed by AMLO.
The plan: All judges in Mexico, including those on its Supreme Court, would be laid off to allow citizens to make judicial appointments by popular vote. The U.S. is concerned about democratic backsliding and the potential for corruption while Canada has expressed concerns about free trade and investors. Judges in Mexico are also protesting the reform, with some going on strike.
Big picture: There are concerns the reform would prevent Mexico from honoring obligations under the USMCA trade agreement, as well as the politicization of courts and an open door for drug cartel interference in the judicial process. But AMLO is leaving office this fall and his successor, protege Claudia Sheinbaum, could move away from the plan.

3) Headed to court

An alleged rapist that made international headlines faces two trials in Utah.

The news: A state district judge ruled there is enough evidence in the rape case against Nicholas Rossi. A police officer testified a DNA sample taken earlier this year matched a rape kit evaluated in 2018. Rossi is accused of a pair of rapes in 2008; he was already ordered to stand trial in the other last week. Rossi was previously convicted of a 2008 sexual assault in Ohio.
Strange saga: Rossi, whose legal last name is Alahverdian, fled to Europe and eventually settled in Scotland. He published a fake obituary for himself and assumed the persona of Arthur Knight, an orphaned Irish theology lecturer. He was caught receiving care for covid-19 in 2021 and pulled a series of stunts before being extradited last year, still claiming to be Knight.
Next steps: Rossi faces life in prison if convicted. He appeared in court in a wheelchair and using oxygen, as he did overseas, but no longer has the beard he grew while claiming he had converted to Orthodox Judaism. His attorney continues to maintain he is Knight.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

Two foreign nationals outside the U.S. were indicted in a spree of high-profile swatting incidents. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was among the targeted lawmakers and government officials; the suspects are reportedly in Eastern Europe (More)
A former Nevada elected official was convicted in the 2022 murder of a veteran journalist. Ex-Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles fatally stabbed the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Jeff German after blaming an investigative report for a failed re-election bid (More)
An injured water buffalo has been captured in Iowa. Officials spent days searching for the animal, which was considered aggressive and dangerous, near Des Moines (More)

World News

The United Kingdom and Germany are working toward a bilateral cooperation treaty. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wants a closer relationship with the European Union, but will not try to reverse Brexit (More)
President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to have a virtual summit in the fall. It will be Biden's last engagement with Xi before leaving office; Chinese and U.S. military leaders are also expected to speak again later this year (More)
Iran said the Houthi rebels have agreed to temporarily halt attacks against ships in the Red Sea. The pause will allow a damaged oil tanker to be towed to port; the vessel could leak up to 1M barrels if not addressed (More)

Campaign News

Vice President Kamala Harris will grant her first interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee today. She and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will sit down with CNN's Dana Bash; it will be aired on tape at 9 p.m. ET (More)
Former President Trump's recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery has sparked controversy. His campaign staffers reportedly had an altercation with an official; there are questions about whether pictures and video taken violated federal law (More)
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is trailing Democratic challenger Whitney Fox in the state's 13th Congressional District, according to a new poll. Fox had a 48-44 edge in the survey; Luna, a Republican, won the district by eight points in 2022 (More)

Business & Markets

Major indexes closed lower yesterday. Nvi ia's earnings report beat Wall Street expectations after the closing bell (Dow-0.39%, Nasdaq -1.12%, S&P 500 -0.60%).
Berkshire Hathaway hit a $1T market value. The Warren Buffett-owned conglomerate is the first U.S. company outside of the tech industry to reach the milestone (More)
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov faces preliminary charges in France related to illegal activity on the social media platform. The messaging app is popular in Asia, Europe and the Middle East; Durov cannot leave the country (More)

Entertainment & Sports

Nikki Glaser will host the Golden Globes in January. The comedian's set at the Tom Brady Netflix roast drew rave reviews; comedian Jo Koy's performance hosting the awards show earlier this year was widely panned (More)
The UEFA Champions League draw is today. The annual tournament features Europe's top professional soccer teams; the field has expanded to 36 clubs with a new format this season (More)
ESPN extended its U.S. Open broadcasting deal through 2037. The sports network has televised the professional tennis tournament since 2009 and assumed full rights in 2015 (More)

Quick Hitters

Fun Stuff: A Florida man is trying to spread joy in an unusual manner. He hangs metal "HAPPINESS" signs all over St. Petersburg in acts of subliminal marketing.
Stuff Happens: A curious 4-year-old boy wanted to see what was inside a jar roughly 3.5K years older than him ... and broke it. There is a happy ending, though: The museum his family was visiting will be able to restore the relic.
Take Note: Nobody wants to talk about it, but everyone is concerned about it. Here are some ways to prevent and get rid of body odor.
New Idea: Fungi are being used to build robots. Fungal electrical systems can be converted into digital commands, opening the door to more sustainable robotics.
Life Hack: It is a nightmare for any driver -- your windshield is suddenly covered by flying debris, blocking your view. If it happens to you, here are life-saving tips for handling the situation.

Watch This

How six people survived a 1946 plane crash in Antarctica.