Man Suspected of Killing Minnesota Lawmaker Captured

Good morning.

We’re coming off of an extremely busy news weekend — and the week ahead isn’t slowing down. The G7 Summit is underway in Alberta, Canada. On the agenda: The world’s top problems (there are plenty to choose from), plus the awkward class photo of global leaders. The Federal Reserve also meets this week. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t think name-calling the Fed chair is the right pressure campaign to get rate cuts. Meanwhile, TikTok is expected to stave off yet another ban deadline… so put away the world’s tiniest violin (yes, scientists actually built it). And in other exciting news, theSkimm and National Women’s Soccer League have teamed up for all the action on and off the field. Now, let’s get to the rest of the headlines…

— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI

What's Happening

US News

Man Suspected of Killing Minnesota Lawmaker Captured

What's going on: Police arrested the man suspected of killing state Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home over the weekend. Law enforcement officials told the AP they tracked the suspect into a rural, wooded area near his home in Minnesota following a two-day manhunt. The 57-year-old suspect — who impersonated a police officer — is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D-MN) and his wife, both of whom survived. Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) said the shootings appeared to be a “politically motivated assassination.” Hortman, who was the state’s top House Democrat, championed legislation protecting reproductive rights, a ban on LGBTQIA+ conversion therapy for minors, and guaranteed paid family and medical leave. Authorities said the gunman carried a list of 70 targets, including politicians and Planned Parenthood locations. 

What it means: The killings in Minnesota have reignited fears about the rising tide of political violence in America. Lawmakers across the political spectrum fear threats to their safety could reach them not only at work or online, but at home. This year alone, there’s been an arson attack at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D-PA) home and a firebombing at the Republican Party headquarters in New Mexico, among other incidents. Amid rising political polarization and inflammatory rhetoric, experts warn that tensions can lead to even more violence. President Donald Trump — who survived two assassination attempts in 2024 — stated: “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated” in the US. Meanwhile, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for greater security.

Related: A Military Parade and "No Kings" Protests in Photos (NBC News)

International

Trump Calls for a Deal Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Tensions

What's going on: The Middle East is on edge as Israel and Iran trade strikes at an unprecedented pace. Since Friday, Israeli forces have targeted Iran’s nuclear program — striking critical infrastructure and killing military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran, in response, has launched drones and missiles into Israeli territory — some of which have been intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome and US forces in the region. The back-and-forth attacks have killed at least 14 people in Israel, per Israeli officials, and over 200 in Iran, according to the Iranian health ministry. On Sunday, President Donald Trump called on the two nations to “make a deal” to end the fighting.

What it means: If both countries don’t stop soon, experts say the rest of the Middle East could get involved in the fighting. As world leaders urge both nations to show restraint, Israel and Iran are doubling down. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address that Israel will “strike every target” tied to Iran’s regime, and Iran has promised to “open the gates of hell” (though its foreign minister said they don't want a regional war). The conflict has also put a spotlight on the US. Washington had been leading nuclear talks with Iran. With those talks now on pause and no end to the fighting in sight, Trump warned the US is ready to act if Iran targets American military bases in the Middle East. One expert warns, “Pandora’s box has been cast wide open. What comes next may define the regional security order for years to come.”

Related: US Officials Say Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan To Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader (CNN)

Tech

Meta AI Users Are Getting Personal — and Everyone Can See It 

What's going on: You know that nightmare where you’re suddenly naked onstage? The tech version of that is revealing your most personal questions to a chatbot, and then they're published online. That’s exactly what appears to be happening to some unwitting Meta AI users. It’s not a hack or a glitch — at the heart of the problem is human error and confusing UX design. While Meta says users have the option to share their published posts, many have hit “share” accidentally. The result? Conversations about everything from religion to sex to etiquette have become public, including asking the bot in which countries do “younger women like older white men.”

Tell me more: People are increasingly turning to bots to ask incredibly personal questions — ones they might’ve posed to a friend, a family member, or a therapist even five years ago. As these intimate conversations grow more common, experts are ringing the alarm on privacy concerns. One expert told The Washington Post: “Everything you submit to an AI system at bare minimum goes to the company that’s hosting the AI.” Meanwhile, Facebook has a long rap sheet when it comes to privacy concerns — from Cambridge Analytica to WhatsApp metadata. With little regulation over the industry, tech experts say it’s a reminder to be a little less trusting with technology and pay attention to the fine print before hitting publish.

Related: Are Some Therapy Bots Guilty of “Illegal Behavior”? (404 Media)

Settle This

A trailer for the new Toy Story movie just dropped, and that means we are getting another villain. What is it this time? 

Extra Credit

See

When your daughter shows up at your doorstep covered in someone else’s blood, what do you do? If you’re Kate Garretson (Julianne Moore), you don’t ask questions — you start cleaning up. Written by the creator of Mare of Easttown comes Echo Valley, a new Apple TV+ thriller that follows Kate, a grieving woman running a struggling horse farm in Pennsylvania. She's barely hanging on — and that becomes even harder when her troubled, drug-addicted daughter (Sydney Sweeney) reappears, setting off a chain of events filled with dark secrets and suspenseful twists. Saddle up — it gets messy.

Game Time

Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.