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Good morning, and welcome to The Morning Sixpack Podcast. Today we begin with a tragedy in Oregon, then move through a West Wing consumed by infighting, young voters losing patience, a stalled trade deal, a preservation group losing its donors, and a legal fight over masked federal agents.
Teen Gunman Kills Three Children and Teacher at Oregon Elementary School
A 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher Thursday after shooting through locked doors to enter Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The children who died were 5, 8, and 11 years old, and a 7-year-old and a 54-year-old teacher were critically injured. A civilian who followed the teenager into the building shot him, and he was found dead minutes after the first emergency call. Authorities say he used a pump-action shotgun purchased by his mother, and no motive has been established. Families gathered at a nearby church reunification center, and the district canceled Friday classes across all 32 schools. It was the 28th mass killing in the United States this year.
Let’s note that there are more school shootings than trans kids in youth sports. What’s the bigger problem NOBODY ever wants to talk about?
Source: Associated Press
White House Power Struggle Erupts as Trump Allies Brace for Midterm Election Losses
Senior White House aides are jockeying for power as Republicans prepare for potentially devastating midterm losses. Stephen Miller, Bill Pulte, and Lee Zeldin are reportedly positioning themselves as possible replacements for Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who hasn’t said she’s leaving. The tension grew after Trump approached Katie Zacharia about becoming press secretary without consulting Wiles. Pulte has also been presenting the president with elaborate poster boards promoting policy ideas, which Trump reportedly complained were cluttering the residence. A controversy over allies working for the government of Republika Srpska has further weakened Wiles’s circle, though the White House denies any infighting.
Source: The Washington Post
Gen Z Trump Voters Express Buyer’s Remorse as Midterm Elections Approach
Some young Americans who backed Trump in 2024 are questioning that choice as economic frustration grows. In a Navigator Research focus group of eight Gen Z Trump voters, six gave him a D or F and two gave him a C. Still, four planned to vote Republican, three planned to vote Democratic, and one was undecided. Participants cited rising costs, broken promises, and the war with Iran as sources of frustration. Navigator’s managing director warned that Republican erosion isn’t translating into trust in Democrats, leaving both parties with a credibility problem.
Source: NPR
Lutnick Stalls U.S.-Mexico Trade Deal as Tariff Dispute Threatens North American Commerce
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has reportedly complicated U.S.-Mexico trade talks by opposing major cuts to tariffs on Mexican automobiles, steel, and aluminum. Negotiators were nearing a deal that could open the door to renewing the USMCA, but Lutnick is resisting changes to the 25% vehicle tariff and the 50% metals duties. It’s reportedly the second time he has disrupted advanced talks with a North American ally, after the breakdown of U.S.-Canada negotiations in August. Mexico wants vehicle tariffs of 15% or less, and President Claudia Sheinbaum says an initial 54 concerns have shrunk to about a dozen. A senior Mexican official complained that Washington keeps adding demands whenever a deal seems close.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
White House Historical Association Faces Donor Revolt Over Silence on Trump’s Renovations
The White House Historical Association is losing longtime donors who say it has abandoned its preservation mission while courting President Trump. Four donors representing more than $500,000 have stopped giving, and others are reconsidering. The group stayed largely silent as the East Wing was demolished and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden was altered. It says one $2.5 million gift funded historical documentation, not demolition or construction. Critics also question president Stewart McLaurin’s leadership, pointing to revenue that grew from $12 million to $73 million and compensation that rose to $521,000.
Source: The Washington Post
Trump Administration Sues Portland and St. Paul Over Federal Agent Mask Bans
The Justice Department sued Portland and St. Paul on Thursday over local laws that bar federal officers from concealing their faces and require them to identify themselves. The suits bring the department’s total challenges to 11, and they argue the ordinances violate the Supremacy Clause. Federal officials say exposing agents’ identities puts them and their families at risk of harassment and retaliation. The cities counter that visible identification is essential to accountability, especially after the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renée Good by a masked ICE agent in Minneapolis. The outcome could shape immigration enforcement practices nationwide.
Source: UPI
That’s your Morning Sixpack Podcast. From a community in grief to a government arguing over who gets to show their face, today’s stories ask the same question: who is accountable, and to whom? We’ll be back next week with more.
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