Two killed in attack outside of DC Jewish museum: Unbiased Updates, May 22, 2025
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A brazen attack in the nation’s capital left two Israeli embassy staffers gunned down. Investigators believe the suspect chanted “Free Palestine.” Plus, prayer inside the Pentagon, led by the defense secretary himself. Was it a call for unity, or a violation of the First Amendment?
And it’s almost Memorial Day, but the northeast is getting March weather. A rare nor’easter could soak the holiday start. We’ll tell you who’s in the bullseye, and when it clears out.
Two Israeli embassy staffers shot and killed outside Jewish museum in DC
We begin with a deadly shooting in the nation’s capitol, one that’s now being investigated as a possible act of targeted antisemitic violence. A gunman shot and killed two Israeli embassy staffers last night outside of an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.
The suspect – now in custody – is identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago. Police say he waited outside the event, then opened fire at close range, killing a man and a woman who had just left the reception.
We’ve learned the couple was planning to get engaged in Jerusalem next week.
Witnesses say Rodriguez told officers he had acted for Gaza, and began chanting “Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody.
Investigators recovered the gun. Officials say he acted alone.
The event they victims were attending was hosted by the American Jewish Committee just blocks from the FBI’s DC field office.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter addressed the shooting at a press conference, and President Trump condemned the attack on Truth Social this morning, saying: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!
The FBI’s counter-terrorism teams are now leading the investigation. There is no ongoing threat as of this morning, but security at Israeli diplomatic sites worldwide is bring increased.
Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’ moves forward in House
Meanwhile, just blocks away from that scene, Trump’s “one big beautiful bill” passed the U.S. House early this morning and now advances to the Senate. House Republicans deliberated overnight, clearing a key procedural hurdle just after 2:30 this morning.
The bill narrowly passed by a vote of 215-214. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio were the only two Republicans to vote against the bill, siding with Democrats who oppose it.
Before that vote, a marathon hearing in the House rules committee pushed through a new version of the bill, including last-minute changes aimed at winning over Republican holdouts.
Among the changes: Medicaid work requirements would now start in 2026, moved up from 2029. The bill also offers new incentives for states not to expand Medicaid and includes cuts to clean energy tax credits, allowing them to phase out sooner than originally scheduled.
Although the bill passed the House, the fight is far from over. Senate Republicans are already promising changes of their own.
Judge rules Trump administration ‘unquestionably’ defied deportation order
A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration “unquestionably” violated a court order by deporting eight men convicted of violent crimes to South Sudan despite being ordered not to.
The ruling came from judge Brian Murphy in Boston, who said the administration failed to give the men proper due process, or a “meaningful opportunity” to object to being deported to a third country.
Murphy did order the return of the deportees, as the plaintiffs had hoped, but issued new guidance for future cases.
The government must now give migrants at least 10 days to raise concerns about safety in the destination country. If there’s reasonable fear, immigration proceedings must be reopened.
Even without that fear, detainees must still be given a fair chance and 15 days to reopen their case.
Murphy also blasted the administration’s interpretation of what a “meaningful opportunity” means, saying it fell short of legal standards he laid out earlier this year.
In a fiery rebuttal late last night, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the ruling “deranged.”
Pete Hegseth leads first-ever prayer service at Pentagon
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a Christian prayer service Wednesday during working hours from a lectern bearing the Pentagon seal, telling the packed auditorium he plans to make it a monthly event.
His hometown pastor led the sermon, thanking God for President Donald Trump and calling him a “sovereignly appointed” leader.
The event was voluntary but officially promoted, and was broadcast internally, something critics say crosses another constitutional line.
A former pentagon lawyer called it a “clear violation” of the First Amendment, and legal experts warn it puts pressure on service members to participate.
Hegseth said it reflects America’s tradition and that the United States is “a nation in need of prayer.”
Nor’easter disrupts northeast ahead of holiday with rain, wind, and cold temps
It may be late May, but across the Northeast, it feels more like March with a bad attitude.
A rare off-season storm is slamming the Northeast and mid-Atlantic today through the end of the week. It’s bringing soaking rain, strong winds, and a chill that feels more like March than Memorial Day.
Up to 3 inches of rain could fall in parts of New England and the tri-state area. Wind gusts over 45 miles per hour are possible along the coast. And travel could get messy on roads and at busy airports.
These storms usually hit in winter, but an unusual clash of Arctic cold and Atlantic warmth is driving this one.
The good news? Things start drying out Sunday. And by Monday, sunshine returns just in time for the holiday.
Pacers stun the Knicks in game 1 OT win
It’s a great time of year in sports, with the NBA playoffs and NHL both down to the final four, and the games are getting intense.
In front of sell-out crowd at the world’s most famous arena last night, the Indiana Pacers came from 17 behind to defeat the New York Knicks 138-135.
The Pacers are known for their full-court pressure defense, and they shocked the basketball world last night, knocking off the Knicks in front of their home crowd.
Tyrese Haliburton was the star. He scored the tying basket to force overtime, and the Pacers went on to win to take game one of their best-of-seven series.
The winner of that series will take on the winner of the Oklahoma City v. Minnesota series. Oklahoma City won big in the first game of that series, 114-to-88. That series continues tonight.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
