The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk now faces seven felony charges, and prosecutors in Utah say they will seek the death penalty. Among the evidence is a text exchange where the alleged shooter appears to confess and outline his motive.
Plus, the U.S. and China have reportedly reached a deal that allows TikTok to keep operating in the U.S., with increased oversight from American authorities.
Also, Ben and Jerry’s co-founders are parting ways after decades of social activism and sweet success.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
Prosecutors seek death penalty for Charlie Kirk’s accused killer
The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk now faces seven felony charges, and prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty.
Tyler Robinson, 22, appeared in court via video chat on Tuesday, saying little as a judge in Utah read the charges, including aggravated murder, witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors claimed Robinson fired a bolt-action rifle from a rooftop, striking Kirk in the neck as he spoke to students at Utah Valley University.
They argued DNA on the rifle trigger matches Robinson, and that he left a chilling note under his keyboard that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
According to court documents, Robinson and his roommate shared a romantic relationship. Now, the text exchange from the day of the shooting has become available:
Robinson: Drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.
Roommate: What? You’re joking, right?
Robinson: I am still ok, my love, but am stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: You weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: No, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. It’s quiet, almost enough to get out, but there’s one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Prosecutors said Robinson planned the attack for more than a week and urged his partner to delete their texts. Authorities arrested him days later near his hometown of St. George, Utah.
Robinson’s due back in court Sept. 29.
FBI director clashes with Democrats on Kirk investigation, Epstein files and more
FBI director Kash Patel will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning. He’ll face questions about how he handled the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation and his overall leadership at the bureau.
In his opening statement, ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., condemned Patel for spreading “mass confusion” after he posted on X that Kirk’s killer had been caught hours after the shooting. That claim turned out to be false.
“Could I have been more careful in my verbiage and included an ‘a’ subject instead of subject? Sure, in the heat of the moment, but I was doing the best I could. But I was doing the best I could,” Patel said.
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt, also spoke up. He said, “You know, in all candor, I don’t quite get that, because if we have our man, that would suggest to the public that everybody can rest and relax and not then continue to provide information to the local law enforcement and to you. So that was a mistake?”
“I don’t see it as a mistake,” Patel said. “I see it as something working with the public to identify that there was a subject in custody.”
Patel said the case is “very much ongoing” and that the FBI is investigating more than 20 Discord users from a chat room where Robinson allegedly took responsibility for the shooting.
But Kirk’s case was just one flashpoint of Tuesday’s meeting.
Patel faced heavy scrutiny over his handling of the Epstein files. Criticisms, in part, regarded the decision to move Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison in Texas after her interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.: “The Bureau of Prisons decided on their own, without any consultation with [Todd] Blanche or anyone else, that they were gonna suddenly, after this interview, completely unrelated to this interview. Completely unrelated to anything she said, move her to a prison not suitable for a sex offender. You want the American people to believe that? Do you think they’re stupid?”
Patel: “No, I think the American people believe the truth that I’m not in the weeds on the everyday movements. What I am doing is protecting this country, providing historic reform, and combating the weaponization of intelligence by the likes of you.”
Schiff: “You are a political buffoon at best.”
Patel: “Well, you can make an internet troll the FBI director – but (he) will always be nothing more than an internet troll.”
Next, Patel got into a shouting match with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who criticized him over the Kirk case, the Epstein files and the removal of FBI agents.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / The Associated Press
Booker: “I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing, because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose.”
Patel: “That rant of false information does not bring this country together. If you want to work on bringing this country, it’s my time, not yours.”
Booker: “My god, my god. You’re accusing me of dividing this country?”
Patel: “If you want to talk about. It is my time.”
Booker: “I follow you on your social media posts that tear this country apart. You can try all you want to not take responsibility for what you have said. Sir, you are making a mockery of this committee.”
Patel: “It is my time to address your falsehoods. You are an embarrassment to the division in this country. It is my time. Not your time. Your time is over.”
Booker: “Sir, you don’t tell me that my time is over.”
Wednesday’s hearing in the House begins at 10 a.m. EST/9 a.m. CST.
Ousted CDC chief to testify that RFK Jr. demanded pre-approvals, firings
The director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who was ousted just weeks after her Senate confirmation, is set to testify on Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill.
CBS News obtained Susan Monarez’s prepared testimony, learning that she will argue to the Senate Health Committee that she was fired after refusing to pre-approve vaccine recommendations, regardless of scientific evidence, and declining to fire career CDC scientists.
J. Scott Applewhite / The Associated Press
In part, Monarez’s testimony reads:
“Secretary Kennedy demanded two things of me that were inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics required of a public official. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy, without cause. He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign.”
Monarez said she was fired after refusing. HHS denies her claims, calling her insubordinate and accusing her of undermining the Trump administration’s agenda.
Trump to meet royals in UK amid tech deal talks
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will start their day Wednesday in the United Kingdom. They were welcomed Tuesday night by dignitaries and members of the Royal Air Force as their state visit began.
The two will be honored guests of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle. The welcome ceremony features a carriage procession, a military flyover and a banquet at St. George’s Hall — complete with speeches and toasts.
The trip began with a major announcement: a new technology pact between the U.S. and Britain.
Big names like Google, Microsoft and Nvidia have committed tens of millions of dollars to developing AI, quantum computing and nuclear energy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a deal that will shape the future for millions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images
Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images
Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images
LENA VOELK/AFP via Getty Images
LENA VOELK/AFP via Getty Images
LENA VOELK/AFP via Getty Images
Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images
However, the visit to Windsor Castle took an unexpected turn Tuesday night. Police arrested four people after they allegedly projected images of Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle.
The projections included photos of Trump and Epstein together, and a lewd birthday message Trump allegedly sent Epstein in 2003.
US, China reach framework deal to keep TikTok running
TikTok may have just dodged another ban after the U.S. and China reached a breakthrough deal to keep the social media platform running.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese officials in Madrid this week, finalizing what both sides are calling a “framework agreement” to overhaul TikTok’s U.S. operations.
The Wall Street Journal reported that under the deal, TikTok’s American business would transfer to a new U.S.-based entity. A group of prominent investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz, would own 80% of the company.
TikTok’s algorithm, developed in China, would be licensed but operated by U.S. engineers. Oracle would continue handling American user data.
Trump announced the arrangement to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday:
“Well, we have a deal on TikTok. I’ve reached a deal with China. I’m going to speak to President Xi on Friday to confirm everything. We made a very good trade deal and I hope good for both countries, but a very different deal than they’ve made in the past. We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it. And, you know, the kids wanted it so badly. I had parents calling me up. They don’t want it for themselves. They want it for their kids. They say, if I don’t get it done, they’re in big trouble with their kids.”
If this deal holds, it could finally end the years-long battle over TikTok — and keep the app running for its 170 million U.S. users.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quits in protest
Ben and Jerry’s co-founders have parted ways after decades of social activism and sweet success. For the first time since the company’s start in 1978, Jerry Greenfield is out.
Greenfield’s departure was announced by Ben Cohen himself, who posted his longtime partner’s resignation letter online.
In it, Greenfield called it “one of the hardest decisions” of his life, saying:
“Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced and sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.”
He addressed a long-standing feud with Unilever, the major corporation that acquired Ben and Jerry’s in 2000.
The two co-founders built their brand on more than just ice cream — taking stands on climate change, police reform, Trump policies, and most recently, Israel’s war in Gaza.
Greenfield said that social mission is now being “muzzled,” and the independent voice they were promised in the sale agreement has disappeared.
More from Straight Arrow News:
Zelenskiy/Official via Telegram
Crafting Ukrainian security in the face of aggression: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, SAN host Ryan Robertson digs into the crucial question about shaping the future of European security: What vision do Kyiv and its allies have for security guarantees against potential Russian aggression? As tensions continue to rise, more than two dozen countries are exploring their roles in fortifying support for Ukraine.
Take a look beyond the headlines, analyzing the strategic discussions and diplomatic maneuvers that could define a new era of defense in Eastern Europe. Watch this week’s Weapons and Warfare now >
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