ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;said in his first interview as history's first American pope that he has no intention of getting involved in U.S. politics but will raise his voice on issues of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">concern to the Catholic Church, including on immigration</a>.

Leo spoke on a range of topics — from the Trump administration to the clergy sexual abuse crisis, welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics and Vatican-China relations — in the interview, published Thursday. It was conducted by Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen of the news site Crux for a biography of Leo that was published Thursday in Peru, where Leo was bishop for many years.

Leo embraced Pope Francis’ message for LGBTQ+ Catholics that “todos, todos, todos” are welcome in the Catholic Church but said that he found “it highly unlikely” the church’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-comments-about-lgbtq-people-e34d133b77ee692141a22626c4e18eec">core doctrine about sexuality</a>&nbsp;would change anytime soon.

The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that homosexual activity is “intrinsically disordered.” It opposes gay marriage, saying marriage is a union between a man and woman.

“Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” he said.

“I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the church says about any given question,” he said.

Leo said he didn’t foresee any short-term changes in the Vatican's controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-china-pope-beijing-e322c14ea9ceae11fd72e90b7bc73076">2018 agreement with Beijing</a>&nbsp;over bishop nominations.

The Vatican under Pope Francis had inked the accord hoping it would help unite China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, long divided between those belonging to an official, state-sanctioned church and an underground church loyal to Rome.

“I in no way pretend to be wiser or more experienced than all those who have come before me,” Leo said, adding he was studying the issue and speaking with Chinese people “on both sides" about it.

The Vatican has defended the 2018 accord against criticism that Francis sold out the underground faithful, who endured decades of persecution by the Beijing authorities. The Vatican has said the deal was necessary to prevent an even worse schism in the Chinese church after China named bishops without the pope’s consent.

Leo said the sex abuse crisis is “a real crisis” that has not yet been solved, and that the church&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-abuse-victim-survivor-trauma-6cfef8f4e77db777df660bbc4d855758">still hasn't found a way</a>&nbsp;to help victims heal. But he also said the rights of priests must be respected.

“Statistics show that well over 90% of people who come forward and make accusations, they are authentically victims. They are telling the truth. They are not making this up," he said. "But there have also been proven cases of some kind of false accusation. There have been priests whose lives have been destroyed because of that.”

The pope also said the scandal “cannot become the center focus of the church.”

Leo was instrumental in helping victims of an abusive Peruvian group find justice but he has been accused by a U.S. victim advocacy group of not doing enough to help other Peruvian victims.

Leo said he recognized the influence of the United States on world affairs and mentioned migration as one of the issue important to the Catholic Church.

He recalled a letter Francis sent to U.S. bishops earlier this year rebuking the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. The letter took direct aim at Vice President JD&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-bishops-migration-94138954824b68dbd0b29b28504e056e">Vance’s defense of the deportation program</a>&nbsp;on theological grounds.

Leo praised Francis' initiative and said U.S. bishops showed “courage” in confronting the administration, expressing hopes they would continue to take the lead on such issues.

“One of the last conversations I had with the vice president of the United States – I have not had direct conversations with or have not met the president – I talked about human dignity and how important that is for all people, wherever you’re born, and hopefully to find ways to respect human beings and the way we treat them in the policies and choices we make," Leo said.

Leo made clear he is not a Trump supporter, adding that he and his brother Luis Prevost, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vance-leo-vatican-ukraine-russia-trump-c1572b31e231e4eee61baaaad5c1445f">self-described “MAGA-type,” who has met the U.S. president</a>&nbsp;are in "different places.”

“The United States is a power player on the world level, we have to recognize that, and sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity and human support, but (we have to) continue to challenge and to raise some questions and to see the best way to do that,” Leo said.

Leo vowed to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-women-priests-ordination-42d51fae16606dd561553362b16e500f">appointing women to leadership positions</a>&nbsp;in the church, but tamped down any hopes of ordaining women as deacons or as priests. He pointed to an ongoing study by the Vatican’s doctrine office on the issue.

“I at the moment don’t have an intention of changing the teaching of the church on the topic,” he said. “I am certainly willing to continue to listen to people.”

Leo inherited a longstanding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-finance-donations-0daf975d09f477bd6f7f03eb8b737d6a">financial crunch at the Vatican</a>, which has been running a 50 million to 60 million euro ($57 million to $68 million) structural deficit, a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pension-pope-a48ab7b6392e1821388aa498d94c0a19">pension fund shortfall</a>&nbsp;and declining donations.

The crisis hit hardest during the pandemic when the Holy See’s main source of revenue — the Vatican Museums — closed down.

But things are improving and “it is not the crisis that people have been led to believe,” Leo said.

“I’m not saying we can relax," he said. "I don’t think the crisis is over, I think we have to continue to work on this, but I’m not losing sleep over it, and I think that it’s important that we communicate a different message.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747390720796.png" alt="Pope Leo XIV image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Leo XIV image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;said in his first interview as history's first American pope that he has no intention of getting involved in U.S. politics but will raise his voice on issues of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">concern to the Catholic Church, including on immigration</a>.Leo spoke on a range of topics — from the Trump administration to the clergy sexual abuse crisis, welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics and Vatican-China relations — in the interview, published Thursday. It was conducted by Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen of the news site Crux for a biography of Leo that was published Thursday in Peru, where Leo was bishop for many years.Here are some highlights:<h2>Welcoming the LGBTQ+ community</h2>Leo embraced Pope Francis’ message for LGBTQ+ Catholics that “todos, todos, todos” are welcome in the Catholic Church but said that he found “it highly unlikely” the church’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-comments-about-lgbtq-people-e34d133b77ee692141a22626c4e18eec">core doctrine about sexuality</a>&nbsp;would change anytime soon.The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that homosexual activity is “intrinsically disordered.” It opposes gay marriage, saying marriage is a union between a man and woman.“Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” he said.“I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the church says about any given question,” he said.<h2>Ties with China</h2>Leo said he didn’t foresee any short-term changes in the Vatican's controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-china-pope-beijing-e322c14ea9ceae11fd72e90b7bc73076">2018 agreement with Beijing</a>&nbsp;over bishop nominations.The Vatican under Pope Francis had inked the accord hoping it would help unite China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, long divided between those belonging to an official, state-sanctioned church and an underground church loyal to Rome.“I in no way pretend to be wiser or more experienced than all those who have come before me,” Leo said, adding he was studying the issue and speaking with Chinese people “on both sides" about it.The Vatican has defended the 2018 accord against criticism that Francis sold out the underground faithful, who endured decades of persecution by the Beijing authorities. The Vatican has said the deal was necessary to prevent an even worse schism in the Chinese church after China named bishops without the pope’s consent.<h2>Sex abuse scandals</h2>Leo said the sex abuse crisis is “a real crisis” that has not yet been solved, and that the church&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-abuse-victim-survivor-trauma-6cfef8f4e77db777df660bbc4d855758">still hasn't found a way</a>&nbsp;to help victims heal. But he also said the rights of priests must be respected.“Statistics show that well over 90% of people who come forward and make accusations, they are authentically victims. They are telling the truth. They are not making this up," he said. "But there have also been proven cases of some kind of false accusation. There have been priests whose lives have been destroyed because of that.”The pope also said the scandal “cannot become the center focus of the church.”Leo was instrumental in helping victims of an abusive Peruvian group find justice but he has been accused by a U.S. victim advocacy group of not doing enough to help other Peruvian victims.<h2>Trump and US politics</h2>Leo said he recognized the influence of the United States on world affairs and mentioned migration as one of the issue important to the Catholic Church.He recalled a letter Francis sent to U.S. bishops earlier this year rebuking the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants. The letter took direct aim at Vice President JD&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-bishops-migration-94138954824b68dbd0b29b28504e056e">Vance’s defense of the deportation program</a>&nbsp;on theological grounds.Leo praised Francis' initiative and said U.S. bishops showed “courage” in confronting the administration, expressing hopes they would continue to take the lead on such issues.“One of the last conversations I had with the vice president of the United States – I have not had direct conversations with or have not met the president – I talked about human dignity and how important that is for all people, wherever you’re born, and hopefully to find ways to respect human beings and the way we treat them in the policies and choices we make," Leo said.Leo made clear he is not a Trump supporter, adding that he and his brother Luis Prevost, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vance-leo-vatican-ukraine-russia-trump-c1572b31e231e4eee61baaaad5c1445f">self-described “MAGA-type,” who has met the U.S. president</a>&nbsp;are in "different places.”“The United States is a power player on the world level, we have to recognize that, and sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity and human support, but (we have to) continue to challenge and to raise some questions and to see the best way to do that,” Leo said.<h2>Women's voices</h2>Leo vowed to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-women-priests-ordination-42d51fae16606dd561553362b16e500f">appointing women to leadership positions</a>&nbsp;in the church, but tamped down any hopes of ordaining women as deacons or as priests. He pointed to an ongoing study by the Vatican’s doctrine office on the issue.“I at the moment don’t have an intention of changing the teaching of the church on the topic,” he said. “I am certainly willing to continue to listen to people.”<h2>Vatican finances</h2>Leo inherited a longstanding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-finance-donations-0daf975d09f477bd6f7f03eb8b737d6a">financial crunch at the Vatican</a>, which has been running a 50 million to 60 million euro ($57 million to $68 million) structural deficit, a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pension-pope-a48ab7b6392e1821388aa498d94c0a19">pension fund shortfall</a>&nbsp;and declining donations.The crisis hit hardest during the pandemic when the Holy See’s main source of revenue — the Vatican Museums — closed down.But things are improving and “it is not the crisis that people have been led to believe,” Leo said.“I’m not saying we can relax," he said. "I don’t think the crisis is over, I think we have to continue to work on this, but I’m not losing sleep over it, and I think that it’s important that we communicate a different message.”___

Highlights from Pope Leo's first interview as history's first American pope

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time in nine months. Since the last cut,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">progress on inflation has slowed</a>&nbsp;while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-a69fc3afbbebe731c29824b855e3c83f">labor market has cooled</a>. That means Americans are dealing with both high prices and a challenging job market.

The federal funds rate, set by the Federal Reserve, is the rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another. While the rates that consumers pay to borrow money aren’t directly linked to this rate, shifts in Fed policy affect what people pay for credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and other financial products.

Wednesday’s quarter-point cut is the first since December and lowers the Fed’s short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. The Fed projected it will cut rates two more times before the end of the year.

The Fed has two goals when it sets the rate: one, to manage prices for goods and services, and two, to encourage full employment. This is known as the “dual mandate.” Typically, the Fed might increase the rate to try to bring down inflation and decrease it to encourage faster economic growth and more hiring. The challenge now is that inflation is higher than the Fed’s 2% target but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">job market is weak</a>, putting the Fed in a difficult position.

“The dual mandate is always a balancing act,” said Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at personal finance site NerdWallet.

For prospective homebuyers, the market has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-0006ffb29d80352c87da5b2b5b08e8fa">priced in the rate cut</a>, which means it’s “unlikely to make a noticeable difference for most consumers at the time of the announcement,” according to Bankrate financial analyst Stephen Kates.

“Much of the impact on mortgage rates has already occurred through anticipation alone,” he said. "(Mortgage) rates have been falling since January and dropped further as weaker-than-expected economic data pointed to a cooling economy.”

Still, Kates said a declining interest rate environment will provide some relief for borrowers over time.

“Whether it’s a homeowner with a 7% mortgage or a recent graduate hoping to refinance student loans and credit card debt, lower rates can ease the burden on many indebted households by opening opportunities to refinance or consolidate,” he said.

Interest on savings accounts won’t be as appealing

For savers, falling interest rates will slowly erode attractive yields currently on offer with certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts.

Right now, the best rates on offer for each have been hovering at or above 4% for CDs and at 4.6% for high-yield savings accounts, according to DepositAccounts.com.

Those are still better than the trends of recent years, and a good option for consumers who want to earn a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bank-accounts-economy-savings-dbf6c9d356de2349ec89ed9e3c99168c">return on money</a>&nbsp;they may want to access in the near-term. A high-yield savings account generally has a much higher annual percentage yield than a traditional savings account. The national average for traditional savings accounts is currently 0.38%.

There may be a few accounts with returns of about 4% through the end of 2025, according to Ken Tumin, founder of DepositAccounts.com, but the Fed cuts will filter down to these offerings, lowering the average yields as they do.

Auto loans are not expected to decline soon

Americans have faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cars">steeper auto loan rates</a>&nbsp;over the last three years after the Fed raised its benchmark interest rate starting in early 2022. Those are not expected to decline any time soon. While a cut will contribute to eventual relief, it might be slow in arriving, analysts say.

“If the auto market starts to freeze up and people aren’t buying cars, then we may see lending margins start to shrink, but auto loan rates don’t move in lockstep with the Fed rate,” said Bankrate analyst Stephen Kates.

Prices for new cars have leveled off recently, but remain at historically high levels, not adjusting for inflation.

Generally speaking, an auto loan annual percentage rate can run from about 4% to 30%. Bankrate’s most recent weekly survey found that average auto loan interest rates are currently at 7.19% on a 60-month new car loan.

Interest rates for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/credit-cards-trump-usury-vanderbilt-university-51e378f1d7bb29ed904e15e170ba3f89">credit cards</a>&nbsp;are currently at an average of 20.13%, and the Fed’s rate cut may be slow to be felt by anyone carrying a large amount of credit card debt. That said, any reduction is positive news.

“While the broader impact of a rate reduction on consumers’ financial health remains to be fully seen, it could offer some relief from the persistent budgetary pressures driven by inflation,” said Michele Raneri, vice president and head of U.S. research at credit reporting agency TransUnion.

“These savings could contribute to a reduction in delinquency rates across credit card and unsecured personal loan segments,” she said.

Still, the best thing for anyone carrying a large credit card balance is to prioritize paying down high-interest-rate debt, and to seek to transfer any amounts possible to lower APR cards or negotiate directly with credit card companies for accommodation.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time in nine months. Since the last cut,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">progress on inflation has slowed</a>&nbsp;while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-a69fc3afbbebe731c29824b855e3c83f">labor market has cooled</a>. That means Americans are dealing with both high prices and a challenging job market.The federal funds rate, set by the Federal Reserve, is the rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another. While the rates that consumers pay to borrow money aren’t directly linked to this rate, shifts in Fed policy affect what people pay for credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and other financial products.Wednesday’s quarter-point cut is the first since December and lowers the Fed’s short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. The Fed projected it will cut rates two more times before the end of the year.The Fed has two goals when it sets the rate: one, to manage prices for goods and services, and two, to encourage full employment. This is known as the “dual mandate.” Typically, the Fed might increase the rate to try to bring down inflation and decrease it to encourage faster economic growth and more hiring. The challenge now is that inflation is higher than the Fed’s 2% target but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">job market is weak</a>, putting the Fed in a difficult position.“The dual mandate is always a balancing act,” said Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at personal finance site NerdWallet.Here’s what to know:<h2>A cut will impact mortgages gradually</h2>For prospective homebuyers, the market has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-0006ffb29d80352c87da5b2b5b08e8fa">priced in the rate cut</a>, which means it’s “unlikely to make a noticeable difference for most consumers at the time of the announcement,” according to Bankrate financial analyst Stephen Kates.“Much of the impact on mortgage rates has already occurred through anticipation alone,” he said. "(Mortgage) rates have been falling since January and dropped further as weaker-than-expected economic data pointed to a cooling economy.”Still, Kates said a declining interest rate environment will provide some relief for borrowers over time.“Whether it’s a homeowner with a 7% mortgage or a recent graduate hoping to refinance student loans and credit card debt, lower rates can ease the burden on many indebted households by opening opportunities to refinance or consolidate,” he said.<h2>Interest on savings accounts won’t be as appealing</h2>For savers, falling interest rates will slowly erode attractive yields currently on offer with certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts.Right now, the best rates on offer for each have been hovering at or above 4% for CDs and at 4.6% for high-yield savings accounts, according to DepositAccounts.com.Those are still better than the trends of recent years, and a good option for consumers who want to earn a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bank-accounts-economy-savings-dbf6c9d356de2349ec89ed9e3c99168c">return on money</a>&nbsp;they may want to access in the near-term. A high-yield savings account generally has a much higher annual percentage yield than a traditional savings account. The national average for traditional savings accounts is currently 0.38%.There may be a few accounts with returns of about 4% through the end of 2025, according to Ken Tumin, founder of DepositAccounts.com, but the Fed cuts will filter down to these offerings, lowering the average yields as they do.<h2>Auto loans are not expected to decline soon</h2>Americans have faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cars">steeper auto loan rates</a>&nbsp;over the last three years after the Fed raised its benchmark interest rate starting in early 2022. Those are not expected to decline any time soon. While a cut will contribute to eventual relief, it might be slow in arriving, analysts say.“If the auto market starts to freeze up and people aren’t buying cars, then we may see lending margins start to shrink, but auto loan rates don’t move in lockstep with the Fed rate,” said Bankrate analyst Stephen Kates.Prices for new cars have leveled off recently, but remain at historically high levels, not adjusting for inflation.Generally speaking, an auto loan annual percentage rate can run from about 4% to 30%. Bankrate’s most recent weekly survey found that average auto loan interest rates are currently at 7.19% on a 60-month new car loan.<h2>Credit card rate relief could be slow</h2>Interest rates for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/credit-cards-trump-usury-vanderbilt-university-51e378f1d7bb29ed904e15e170ba3f89">credit cards</a>&nbsp;are currently at an average of 20.13%, and the Fed’s rate cut may be slow to be felt by anyone carrying a large amount of credit card debt. That said, any reduction is positive news.“While the broader impact of a rate reduction on consumers’ financial health remains to be fully seen, it could offer some relief from the persistent budgetary pressures driven by inflation,” said Michele Raneri, vice president and head of U.S. research at credit reporting agency TransUnion.“These savings could contribute to a reduction in delinquency rates across credit card and unsecured personal loan segments,” she said.Still, the best thing for anyone carrying a large credit card balance is to prioritize paying down high-interest-rate debt, and to seek to transfer any amounts possible to lower APR cards or negotiate directly with credit card companies for accommodation.___The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

What the Fed rate interest cut will mean for your finances

SEWARD COUNTY– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.

Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.

Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;

Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758163504048.png" alt="Batz photo Seward Co." />
 <figcaption>Batz photo Seward Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758163443530.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

Search continues: Man in the U.S. illegally wanted for sex crimes in Kansas

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and prominent members of his “Make America Great Again” movement will pay tribute Sunday to conservative activist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Charlie Kirk</a>, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">slaying</a>&nbsp;has marked a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-killing-america-divided-violence-politics-9b75c05301668fa033f9b4cc98b046c9">signal moment</a>&nbsp;in America’s fraught political atmosphere.

Or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/pres-trump-others-attend-memorial-service-for-late-charlie-kirk/436577">Click here to watch 1p.m. CDT</a>

The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, senior White House officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.

Kirk’s assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has set off a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-political-violence-shootings-utah-7b4e9b662932943a77635a0f8e839270">fierce debate about violence</a>, decency and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-workplace-speech-firing-29717a8612ccedebabc7cba29e7ef627">free speech</a>&nbsp;in an era of deep political division. The shooting also has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kirk-trump-cancel-culture-assassination-4d69649e382ea46d8dcf794150a1d3c9">suppress the voices</a>&nbsp;of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-revenge-bolton-military-deployments-aa2b977621bce563770b60dade581f79">critics and political opponents</a>.

The service will take place at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-memorial-state-farm-stadium-ff4815a8ec8f4eb6f4855360a98a04fa">State Farm Stadium</a>, the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals west of Phoenix, where Kirk's Turning Point organization is based. Security is expected to be tight, with a similar level of federal law enforcement presence as for the Super Bowl or other high-profile event.

Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-radical-left-political-opposition-3875efd0674ed2a22a719dfb42ace6ab">blamed the “radical left”</a>&nbsp;for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others whom he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk's death.

He criticized House Democrats who voted against a House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-congress-democrats-d081cf80ff514310f307590ff1d75f04">resolution that praised</a>&nbsp;“the life and legacy” of Kirk, which passed the Republican-controlled House on Friday.

“Who could vote against that? All (Republicans) were saying was ‘Please condemn the assassination of a human being,’” Trump told reporters. “And (Democrats) said, ’No, no, we’re not going to do that.’”

Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers, already have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-speech-republicans-firings-government-vance-e65a4939b80e4f4822db188e978d8812">lost their jobs</a>&nbsp;as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Trump administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirk’s death.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-kimmel-show-suspended-charlie-kirk-2c79d56fa53779014f2bb2ed9e47da1f">ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show</a>&nbsp;off the air indefinitely following backlash from affiliated broadcasters and the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission over the comedian’s remarks about Kirk.

The State Department also has warned it would revoke the visas of any foreigners who celebrated Kirk’s assassination.

A 22-year-old Utah man,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">Tyler Robinson</a>, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">charged with killing Kirk</a>&nbsp;and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he “had enough” of Kirk's hatred.

Kirk's legacy of conservative political influence

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/turning-point-charlie-kirk-erika-kirk-trump-ff9141ca3fd5b8f1a103e7eb03f7535b">Turning Point, the group Kirk founded</a>&nbsp;to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach.

The tens of thousands expected to fill the stadium in Glendale for Kirk’s memorial is a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America.

Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-kirk-host-show-husband-father-65cf1d42c2c2f4e85988402b5224da2a">backlash from conservatives</a>&nbsp;who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy they see of an inspirational conservative leader.

Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-fd5ca9b3b7338993970dd0a34dafb64b">Utah Valley University,</a>&nbsp;where he was fatally shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops.

Arizona is the adopted home state of Kirk, who grew up outside Chicago and founded Turning Point there before moving the organization to Phoenix. Vance, who has said Kirk's advocacy was a big reason Trump picked him to serve as vice president, transported Kirk’s casket from Utah to Arizona&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-jd-vance-turning-point-assassination-49501e2fdcb268c74c7dd929049abcd6">aboard Air Force Two</a>&nbsp;the day after his death, and he later served as a guest host of Kirk’s podcast.

Scheduled speakers at the service include Trump, Vance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Donald Trump Jr., right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and White House aides Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor also are slated to speak.

Longtime worship leader Chris Tomlin will provide music, along with other big names in contemporary Christian music, including Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, and husband-and-wife duo Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes.

Kirk’s widow, who has been named Turning Point’s new leader, also will speak. Erika Kirk pledged in an emotional speech days after his death that “the movement my husband built will not die.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758477644421.png" alt="Image from AP video" />
 <figcaption>Image from AP video</figcaption>
 </figure>GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and prominent members of his “Make America Great Again” movement will pay tribute Sunday to conservative activist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Charlie Kirk</a>, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">slaying</a>&nbsp;has marked a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-killing-america-divided-violence-politics-9b75c05301668fa033f9b4cc98b046c9">signal moment</a>&nbsp;in America’s fraught political atmosphere.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DKGRfogo-l0?si=Ojm1zR4G3eUXUMTw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/pres-trump-others-attend-memorial-service-for-late-charlie-kirk/436577">Click here to watch 1p.m. CDT</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">From everyday Americans to Cabinet Members—Charlie Kirk’s voice shaped a movement. Watch the message that inspired them all. ❤️⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/LlL88j53xq">pic.twitter.com/LlL88j53xq</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1969601349642764750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, senior White House officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.Kirk’s assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has set off a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-political-violence-shootings-utah-7b4e9b662932943a77635a0f8e839270">fierce debate about violence</a>, decency and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-workplace-speech-firing-29717a8612ccedebabc7cba29e7ef627">free speech</a>&nbsp;in an era of deep political division. The shooting also has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kirk-trump-cancel-culture-assassination-4d69649e382ea46d8dcf794150a1d3c9">suppress the voices</a>&nbsp;of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-revenge-bolton-military-deployments-aa2b977621bce563770b60dade581f79">critics and political opponents</a>.The service will take place at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-memorial-state-farm-stadium-ff4815a8ec8f4eb6f4855360a98a04fa">State Farm Stadium</a>, the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals west of Phoenix, where Kirk's Turning Point organization is based. Security is expected to be tight, with a similar level of federal law enforcement presence as for the Super Bowl or other high-profile event.<h2>Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target</h2>Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-radical-left-political-opposition-3875efd0674ed2a22a719dfb42ace6ab">blamed the “radical left”</a>&nbsp;for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others whom he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk's death.He criticized House Democrats who voted against a House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-congress-democrats-d081cf80ff514310f307590ff1d75f04">resolution that praised</a>&nbsp;“the life and legacy” of Kirk, which passed the Republican-controlled House on Friday.“Who could vote against that? All (Republicans) were saying was ‘Please condemn the assassination of a human being,’” Trump told reporters. “And (Democrats) said, ’No, no, we’re not going to do that.’”Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers, already have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-speech-republicans-firings-government-vance-e65a4939b80e4f4822db188e978d8812">lost their jobs</a>&nbsp;as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Trump administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirk’s death.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-kimmel-show-suspended-charlie-kirk-2c79d56fa53779014f2bb2ed9e47da1f">ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show</a>&nbsp;off the air indefinitely following backlash from affiliated broadcasters and the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission over the comedian’s remarks about Kirk.The State Department also has warned it would revoke the visas of any foreigners who celebrated Kirk’s assassination.A 22-year-old Utah man,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">Tyler Robinson</a>, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">charged with killing Kirk</a>&nbsp;and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he “had enough” of Kirk's hatred.<h2>Kirk's legacy of conservative political influence</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/turning-point-charlie-kirk-erika-kirk-trump-ff9141ca3fd5b8f1a103e7eb03f7535b">Turning Point, the group Kirk founded</a>&nbsp;to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach.The tens of thousands expected to fill the stadium in Glendale for Kirk’s memorial is a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America.Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-kirk-host-show-husband-father-65cf1d42c2c2f4e85988402b5224da2a">backlash from conservatives</a>&nbsp;who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy they see of an inspirational conservative leader.Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-fd5ca9b3b7338993970dd0a34dafb64b">Utah Valley University,</a>&nbsp;where he was fatally shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops.Arizona is the adopted home state of Kirk, who grew up outside Chicago and founded Turning Point there before moving the organization to Phoenix. Vance, who has said Kirk's advocacy was a big reason Trump picked him to serve as vice president, transported Kirk’s casket from Utah to Arizona&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-jd-vance-turning-point-assassination-49501e2fdcb268c74c7dd929049abcd6">aboard Air Force Two</a>&nbsp;the day after his death, and he later served as a guest host of Kirk’s podcast.Scheduled speakers at the service include Trump, Vance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Donald Trump Jr., right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and White House aides Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor also are slated to speak.Longtime worship leader Chris Tomlin will provide music, along with other big names in contemporary Christian music, including Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, and husband-and-wife duo Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes.Kirk’s widow, who has been named Turning Point’s new leader, also will speak. Erika Kirk pledged in an emotional speech days after his death that “the movement my husband built will not die.”___

🎥President Trump, others honor Charlie Kirk at memorial service

WASHINGTON (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-congress-democrats-d081cf80ff514310f307590ff1d75f04">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;gathered lawmakers this week to mourn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">Charlie Kirk</a>, he summed up the grief felt by many on Capitol Hill — and the pervasive fear.

“For so many of us, it has felt as if the ground was shaken,” said Johnson, R-La.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">The killing of Kirk</a>, the prominent conservative activist and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">Turning Point USA founder</a>, has unnerved lawmakers in both parties, amplifying their long-standing concerns about safety in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obama-charlie-kirk-trump-political-violence-faa0b07e88e4236daaee78bca4f569e8">heated political climate</a>&nbsp;where threats against political rivals and calls to violence have become frighteningly common.

Responding to those concerns, Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-thune">John Thune, R-S.D.,</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night engineered unanimous passage of a measure that will allow senators to use money designated for their offices and staff for security purposes. Members of the House are pushing for increased security funding as well.

It's all part of significant shift for lawmakers who increasingly feel that their engagement in public life requires the same kinds of security precautions long reserved for the president and members of the Cabinet.

“If you go back several years ago, people were like, ‘Yeah, I understand there’s a risk.' But now it’s different. Our families are coming to us and saying, ‘OK, what are we gonna do?’ Our staff are coming to us and saying, ‘What are we gonna do?’” said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.

Unlike the president and other top executive branch officials, rank-and-file lawmakers are often unaccompanied by security agents when they are off Capitol Hill, which is guarded by the U.S. Capitol Police. Some members of Congress pay for private security out of private or campaign funds.

“Members of Congress receive much less security than many of the local officials back at home or judges,” said Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas. “Oftentimes, we have been the least secure.”

He said that "political violence is meant to silence us. And we can’t be silenced for the sake of democracy. And so, providing some level of safety and security for our members, I think, is key.”

The number of threat assessment cases handled by the Capitol Police has grown steadily over the past four years. The department says it tracked more than 9,000 cases of reported threats in 2024 and is on track to handle roughly 14,000 by the end of this year.

“This is a national security issue. This is a big deal and we’re taking it very seriously,” said Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who was in a group of GOP lawmakers who met with Johnson multiple times this week to push for more security money in a package to fund the federal government.

Luna said many of the lawmakers have faced security threats — to themselves or their loved ones — that are the subject of law enforcement investigations. Lawmakers say they now routinely face death threats, “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-plot-thomasz-szabo-60de50b8bf1dd35b3ea403072a58f1cd">swatting” calls</a>, bomb scares and vandalism at their offices.

“We’ve been needing this," Luna said. "The fact that it took for this to happen to even address this is crazy to me, but it needs to be dealt with."

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834">The government funding bill</a>&nbsp;passed by the Republican-controlled House on Friday would add about $88 million in security money for lawmakers and members of the Supreme Court and executive branch.

A temporary program that offers a monthly stipend for House members doubled its funding to $10,000 per member from $5,000. The House Administration Committee launched the program in July after the assassination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-197b8073b66449297986f8276e6dcfc9">Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman</a>&nbsp;and her husband.

Through the program, House lawmakers are also allowed to spend up to $20,000 on in-home security equipment.

The cash infusion does not affect the president, who is protected by a separate budget for the Secret Service, or the Capitol Police, which guards the Capitol complex — the Capitol, Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and scores of offices staffed by government and political officials.

“Federal judges have marshals. Obviously, the executive has federal law enforcement. Members of Congress are unprotected,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. “We’re in a heightened time of political violence,” Frost said, adding that he thought it was “ridiculous” that lawmakers had to use their personal or campaign funds to protect themselves.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., criticized the GOP leaders for not providing more security money. He questioned whether they appreciate the situation facing elected officials today.

“I just think it’s tough for leadership to understand they’re in their little protective bubble with security details and (Chevrolet) Suburbans. They don’t have to stand in line, they’re not in crowds, and then we’re out basically on our own with our families, and that’s a very scary proposition right now,” Burchett said.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said the FBI was investigating multiple death threats against his family and he argued that such cases should be prosecuted as terrorism. "We have security, but we need enhanced security,” he said.

Utah Rep. Blake Moore, vice chair of the House Republican Conference, cited “large bicameral, bipartisan agreement that there needs to be more done.” He added: "It’s just finding that sweet spot to be fiscally responsible, but also make sure that we’re in a good spot.”

Moore noted that local law enforcement had been especially responsive in stepping up to protect lawmakers in their districts and he commended that support.

Lawmakers said they often coordinate with law enforcement agencies in their districts so that there are officers at local events, but as they travel between their home districts and Washington, they often feel vulnerable.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is calling for a “comprehensive” security plan for all House members, including security personnel who would travel with the lawmakers.

She said that in the past she had hesitated to increase security because it puts a barrier between her and constituents. But the recent high-profile killings of political figures, as well as the shooting of her friend, then-Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-politics-entertainment-shootings-arizona-3b290d8596a2fa3211b62866771690a6">Gabby Giffords</a>, D-Ariz., in 2011, has convinced her that the protection is necessary.

“It’s really to me become a necessity to protect our constituents, to protect us, to protect our staff, our family members," Wasserman Schultz said. "The risk is too great.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758378359228.png" alt="Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes during a town hall rally in March-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes during a town hall rally in March-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-congress-democrats-d081cf80ff514310f307590ff1d75f04">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;gathered lawmakers this week to mourn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">Charlie Kirk</a>, he summed up the grief felt by many on Capitol Hill — and the pervasive fear.“For so many of us, it has felt as if the ground was shaken,” said Johnson, R-La.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">The killing of Kirk</a>, the prominent conservative activist and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">Turning Point USA founder</a>, has unnerved lawmakers in both parties, amplifying their long-standing concerns about safety in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obama-charlie-kirk-trump-political-violence-faa0b07e88e4236daaee78bca4f569e8">heated political climate</a>&nbsp;where threats against political rivals and calls to violence have become frighteningly common.Responding to those concerns, Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-thune">John Thune, R-S.D.,</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night engineered unanimous passage of a measure that will allow senators to use money designated for their offices and staff for security purposes. Members of the House are pushing for increased security funding as well.It's all part of significant shift for lawmakers who increasingly feel that their engagement in public life requires the same kinds of security precautions long reserved for the president and members of the Cabinet.“If you go back several years ago, people were like, ‘Yeah, I understand there’s a risk.' But now it’s different. Our families are coming to us and saying, ‘OK, what are we gonna do?’ Our staff are coming to us and saying, ‘What are we gonna do?’” said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.<h2>What security do lawmakers have?</h2>Unlike the president and other top executive branch officials, rank-and-file lawmakers are often unaccompanied by security agents when they are off Capitol Hill, which is guarded by the U.S. Capitol Police. Some members of Congress pay for private security out of private or campaign funds.“Members of Congress receive much less security than many of the local officials back at home or judges,” said Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas. “Oftentimes, we have been the least secure.”He said that "political violence is meant to silence us. And we can’t be silenced for the sake of democracy. And so, providing some level of safety and security for our members, I think, is key.”The number of threat assessment cases handled by the Capitol Police has grown steadily over the past four years. The department says it tracked more than 9,000 cases of reported threats in 2024 and is on track to handle roughly 14,000 by the end of this year.<h2>A push to increase security funding</h2>“This is a national security issue. This is a big deal and we’re taking it very seriously,” said Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who was in a group of GOP lawmakers who met with Johnson multiple times this week to push for more security money in a package to fund the federal government.Luna said many of the lawmakers have faced security threats — to themselves or their loved ones — that are the subject of law enforcement investigations. Lawmakers say they now routinely face death threats, “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-plot-thomasz-szabo-60de50b8bf1dd35b3ea403072a58f1cd">swatting” calls</a>, bomb scares and vandalism at their offices.“We’ve been needing this," Luna said. "The fact that it took for this to happen to even address this is crazy to me, but it needs to be dealt with."<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-trump-funding-bill-republicans-shutdown-1fea0f79c85ec69b91d9789fbda00834">The government funding bill</a>&nbsp;passed by the Republican-controlled House on Friday would add about $88 million in security money for lawmakers and members of the Supreme Court and executive branch.A temporary program that offers a monthly stipend for House members doubled its funding to $10,000 per member from $5,000. The House Administration Committee launched the program in July after the assassination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-197b8073b66449297986f8276e6dcfc9">Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman</a>&nbsp;and her husband.Through the program, House lawmakers are also allowed to spend up to $20,000 on in-home security equipment.The cash infusion does not affect the president, who is protected by a separate budget for the Secret Service, or the Capitol Police, which guards the Capitol complex — the Capitol, Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and scores of offices staffed by government and political officials.“Federal judges have marshals. Obviously, the executive has federal law enforcement. Members of Congress are unprotected,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. “We’re in a heightened time of political violence,” Frost said, adding that he thought it was “ridiculous” that lawmakers had to use their personal or campaign funds to protect themselves.Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., criticized the GOP leaders for not providing more security money. He questioned whether they appreciate the situation facing elected officials today.“I just think it’s tough for leadership to understand they’re in their little protective bubble with security details and (Chevrolet) Suburbans. They don’t have to stand in line, they’re not in crowds, and then we’re out basically on our own with our families, and that’s a very scary proposition right now,” Burchett said.Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said the FBI was investigating multiple death threats against his family and he argued that such cases should be prosecuted as terrorism. "We have security, but we need enhanced security,” he said.Utah Rep. Blake Moore, vice chair of the House Republican Conference, cited “large bicameral, bipartisan agreement that there needs to be more done.” He added: "It’s just finding that sweet spot to be fiscally responsible, but also make sure that we’re in a good spot.”<h2>Working with local law enforcement</h2>Moore noted that local law enforcement had been especially responsive in stepping up to protect lawmakers in their districts and he commended that support.Lawmakers said they often coordinate with law enforcement agencies in their districts so that there are officers at local events, but as they travel between their home districts and Washington, they often feel vulnerable.Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is calling for a “comprehensive” security plan for all House members, including security personnel who would travel with the lawmakers.She said that in the past she had hesitated to increase security because it puts a barrier between her and constituents. But the recent high-profile killings of political figures, as well as the shooting of her friend, then-Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-politics-entertainment-shootings-arizona-3b290d8596a2fa3211b62866771690a6">Gabby Giffords</a>, D-Ariz., in 2011, has convinced her that the protection is necessary.“It’s really to me become a necessity to protect our constituents, to protect us, to protect our staff, our family members," Wasserman Schultz said. "The risk is too great.”___

Members of Congress take steps to tighten security after Kirk's killing

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government on Sunday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-afghanistan-bagram-air-base-taliban-china-ed379b4505d074ded5361483832a18d0">bid to retake Bagram Air Base</a>, four years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">America’s chaotic withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from Afghanistan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bagram-afghanistan-airfield-us-troops-f3614828364f567593251aaaa167e623">left the sprawling military facility</a>&nbsp;in the Taliban hands.

It is unclear what conversations the U.S. has had with Afghan officials about returning to the country. But Trump hinted that the Taliban, who have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-internet-shutdown-a2e6c5f836ab3ab9f770591fc89900c0">struggled with an economic crisis</a>, international legitimacy, internal rifts and rival militant groups since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-takeover-four-years-d021b123d4ff7dc847d2801253b7b785">their return to power</a>&nbsp;in 2021, could be open to allowing the U.S. military back.

The chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected Trump’s assertions and urged the U.S. to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” Afghanistan had an economy-oriented foreign policy and sought constructive relations with all states on the basis of mutual and shared interests, Mujahid posted on X.

It had been consistently communicated to the U.S. in all bilateral negotiations that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were of the utmost importance, he said.

“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” he said. The U.S. needed to remain faithful to its commitments, he added.

Mujahid did not reply to questions from The Associated Press about conversations with the Trump administration regarding Bagram and why Trump believed the U.S. could retake it.

In August last year, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-three-years-anniversary-68f5bc4a3cdd9d07dcecd5d6d391df5c">a grand military display</a>&nbsp;of abandoned U.S. hardware, catching the eye of the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his “gross incompetence” during the withdrawal of U.S. forces after the country’s longest war.

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government on Sunday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-afghanistan-bagram-air-base-taliban-china-ed379b4505d074ded5361483832a18d0">bid to retake Bagram Air Base</a>, four years after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81">America’s chaotic withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from Afghanistan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bagram-afghanistan-airfield-us-troops-f3614828364f567593251aaaa167e623">left the sprawling military facility</a>&nbsp;in the Taliban hands.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/IwSyuGrEy3">pic.twitter.com/IwSyuGrEy3</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969514564065583516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Bagram Air Base: &quot;We&#39;re talking now to Afghanistan. We want it back and we want it back soon. Right away — and if they don&#39;t do it, you&#39;re going to find out what I&#39;m going to do. <a href="https://t.co/lL6g7A2SLU">pic.twitter.com/lL6g7A2SLU</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969552386076090849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It is unclear what conversations the U.S. has had with Afghan officials about returning to the country. But Trump hinted that the Taliban, who have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-internet-shutdown-a2e6c5f836ab3ab9f770591fc89900c0">struggled with an economic crisis</a>, international legitimacy, internal rifts and rival militant groups since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-takeover-four-years-d021b123d4ff7dc847d2801253b7b785">their return to power</a>&nbsp;in 2021, could be open to allowing the U.S. military back.The chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected Trump’s assertions and urged the U.S. to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” Afghanistan had an economy-oriented foreign policy and sought constructive relations with all states on the basis of mutual and shared interests, Mujahid posted on X.It had been consistently communicated to the U.S. in all bilateral negotiations that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were of the utmost importance, he said.“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” he said. The U.S. needed to remain faithful to its commitments, he added.Mujahid did not reply to questions from The Associated Press about conversations with the Trump administration regarding Bagram and why Trump believed the U.S. could retake it.In August last year, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-three-years-anniversary-68f5bc4a3cdd9d07dcecd5d6d391df5c">a grand military display</a>&nbsp;of abandoned U.S. hardware, catching the eye of the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his “gross incompetence” during the withdrawal of U.S. forces after the country’s longest war.

The Taliban reject Trump’s bid to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement including the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating a suspect for multiple allegations after a drug bust in northeast Kansas.

On September 16, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit conducted multiple narcotics related search warrants in the 400 block of SW Western Avenue and the 1200 block of SW Van Buren Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, three firearms and ammunition were located.

Christopher D. Hayes, 42, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Distribute opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant, Distribute/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia,&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transactionm Possession of marijuana

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assisted with these search warrants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758135902003.png" alt="Hayes phhoto Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Hayes phhoto Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement including the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating a suspect for multiple allegations after a drug bust in northeast Kansas.On September 16, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit conducted multiple narcotics related search warrants in the 400 block of SW Western Avenue and the 1200 block of SW Van Buren Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, three firearms and ammunition were located.Christopher D. Hayes, 42, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Distribute opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant, Distribute/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia,&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transactionm Possession of marijuanaThe Topeka Police Department (TPD) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assisted with these search warrants.

DEA helps arrest Kansas man accused of selling illegal drugs

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman who admitted responsibility for a fight that broke out in Sedgwick County Chief Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom will spend time in jail.

This week 49-year-old Janet Dees pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. She was sentenced to five days in jail.

The fight occurred in April of&nbsp; 2022 &nbsp;during after a sentencing hearing for 19-year-old Te’Bryis Robinson had concluded, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

Detectives with the sheriff's office presented their findings to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration against Robinson in connection with shooting at Towne East Mall.

The District Attorney originally charged Dees, 48, with one count of disorderly conduct under Kansas Statute 21-6203(a)(3), defined as using fighting words or engaging in noisy conduct likely to arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.

In addition, Derrick E. Parker, Jr., 33; Trentasia Hutton, 24; Trentez Hutton, 21; Trentavies Hutton, 18; and a 16-year-old boy — all of Wichita — were each charged with one count of disorderly conduct under Kansas Statute 21-6203(a)(1), defined as brawling or fighting.

&nbsp;The incident prompted an immediate response from court security deputies to restore order to the courtroom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758414191432.png" alt="Courtroom brawl image courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Courtroom brawl image courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman who admitted responsibility for a fight that broke out in Sedgwick County Chief Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom will spend time in jail.This week 49-year-old Janet Dees pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. She was sentenced to five days in jail.The fight occurred in April of&nbsp; 2022 &nbsp;during after a sentencing hearing for 19-year-old Te’Bryis Robinson had concluded, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.Detectives with the sheriff's office presented their findings to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration against Robinson in connection with shooting at Towne East Mall.The District Attorney originally charged Dees, 48, with one count of disorderly conduct under Kansas Statute 21-6203(a)(3), defined as using fighting words or engaging in noisy conduct likely to arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.In addition, Derrick E. Parker, Jr., 33; Trentasia Hutton, 24; Trentez Hutton, 21; Trentavies Hutton, 18; and a 16-year-old boy — all of Wichita — were each charged with one count of disorderly conduct under Kansas Statute 21-6203(a)(1), defined as brawling or fighting.&nbsp;The incident prompted an immediate response from court security deputies to restore order to the courtroom.

Woman gets jail time for fight in Kansas courtroom

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a case of arson and vandalism at the St. Anne’s Catholic school in Olmitz have made an arrest.

Just after 5 p.m. on July 10, the Barton County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to St. Anne's Catholic School in the rural Barton County community of Olmitz, located approximately 17 miles northwest of Great Bend, for a report of vandalism, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Deputies found the school had been broken into. Unknown persons entered the building causing extensive damage to the interior of the building and other property inside the building.

 The Sheriff’s Office has been conducting investigation that involved out-of-state agencies as well as the Russell Kansas Police Department and Russell County Sheriff’s Office.

On September 17, 2025, the Russell County Sheriff’s office arrested 30-year-old Matthew Clampit on requested charges of criminal damage to property, arson and burglary of a non-dwelling for his involvement in the case. 

Clampit is being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond. Three more suspects have been developed, and arrest warrants are being sought by the Barton County Attorney’s office. Further arrests are expected in this case, according to Sheriff Bellendir

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758385564810.png" alt="Photos Barton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Barton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a case of arson and vandalism at the St. Anne’s Catholic school in Olmitz have made an arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758385524759.png" alt="Photo Barton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Barton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 5 p.m. on July 10, the Barton County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to St. Anne's Catholic School in the rural Barton County community of Olmitz, located approximately 17 miles northwest of Great Bend, for a report of vandalism, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758377443690.png" alt="Clampit photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Clampit photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies found the school had been broken into. Unknown persons entered the building causing extensive damage to the interior of the building and other property inside the building.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758385725343.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The Sheriff’s Office has been conducting investigation that involved out-of-state agencies as well as the Russell Kansas Police Department and Russell County Sheriff’s Office.On September 17, 2025, the Russell County Sheriff’s office arrested 30-year-old Matthew Clampit on requested charges of criminal damage to property, arson and burglary of a non-dwelling for his involvement in the case. Clampit is being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond. Three more suspects have been developed, and arrest warrants are being sought by the Barton County Attorney’s office. Further arrests are expected in this case, according to Sheriff Bellendir

Suspect jailed for racist graffiti, vandalism at Kan. Catholic school

WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.

It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.

Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.

The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.

Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”

“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”

The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.

Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”

Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.

First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”

Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”

Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.

Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”

“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.

Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”

“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”

Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.

David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”

There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.

Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”

She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.

There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.

Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.

West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”

He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.

Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.

“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.

Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.

Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.

Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.

“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753984450634.png" alt="Kamala Harris courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Kamala Harris courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — When it was all over,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;couldn’t believe it. “I could barely breathe,” she writes in her new book about learning she had lost the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">presidential election</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.One of her aides peeled “Madame President” off celebratory cupcakes before serving them to crushed staffers. Harris kept asking, “My God, my God, what will happen to our country?”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-donald-trump-election-ddeae9fb378530159201ef4196cba9b3">next morning</a>&nbsp;was no easier. “I was ashamed to realize I was in the denial and bargaining stages of grief, a very long way from acceptance,” she wrote.It’s one of several raw admissions in Harris’ book, “107 Days,” that is scheduled for release Tuesday. The title refers to the length of the hyperspeed campaign that the former vice president launched against Trump after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6">Joe Biden dropped out</a>&nbsp;of the race.Although Harris earned a reputation as guarded and circumspect, the book has the tone of someone who is finished biting her tongue. She concedes mistakes, reveals frustrations and details some of the stranger moments from her race.The book isn’t a winding memoir or a political treatise, and Harris doesn’t disclose any future plans. Instead, it reads like a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down to Election Day.Here’s some memorable moments.<h2>‘Joe got tired’</h2>Harris insists in the book that she had no concerns about Biden’s ability to serve as president. “If I believed that, I would have said so.”“But at eighty-one, Joe got tired,” Harris wrote. “That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”Harris wrote that Biden’s inner circle “should have realized that any campaign was a bridge too far.” However, “it seemed that the worse things got, the more they pushed him.”The tenuous situation unraveled when Biden and Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9">faced off</a>&nbsp;with each other. “As soon as he walked onto the debate stage in Atlanta, I could see he wasn’t right,” Harris wrote.Biden’s team appeared to be in denial. Afterward, they gave Harris talking points that said “JOE BIDEN WON.”<h2>Biden was a source of frustration</h2>Harris wrote warmly of her partnership with Biden, but there were frosty moments too. As Biden faced calls to drop out of the race, he invited Harris to join him for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.First lady Jill Biden pulled Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff aside. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you supporting us?”Later, in private, Emhoff erupted in anger. “They have to ask if we’re loyal?”Another difficult episode came after Harris had replaced Biden at the top of the ticket and was preparing for her own debate with Trump.Shortly before she took the stage, Biden called to say he heard from his brother that Harris had been badmouthing him, upsetting some power brokers in Philadelphia. Then he rambled about his own debate performances while Harris was “barely listening.”“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me, right now, and make it all about himself,” she wrote.<h2>Hindsight is 20/20</h2>Harris admits some mistakes of her own, particularly a damaging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-stern-view-colbert-60-minutes-daddy-5a2af60ba0b1099e19cca151955c9855">appearance on “The View”</a>&nbsp;talk show. When one of the hosts asked what she would have done differently than Biden during the previous four years, Harris blanked on the talking points she had prepared and simply said, “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade,” Harris writes. Around the studio, “my staff were besides themselves” about how she had just given a “gift to the Trump campaign.”Harris wrote that she didn’t want to criticize Biden or litigate any of the areas where they disagreed. But she also didn’t understand how much her association with the president was holding back her candidacy.David Plouffe, a senior adviser, told Harris bluntly that “people hate Joe Biden.”<h2>The VP’s search for a VP</h2>There’s plenty of grist in the book that could make the next Democratic convention a little more awkward.Harris wrote that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, Biden’s transportation secretary and a former mayor from Indiana, was her first choice to be her running mate. He’s also gay, and Harris thought it was “too big of a risk” to pick him while already asking voters to accept a Black woman as president.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another possibility. But Harris “had a nagging concern that he would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.”She ended up going with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz</a>, but his debate performance against JD Vance left her yelling at the television screen. “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate,” she said.There’s only one reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the book. When Harris reached out to him after Biden ended his reelection campaign, he texted, “Hiking. Will call back,” but he never did.<h2>Taking over the campaign</h2>Harris’ brother-in-law is Tony West, a former top Justice Department official and member of her inner circle of political advisers. While Harris was serving as vice president, West put together what was known as the “Red File,” a collection of plans in case something happened to Biden.West argued that it would be foolish not to prepare. Harris writes that she “didn’t want to dwell on such an eventuality” and “I left it in his hands.”He kept refreshing the document as people pressured Biden to drop out, which came in handy when Biden finally pulled the plug on his reelection campaign.Harris writes that Biden was planning to wait a day before endorsing her as his successor, an idea that horrified her.“If you want to put me in the strongest position, you have to endorse me now,” she recalled telling him. Harris prevailed, and the endorsement happened shortly after Biden announced that he was done.<h2>Things got weird sometimes</h2>Campaigns can be hallucinatory affairs, and this one was full of bizarre moments.Harris writes that she warmed up for her convention speech with a professional voice coach who “wanted me to stand there and emit animal noises.” A little hesitant, Harris got her entire team to make “hums, grunts and trills” with her.Harris also writes about talking with Trump after a second assassination attempt against him. Despite tearing into her on the campaign trail, Trump proceeded to flatter his opponent.“How do I say bad things about you now?” he said. “I’m going to tone it down. I will. You’re going to see.” Then Trump said that his daughter Ivanka “is your big fan.”

Kamala Harris reveals what Biden told her just before debate with Trump

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge has struck down a ballot summary for an anti-abortion amendment backed by Republican state lawmakers while concluding that it presented an unfair and insufficient description to voters.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Friday that the ballot summary must be rewritten, but he rejected a request by abortion-rights advocates to block the proposed constitutional amendment from going to voters.

The judge said the summary prepared by Republican lawmakers failed to inform voters that the new measure would repeal an abortion-rights amendment adopted by voters last year. He directed the secretary of state's office to write a new summary.

The ruling marks the latest in a series of twists and turns in Missouri’s abortion policies over the past three years.

When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;in 2022, that triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning abortions “except in cases of medical emergency.” But abortion-rights activists then gathered initiative petition signatures to put their own measure on the ballot.

Last November, Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy</a>. That measure, known as Amendment 3, also allows later abortions to protect the life or health of pregnant women and creates a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” that includes birth control, prenatal and postpartum care and “respectful birthing conditions.”

In May, the Republican-led Legislature shut down Democratic opposition and approved a new referendum that would repeal Amendment 3 and instead allow abortions only for a medical emergency or fetal anomaly, or in cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. That proposed amendment also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors, which already are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">barred under state law</a>.

Abortion-rights advocates had argued in a lawsuit that the entire measure should be stricken, alleging that the combination of abortion and transgender policies violated a constitutional requirement that amendments contain only one subject. But Green agreed with Republican lawmakers that both topics fit under the measure's title of “reproductive health care.”

The court order provided both sides an opportunity to claim victory.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's office said in a statement that the court upheld “the central constitutional issues.”

Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said abortion-rights advocates are “pleased that the judge saw through the legislature’s deceitful language” in the ballot summary.

Both the attorney general's office and Republican state Rep. Brian Seitz, who championed the latest measure, said they are confident in Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' ability to revise the ballot summary.

If it’s a simple wording change, “I think we would be fine with that, because we do want the Missouri voters to know what they are voting on,” Seitz said Friday.

The proposed amendment will appear on the November 2026 ballot, unless Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe schedules the vote for sooner. The new measure is slated to be listed as Amendment 3 — the same number as the original abortion amendment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741103177243.png" alt="Photo (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Photo (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge has struck down a ballot summary for an anti-abortion amendment backed by Republican state lawmakers while concluding that it presented an unfair and insufficient description to voters.Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Friday that the ballot summary must be rewritten, but he rejected a request by abortion-rights advocates to block the proposed constitutional amendment from going to voters.The judge said the summary prepared by Republican lawmakers failed to inform voters that the new measure would repeal an abortion-rights amendment adopted by voters last year. He directed the secretary of state's office to write a new summary.The ruling marks the latest in a series of twists and turns in Missouri’s abortion policies over the past three years.When the U.S. Supreme Court ended a nationwide right to abortion by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;in 2022, that triggered a Missouri law to take effect banning abortions “except in cases of medical emergency.” But abortion-rights activists then gathered initiative petition signatures to put their own measure on the ballot.Last November, Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion until fetal viability, generally considered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy</a>. That measure, known as Amendment 3, also allows later abortions to protect the life or health of pregnant women and creates a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” that includes birth control, prenatal and postpartum care and “respectful birthing conditions.”In May, the Republican-led Legislature shut down Democratic opposition and approved a new referendum that would repeal Amendment 3 and instead allow abortions only for a medical emergency or fetal anomaly, or in cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. That proposed amendment also would prohibit gender transition surgeries, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors, which already are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">barred under state law</a>.Abortion-rights advocates had argued in a lawsuit that the entire measure should be stricken, alleging that the combination of abortion and transgender policies violated a constitutional requirement that amendments contain only one subject. But Green agreed with Republican lawmakers that both topics fit under the measure's title of “reproductive health care.”The court order provided both sides an opportunity to claim victory.Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's office said in a statement that the court upheld “the central constitutional issues.”Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said abortion-rights advocates are “pleased that the judge saw through the legislature’s deceitful language” in the ballot summary.Both the attorney general's office and Republican state Rep. Brian Seitz, who championed the latest measure, said they are confident in Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' ability to revise the ballot summary.If it’s a simple wording change, “I think we would be fine with that, because we do want the Missouri voters to know what they are voting on,” Seitz said Friday.The proposed amendment will appear on the November 2026 ballot, unless Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe schedules the vote for sooner. The new measure is slated to be listed as Amendment 3 — the same number as the original abortion amendment.