President Donald Trump said on Wednesday morning that the repeat offender accused of stabbing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska to death on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, should be executed.
Trump referred to 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. as an &#8220;ANIMAL,&#8221; who &#8220;violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine.&#8221; Brown was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-light-rail-attacker-federal-crime">charged</a> by the Justice Department with a federal crime on Tuesday in connection with the gruesome stabbing that was caught on camera.
&#8220;The ANIMAL who so violently killed the beautiful young lady from Ukraine, who came to America searching for peace and safety, should be given a &#8216;Quick&#8217; (there is no doubt!) Trial, and only awarded THE DEATH PENALTY. There can be no other option!!!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115180060678818221">posted</a> on Truth Social.
The DOJ charged Brown with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. The federal charge makes Brown eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the feds &#8220;will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”
Video footage of the deadly stabbing, which occurred in August, shows Brown standing up behind the young woman while holding a knife before plunging the weapon into Zarutska three times, with at least one stab to the neck. The man then walks toward the door of the train, with blood dripping off the knife.
The full video footage of the killing, which was released on Tuesday, showed Zarutska looking up in shock after being stabbed before she slumped to the floor, and blood pooled around her.
Brown has a long criminal rap sheet, with 14 previous arrests for offenses such as armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fatal-charlotte-stabbing-highlights-the-failure-of-racial-equity-policies">reported</a>. He served five years for the armed robbery, but he avoided jail time after most of his other arrests. Last year, Brown had run-ins with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on at least three separate occasions, receiving referrals to resources and fines instead of jail time.
Trump has blasted Democratic policies following the fatal stabbing, saying that Zarutska&#8217;s blood &#8220;is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail.&#8221; The president has also criticized the legacy media over its lack of coverage of the killing. Some outlets, such as <a href="https://x.com/axios/status/1965010353353625669">Axios</a> and <a href="https://x.com/politico/status/1965218281830174835">POLITICO</a>, have focused on covering the Republican outrage instead of the stabbing itself or Brown&#8217;s criminal record.
“North Carolina, and every State, needs LAW AND ORDER, and only Republicans will deliver it! Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy?” Trump added.

Donald Trump/Iryna Zarutska killing

Trump Calls For ‘Quick’ Trial And Death Penalty For ‘Animal’ Who Killed Ukrainian Refugee

Crime

Death

Death Penalty

Donald Trump

North Carolina

Stabbing

Ten North Carolina Republican Reps., led by Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC), called on Tuesday for the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who released 14-time offender Decarlos Johnson Jr. before he murdered Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.
Moore shared a letter, signed by nine of his colleagues, in which he called on Chief Judge Roy Wiggins to begin “formal removal proceedings” against Stokes, saying that her decision to release Johnson — based solely on his written promise to return for his next court date — had been, at best, “reckless.”
“Despite his history of violent and unstable behavior, Magistrate Stokes released Brown without requiring bond or imposing any meaningful conditions to safeguard the public,” the letter read.
“This reckless decision had devastating consequences,” the letter continued, referencing Zarutska’s murder. “Ms. Zarutska’s murder was not only a profound personal tragedy but also a direct result of a failure of judicial responsibility. Magistrate Stokes displayed a willful failure to perform the duties of her office and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.”
Moore added a brief caption to the letter, which he posted to X: “Today, I led a letter calling for the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who released a 14-time offender who went on to murder Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte. This tragedy was preventable. There must be accountability. North Carolinians deserve better.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, I led a letter calling for the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who released a 14-time offender who went on to murder Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte.
This tragedy was preventable. There must be accountability. North Carolinians deserve better. <a href="https://t.co/yqEGa873KJ">pic.twitter.com/yqEGa873KJ</a>
— Congressman Tim Moore (@RepTimMooreNC) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTimMooreNC/status/1965417942763688346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Johnson, who was also reportedly struggling with mental health issues, sat behind Zarutska on a light-rail train in Charlotte — and while she sat quietly looking at her phone, he stood up and stabbed her at least once in the neck. He then walked calmly to the door, removing his sweatshirt as her blood dripped on the floor. She collapsed in her seat and bled out.

MixCollage-08-Sep-2025-02-31-PM-2293

GOP Reps Move To Oust Judge Who Freed 14-Time Offender Before Brutal Train Murder

Decarlos Brown Jr.

Iryna Zarutska

Murder

Politics

Violent Crime

The brutal murder of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte highlights the deadly consequences of &#8220;soft-on-crime&#8221; policies in Democrat-run cities. The Supreme Court gives the green light for Trump&#8217;s ICE raids in Los Angeles as the U.S. and its allies coordinate on a global immigration crackdown. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fires back at Democrats who are demanding his resignation, vowing to continue his &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; agenda.
It’s Tuesday, September 9, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>Charlotte Murder Highlights Failures of ‘Soft-on-Crime’ Policies</h2>
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Topline: The brutal, unprovoked murder of a Ukrainian refugee on a light rail train has left the city of Charlotte in shock and anger, putting a national spotlight on the deadly consequences of Democrat-led &#8220;soft-on-crime&#8221; policies. 
Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was stabbed to death last month by DeCarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man with a lengthy and violent criminal record. The horrific attack took place in what was once a safe, trendy part of the city, but residents say rising crime and a growing homeless population have made them feel unsafe. Charlotte saw a 25% increase in its homicide rate last year, and robberies in the city center are up 54%. 
The city&#8217;s Democratic mayor, Li Vyles, responded to the murder by calling for empathy for the perpetrator&#8217;s mental health issues, and did not mention the victim in her initial statement. Brown was on the streets despite at least 14 previous arrests for crimes, including armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. A judge gave him pre-trial release on his most recent arrest in January, and police had referred him &#8220;to resources&#8221; rather than jail after three other encounters in 2024. The policies that kept Brown out of jail were recommended by a &#8220;Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice,&#8221; which was created by North Carolina&#8217;s now-Governor, Democrat Josh Stein, in 2020. 
<h2>Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s ICE Raids in Los Angeles</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-969905" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH2-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH2.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a major victory on Monday, ruling that federal immigration officials can continue their sweeping raids in the Los Angeles area and can consider factors like ethnicity and accent when detaining suspected illegal immigrants. 
The Court’s ruling overturns a lower court judge’s decision that had blocked the raids. Writing for the liberal minority, Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a dramatic dissent, claiming the court was subjecting people to the &#8220;indignities&#8221; of being handcuffed &#8220;simply because of their looks, their accents.&#8221; 
Border Czar Tom Homan pushed back on that characterization, stating that ICE is focused on public safety. &#8220;Seventy percent of everybody ICE is arresting is a criminal,&#8221; Homan said. The raids have yielded significant results, with over 1,600 arrests in D.C. alone, many of whom are suspected gang members and other violent offenders. 
The ruling comes as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem meets with the &#8220;Five Eyes&#8221; intelligence alliance in London to coordinate a global crackdown on human smuggling. The U.K.&#8217;s new Home Secretary has signaled a tougher stance on immigration that is more aligned with the Trump administration&#8217;s policies. 
<h2>RFK Fires Back as Democrats Demand His Resignation</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-969909" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH3-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.9.25-Tue-SH3.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing back against a coordinated campaign by Democrats demanding his resignation, vowing to continue his &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; (MAHA) agenda and restore integrity to public health. 
At least a dozen Democratic senators, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have signed a letter calling Kennedy’s agenda &#8220;dangerous&#8221; and &#8220;anti-science.&#8221; Former Republican Chris Christie also attacked Kennedy, calling him a &#8220;joke&#8221; and a &#8220;human middle finger to everybody who opposed&#8221; Trump. 
Blue state governors are also pushing back against Kennedy&#8217;s reforms. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order to override new FDA guidance on COVID shots, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation to ensure access to the abortion pill mifepristone, regardless of future FDA safety assessments. 
Kennedy, who enjoys broad public support for his agenda, has fiercely defended his actions. He has accused major medical organizations of being compromised by their Big Pharma sponsors and has vowed to bring in &#8220;new blood&#8221; and people &#8220;who are committed to public health, and integrity, and gold-standard science.&#8221; His department has already reformed baby formula standards, required drug price transparency, and stopped federal funding for gender surgeries for minors, among other changes.

MRN 9.09.25 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Charlotte Train Murder, SCOTUS Upholds ICE Raids, Dems vs MAHA

Charlotte

Courts

Democrats

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Supreme Court

Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, said on Monday that her office is looking at a potential racial motivation behind the brutal, unprovoked murder of a Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dhillon, speaking to host Benny Johnson, also said she&#8217;s looking into why Democrat Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles thanked &#8220;media partners&#8221; for not airing the full footage of the attack, suggesting there could be an &#8220;antitrust&#8221; issue and mainstream media coordination.
The 23-year-old victim, Zarutska, who is white, was returning from her job at a local pizzeria when suspect Decarlos Brown Jr., who is black, allegedly stabbed her repeatedly in the neck.
&#8220;To draw the conclusion that it was racially targeted, you&#8217;d want to see what his prior victims look like,&#8221; Dhillon said, when asked if her office was investigating the incident. &#8220;I would want to know that evidence before I reach any conclusions, and so we&#8217;re certainly looking at this fact pattern.&#8221;
&#8220;One thing that drew my attention regarding the mayor&#8217;s comments regarding this situation is her reference to thanking her media partners for suppressing this video,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;That leads to a question &#8212; we&#8217;ve seen other instances of this, of mainstream media coordination. Whether this is an instance, or this nationally is an instance in which mainstream media partners of these left-wing cities are coordinating to suppress significant crime like this from being reported where there may be a racial angle to it.&#8221;
&#8220;That might be an antitrust issue, it might be other issues as well,&#8221; Dhillon said. &#8220;Why are we not seeing this disturbing incident and footage on all the news shows at night when we saw the same with respect to George Floyd? That&#8217;s a real serious question, and all the people in this department may want to look at that.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Assistant AG for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announces federal investigations in Charlotte over possible federal civil rights violations for racially biased judgement.
This follows the brutal murder of innocent Iryna Zarutska by a repeat offender who had… <a href="https://t.co/FDlWrh5H2s">pic.twitter.com/FDlWrh5H2s</a>
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1965092482535784749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
As referenced by Dhillon, Mayor Lyles thanked &#8220;our media partners and community members who have chosen not to repost or share the footage out of respect for Iryna’s family.&#8221;
The case has sparked outrage, both over the liberal city&#8217;s crime policies regarding the suspect, who has a lengthy rap sheet, and the extremely limited mainstream media coverage of the crime. Lyles, specifically, has received much backlash for her statements following the tragedy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Not only did Charlotte Democrat Mayor Lyles refuse to condemn the lunatic repeat offender who stabbed a woman to death on the train, but she suggested we should actually have compassion for him. <a href="https://t.co/8DufqC9YnF">pic.twitter.com/8DufqC9YnF</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1964739505912762785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fatal-charlotte-stabbing-highlights-the-failure-of-racial-equity-policies?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Megan+Basham&amp;category=News+and+Analysis&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Fatal+Charlotte+Stabbing+Highlights+The+Failure+Of+Racial+Equity+Policies">Fatal Charlotte Stabbing Highlights The Failure Of Racial Equity Policies</a>

Image 9-8-25 at 11.46 AM

Trump Admin Looking Into Brutal Charlotte Murder By Repeat Offender

Harmeet Dhillon

Trump Administration

U.S.

The brutal murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee on a North Carolina bus has become a flashpoint in national discussions about urban safety, with President Donald Trump weighing in on the tragedy.
&#8220;I give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed in Charlotte by a madman, a lunatic,” Trump said in a speech at the Museum of the Bible on Monday. “Just viciously stabbed, she&#8217;s just sitting there.”
“There are evil people,” the president added. “We have to be able to handle that. If we don&#8217;t handle that, we don&#8217;t have a country.&#8221;
The victim, Iryna Zarutska, came to the United States in 2022. She was returning from her job at a local pizzeria when Decarlos Brown stabbed her repeatedly in the neck. The video of the attack is profoundly disturbing and has circulated widely online, amplifying concerns about Charlotte&#8217;s escalating violent crime.
According to recent data, the city experienced a 25% increase in homicides last year — the second-highest on record, surpassed only by the peak in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter riots. Robberies in the city center have surged 54%, general violent offenses are up nearly 10%, and &#8220;shootings into occupied property&#8221; have risen 42%.
Many Charlotte residents have said they no longer feel safe using public transit.
“I think that there&#8217;s a lot of things we could talk about, of the failure of what&#8217;s happened in Charlotte from nobody checking tickets to no real law enforcement that was there on the train,” North Carolina Congressman Mark Harris told The Daily Wire.
“I spoke to a parent who said that they had wanted to take their five-year-old for his birthday just a few weeks ago on a train ride. It was on a Friday at 11 o&#8217;clock in the morning. They did that, but they had to get off the train because of a fight that nearly broke out, and it was because it was somebody on there that didn&#8217;t have a ticket…And this dad said, ‘I just got my family and got off for our own safety.’&#8221;
&#8220;When you have things like that happening in your city, you&#8217;re seeing a city that is not being governed well.”
Brown had a lengthy criminal history, including at least 14 prior arrests for offenses such as armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Despite serving five years for the robbery, most of his other cases resulted in time served, probation, or community service.
His most recent arrest in January was for misusing 911, yet Judge Teresa Stokes granted him pretrial release despite his violent record. In 2024 alone, Brown had three encounters with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department&#8217;s (CMPD) community policing team, each time receiving referrals to resources and fines rather than jail time.
Critics argue that progressive reforms to North Carolina&#8217;s criminal justice system, implemented since 2020, contributed to Brown remaining on the streets. Two weeks after George Floyd&#8217;s death, then-Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein — now the state&#8217;s governor — announced the creation of a &#8220;Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice.&#8221;
&#8220;The inequities that African Americans experience, whether it&#8217;s in the economy, healthcare, our schools or the criminal justice system, are pervasive, just as they are wrong,&#8221; Stein, whose campaign for attorney general was <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/officeholders/josh-stein/contributors?cycle=2020&amp;id=333383&amp;recs=100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supported</a> by George Soros, stated at the time.
&#8220;The task force for racial equity and criminal justice will consider and implement measures that can bring about meaningful change to the criminal justice system. We will review law enforcement recruitment, training and accountability, as well as court issues, including pretrial release and the use of fines and fees.&#8221;
The task force&#8217;s <a href="about:blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommendations</a> included expanding pretrial release, decriminalizing homelessness and &#8220;public behavior,&#8221; and mandating &#8220;implicit bias training&#8221; for judges and prosecutors. Opponents say these changes directly enabled Brown&#8217;s repeated releases, with a <a href="about:blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later report</a> from the racial equity task force highlighting that the task force’s recommendations on expanding pretrial releases were being adopted in courts around the state.
Adding fuel to the debate, Charlotte&#8217;s Democrat Mayor Vi Lyles issued a statement immediately following the stabbing that omitted any mention of Zarutska while calling for &#8220;compassion&#8221; toward the perpetrator.
&#8220;We will never arrest our way out of issues such as homelessness and mental health,&#8221; Lyles said. &#8220;I want to be clear that I am not villainizing those who struggle with their mental health or those who are unhoused. Mental health disease is just that— a disease like any other that needs to be treated with the same compassion, diligence and commitment as cancer or heart disease.&#8221;
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Zarutska’s family, who said she came to the United States “seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning.”

Fatal Charlotte Stabbing Highlights The Failure Of Racial Equity Policies

George Floyd

Ukraine

In a stunning display of media deflection, Axios criticized “MAGA influencers” for drawing attention to violent urban crime, specifically in response to the recent horrific, deadly stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead of focusing on the deeply troubling facts of this case — a young woman fleeing war only to be killed while using public transportation — Axios decided to turn its spotlight on conservatives and Trump supporters for &#8220;elevating&#8221; the issue.
“The gruesome video of the fatal knife attack on Iryna Zarutska on a light-rail car in Charlotte is drawing attention from MAGA influencers seeking to elevate the issue of violent urban crime — and accuse mainstream media of under-covering shocking cases,” Axios tweeted, referring to its article that elaborated on the subject.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The gruesome video of the fatal knife attack on Iryna Zarutska on a light-rail car in Charlotte is drawing attention from MAGA influencers seeking to elevate the issue of violent urban crime — and accuse mainstream media of under-covering shocking cases. <a href="https://t.co/OIj3FYfDLE">https://t.co/OIj3FYfDLE</a>
— Axios (@axios) <a href="https://twitter.com/axios/status/1965010353353625669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The attack occurred on August 22 aboard Charlotte’s light rail. DeCarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old man with a long criminal history, stabbed Zarutska multiple times, including once in the neck, as horrified passengers watched. Surveillance footage showed Zarutska collapsing while Brown casually stood near the doors, having removed his sweatshirt. Notably, he was reportedly riding the train without a ticket — another example of lax enforcement in urban areas. Zarutska had only recently arrived in the United States, having escaped war-torn Ukraine in the hope of a better life.
Despite the brutal nature of the crime, mainstream outlets barely offered any coverage, prompting widespread outrage among conservative commentators. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump advisor Stephen Miller, and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) amplified the story on social media.
Yet Axios — instead of investigating the clear failures of public safety, or questioning why a known repeat offender was allowed to roam free — chose to frame the story as a political tactic by conservatives. The article didn’t ask why the system failed Zarutska; instead, it asked why people on the Right were talking about it at all.
Axios seems more concerned about who is sharing the video than why the footage exists. The legacy media ran wall-to-wall coverage of racially-charged cases like that of Daniel Penny, but in Zarutska’s case, their zeal is absent.
North Carolina GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley used the incident to criticize Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s soft-on-crime policies, pointing to a 2020 executive order focused on racial profiling and systemic racism.
While Zarutska is barely reported in the mainstream media, Axios wants readers to focus on the supposed political opportunism of conservatives, not the death of an innocent young woman.
Axios got hammered on social media:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This really is a work of art. It&#8217;s like default mode for the media on any issue:
The ________ is drawing attention from MAGA influencers seeking to elevate the issue of _______ — and accuse mainstream media of under-covering ________ <a href="https://t.co/RKIA5jOW8m">https://t.co/RKIA5jOW8m</a>
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1965026792458375679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The murder of Iryna Zarutska by Decarlos Brown Jr. is a story worthy of national attention. A Ukrainian refugee flees Russia’s invasion only to be stabbed to death by a repeat violent offender? National story — except it is bad politics for Dems, so it is Republicans pounce time. <a href="https://t.co/oFZXt05UxF">https://t.co/oFZXt05UxF</a>
— Jerry Dunleavy IV 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1965024300655919185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pay attention to how Axios chose to headline this claptrap. No mention of the perp&#8217;s multiple arrests , no mention of the racial element, no mention of the refugee status of the victim. They don&#8217;t want to fuel public outrage over the dereliction of public servants responsible. <a href="https://t.co/YlgwUsyTm9">https://t.co/YlgwUsyTm9</a>
— Disinformation Expert Lizzy (@StarChamberMaid) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarChamberMaid/status/1965010988551623140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You can always count on the “conservatives pounce” narrative.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) <a href="https://twitter.com/bethanyshondark/status/1965010696107905413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Conservatives Pounce: Axios Targets ‘MAGA Influencers’ For Highlighting Murdered Ukrainian Refugee

Axios

Legacy Media

Media

Media Bias

Charlotte, North Carolina, Mayor Vi Lyles released a statement following a brutal stabbing on the city&#8217;s public transit system, blaming the horrific situation on a lack of &#8220;social safety nets&#8221; and claiming that there was no way to &#8220;arrest our way out issues such [as] homelessness and mental health.&#8221;
Video circulated of DeCarlos Brown Jr., who was known by local police to be homeless and not mentally stable, attacking Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on August 22, while both were aboard the light rail, and stabbing her three times with a folding knife. Police said that he stabbed her at least once in the neck. As she collapsed to the floor, Brown could be seen getting up, taking off his sweatshirt, and standing by the doors. At the time of the attack, Brown was reportedly on the train without a ticket.
Lyles issued a lengthy statement several days later, only briefly mentioning the victim before launching into a lengthy diatribe on the lack of social services for men like Brown and arguing that &#8220;mental disease&#8221; should be treated like &#8220;cancer or heart disease&#8221; and never villainized.
As reported by WSOC&#8217;s Joe Bruno, Lyles began by saying, &#8220;First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers go out to the young women’s family and friends.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mayor Vi Lyles has released the following statement in response to my inquiry about the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on the light rail:
First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers go out to the young women’s family and friends.
This is a tragic situation that sheds light on…
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBrunoWSOC9/status/1960407081896292507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Immediately afterward, she pivoted to talk about the tragedy in a broader sense.
&#8220;This is a tragic situation that sheds light on problems with society safety nets related to mental healthcare and the systems that should be in place,&#8221; she said. &#8220;As we come to understand what happened and why, we must look at the entire situation.&#8221;
She went on to say that while she did not have Brown&#8217;s full medical history, she had learned he had a history of mental health struggles and &#8220;appears to have suffered a crisis. This was the unfortunate and tragic outcome.&#8221;
Lyles said that it was wrong to question the overall safety of public transit in Charlotte, claiming that &#8220;by and large&#8221; both the city of Charlotte and the transit system were &#8220;safe&#8221; but not immune to tragedy.
&#8220;Tragic incidents like these should force us to look at what we are doing across our community to address root causes,&#8221; she said, claiming, &#8220;We will never arrest our way out issues such [as] homelessness and mental health. I am committed to doing the hard work with Mecklenburg County, community leaders, health care service providers, and the private sector to ensure that Charlotte continues to be one of the best cities in the world, with the highest quality of life for everyone.&#8221;
She then stressed the importance of &#8220;not villainizing&#8221; mental health issues in the wake of such tragedies — and argued that those who
&#8220;I want to be clear that I am not villainizing those who struggle with their mental health or those who are unhoused. Mental health disease is just that – a disease like any other that needs to be treated with the same compassion, diligence, and commitment as cancer or heart disease. Our community must work to address the underlying issue of access to mental healthcare. Also, those who are unhoused are more frequently the victim of crimes and not the perpetrators. Too many people who are on the street need a safe place to sleep and wrap around services to lift them up. We, as a community, must do better for those members of our community who need help and have no place to go.&#8221;
While a report from Axios appeared to support Lyles&#8217; argument that North Carolina is lacking in some mental health resources and homeless aid services, but Charlotte specifically is also severely under-resourced in the district attorney&#8217;s office. Some 300 homicide cases are currently pending, and the Charlotte District Attorney&#8217;s office has only 85 prosecutors on staff to manage that load.
Lyles made no mention of the fact that Brown had been in and out of jail most of his adult life, and has had 14 previous court cases in Mecklenburg County.
Brown has been charged with murder, and his attorney has already filed to have a competency evaluation completed.

President Trump Participates In American Workforce Policy Advisory Board Meeting

Charlotte Mayor Uses Brutal Train Murder To Lecture About Mental Health Resources

Charlotte Mayor Blames Lack Of 'Social Safety Nets' For Brutal Train Murder

A North Carolina woman is being celebrated after a video clip of her physically detaining a suspected pickpocket in Venice went viral on social media.
In the video, Christina Cadieu Greene can be seen holding onto a teenager’s ponytail and refusing to let go for just under an hour until law enforcement arrived.
Greene’s daughter Karis McElroy shared the video and later posted a longer explanation on TikTok. She said that Greene and her husband were walking in a crowded area when they noticed three girls getting close to them. When the couple arrived at their Airbnb, they realized Greene’s purse containing her passport, Apple AirPods, credit cards, and cash was missing. 
The North Carolina resident decided to use Find My Friends to locate the AirPods and the suspected thief.
“She was frantic trying to get this back. Her and my stepdad immediately started tracking her purse through her AirPods on Find My Friends and they were able to track it down back to those three girls because my mom already knew, like, these people must have been it,” McElroy said in the video.
Once she tracked down the girls, she grabbed one by the hair. This inspired a second accomplice to flee the scene while the third girl stood by her friend. Greene did not let go of her hair even as the girl struggled and screamed at her. 
“You stole my purse with my passport in it,” she told the teen. “You are not getting away. I&#8217;m not stopping, kid. You are not getting away. I have eight kids, you don&#8217;t get to me.”
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McElroy shared a screenshot of a text thread from her mom on the post that said, “Something just came over me and I was so angry, and I went after them and grabbed the youngest of the three by the ponytail and wrapped my hand around the ponytail and would not let go.”
“One girl stayed [and] another one ran off. I ended up holding her by her ponytail with it wrapped around my hand for 50 minutes. She would be screaming at me, cussing at me, and I would scream back and tug harder on her hair. I would pull her down and I would pull her up with her hair.”
Greene said the crowd was cheering “because pickpockets are so bad in this area.”
“The man who runs the Airbnb was wonderful. He came out and called the police, but [it] still took a long time for the police to get there. When the police got there, I released the girl and the [other] one with her went crazy. They were insane,” McElroy said. “They started kicking and fighting with police to get away.”
Greene said one of the girls swung her bag with a metal water bottle in it, which injured her face. “I was bleeding pretty bad. I had a gash on my head and it was running down my face,” she said.
Meanwhile, the third accomplice who had run away with the bag had returned it to a United States liaison office at the airport to avoid being prosecuted. Greene did get her bag back, minus $200 in cash and the AirPods that helped her track it down in the first place.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@karismcelroy/video/7539305072782626078" data-video-id="7539305072782626078" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;">
<section> <a target="_blank" title="@karismcelroy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@karismcelroy?refer=embed">@karismcelroy</a> 
Replying to @kennedy STORY TIME <a title="pickpocketing" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pickpocketing?refer=embed">#pickpocketing</a> <a title="foryoupage" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryoupage?refer=embed">#foryoupage</a> 
 <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - karis" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7539305136381463327?refer=embed">♬ original sound &#8211; karis</a> </section>
</blockquote>
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&nbsp;
Per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15017655/You-messed-wrong-mom-Daughter-US-tourist-held-ponytail-14-year-old-pickpocket-50-MINUTES-reveals-brilliant-way-tracked-thief-Venice-crowds.html">The Daily Mail</a>, the two underage suspects were arrested and released on bail.

Venice

North Carolina Mom Of 8 Goes Viral For Holding Ponytail Of Italian Pickpocket For 1 Hour

Italy

Theft

World

(Reuters) — Hurricane Erin, churning north in the Atlantic hundreds of miles offshore, is expected to trigger a dangerous storm surge and tropical storm conditions on Wednesday along North Carolina’s Outer Banks and other stretches of the U.S. East Coast.
The National Hurricane Center warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands may become impassable, with waves as high as 20 feet crashing ashore. The heavy surf is likely to result in significant beach erosion, it said in its 8 a.m. EDT update.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, freeing up state money and manpower to help during the storm and its aftermath.
Tropical storm and storm-surge warnings are in place for other parts of the North Carolina coastline.
Earlier in the week, the coastal counties of Dare and Hyde — which encompass most of the Outer Banks — ordered residents and tourists to evacuate the vulnerable Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, whose populations swell during the summer months.
Local media reported that ferries took more than 2,220 people off Ocracoke, with the final sailing scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Ferries to Hatteras will keep operating as long as conditions allow, ABC News affiliate WCTI reported.
But Chris Styron, manager of the Pony Island Inn on Ocracoke, is ignoring the evacuation orders and staying to watch over the 50-room hotel.
&#8220;We&#8217;re used to storms like this,&#8221; Styron said. &#8220;I&#8217;m born and raised here. We&#8217;re not really worried — it&#8217;s so far offshore.&#8221;
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The eye of Erin, rated as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h), was expected to move midway between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda on Wednesday and Thursday as it traveled northward, the NHC said. That trajectory will keep the worst of its winds offshore.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 265 miles (426 km) from the storm’s center, with hurricane-force winds extending for 90 miles.
Even so, the NHC warned beachgoers along most of the East Coast to stay out of the water because of &#8220;life-threatening surf and rip currents.&#8221;
Along the New Jersey shore, swimming and other water activities were prohibited on beaches from Cape May north to Sandy Hook, with high surf and rip current warnings in effect into Friday, the NWS said. Coastal flooding is expected to peak during high tide on Thursday.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams ordered all city public beaches — including Coney Island and Brighton Beach — to close on Wednesday and Thursday.
Fortunately, temperatures in New York were expected to be seasonably cool on Wednesday and Thursday, with highs only reaching 70°F, well below the average of 82°F.
Erin, the fifth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season and the first to attain hurricane status, had strengthened to a Category 5 storm. The last Atlantic storm to reach that intensity was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Frank McGurty and Mark Porter)

Hurricane Erin

Hurricane Erin Threatens North Carolina’s Outer Banks With Storm Surge

Hurricane

Severe Weather

Tropical Storm Erin intensified to become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, with Caribbean residents bracing for what forecasters warn could become a dangerous Category 3 storm as early as Sunday.
The National Hurricane Center confirmed Hurricane Erin reached sustained winds of 75 mph Friday morning, with the storm currently located approximately 460 miles east of the nearest Caribbean islands, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/hurricanes/tropical-storm-erin-expected-strengthen-first-atlantic-hurricane-2025-rcna225175" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NBC News reported</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hurricane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Erin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Erin</a> Advisory 17: Erin Becomes the First Hurricane of the 2025 Season. Expected to Pass Near Or North of the Leeward Islands On Saturday. <a href="https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb">https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb</a>
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1956367281778253889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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According to the <a href="https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2025-08-14-tropical-storm-hurricane-erin-caribbean">Weather Channel</a>, next week, &#8220;Erin is expected to pass between North Carolina and Bermuda,&#8221; with several northern Caribbean islands likely impacted, and forecasters are noting there remains some uncertainty regarding the hurricane&#8217;s impact on the U.S. East Coast.
&#8220;Erin is turning toward the west-northwest as it strengthens. This path will take Erin toward progressively warmer waters, which, in tandem with low wind shear, should allow Erin to become a major hurricane this weekend as it makes a close brush, or travels just north of the Caribbean islands,&#8221; The Weather Channel added.
Given its current trajectory through warm water in the open ocean, the National Hurricane Center projects Hurricane Erin reaching Category 4 status as early as next week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Erin has been upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
It is the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season.
Erin is forecast to become a Major Hurricane late weekend/early next week, topping out as a Category 4. <a href="https://t.co/FeSdBfnHWd">pic.twitter.com/FeSdBfnHWd</a>
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyRadarWX/status/1956367640659734666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for several Caribbean islands, including Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten, meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours, Fox Weather <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/prep-file-hurricane-erin-becomes-first-hurricane-2025-atlantic-season">reported</a>.
The system is forecast to dump between two and four inches of rain in its early stages, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to six inches, potentially triggering flash/urban flooding, landslides, and mudslides across the northernmost Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and southern and eastern Puerto Rico, per NBC.
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The disturbance that eventually became Hurricane Erin caused significant destruction in the African Cabo Verde islands earlier this week. Images from the island of São Vicente showed extensive flooding with muddy water rushing through streets and damaging homes, killing multiple people, per Fox Weather.
Emergency management officials in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are urging residents to review hurricane plans and secure emergency supplies despite forecasts showing the storm&#8217;s center remaining offshore.

National Hurricane Center Monitors Tropical Storm Erin

First 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Barrels Toward Caribbean, Forecasters Warn Of Rapid Intensification

Natural Disaster

Puerto Rico

A left-wing organization is pumping money into an effort to kill legislation that would prevent banks from denying loans to farmers based on political considerations. The organization, The Daily Wire has learned, has ties to a deeper network of far-left groups, including one that appears to be flush with foreign money.
Unlocking America’s Future is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=all&amp;ad_type=all&amp;country=US&amp;is_targeted_country=false&amp;media_type=all&amp;search_type=page&amp;view_all_page_id=163734473485371">running ads</a> on Facebook targeting North Carolina and opposing legislation that would <a href="https://www.carolinajournal.com/house-agriculture-committee-approves-anti-esg-farmers-protection-act/">prevent</a> banks from denying loans to farmers based on controversial environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. The group has spent just shy of $30,000 on Facebook ads from early July to early August.
The legislation, its Republican sponsors say, would prevent farmers from being compelled to go along with a political agenda and ensure that lending remains “based upon whether they have good credit or not but not based upon their ESG score.”
But Unlocking America’s future is just a trade name used by an organization set up by established left-wing organizations to bolster Biden in the 2020 election.
Unlocking America’s Future, <a href="https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_dc/EXTUID_4337124">according</a> to a non-profit database and the Washington, D.C., corporate registry, is a trade name used by Climate Power. This left-wing organization was created in the lead-up to the 2020 election as a <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/this-climate-group-has-80m-to-help-biden/">joint project</a> of the Sierra Club, the American Progress Action Fund, and the League of Conservation Voters. The group came on the scene with $80 million ready to deploy in an effort to boost then-candidate Joe Biden.
Under the name “Unlocking America’s Future,” the organization has launched an ad campaign opposing the Farmers Protection Act, targeting Raleigh and other areas with paid ads calling on several state representatives and Governor Josh Stein to reject the proposal.
“Billionaires want to force banks to ignore financial risks, putting North Carolina’s economic future at risk,” read the paid Facebook ads, which began in late May and have continued into August. “Stand up for North Carolina’s economic future by focusing on responsible investing, lowering costs, and creating jobs.”
While the ads grandstand against “billionaires” attempting to exert influence on North Carolina’s politics, the organization has ties to a network of left-wing activist groups tied to a Swiss billionaire.
Climate Power is a project of the Fund for a Better Future, which has been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dark-money-democrats-wyss-politics-elections-601d40cd01569190559d545418afe396">scrutinized</a> as a vehicle that’s allowed foreign money to flood into American politics through issue-advocacy groups, allowing foreigners to exert influence on America’s politics despite a prohibition on foreign donors directly bankrolling candidates for public office.
Swiss billionaire and prominent left-wing donor Hansjörg Wyss was a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dark-money-democrats-wyss-politics-elections-601d40cd01569190559d545418afe396">major backer</a> of the Fund for a Better Future, the Associated Press reported as Climate Power sought to boost Biden’s legislative agenda and support Democratic congressional candidates.
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Climate Power has also pushed the diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda, at least internally, according to organization documentation. The organization’s 2023 registration form reveals that the group employed racially discriminatory practices when selecting board members.
“The makeup of the board shall be reflective of the diversity of the progress movement and the corporation staff,” the document reads. “The board should not be less than approximately 40% Board members who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color and 51% of Board members who identify as women.”
“The corporation shall use best efforts to ensure that the diversity of the Board is no lesser than the diversity of staff.” it goes on to add.
Climate Power did not respond to a request for comment.

Hansjorg Wyss

Leftist Network With Foreign Ties Tries To Kill Bill Protecting Farmers From ESG Agenda

Banking

Banks

Climate Change

Dark Money

Donors

Environmentalism

The North Carolina General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein&#8217;s veto to ban state funding of transgender medical procedures for minors.
&#8220;No State funds may be used, directly or indirectly, for the performance of or in furtherance of surgical gender transition procedures, or to provide puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to a minor, or to support the administration of any governmental health plan or government-offered insurance policy offering surgical gender transition procedures, puberty-blocking drugs, or cross-sex hormones to a minor,&#8221; the law says.
The ban also ends transgender medical procedures for prisoners incarcerated in the state prison system.
The legislation was part of H.B. 805, which also states that there are only two sexes, defines &#8220;female&#8221; and &#8220;male,&#8221; restricts pornographic content to prevent exploitation of women and minors, and gives parents more control in schools and libraries.
Conservative activist Riley Gaines celebrated the bill&#8217;s passing on social media.
&#8220;NC legislature just overrode Gov Stein&#8217;s veto of HB 805,&#8221; she said. &#8220;BOOM.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NC legislature just overrode Gov Stein&#8217;s veto of HB 805.
This bill: 
&#8211; defines &#8220;woman&#8221; &amp; &#8220;man&#8221; 
&#8211; restricts pornographic content 
&#8211; prohibits state funding for chemical/surgical castration for minors and prisoners 
&#8211; gives parents more control in schools
BOOM👏🏼 <a href="https://t.co/Yb4lWETEF2">pic.twitter.com/Yb4lWETEF2</a>
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/1950219969163125073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Stein vetoed multiple bills in early July, including H.B. 805, calling them &#8220;mean-spirited.&#8221;
&#8220;At a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises and people need shorter lines at the DMV, the legislature failed to pass a budget and, instead, wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us,&#8221; Stein said. &#8220;These mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education.&#8221;
Stein is a Democrat, but Republicans hold a majority in the state House and Senate. Despite being one seat short of a supermajority in the House, Republicans were able to override Stein&#8217;s veto of multiple bills thanks to Democrats breaking with their party.
Another override was H.B. 318, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act.
&#8220;This commonsense law requires sheriffs to check immigration status when someone is charged with a serious crime — and if they&#8217;re here illegally, they must be turned over to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)],&#8221; Majority Leader Brenden Jones said on social media.
A few bills passed the Senate override, but are waiting on votes in the House, CBS17 <a href="https://www.cbs17.com/news/capitol-report/slew-of-bills-become-law-in-north-carolina-as-veto-overrides-pass-senate-and-house/">reported</a>. They include bills banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher and public education; a bill requiring cooperation with ICE; and a bill allowing individuals over 18 to carry a gun without a concealed carry permit. It is unclear if those bills will clear the supermajority threshold in the House.

Latino voters in the swing state of North Carolina

North Carolina Lawmakers Override Dem Gov’s Veto, Ban State Funding For Trans Procedures On Minors

Prisons

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