A Shocking Act of Violence

View in browser | Update preferences SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL ACCESS MATTHEW LYNCH, EXECUTIVE EDITOR Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer who held particular sway with President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a speaking event in Utah. A broad and bipartisan group of voices, from Vice President JD Vance to California governor Gavin Newsom, has swiftly denounced the act of political violence. On Fox News, where Kirk was a frequent presence, the killing took on an additional layer of proximity. Network contributor Jason Chaffetz had been at the rally and provided an eyewitness report. Anchor Will Cain later wondered aloud about reporting on the death of someone he'd been texting just yesterday. Natalie Korach has more in her media report. Reporting in Real Time BY NATALIE KORACH As the 4 p.m. hour started, anchor Will Cain continued the breaking-news coverage, noting that Charlie Kirk was in critical condition after being shot at a Utah speaking event. Cain immediately got emotional. "The only answer is, you do not do a show. You be a human being." READ MORE More Stories AN INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE KIRK The MAGA-fication of Young Male Voters BY MARK MCKINNON Last October, in a story for Vanity Fair, Charlie Kirk expressed his points of view with intensity and deep conviction. READ MORE ROYALS Inside Charles and Harry's Reunion BY KATIE NICHOLL Estranged royals—and father and son—King Charles and Prince Harry met for a private tea, marking their first in-person meeting in more than 18 months. READ MORE CULTURE The Frankenstein Reboot We Didn't See Coming BY KASE WICKMAN Mary Shelley's classic has been explored and reexplored, but with respect to Jacob Elordi, someone 17 inches shorter has nailed it. READ MORE FILM The Devil Wears Prada 2 Lands in Milan BY VALENTINA COLOSIMO The highly anticipated sequel is looking for stylish extras to join Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. READ MORE Spotlight Ghost in the Machine BY ROTH CORNET As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our entertainment and media pipelines, creatives, executives, and legal scholars are all debating what "intellectual property" even means in the age of machine intelligence: "I'm not seeing a lot of clarity," says one. Roth Cornet examines the topic that's puzzling Hollywood. READ MORE Washington Lately Meet the Next Generation of Democratic Kingmakers The center of power is shifting from traditional party leaders to new faces in a motley Democratic diaspora. Amy Coney Barrett's Fan Service In her latest book, Donald Trump's third appointee to the Supreme Court largely sidesteps how she and her colleagues have disrupted decades of settled American law and life. Here are some takeaways. What MAGA Faithfuls Think of the Epstein Drawing The president's allies seem to be suggesting that the release of the Epstein letter is a good thing. MORE FROM VANITY FAIR POLITICS BUSINESS HOLLYWOOD STYLE ROYALS CELEBRITY This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2025. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.