12:30 Report — Rob Reiner’s son arrested; manhunt for Brown University shooter underway

🤝 Plus: Erika Kirk to privately meet with Candace Owens

12:30 REPORT 12:30 REPORT Monday, December 15 | By Cate Martel Today in DC: ⛅ 25°  View Online  |  Sign up It's Monday. Welcome back!  In today's issue: Nick Reiner arrested after parents found dead Trump bashes Rob Reiner Manhunt for Brown University shooter underway Congress's pre-Christmas agenda Erika Kirk meets with Candace Owens (!) 🚓 TALK OF THE MORNING  Rest in peace: AP Actor Rob Reiner's son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested after his parents were found dead in their home on Sunday. Rob and Michele Reiner reportedly suffered stab wounds — they appear to be victims of a homicide. Nick Reiner is being held on $4 million bail, according to police. What we know about Nick Reiner: The Los Angeles Times reports that Nick Reiner struggled with addiction for years. "Nick cycled in and out of rehab centers and experienced bouts of homelessness as a teenager. He had gotten clean by 2015, when he worked with his father on 'Being Charlie,' a semi-autobiographical film about addiction and recovery. Rob Reiner directed and Nick co-wrote the film about a successful actor with political ambitions and a son addicted to drugs." Read more: 'What we know about Nick Reiner, who struggled with addiction and shared his recovery with the world' Rob Reiner was an iconic filmmaker who made "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally" and countless other classics. He also appeared in "All in the Family," winning two Emmy awards. This is a good read about his life, via The Atlantic: 'Rob Reiner was a quiet titan of storytelling' Top Democrats mourn the loss: Reiner was heavily involved in politics. He donated to many Democratic candidates. Former President Obama said he and former first lady Michelle Obama are "heartbroken" by the loss. And so are California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his wife, Jen. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she is "devastated" by the news. Yikes, Trump appeared to mock Reiner: President Trump posted about the news of the Reiners' deaths, using it as an opportunity to publicly bash the Hollywood star's politics. Trump said Reiner died of "Trump derangement syndrome." Trump posted: "[Rob Reiner] reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before." 🔎 Read Trump's full post ^ Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called out Trump's comments as "inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered." 💬 Follow today's live blog It was a horrible weekend: Two mass shootings happened over the weekend on opposite sides of the world. First, in Rhode Island: Authorities are working to find the suspect who opened fire at Brown University in Providence on Saturday, killing at least two students and injuring nine others. The school initially said a suspect was in custody, but later corrected its alert to say a suspect had not been arrested. A person of interest was later released. 📹 Surveillance footage of the suspect Second, in Australia: Two gunmen opened fire Sunday at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people, including a child, and injuring at least 27 others. The Australian prime minister called it an act of antisemitic terrorism. What we know about the suspects: A father and son are suspected of opening fire, per The Associated Press. Police killed the 50-year-old, and the 24-year-old was wounded. This is awful, via The AP: "'I'm dying. I can't breathe': Scenes of death, fear and chaos follow Bondi Beach shooting." Plus, via The New York Times: 'The panicked moments when a beach celebration became a 'war zone'' ➤ BY THE WAY: Sunday was the 13th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Conn. 🎄 ON CAPITOL HILL  Christmas is in the air: The House and Senate are back in Washington today for their last week of work before the long holiday recess. What's on tap for this week?: 1. The expiring health care subsidies are top of mind. The House is expected to vote on Republicans' alternative proposal, as well as an extension to the subsidies. 2. The annual Defense policy bill. The Senate will take up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The government is funded through January, so this is a rare December without an end-of-year spending fight. Though, senators are already bracing for another possible shutdown at the end of next month.   The health care subsidies, which motivated Democrats to close the federal government for 43 days in the fall, will likely expire at the end of December as efforts to extend the tax credits appear to be falling flat. "This has given new momentum to liberals to argue Democrats should use the upcoming Jan. 30 government funding deadline as leverage — just as they did in September and October — to force Republicans to make major concessions on federal health care spending." Read Alexander Bolton's reporting 🤝OTHER NEWS This is an interesting development: Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, announced she will meet privately with right-wing influencer Candace Owens today. Owens has been promoting conspiracies about Kirk's assassination, causing strife within the right wing. In a recent CBS interview, Erika Kirk was asked what she would like to say to Owens about the unfounded conspiracies she has been spreading about Charlie's death. "Stop. That's it. That's all I have to say," Kirk responded. "Stop." ➤ QUICK HITS: — The U.S. Mint will produce dimes, quarters and half-dollar coins with special designs for the U.S.'s 250th anniversary. 📸 See the designs — The New York Times reports that former President Biden has only raised a small amount of what he needs to build a presidential library. ➤ MORE READS: The Washington Post: MAGA leaders warn Trump the base is checking out. Will he listen? The Wall Street Journal: Why everyone got Trump's tariffs wrong The Hill: Why Florida is ground zero for coming ObamaCare storm Politico: 'I didn't vote for this': A revolt against DOGE cuts, deep in Trump country The Wall Street Journal: Trump's next renovation target: D.C.'s golf courses COMING UP The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) 3 P.M.: Trump participates in a "Mexican Border Defense Medal Presentation." 💻 Livestream 4:15 P.M.: Trump participates in a Christmas reception.   5:30 P.M.: The Senate will hold a procedural vote on the NDAA. 📆 Today's agenda   6:30 P.M.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today's agenda   8:15 P.M.: Trump participates in another Christmas reception.   🐝 INTERNET BUZZ 🧁 Celebrate: Today is National Cupcake Day.   👗 The word 'aesthetic' has a chokehold on Gen Z and Gen Alpha: "Gen Z and Gen Alpha have been using "aesthetic" as an adjective or a one-word compliment on social media for a few years now. But to older ears, it still sounds strange," writes The Washington Post's Shane O'Neill. Read: 'Why everything is 'aesthetic' to Gen Z and Alpha' 👋 AND FINALLY… To break up your Monday afternoon, enjoy watching this elephant learn to play the recorder.  Stay Engaged  📺 Miss Friday's newsletter? Catch up with a 1-minute video. I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes 🍪 to cmartel@thehill.com. Check out more newsletters here. See you next time! Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe |  View Online  | Sign Up for Other Newsletters 400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.