'Politically motivated assassination': Minnesota Democrat rep and husband gunned down — state senator, wife wounded
Two Minnesota Democrat state lawmakers have been shot in what Gov. Tim Walz (D) has called a political "assassination" and an "assassination attempt."
Around 2:00 Saturday morning, 911 dispatch received a call that state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, had been shot in Champlin. They were raced to the hospital, where they underwent surgery.
According to Walz, they were shot "multiple times," but thankfully, they may yet survive their injuries. "The Hoffmans are out of surgery at this time and are receiving care, and we are cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt," Walz said at a press conference Saturday morning, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Meanwhile, around 3:35 a.m., police proactively went to check on Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, in Brooklyn Park, less than 10 miles south of Champlin, according to ABC News.
Unfortunately, the Hortmans had both been fatally struck. Rep. Hortman was 55.
'Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service.'
"We’re here today because an unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota," Walz said. "My good friend and colleague Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed earlier this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination."
WZFG reported that cops encountered the suspect at the Hortmans' home and exchanged gunfire with him, but the suspect managed to escape. He is reportedly a white male with brown hair wearing blue pants and shirt as well as a badge and Taser. Multiple reports indicate that he presented himself as a member of law enforcement.
RELATED: Tim Walz says Democrats need to be 'meaner' and 'bully the s**t out of' Trump
Local agencies have now warned residents not to open their doors to an apparent officer who arrives alone but to instead dial 911 immediately to report the incident, CBS reported. All officers will be dispatched in pairs.
Local police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are reportedly leading the investigation, and federal agencies are reportedly involved as well.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle have condemned the violence and offered prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Hortman.
"I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers. Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!" said a statement from President Donald Trump.
"This is a stunning act of violence. I’m thankful for all the law enforcement who are responding in real time. My prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families. Both legislators are close friends and devoted to their families and public service," said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
"I am shocked and horrified by the evil attack that took place overnight. Please lift up in prayer the victims, as well as the law enforcement personnel working to apprehend the perpetrator," wrote state Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Springs).
At least one anti-Trump "No Kings" rally in Minnesota has been canceled out of respect for the victims, according to CBS.
"Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the communities impacted by this violence," said organizers of the Northeast Minneapolis rally. "Some events in other parts of the greater Minneapolis area are still moving forward at this time, and we are actively monitoring the situation."
This is a developing story.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Trump opponents 'should be chastened' since 'plurality of the American people thought we were wrong,' NY Times columnist says
New York Times columnist David Brooks said he and other opponents of President-elect Donald Trump "should be chastened" since the "plurality of the American people thought we were wrong."
Brooks made his comment during a "PBS News Hour" interview Friday after moderator Lisa Desjardins asked him about his "political word of the year." Brooks replied that it is "chastened."
'I have to say, I’m thrilled by the decline in viewership for political news. We’re over-politicized in this country.'
“For those of us who oppose Donald Trump, we should be chastened because of the plurality of the American people thought we were wrong,” Brooks responded. “If you’re a worshipper of the European social welfare model, you should be chastened because that’s falling apart. If you hated [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, you should be a little chastened, because he took down Hamas and Hezbollah and [former Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad. So there's a lot of reason for humility at the end of this year."
Also answering questions was MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart, who said his political word of the year is "humility," adding that he used the word on "a couple of election nights, saying we need to be humble — those of us in our profession — because we don't know what the voters have to say. I have to say that after this past election, I'm not wild about what the voters had to say, but chastened is a good word, exhausted is a good word. There's so many good words."
Desjardins also offered that an Associated Press poll indicates that two-thirds of Americans are backing away from political news in the wake of the 2024 election.
Indeed, the Daily Beast noted that "cable news ratings have largely plummeted since last month’s election, with both CNN and MSNBC facing double-digit declines as viewers flock elsewhere. The Rachel Maddow Show faced its lowest ratings in years, while CNN’s year-end average in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demographic reached its lowest total ever. Fox News, however, has seen its ratings surge by double digits since Donald Trump won reelection."
Brooks chuckled as he told Desjardins, "I have to say, I’m thrilled by the decline in viewership for political news. We’re over-politicized in this country. People go to politics for a sense of belonging, for a sense of righteousness. You should go to your friends for those things. You’re asking more of politics than politics can bear.”
Capehart admitted that the ratings for his show "have fallen. I am not ashamed to say that. And we chalk that up to exhaustion. It’s been a long two years. We chalk that up to people just needing a break, to your point. People need a break. They will come back after Inauguration Day. That is guaranteed because there's going to be a lot happening in this country that is going to demand their attention, and they're going to want to know. They'll come back."
You can view video here of the discussion; the relevant portion begins at the 6:17 mark.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
thefederalist.com
www.theblaze.com