Good morning, it’s Thursday, September 11, 2025. In today’s edition, political violence plagues America; California backs insulin price cap; RGA dips a toe into New Jersey:
Top Stories
POLITICAL VIOLENCE: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vowed to hunt down conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murderer on Wednesday, after Kirk was shot by an apparent sniper at Utah Valley University. As of Thursday morning, no suspect is in custody. Speaking in Orem, Cox called the attack a political assassination. (Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News)
The Michigan House gaveled out of session early on Wednesday. Majority Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus (R) said lawmakers adjourned as a precaution, though he said there were no specific threats against lawmakers. (MLive)
Our condolences to Kirk’s family and friends, the students who attended the rally, Utah’s political family and everyone involved.
HEALTH CARE: California lawmakers have approved legislation reducing the time doctors and patients spend waiting for insurance companies to approve routine care. One bill would require insurers to submit annual reports showing which services are subject to prior authorization. Services approved more than 90% of the time would be exempt from prior authorization requirements. (Pluribus News)
MORE: California lawmakers have approved legislation prohibiting insurance companies from charging patients more than $35 for a 30-day supply of insulin. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed similar legislation last year, citing a state program to manufacture insulin at a lower cost. (State Affairs)
EVEN MORE: The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation creating a statewide nurse aide training program. The bill would allow newly-trained health care workers to take culminating tests at the facilities where they would be employed. (State Affairs)
Trade groups representing the nursing home industry estimate Pennsylvania faces a shortage of up to 20,000 workers by 2032.
PUBLIC HEALTH: Officials in Delaware, New Jersey and Connecticut have joined a roster of blue states issuing orders aimed at expanding access to Covid vaccines. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) issued a standing order ensuring pharmacists can administer Covid vaccines. New Jersey’s Health Department formally recommended shots for those over 6 months of age. (Delaware Public Media, New York Times, Hartford Courant)
REDISTRICTING: Indiana Republican senators met in private caucus meetings Tuesday night to discuss the potential redistricting plan that would target a seat held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan (D). House Republicans plan to meet Friday. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
NEW JERSEY: The Republican Governors Association has reserved $355,000 in television time to back former Assemb. Jack Ciattarelli’s (R) gubernatorial campaign. The Democratic Governors Association has already booked more than $20 million in TV ads backing U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D). The RGA sat out the New Jersey contest four years ago, when Ciattarelli came within three points of upsetting Gov. Phil Murphy (D). (New Jersey Globe)
MINNESOTA: Gov. Tim Walz (D) has told allies he will run for a third term as governor. Walz had wavered over whether to seek a new term earlier this year. (Minnesota Star Tribune) Former state Sen. Scott Jensen (R), ex-St. Cloud City Councilman Jeff Johnson (R) and state Rep. Kristin Robbins (R) are among the Republicans who have said they will challenge Walz.
NEVADA: Supporters of an independent redistricting commission have filed a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at the 2026 ballot. The same group, Vote Nevada PAC, filed initiatives in 2020, 2022 and 2024, but those measures failed to make the ballot. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
NEW YORK CITY: An Emerson College poll finds Assemb. Zohran Mamdani (D) leading the mayor’s race with 43%, followed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (I) at 28%. Activist Curtis Sliwa (R) takes 10%, with Mayor Eric Adams (I) at 7%. A Quinnipiac University survey finds Mamdani ahead of Cuomo 45% to 23%, followed by Sliwa at 15% and Adams at 12%. (State of Politics)
By The Numbers
$81,604: The median household income in the United States, according to new data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. That’s up from $80,002 in 2023. (Associated Press)
450,000: The number of New Yorkers who will lose access to the state’s Essential Plan, a subsidized medical care plan for low-income residents. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said the cuts, necessary under the Republican-backed reconciliation bill, were meant to avoid further reductions. (Albany Times-Union)
Off The Wall
NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance has discovered rocks in a dry river channel that may hold signs of ancient microscopic life. NASA science mission chief Nicky Fox called it “the closest we’ve actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars.” (Associated Press)
Former state Sen. Betsy Johnson (I) challenged Gov. Tina Kotek (D) in the 2022 general election. Now Kotek has tapped Johnson for a formal position on a state board, announcing Johnson will serve on the board of the Oregon Health & Science University. A Kotek spokesperson said Oregon “is lucky” to have Johnson in public service. (Oregonian)
Quote of the Day
“Nothing I say can unite us as a country. Nothing I can say right now can fix what is broken.”
— Utah Gov. Cox, reacting to the murder of Charlie Kirk. (CNN)