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US News

4 Killed, 9 Injured in Georgia School Shooting

What's going on: Officials said a 14-year-old student will be charged as an adult with murder after opening fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia yesterday, killing two students and two math teachers. Nine others — eight students and one teacher — are expected to survive their injuries, according to law enforcement. It’s the deadliest episode of school violence in Georgia’s history, per The New York Times. Authorities are investigating how the shooter, who surrendered before being arrested, got access to the “AR-platform-style weapon” that was used. Officials said the suspect had been on law enforcement’s radar after threatening to commit a school shooting last year. The FBI said authorities found no probable cause for an arrest at that time, but officials alerted schools to monitor the teen.

Tell me more: Authorities said there’s no evidence that other schools in the area are being targeted, but that they’d follow up on any leads connecting the gunman to “any potential associates.” Last night, at least 400 people attended a vigil to honor the students and teachers who lost their lives. Despite being part of a generation trained for active shooter situations, many Apalachee HS students — who just started classes last month — said they couldn’t have anticipated what happened. In a statement, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons, saying, “We cannot continue to accept this as normal.” As the story develops, other schools will likely remain on high alert as students across the country return to class.

Related: How To Talk to Children About School Shootings (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Politics

The US is Saying "Nyet" to Russian Election Interference

What's going on: Yesterday, the Department of Justice announced new measures to counter Russian interference in the 2024 election. These efforts include indictments and sanctions that stifle the Kremlin’s disinformation via fake news websites, bots, and state-run media. The DOJ said it’s seizing at least 32 web domains used to spread propaganda. It will also charge two employees of a Russian state-run broadcaster for paying a US company millions of dollars to spread nearly 2,000 slanted videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The clips are in English and have 16 million views on YouTube alone. Attorney General Merrick Garland said these videos often aligned with Russia’s goal of fueling domestic divisions in the US. Meanwhile, the DOJ is also investigating some Americans who knowingly spread Moscow’s disinformation.

What it means: Although officials are also concerned about disinformation from China and Iran, the DOJ says that Moscow remains the biggest threat to US elections. Getting déjà vu? A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee determined there was a sweeping effort from Russia to sway the 2016 election in former President Donald Trump’s favor. Russia again attempted something similar in 2020, according to US intelligence officials. This time? You guessed it, the Kremlin seems to favor Trump again. As for what is different in 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the threat of foreign influence is “more diverse and aggressive” than in past years. She said that’s because there are “more actors from more countries” involved and technology like AI is not helping.

Related Story: The Best Ways to Avoid Falling for Mis- and Disinformation Online (WaPo Gift Link)

Sports

What in the NFL is Happening This Election Season?

What's going on: Football season officially kicks off today as the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, take on the Baltimore Ravens. While QB Patrick Mahomes and co. are looking for a three-peat, the team and league’s politics are front and center. Internet sleuths noticed the QB’s wife, Brittany Mahomes, liked a post from former President Donald Trump outlining his 2024 GOP platform on Instagram. It appears that she’s since removed her like, but Trump praised her for “strongly defending” him. Then, there’s Brittany’s newest best friend: Taylor Swift. The star, who is dating KC’s Travis Kelce, has previously endorsed Democratic candidates (but so far hasn't this year) and tweeted at Trump during his presidency that “we will vote you out.” In case anyone needs a reminder, the team’s kicker, Harrison Butker, has also made some political remarks.

What it means: The 2024 election stands to be one of the most significant political matchups in modern history. At first glance, it may not seem like a group of men throwing the old pigskin around a field has much to do with politics, but it does. Football is one of the most influential sports in the country, and the sport has wandered into the political fray a few times. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality — setting off a national debate. Fast forward to earlier this week: The Philadelphia Eagles had to address political propaganda that made it appear like the team endorsed Democratic candidate VP Kamala Harris. The Washington Post reports that someone using the Eagles to push a political agenda is a clear sign of how much power the game holds.

Related: Wait, Is There a PR Plan in Place for a Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift Breakup? (Forbes)