2/25: The Takeout: North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry

SummaryPatrick Crusius, who killed 23 people in a racist attack at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in 2019, is set to accept a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, pleading guilty to capital murder in exchange for life imprisonment without parole. The decision follows input from victims' families who prefer closure over a lengthy trial, as Crusius has already received 90 life sentences in federal court for hate crimes and weapons charges. His...

SummaryOn Sunday, transit police in Boston investigated a shooting incident at the Harvard Square subway platform, prompting Harvard University to issue a shelter-in-place order for its community. A man fired four to five shots at a targeted individual before fleeing the scene; however, there were no reported injuries. Authorities rerouted subway passengers to shuttle buses while conducting a search for the suspect, and the shelter-in-place message was later removed from Harvard's website. Full Article

In 2025, Louisiana, Missouri, and Virginia reported their first measles cases linked to international travel, with a Virginia child and an unvaccinated adult in Louisiana being confirmed cases. Virginia health officials are tracing contacts after identifying potential exposure at two medical centers, while Missouri's case involves a child who has recently traveled, though details on vaccination status remain unclear. This outbreak marks the largest in the U.S. in six years, with Texas reporting 481 confirmed...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed details about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen to a private Signal group that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney, raising concerns about handling sensitive military information. The messages contained flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets and were sent on March 15, coinciding with another chat that mistakenly included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. In response, a Defense Department spokesperson asserted that no classified information was shared, criticizing media outlets for relying...

New York City's $9 congestion toll for drivers in Manhattan's busiest areas will continue despite a federal government's deadline for its termination. Governor Kathy Hochul stated the program is effective, reducing traffic and boosting business, while federal officials indicated they will fight for working-class drivers affected by the toll. A federal judge has upheld the legality of the toll, and both Hochul and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials assert that unless directed otherwise by the court,...

In Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series, the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Memphis Grizzlies with a 131-80 victory, marking the fifth-largest margin in NBA playoff history. Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 20 points, while Chet Holmgren contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's scoring champion, scoring only 15. The Grizzlies struggled offensively, with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. combining for just 21 points, as Memphis...