Recent News Highlights

The U.S. Department of Education is cutting nearly 50% of its workforce, a short-term spending bill was approved to fund the government until September, an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine was reached, recent school shootings highlight 'nonideological' terrorism, and a photography exhibition at the Muhammad Ali Center focused on iconic women.

School Shootings and Online Extremism

Two recent school shootings in Madison, Wis., and Nashville, Tenn., are examples of 'nonideological' terrorism, influenced by online networks glorifying mass violence. The True Crime Community (TCC) and other online movements are linked to school shooting plots. Experts are concerned about the merging of TCC with darker online communities, leading to a shift in the profile of individuals mobilized to violence, including young Black men and women. The influence of online networks grooming and sexually exploiting minors, like 764, is also a growing concern. Law enforcement faces challenges in addressing these subcultures due to a lack of usable data and the complexity of identifying radicalization factors.

Misrepresentation of Sen. JD Vance's Comments on School Shootings

MSNBC falsely accuses Sen. JD Vance of dismissing school shootings as a 'fact of life', when he actually called for increased security and lamented the situation. Other outlets, including the Associated Press, also misinterpreted his comments. Vance criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for misrepresenting his words.

Armed School Resource Officers and School Shootings

Lucy Sorensen, an associate professor, discusses the role of armed school resource officers in preventing school shootings, highlighting the pros and cons of their effectiveness.

Misquoting of Republican Sen. JD Vance on School Shootings

The Associated Press misquoted Republican Sen. JD Vance on school shootings, leading to backlash. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz repeated the misquote without retraction.

Response to Misleading Headline About JD Vance's Comments on School Shootings

Former President Trump responds to a shooting at Apalachee High School on 'Hannity', while JD Vance's spokesperson criticizes The Associated Press for misrepresenting Vance's comments on school shootings. The AP later corrected the headline to reflect Vance's actual statement.

Criticism of Kamala Harris' Support for Removing Police Officers from Schools

Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism for supporting the removal of police officers from schools to demilitarize campuses in 2019. Families of school shooting victims, including Sandy Hook and Stoneman Douglas, expressed concerns about the safety implications of such a move.

Digital School Mapping for Emergency Response

School districts are implementing digital maps to aid emergency responders in case of mass shootings, with more than 20 states enacting laws to encourage this practice. Critical Response Group, a company run by an Army special operations veteran, has been leading this trend nationwide.