Questions Remain After Spree Shooter Leaves 18 Dead in Maine

After 40-year old Richard Card was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after his shooting rampage left 18 dead and 13 more injured, questions over his motives, mental health, and access to firearms have continued to mount.

Card, an Army reservist, had been held in a hospital for psychiatric care in July of this year after behaving erratically while training at West Point. Card had told others he had been hearing voices and was disturbed by their content.

Card was released in August from the hospital. He had tried to purchase a firearm suppressor, the purchase of which was initially approved but later denied after Card admitted on his form that he had previously been committed to a mental institution.

The next month, Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office launched a search for him after someone from his Army unit reported that he feared Card was dangerous and could even commit a mass shooting. The sheriff’s office called off the search in October.

On October 25, Card opened fire at a Lewiston, Maine bowling range, killing 7. He later opened fire at a bar, killing 11. After a statewide manhunt and residents being urged to shelter in place, his body was found on October 27.

 

Israel Expands Ground Operation in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have expanded their ground operations in the Gaza Strip after weeks of building up forces along the narrow strip of land. Israeli forces have moved into the north area of the strip just north of Gaza city as well just south of the city.

The beginning of the ground invasion comes after weeks of aerial bombardments throughout the strip, a response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Palestinian group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. The attacks by Hamas left over one thousand Israelis dead, with around 200 others taken hostage and brought back to the Gaza Strip. Hamas has only released a handful of hostages since, all foreign citizens.

The air strikes on Gaza by Israeli forces have drawn criticism for the collateral damage. Over 8,000 Palestinians are believed to have been killed in the strikes, with Israel responding that they try to avoid civilian causalities and blaming Hamas for keeping military targets near civilians.

Israel has claimed responsibility for a strike on a refugee camp on the Jabalia refugee camp on October 31. Israel says the strike killed Ibrahim Biari, a suspected key planner in the October 7 attacks.

 

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson Elected Speaker

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson was elected speaker of the US House of Representatives on October 25, capping over three weeks of political drama which left the House paralyzed following the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the first in US history.

Johnson, a staunch conservative, managed to attract unanimous support among his Republican colleagues on the House floor after winning the nomination from House Republicans. His victory followed three GOP nominees failing to win enough Republican support to win in a vote from the full House. Of the three, only Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) nomination received a vote on the floor, in which he lost three votes amid staunch opposition from GOP moderates.

 

Dianne Feinstein, Longest Serving Female Senator, Dies at 90

US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the longest serving female US senator in history, died Friday at 90. Feinstein, who had announced that she would not run for reelection in 2024, had been facing health issues the past few years, including shingles, encephalitis, Ramsay Hunt syndrome (causing face paralysis and other sensory issues), and possible dementia. 

Feinstein, born in 1933, started her political career on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1970. She became president of the board in 1978, which allowed her to become acting mayor after the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Feinstein won election as mayor in 1979, where she served until 1988.

Feinstein ran for California governor in 1990, losing to Republican candidate, US Senator Pete Wilson. Feinstein made a political comeback in 1992, winning Wilson’s Senate seat in a special election in a year that saw six other women elected to or currently serving in the Senate (often termed ‘The Year of the Woman.’)

Her death leaves the Senate with a 50-49 Democratic majority. Until a replacement is named, only one Democratic senator needs to vote against his or her party to block legislation. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has vowed to appoint a black woman to replace Feinstein in the Senate. While one black woman, Bay Area Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) is already running for the seat, Newsom has said he will not appoint anyone currently in the race for the seat, which he says will create an unfair advantage against the other candidates, which include Democratic House representatives Katie Porter and Adam Schiff.

 

Congress Struggles to Avoid Shutdown

The federal government is nearing another shutdown of non-essential operations, which would make it the fourth such occurrence since September 2013. Congressional leaders have so far failed to arrive at a spending agreement, with House Republican leadership unable to pass their own proposal as a group of conservative lawmakers have voted with Democrats to stop any GOP proposal from advancing.

The GOP proposal would fund the government for thirty days as both parties work to reach a more long-term solution. However, the group of breakaway Republicans has criticized any funding proposal that does not meet their demands for deep spending cuts and other conservative priorities. The small GOP majority in the House (221-212) gives this group near veto power absent GOP leadership relying on Democratic votes to pass their plan.

One of these lawmakers, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL), has given no indication of backing down, saying, “I’m doing everything in my power to stop the uniparty…The battle is on.” The ‘uniparty’ is a term some use to describe the establishment of both the Democratic and Republican parties.