Military Plans "Charlie Kirk Recruitment Campaign"

9.19.25

Happy Friday and welcome back to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco—your daily briefing on U.S. politics. Let’s break it down.

GOP Pushes Stopgap Bill as Shutdown Looms….House Republicans are moving quickly to pass a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through November 21 to avoid a shutdown when funding expires on October 1. The bill includes $88 million for added security for Congress, the executive branch, and the Supreme Court in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Democrats oppose the GOP bill, criticizing it for lacking healthcare provisions and want their own version extending funding through the end of October and restoring Medicaid and ACA subsidies.

Common Sense takeaway: More security for lawmakers is great, but not when it comes at the cost of people’s healthcare. It is our tax dollars after all. Unfortunately it seems like operating by crisis instead of planning ahead has become standard in DC.

Trump Threatens TV Networks After Kimmel Suspension Clash….After ABC indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! over remarks about Charlie Kirk’s murder, President Trump escalated by suggesting that networks that portray him negatively might lose their licenses. The problem is major networks aren’t licensed by the FCC in the way local stations are, making his threat legally questionable. The statements have drawn a lot of criticism from free speech supporters.

Common Sense takeaway: Anything Trump doesn’t like, he tries to silence. His real issue with Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t even the remarks about Charlie Kirk—it was the remarks about his lack of empathy for Charlie Kirk.

Polls Show GOP Confidence Plummets….A new AP-NORC poll reveals a sharp decline in Republican optimism about the direction of the country—falling from roughly 70% in June to about 50% now, especially among women and younger Republicans. Most Americans overall feel the country is on the wrong path, citing political violence, unrest, and economic pressures as major worries.

Common Sense takeaway: Confidence in the country isn’t just about the leaders you support, it’s about stability. Right now, it feels like there have been more problems created than problems solved since Trump took office.

Military Considers Recruiting Campaign Honoring Charlie Kirk….Officials in the Department of “War” are planning a recruitment campaign that would encourage young people to join the military in honor of Charlie Kirk, using Turning Point USA chapters and universities as hubs. The idea, led by Anthony Tata, is extremely controversial with even some Pentagon leaders worrying it might look like politicizing Kirk’s assassination.

Common Sense takeaway: No shit, it looks political. Charlie Kirk didn’t even serve in the military. Neither did Donald Trump. Why are these people being hailed as war heroes? Pete Hegseth has made a joke of the Department of Defense and it looks like he isn’t stopping soon.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.