NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.  

Machine Gun Teenagers

If you watch one thing today: Click here to see the Memphis police chief brief the media on the two teens who shot and killed one of her officers.

• Of particular note, the gunman had been arrested earlier this year in a stolen car for, among other things, illegally possessing a semi-automatic gun that had been modified into a MACHINE GUN.
• And he was released without bail, meaning he was released on a pinky promise to show back up — now, he’s accused of killing a cop.
  • Flashback: It’s a similar story to the killing of New York City police officer Jonathan Diller. 

Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson has an idea — it’s the cops’ fault. 

• No, really. Johnson all but eulogized Dexter Reed, a 26-year-old felon who police shot and killed after he allegedly shot first.
  • Johnson said, “I am personally devastated to see yet another young Black man lose his life during an interaction with the police. … My heart breaks for the family of Dexter Reed.”
  • Reed didn’t “lose his life during an interaction” — he shot at police. Police shot back. 
  • It doesn’t matter if you are Black, purple, a unicorn or white. When you shoot at cops, they shoot back. 
  • In case you are wondering, Reed was also out on bail for a weapons charge. 

It sounds simple: How do we protect Black lives if we don’t lock up the people shooting Black people? 

Ground truth on “gun violence”:

• There are 300 million guns in America 
• They are enshrined in our Constitution 
• Confiscating them is impossible
• Criminals will always be able to get guns 

How can those on the Left honestly talk about stopping gun violence if they won’t simply enforce the gun laws (especially regarding felons in possession) we already have? 

All the other victims:

• Homicide by another Black person is now the leading cause of death for young Black males. 
• Why don’t their lives matter? 
• Why doesn’t Mayor Johnson hold news conferences to talk about them? 
• Can you imagine him saying:
  • “I am personally devastated to see yet another young Black man lose his life during an interaction with another Black man. My heart breaks for the family of Jeremy Smith.”
  • “I am personally devastated to see yet another young Black man lose his life during alleged gang violence. My heart breaks for the family of Akeem Briscoe.”

Sotomayor Stays

Sam Baker reports in Axios that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor won’t resign and open her seat before the 2024 election. 

• We told you about Democrats’ push for the 69-year-old to leave and thus not risk losing another Supreme Court seat should Trump win.  

To be fair: Resigning on speculation is a risky play. 

To be political: Her staying and allowing Democrats to run on filling her eventual seat might be MORE motivating to voters. 

Why WOULDN’T Iran Attack?

The all-out war in the Middle East President Joe Biden and his team bent over backward to prevent, as predicted, appears imminent. 

• The Wall Street Journal reports Iran will strike Israel in the next couple of days.
  • That could mean many things. An actual attack by Iran-launched missiles at Israeli targets in Israel would trigger a massive IDF response, and they’ve been practicing. 
  • A strike by Iranian proxies against Israel seems more likely. 
  • This all comes back to the Biden administration’s policy. In an attempt “not to escalate,” his team:
    • Emboldened the Iranians and their proxies
    • Made Israel feel isolated and needing to lash out
    • Failed to set a standard of deterrence 

Weakness is provocative in the sandbox and the Middle East, hence Israel’s overt threats of massive retaliation. 

These are dangerous times.

Political fallout: Much of Biden’s policy over the past six months centered around placating pro-Hamas Democrats.

• If there is a war, oil prices will spike, inflation will go up, and it will cost Biden far more politically than if he had handled things correctly to begin with. 

Trump Trial Starts

Few things weigh on a man like a criminal trial.

• Eight-hour days in a courtroom
• Long, boring arguments by lawyers
• Your freedom hanging in the balance

Donald Trump will start facing weeks of those days Monday. 

Watch tonight: Former Trump 2020 campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh joins us to discuss what Trump’s days will be like now, how much stamina Trump really has and what it could be like traveling with the former president as he juggles criminal trials and running for president. 

Our friend Elizabeth Prann will be anchoring tonight. See you next week! 

Tune into “On Balance with Leland Vittert” weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.