Mid-Day Update： October 26th, 2023
Episode Stats
Summary
A mass shooting in Maine leaves at least 18 dead and as many as 13 wounded. The suspect in this mass shooting has been identified as 41-year-old Army reservist Robert Card, who recently lost his job and who this summer spent two weeks in a mental health facility and reportedly reported hearing voices.
Transcript
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This is the Great America Midday Update for Thursday, October 26.
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First of all, our condolences to the families of all the victims in the Lewiston, Maine,
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mass shooting. Our sympathies to the communities, the county still living through this tragedy,
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still under orders to shelter in place. As of this update, the shooter remains at large,
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at least 18 people murdered and as many as 13 wounded. The headlines about the shooting today
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were almost unprecedented, unusual. In fact, I've never before seen headlines that emphasize the
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mental illness of the person suspected in a mass shooting. Usually, they emphasize the gun.
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One such headline read, quote, mentally ill firearms instructor, person of interest sought.
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The suspect in this mass shooting has been identified as Robert Card, 41 years old, an Army
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reservist twice divorced and who recently lost his job. And who this summer spent two weeks
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in a mental health facility and reportedly, Card said he was hearing voices. And there's been no
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explanation why that facility released him, nor how a man who is mentally ill could have a gun,
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let alone be a firearms instructor. So many questions unanswered in this tragedy. It's early,
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but at least the right questions are being asked, including how a man with such obvious mental
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health issues could be permitted to have a gun. House Speaker Mike Johnson is on the job for his
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first full day as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives. A lot of work to do.
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First, a resolution to pass expressing and assuring the support of the U.S. Congress for the State of
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Israel. Appropriations bills to get out before November 17th, when the current funding bill,
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the continuing resolution, expires. Here is the new speaker on his agenda.
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What we need in this country is more hope. The people have lost their faith in our institutions.
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Their faith is at an all-time low. And one of the reasons they've lost it is because
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the Congress, over the years, has not delivered for the American people well enough. We're in the
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majority right now. We've gone through a little bit of suffering. We've gone through a little bit
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of character building. And you know what it's produced? More strength, more perseverance,
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and a lot of hope. And that's what we're about to deliver to the American people.
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We are going to speak. We're going to speak with clarity and conviction and consistency to the
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American people. We're going to tell them what we're for, what agenda we are pursuing, and why it is
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best for every American. Why it will give them more liberty, opportunity, and security. We're going
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to speak to that clearly. We're going to act consistently. And we're going to exhibit two things
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here, trust and teamwork. And this group will deliver for the American people. I said it
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in the chamber, and I will say it here, we're going to govern well. And I think the people are
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going to be very pleased with those results. And there's a new development there. From Senator
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Chuck Grassley in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, revealing that more than 40
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confidential FBI sources say criminal matters related to the Biden family going back as far as his days
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as vice president, and the informants were discredited by the FBI for bringing forward the
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information. We'll hear more about this, we can be assured. On the economy, great news. Not good,
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but great. The GDP grew by almost 5% in the third quarter, more than doubling the growth rate of the
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economy in the second quarter, up 4.9%, bolstered by a 4% jump in consumer spending.
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I'm Lou Dobbs with this Great America Midday Update.