Washington has become leaderless on unity: White House Report Card
The article discusses the current state of political division and unrest in Washington, D.C., highlighting the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, as a significant and tragic turning point for the nation. It emphasizes the deepening polarization,noting that Washington shows little appetite for unity,focusing instead on conflict.
President Donald Trump, who has himself been an assassination target twice, called for radicals on both sides to calm down but primarily criticized the left during a Fox News appearance. Liberal Senator Elizabeth Warren blamed Trump for worsening the political climate.
The piece includes insights from contributors like Democratic pollster John Zogby, who gave Washington’s leadership a poor grade (D), criticizing both the president and Congress for their shameful behavior and highlighting ongoing economic and political challenges such as job growth revisions, inflation, and concerns over the president’s expanding power. Simultaneously occurring, commentator Jed Babbin gave a slightly better grade (B-) but underscored that much of the news is overshadowed by Kirk’s murder amid other serious issues like Russia’s drone incursions into NATO airspace and Israeli military actions in Qatar.
The article portrays a city and country grappling with violence, political posturing, and instability, calling for a recommitment to conventional values, civility, and restraint amidst growing turmoil.
Washington has become leaderless on unity: White House Report Card
It’s been happening for decades, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Washington, D.C., has finally shown that it has no appetite for unity, only fight.
President Donald Trump, himself an assassination target — twice — said “radicals” on both sides need to calm down. But on Fox News, he added, “The radicals on the left are the problem.”
Liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) responded, “Oh, please,” as she blamed Trump for poisoning the political environment.
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Trump had a chance to deliver a unifying message, as predecessors Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton would have, but it’s not his thing. And even if he had, as he did after his own near-death experience in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year, it likely wouldn’t have lasted.
Our editor, Hugo Gurdon, finding symbolism in the name of Kirk’s group, Turning Point USA, said the assassination of the youthful conservative organizer provided a special turning point for the nation.
“His death may have forced politicians who purport to be leaders to a turning point. It is fragile and may break down. But perhaps it will be a turning point toward traditional values and civilized restraint,” Gurdon wrote.
Charlie Kirk’s death is America’s turning point | @hgurdon https://t.co/TqRGRLd1NQ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 13, 2025
For our weekly White House Report Card, Democratic pollster John Zogby called out all of Washington’s leaders. “The president and Congress have behaved shamefully.”
EDITORIAL: WHAT THE MURDER OF CHARLIE KIRK MEANS
John Zogby
Grade: D
This week was defined by a human tragedy: the murder of a father, husband, son, and activist, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Our hearts go out to his family, but this should not have become a springboard for hysteria, partisanship, and meltdown. That dishonors a young man’s life. The president and Congress have behaved shamefully.
In other regards, it was another miserable week for President Donald Trump. Job growth was revised downward by 911,000 from April to March. Unemployment claims increased sharply. Inflation ticked up again, partly due to the new tariffs imposed.
Jamie Dimon of J.P. Morgan Chase warned that the economy is definitely in a slowdown.
A Reuters poll found a sense of unease by Americans toward the president sending troops to U.S. cities, including a deep concern that he is expanding his power.
Israel hit Doha, Qatar, an ally that has been hosting peace talks, neutralizing the president’s effort to persuade Hamas to accept terms for a ceasefire.
Trump insulted Tom Hanks, and Congress released his birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein — which he denied writing.
And his polling approval is still upside down and has not moved an inch. Too much going on.
DEMOCRATS MUM ON GUN CONTROL BUT CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION
Jed Babbin
Grade: B-
Almost everything else in the news was overtaken by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk was a leader of young folks, a conservative thinker, and a confidant of President Donald Trump. Overshadowed in the news was the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, a slight increase in inflation, and Israel’s bombing of a building in Qatar where Hamas leaders have been living in luxury for at least a decade.
Trump announced the capture of Kirk’s alleged killer on Fox News on Friday. Tyler Robinson had been the subject of an intense FBI manhunt. His surrender was a relief, but not to the millions who mourned Kirk.
The August grisly murder of Ukrainian emigre Iryna Zarutska seemed to capture the media for a day. With Kirk’s murder, we seem to be — thanks to the woke Democrats and Democratic judges not doing their jobs — drifting into anarchy.
The Russian incursion into Polish airspace consisted of over a dozen drones. Poland invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which requires consultation when any treaty member’s sovereignty is threatened. Anyone who believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in peace should have their head examined.
The Israeli attack on Qatar is thoroughly justified by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1343, which makes it improper for any member of the United Nations to aid, harbor, or otherwise support terrorists. Qatar has been doing all of these things for Hamas leaders for over a decade. Nevertheless, Trump and Arab nations condemned the raid.
The small increase in inflation is almost certainly due to Trump’s tariffs. The Supreme Court will decide his authority on tariffs soon.
SEE THE LATEST POLITICAL NEWS AND BUZZ FROM WASHINGTON SECRETS
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on X @jedbabbin.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should. His podcast with son and managing partner and pollster Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on X @ZogbyStrategies.
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