The Brief | When the Shooter Doesn't Fit the Script
Plus: China's payments to Team USA defectors, AOC's international disaster tour, and the equal-time rules that only matter when Trump's watching
It’s Wednesday!
You guys, I am experimenting.
Desk Notes started as a place to think out loud, and lately, I’ve figured I would take that literally by recording myself in the moment. When something is rattling around in my head, and I need to get it out before I lose it or, worse, before it gets buried under the news cycle.
The result is Desk Notes in audio. Short. Unguarded. Equal parts opinion, observation, and the kind of thing I’d say to you if we were having coffee and I just had to say something. It’s not a podcast. It’s not a segment. It’s closer to a voice memo, cleaned up just enough to share. My thoughts on whatever is happening, delivered in a few minutes, without the ceremony.
And because this feels like something special, Desk Notes are now exclusively for paying subscribers.
The first one is below. It won’t take long. That’s kind of the point.
Desk Note🎙️ | The Stephen Colbert Interview CBS Wouldn't Air
Sometimes the story isn’t the interview that didn’t air — it’s what happens after everyone starts arguing about why it didn’t. This week’s Colbert–Talarico controversy is a good example of how modern political media turns regulatory friction into a censorship narrative.
In today’s Brief:
Hockey Arena Horror: A transgender shooter kills family members at a crowded Rhode Island game, but the media treats it like just another domestic dispute.
Equal-Time Hypocrisy: CBS suddenly cares about FCC rules that nobody enforced when Kamala was on SNL, and Colbert cries censorship while his guest rakes in millions.
AOC’s Munich Meltdown: The congresswoman can’t find Venezuela on a map or handle basic Taiwan questions, then blames everyone else for noticing.
Carrier Diplomacy: Trump sends warships to the Persian Gulf while negotiating with Iran, and both sides threaten to sink each other’s fleets between handshakes.
Selling Out for Gold: Leaked documents reveal China’s been paying Eileen Gu millions in government money to ski for them instead of the country that trained her.
Let’s get into the news!
A Hockey Game Became a Crime Scene, and the Media Can’t Say the Quiet Part Out Loud
Robert Dorgan walked into a Rhode Island hockey arena Monday afternoon and shot his wife, three children, and a family friend in front of a packed crowd of high school hockey players and parents. Two people died, his ex-wife and one of their sons. Three others, including the grandparents, remain in critical condition. Then Dorgan turned the gun on himself.
The incident was horrific. The livestream captured it all: approximately 11 gunshots, players scrambling out of the penalty box, and spectators diving for cover. One father wrestled a gun away from the shooter, only to discover he had a second weapon.
But here’s what most mainstream coverage is avoiding: Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito, was transgender. He was armed with a Glock 10mm and a SIG Sauer P226. And according to his daughter, who spoke to reporters outside the Pawtucket Police Department, he was “very sick” with “mental health issues.”
Another detail the media’s conveniently downplaying: Dorgan had neo-Nazi tattoos and threatened to go “BERSERK” in a trans-rights rant the day before the shooting.
So we’ve got a mass shooting at a family event. We’ve got clear warning signs. We’ve got a perpetrator who doesn’t fit the media’s preferred narrative. And we’ve got—surprise, surprise—crickets from the usual suspects who would be screaming from the rooftops if this shooter had been, say, a conservative white Christian male.
Most outlets are treating this as a “domestic violence incident” or “family dispute,” which technically it was. But compare the language to how they cover other mass shootings. No think pieces about toxic masculinity. No urgent calls for new legislation. No primetime specials examining the “culture” that produced this violence.
Just another tragic day in America, move along, nothing to see here.
The FBI’s assisting the investigation. Lynch Arena, home ice for the Johnson and Wales Wildcats, is now a crime scene. And parents across Rhode Island are left wondering how to explain to their kids what they witnessed.
The FCC Equal-Time Rule That Nobody Enforced Until Trump Wanted It Enforced
Remember when equal-time rules were quaint relics from a bygone era? When Kamala Harris could pop up on SNL right before the election, and nobody at the FCC batted an eye?
Well, the rules are back. And Stephen Colbert is big mad about it.
Here’s what happened: Colbert booked Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico for an interview on “The Late Show.” Then CBS lawyers stepped in and told him, in his words, “in no uncertain terms” that not only could he not air the interview, he couldn’t even mention not airing it.
So naturally, he went on air and mentioned it. Because that’s what you do when a network tells you not to talk about something, you talk about it immediately and call it censorship.
CBS disputes Colbert’s account, claiming they merely provided “legal guidance” about the FCC equal-time rule and suggested options for providing equal time to other candidates. The show itself, CBS says, decided to post the interview on YouTube instead.
Colbert’s takeaway? This is Trump trying to “silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV.”
The equal-time rule has existed since the 1930s. It requires broadcast networks to give equal time to political candidates. It’s why you used to see awkward 30-second spots from third-party candidates you’d never heard of during election season.
But during the Biden administration, enforcement was “pretty lax,” as one analysis noted. Harris appeared on SNL. Nobody cared. The rule was effectively dead.
Now, Trump’s FCC chair, Brendan Carr, is floating the idea of doing away with the exemption for daytime and late-night talk shows. And suddenly, networks are rediscovering compliance.
Here’s the thing: Talarico is running for Senate. So is Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Under the equal-time rule, if Colbert gives Talarico airtime to promote his campaign, he has to offer the same to Crockett and any other candidates in that race.
CBS claims it offered options. Colbert claims censorship. Talarico himself tweeted that “Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV.”
Except... the Trump administration didn’t block the interview. The CBS legal department flagged potential FCC violations. Those are different things.
The interview aired on YouTube anyway, where Talarico got to position himself as the brave truth-teller Trump’s FCC tried to silence. In the end, Talarioc reportedly raised $2.5 million in the 24 hours following his appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Free publicity for a Senate candidate who was struggling to break through the noise. Mission accomplished.
AOC Goes to Munich, Proves She’s Not Ready for Primetime
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went to the Munich Security Conference last week with big ambitions: Present a progressive vision for global leadership, warn about authoritarianism, and position herself as a serious foreign policy voice.
Instead, she became a viral blooper reel.
The lowlight: When asked whether the U.S. should send troops to defend Taiwan if China invades, she stalled for roughly 20 seconds before offering a word-salad response that technically reflected America’s “strategic ambiguity” policy but sounded like she was buying time to remember what country Taiwan even is.
Conservative social media had a field day. And honestly? They weren’t wrong to notice.
There were other gaffes: She referred to the "Trans-Pacific Partnership" when she meant "Trans-Atlantic." She suggested Venezuela was below the Equator (it's north of it). She mocked Secretary of State Rubio's speech celebrating Western civilization, laughing that his claim about American cowboys originating in Spain was wrong and that "Mexicans and descendants of African enslaved peoples would like to have a word." Except Rubio was right—the word "cowboy" literally comes from Spanish vaquero (from vaca, meaning cow), and Spanish conquistadors brought horses to the Americas and established the ranching traditions that spread through Mexico to the American Southwest. These are the kind of mistakes that get you roasted in a high school history class, let alone on the international stage.
AOC’s response? Everyone’s missing the point. The real story, she told the New York Times, is that global democracies are on fire and far-right movements are surging. Not whether she knows basic geography.
“Is Munich the new New Hampshire?” one reporter asked her, referencing presidential primary speculation. AOC was not amused. “I cannot say enough how out of touch and missing the point, genuinely, that is,” she said.
Except... she’s the one who chose to make her international debut at Munich. She’s the one whose office has been feeding 2028 presidential speculation for months. She’s the one who went to Germany with a delegation of potential Democratic candidates, including Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer.
And she’s the one who fumbled basic questions about U.S. foreign policy in front of international media.
CNN reported that her commitments were “curtailed”—translation: she went into hiding after the Taiwan stumble. Then she ran to the New York Times to complain that people were talking about the wrong things.
The Times, bless them, dutifully produced a sympathetic piece about how her “anti-authoritarian message” was being overshadowed by “scrutiny of her slip-ups” and “presidential speculation.”
But here’s the reality: If you can’t handle a straightforward question about Taiwan—one of the most important flashpoints in U.S.-China relations—without a 20-second deer-in-headlights moment, you’re not ready to be taken seriously on foreign policy.
And if your reaction to criticism is to blame everyone else for not understanding your genius, you’re definitely not ready to run for president.
European leaders were apparently kind to her face. Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski called it “refreshing to see some American politicians who talk openly about all of those challenges.”
The trip did accomplish one thing: It made crystal clear that AOC’s wheelhouse is domestic progressive activism and social media dunks, not nuanced foreign policy in multilateral settings.
Diplomacy with an Aircraft Carrier Chaser
While everyone’s distracted by hockey arena shootings and global progressive visions, the U.S. and Iran are playing a massive game of chicken in Geneva.
The second round of nuclear negotiations wrapped up Tuesday with Iran claiming there’s now a “clearer path ahead” to a deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the talks “more constructive” than the first round, saying both sides reached “general agreement on a number of guiding principles.”
That’s diplomatic speak for “we agreed to keep talking without nuking each other for now.”
Here’s what makes this interesting: Trump’s negotiating style involves sending two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Persian Gulf while his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff sit in Geneva for indirect talks. The USS Gerald R. Ford—the world’s largest aircraft carrier—is heading to the region to join the naval assets already positioned in U.S. Central Command waters.
Trump told reporters Monday night he’ll be “involved indirectly” in the negotiations and doesn’t think Iran wants “the consequences of not making a deal.” That’s Trump speak for “sign something or we start sending things to the bottom of the sea.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had his own response Tuesday: “A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it.” He then helpfully reminded everyone that “the strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again.”
The backdrop makes this even more precarious: Iran conducted live-fire military drills in the Strait of Hormuz this week, a critical shipping lane through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes. Trump warned that if talks fail, it’ll be “a bad day for Iran, very bad.”
What does Iran want? Sanctions relief. Their economy is in shambles after years of crippling U.S. economic punishment. Sky-high inflation, a devalued currency, and basic necessities becoming luxuries for even the well-off. In January, unprecedented protests erupted over economic suffering, met with an equally unprecedented violent crackdown. Thousands arrested. The regime knows another uprising is brewing if they can’t get sanctions lifted.
What they won’t do: Give up their right to enrich uranium for a “civilian” nuclear program. Araghchi posted on social media that Iran arrived in Geneva “with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal. What is not on the table: submission before threats.”
What does the U.S. want? Everything Iran won’t give: reduction or removal of enriched uranium stockpiles, IAEA monitoring, and—at Netanyahu’s insistence—restrictions on ballistic missiles and funding for regional proxies. Israel’s position is clear: Iran should have zero domestic enrichment capabilities.
Those are positions with approximately zero overlap.
The Trump administration claims they obliterated Iran’s nuclear program in June 2025 strikes during a 12-day Israeli-Iranian war. The extent of that damage remains disputed, but it apparently didn’t stop Iran from continuing enrichment to 60% purity—a “short, technical step” from weapons-grade levels, according to the IAEA.
Both sides left Tuesday’s talks saying the right diplomatic things. The Iranians sound cautiously optimistic. The Americans are maintaining strategic silence. And two carrier strike groups are steaming toward the Persian Gulf while both nations conduct military exercises in the world’s most important waterway.
Eileen Gu’s Chinese Payday: When “Following Your Dreams” Means Following the Money
Eileen Gu is back at the Olympics, skiing for China. Again. Despite being born and raised in California. Despite growing up American. Despite the whole pesky issue of China not allowing dual citizenship.
And now we know exactly how much China’s paying for the privilege of having America’s homegrown talent win medals for them.
According to budget documents that accidentally leaked, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau paid Gu and figure skater Zhu Yi (another U.S.-born athlete competing for China) a combined $6.6 million in 2025 alone. Over three years, the total hits nearly $14 million.
The documents briefly included Gu’s and Yi’s names before being scrubbed, along with the social media comments criticizing the payments at a time when “budgets were tight for essential services” in China.
Gu’s already one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world, raking in $23 million last year almost entirely from endorsements. She’s got deals with Porsche, Red Bull, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and a roster of Chinese brands.
And she’s got the Chinese government cutting her multi-million dollar checks to ensure she keeps winning medals for them.
Here’s what makes this story fascinating: Gu won’t talk about her citizenship status. China doesn’t allow dual citizenship. To compete for China, she had to become a Chinese citizen. But she’s never confirmed whether she renounced her U.S. passport.
Red Bull’s website briefly stated in 2022 that she’d given up her U.S. passport and naturalized as Chinese. When the Wall Street Journal asked about it, that detail disappeared from Red Bull’s site, and they refused to answer questions.
Gu’s response to citizenship questions? “When I’m in the U.S., I’m American. But when I’m in China, I’m Chinese.”
That’s not how citizenship works, but okay.
She’s already won silver in ski slopestyle at the Milan Olympics. She’s favored to repeat her gold medals from Beijing in big air and halfpipe.
Vice President JD Vance weighed in, calling the situation a reminder of how money influences athletic decisions. National Review noted it was a “terrible choice” that prioritized financial gain over national loyalty.
“Sometimes it feels like I’m carrying the weight of two countries on my shoulders,” Gu said after her slopestyle event.
No, Eileen. You're carrying the weight of American taxpayer-funded training and world-class education that made you valuable enough for the Chinese government to buy. You benefited from everything America offers—freedom, opportunity, elite coaching, Stanford—then sold your loyalty to an authoritarian regime that cuts multi-million-dollar checks so you can live a life most Chinese citizens will never have access to. In America, you'd actually have to earn those sponsorships. In China, the government just writes the check and calls it patriotism. That's not carrying two countries on your shoulders. That's cashing in on one while living off the other.
Quick Rundown
Trump’s “Board of Peace” Announces Gaza Package: The administration announced over $5 billion pledged for Gaza humanitarian efforts and reconstruction, with thousands of security personnel committed to an international stabilization force. First formal meeting set for February 19.
NYC's Socialist Mayor Threatens Homeowners: Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a $127 billion budget with a poison pill—either Governor Hochul approves taxing the wealthy more, or he'll jack property taxes 9.5% on middle-class homeowners (about $700/year extra) and raid the city's reserve funds. This after NYC already blew through $10 billion on migrants and Mamdani's proposing another $1.2 billion for migrant services. Even fellow Democrats are calling it "a nonstarter."
Air Force One Gets the Trump Treatment: Both the donated luxury jet from Qatar and new Boeing VC-25B jets are reportedly being repainted in Trump’s signature red, white, gold, and dark blue colors. The Kennedy-era blue and white design is officially out. First repaints expected within months.
RIP Robert Duvall: The legendary actor passed away at 94. From “The Godfather” to “Apocalypse Now” to “Lonesome Dove,” Duvall defined American cinema for generations.
Annular Solar Eclipse: Antarctica saw a “ring of fire” solar eclipse Monday as the moon blocked 96% of the sun for about 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Southern South America, southern Africa, and most of Antarctica caught partial views.
Let’s Talk
How many red flags have to be waving before we acknowledge patterns we’re not supposed to notice? The Rhode Island shooting had everything: clear warning signs, mental health red flags, a day-before threat to go “BERSERK.” But because the shooter doesn’t fit the preferred narrative, it gets filed under “domestic dispute” and memory-holed. Even the gun violence advocates are quiet.
And where’s the line between “following your dreams” and “selling your loyalty to the highest bidder”? Eileen Gu benefited from everything America offers—freedom, world-class training, Stanford education—then cashed out to an authoritarian regime that pays her millions in government money to live a life most Chinese citizens will never access.
What’s got you fired up today? Drop a comment.
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Oh those pesky inconvenient facts that MSM doesn’t want to report on. I’m so sick of the MSM selective outrage.