The assassination of Brian Thompson, the powerful CEO of UnitedHealthcare has shocked corporate America. Thompson was gunned down in broad daylight on December 4 outside the Midtown Hilton Hotel, in Manhattan, where he was set to later address investors. In a premeditated attack, the killer, wearing a mask and wielding a silenced pistol, fired three shots at Thompson from behind, before cycling off into Central Park to escape. Five days later, police arrested 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in Pennsylvania for the murder. Mangione suffered debilitating back pain for many years but the media’s suggestion that his motive was borne out of a frustration with healthcare providers over his own condition is unlikely, as he was from a wealthy family.
Shooting dogs and goats, and not meeting Kim Jong Un
Since January 2019, Kristi Noem has been the formidable Governor of South Dakota and her uncompromising conservative positions on taxation, healthcare and gun rights would have in any case made her a leading candidate for Donald Trump’s running mate in this year’s election. Aside from being articulate, striking in appearance and appearing politically savvy, she received national attention for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, opting against statewide lockdowns and mandates. Noem is a vocal supporter of Trump's policies and has adopted similar stances on key issues such as immigration, economic policy and law enforcement. But this was all before she dragged her dog and goat, and Kim Jong Un, into the national conversation.