Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized Democratic leaders for delaying their endorsement of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, stating at an Iowa fundraiser on September 13th, 2025, that people are tired of "spineless politics." Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance urged Republican donors to support the party in the 2026 midterms by honoring his "close friend" Charlie Kirk, according to reports from the New York Times. In other political developments, sources close to Kamala Harris indicate she believes a path remains for her in a future Democratic presidential primary and intends to take steps to ensure that possibility, according to MSNBC. Separately, Senators Lindsey Graham and Brian Fitzpatrick are reportedly pushing to attach their secondary sanctions bill to an upcoming continuing resolution, as reported by Politico. Previously, the Trump administration requested $58 million from Congress for enhanced security for the executive and judicial branches following the killing of Charlie Kirk. The FBI released video footage and stills of the suspect, identified by his father, amidst ongoing discussions about political rhetoric and its impact on violence. Internet tycoon Elon Musk was hospitalized with severe malaria after a safari in South Africa. Separately, President Donald Trump's approval rating saw a slight increase, moving from -9.8 to -7.6 over the past month. Chris Landau arrived in Seoul, South Korea, for meetings. A Congressional Budget Office report indicated that U.S. deaths are set to outpace births as early as 2031.
