From tragedy in Michigan to a major shake-up in the New York mayoral race, and resurfacing talk of a presidential run for a TV personality — here are the top stories shaping the national conversation this Monday morning.
Church Attack in Michigan Leaves Four Dead, Multiple Injured
A quiet Sunday turned into a day of tragedy in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Police say an attacker drove a vehicle into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a service packed with hundreds of worshippers. After ramming through the front doors, the man opened fire before being shot dead by officers.
Initially, officials reported two deaths. But in a Sunday night update, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye revealed that two additional bodies were discovered in the burned church, bringing the death toll to four. Ten others were injured, one fatally, and authorities fear more victims may be found in the area most heavily damaged by fire.
The FBI has joined local police to investigate whether the attacker had any connection to the church. The blaze that consumed parts of the building has since been extinguished, but police warned the devastation may have trapped people inside.
Eric Adams Ends Reelection Bid Amid Funding Roadblocks and Poll Troubles
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams announced he’s ending his reelection bid. In a video posted to X, Adams said “constant media speculation” and the city’s campaign finance board withholding millions in funds had crippled his ability to mount a viable campaign.
Adams touted his first-term record — claiming more housing built than any prior administration, a drop in crime, and improved test scores and attendance — but admitted it wasn’t enough to overcome mounting challenges.
His withdrawal comes as a Suffolk University CityView poll shows Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani with a commanding 20-point lead over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa polled at nine percent, while Adams was in single digits at eight percent before his announcement.
Bill Maher to Stephen A. Smith: Run for President in 2028
And over on the airwaves, HBO’s Bill Maher is floating an unconventional idea for Democrats: draft ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith to run for president in 2028. Appearing on Smith’s SiriusXM show, Maher said Democrats “need an outsider” and called the party a “ghost brand” in need of a relaunch.
Smith laughed off the idea, joking he wouldn’t “give up [his] money” for politics, but Maher doubled down, arguing that only a bold, unapologetic outsider could win back disaffected Democratic voters.
“To me, the Democratic Party is a ghost brand. You know what a ghost brand is? It’s like Sears or, you know, General Electric. It’s still a company…But they’ve really fallen on hard times. But they’ve been around for a long time, so there is value,” he explained.
“It’s an asset, right? Because there are still people who know of the company, and if you could have somebody take it over who is not sentimental about that company, and relaunch it and rebrand it, but it would have to be somebody who is unapologetic about calling them out,” Maher continued.
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