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Braun/Pittsburgh Post-GazetteCEO killing puts spotlight on violence, health industry THE BRAZEN KILLING of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has ignited a new cultural debate around political violence and the health care industry, while bringing renewed scrutiny to an insurance system that many view as hopelessly corrupt. On social media, an online contingent of figures on the populist left and right are holding up shooting suspect Luigi Mangione as something of a folk hero.  Political leaders have rebuked those celebrating the murder.  However, the incident revealed a simmering anger at the U.S. health care system, which is seen by many as broken, cruel and financially punitive toward patients.  Mangione suffered from chronic back pain and wrote a manifesto that reportedly described industry executives as “parasites” who “had it coming.”  Some Democrats are walking a fine line between condemning the murder and using it to draw attention to health care industry abuses.  “This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) told The Huffington Post.  "Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far.”  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the murder is “unacceptable,” but that the “outpouring of anger at the health care industry” is justified. The populist streak coursing through modern culture and politics has scrambled traditional left-right alliances.  On Wednesday, Warren and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released a bill that would force health insurers to sell off pharmacies.  LAWMAKERS RESPOND TO THOSE CELEBRATING MURDEROnline support for Mangione has blossomed in some corners of social media.  Mangione’s defense attorney said he’s received offers to pay the suspect's legal bills, while the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa., where Mangioni was apprehended has received an avalanche of negative online reviews. Amazon has pulled several products seemingly celebrating the killing. Political leaders, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), have rebuked the online contingent celebrating Thompson’s murder as ghoulish. “Some attention in this case, especially online, has been deeply disturbing, as some have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer. In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero.” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) blasted a New York magazine article that said Thompson’s killing was “inevitable.”  “The public execution of an innocent man and father of two is indefensible, not ‘inevitable’,” he posted on X. “Condoning and cheering this on says more about YOU than the situation of health insurance.”  Mangioni was denied bail on the same day that Thompson was laid to rest, his family mourning. The suspect is currently fighting extradition back to New York.  The New York Police Department is worried about “copy-cat activity,” with NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner telling WABC-TV: “Whenever an incident of this high prominence takes place, our work is to get ahead of any residence, in particular any copy-cat activity that it may inspire.”  It’s a tense moment in national politics, underscored by the two assassination attempts against President-elect Trump during the campaign.  • A 33-year old man was arrested Wednesday for accosting Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C) on Capitol Hill.  • Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she’s “heartsick” to learn that a woman died in a traffic accident with police who were responding to a bomb threat at her home earlier this week.  Read more:  • Social media sympathy for accused killer sparks pushback. • What motivated CEO shooting suspect? Here’s what to know. • How the internet became obsessed with “the hot assassin.” • Mangione’s dark descent from promising student to murder suspect. Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Jonathan Easley, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.CATCH UP QUICK FBI Director Christopher Wray will resign ahead of President-elect Trump's plans to fire him. Trump responded, calling it a "great day in America." The annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.7 percent in November as the Fed eyes another cut to interest rates. Malibu faces mandatory evacuations as a wildfire grows to over 2,700 acres. A court blocked a merger between Albertson's and Kroger in a win for President Biden's antitrust enforcers. Albertson's is suing Kroger for a failure to secure a deal. NEWS THIS AFTERNOON©  Greg NashHegseth to face "unpleasant" confirmation hearingPete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, appears to have steadied the ship but it doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing to confirmation. There were rumors that Hegseth would drop out or be forced out amid allegations of past heavy drinking and sexual impropriety in the workplace reported in multiple news articles. Hegseth now appears on track to get a public hearing, although Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is warning it could be a brutal experience for both Hegseth and his family, as his messy personal life and allegations from the past are aired in front of Congress and a national audience.  “I just told him and his wife, I said, ‘This is going to be a very difficult process on all of you,’” Cornyn said, likening it to the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.   Hegseth is currently working to win over key GOP moderates, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine). Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) appears to be warming to his nomination after multiple private meetings between the two.  MORE ON TRUMP’S PICKS… • Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to lead Trump’s Intelligence operations is raising uncomfortable questions for America’s closest allies over whether the U.S. will remain a trusted partner for sharing sensitive information, The Hill’s Ellen Mitchell writes.   • Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, says Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell can finish his term, which ends in 2026.  • Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI is sending chills through the media over his threats of retribution.  • Trump tapped Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was once dating and engaged to his son Donald Trump Jr., to be ambassador to Greece.  💡Perspectives: • Khanna: Dems should work with DOGE. I know where to start. • The Hill: Hegseth is unqualified by his own standards. • The Hill: Good luck reforming the Department of Defense. • The Financial Times: Tackling the harms of ultra-processed foods.  Read more:  • Trump taps FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to chair agency. • Texas intends to lease land for Trump’s deportation plans. • House Republican calls for GAO to investigate Pentagon’s audit failures. • Democrats fear more IRS cuts in funding fight with GOP. • Almost half of Ukrainians now support Trump: Poll.  IMMIGRATIONTrump administration to 'seal the border' on Day 1 Big changes are coming to how the nation addresses immigration, with key figures in the Trump administration promising to “seal the border” from those seeking entry into the country illegally.  Also on the menu: Mass deportations and potentially an end to birthright citizenship.  The Trump administration feels emboldened after the election, and The New York Times provides new data that is certain to be used to bolster their case: The immigration surge during President Biden’s administration has been the largest in U.S. history. Total net migration is likely to exceed 8 million people over his four years in office, with an estimated 60 percent of those entering the U.S. illegally. ON TAP 9 days until the government funding deadline.23 days until the new Congress begins and the House leadership elections. 29 days until Congress counts the electoral votes.40 days until Inauguration Day.  IN OTHER NEWS ©  Associated PressCongress: Manchin, Sinema block Dem control of NLRB • The Senate blocked Lauren McFerran's renomination to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), opening the door for GOP control of the board starting next year under President-elect Trump. Senators voted 49-50 against a five-year term for McFerran, the NLRB’s chair, with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) voting with most Senate Republicans to block it. Sinema and Manchin, former Democrats turned independents, are retiring at the end of this Congress.   • Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), who has emerged as an occasional critic of his own party, joined Trump’s social media platform TruthSocial. Fetterman’s first post there called for Trump to be pardoned in the hush money case, saying the convictions were the result of “weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain.”   Fetterman also said the Hunter Biden pardon was justified. A new survey finds that only 22 percent of the public approves of President Biden pardoning his son.  The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that GOP senators will not fight Trump if he follows through on his promise to pardon defendants in the Jan. 6 cases.  • The House Ethics Committee held its final meeting this week, likely bringing an end to the drama around a report into the behavior of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (F-Fla.). There are no plans right now to release the report after a three-and-a-half year investigation into allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct against Gaetz, who was briefly nominated by Trump to lead the Justice Department.  • Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says this will likely be his final term.  💡Perspectives: • USA Today: Trump says success will be his 'retribution.' Let's hope he means it. • The Liberal Patriot: Hating the other side doesn’t work for Democrats.• The Nation: No, Harris did not run a flawless campaign.• New York: Does Latino shift mean doom for Democrats? Read more:  • Blinken grilled on Afghanistan withdrawal. • US loans Ukraine $20B from seized Russian assets. • Democrats fear more IRS cuts in funding fight with GOP. • White House says Biden would veto bill adding judicial seats. • Trump, GOP expected to undo Biden’s divisive nursing home rule.  Stay Engaged  Did I miss a story? Drop me a line. Follow TheHill.com for the latest and recommend us to others: TheHill.com/Evening. See you next time.