Best of the Media Buzz Meter: Suspect in Health CEO's Murder Caught, Taylor Lorenz Says She Felt ‘Joy' After Killing
This 'Media Buzz Meter' first aired December 10th, 2024 … Howie Kurtz on the suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting being caught in PA, social media praising the assassination and Daniel Penny being acquitted in NYC subway chokehold trial.
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CNN
6 hours ago
- CNN
‘Luigi the Musical' creators say the play is not what you expect
Luigi Mangione has a fan club and state and federal charges accusing him of murder. Now the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson also has a show named after him. But the people behind 'Luigi the Musical' say they're not jumping on the bandwagon that saw an outpouring of antipathy toward the health insurance industry and apparent appreciation for Mangione. 'I think it's more about posing the questions and trying to deepen the conversation … around these more difficult and hot-button issues,' Jonny Stein, who plays Mangione, told CNN in an exclusive interview. 'I hope that conversation continues and that there is this element of stopping and thinking and hopefully analyzing these kinds of responses,' he added. 'And I hope you have fun.' It started out as a 'Can you believe it?' moment at an open mic night in San Francisco's comedy scene. 'Have you heard Diddy, (Sam Bankman-Fried) and Luigi are in the same prison?' Caleb Zeringue said he asked his friends. From that one comment came the five-show production opening Friday night at the Taylor Street Theater in San Francisco. Zeringue is an executive producer, along with friend and fellow comedian Nova Bradford. It's a satirical one-act show, set in the Brooklyn federal prison which housed Mangione; Sean 'Diddy' Combs, in the midst of his federal trial for sex trafficking; and Bankman-Fried — the crypto king serving time behind bars for a massive fraud scheme. He was transferred out of the Metropolitan Detention Center last month. 'It's like a period piece set in March,' joked Stein, a comedian who also has a background in musical theater. The makers are adamant that the dark comedy is in no way meant to glorify Mangione's alleged crimes, saying on the theater's website: 'If you are confused, offended, or taking this too literally, we gently recommend a Google search for 'satire,' or possibly a hug.' 'I think we are all pretty curious about the systems at large,' Stein told CNN. 'Health care is part of what we're looking at, but tech and entertainment too.' Zeringue added they're hoping they allow audiences to question the 'complication of the fact that violence is so commonplace in our society' and explore why major events that happen take off on social media. Public obsession around these high-profile cases has exploded, with people's interest piquing for different reasons. Outside the federal court where the Combs trial is ongoing, you will find dozens of people spending hours live-streaming rain or shine, chasing down witnesses or reading from their spiral notebooks a play-by-play of what's happening inside court. One person, who goes by the name 'Miss Pleasant' online, explained that her viewers want to feel engaged. 'It has celebrity, it has sex, it has crime, it has drugs. This is as big as the OJ Simpson trial.' She's amassed a following of more than 6,000 followers on YouTube. Similarly, at Mangione's court hearings, supporters show up in the hundreds, donning 'Luigi' green and chanting for his freedom. Dr. Roona Ray with the non-profit Physicians for a National Health Program said her motivation for showing up at these court dates was the hope that change in the health care system will come. 'I think this case kind of touched a nerve for people. As a physician, I see people every day that are treated badly by the health insurance industry,' Ray said. 'Luigi the Musical' certainly tapped into something, as tickets for all five shows sold out within a day. The group has since added one more performance in July at a different theater in San Francisco. Mangione, now 27, has a court date scheduled for September in the New York state case. He has pleaded not guilty to all state and federal charges.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Luigi Mangione Says He's Thankful for Conservatives
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, in Manhattan, said in an electronic communication sent from jail that he was thankful for conservatives. In the June 3 message sent from MDC Brooklyn and obtained by TMZ, Mangione lists 27 things he is grateful for, in recognition of his 27th birthday last month. The 23rd item on the list is "the conservatives, who fiercely conserve the aspects of our society that make us great." He also thanks "the liberals, who liberate us from the outdated aspects of our society that prevent us from being greater." Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City and leading authorities on a five-day search, appears in court for a hearing on February 21, 2025, in New York. Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City and leading authorities on a five-day search, appears in court for a hearing on February 21, 2025, in New York. Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool, File Why It Matters Mangione faces federal charges and state charges in New York and Pennsylvania in the killing of Thompson. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. What To Know Mangione opened the list by thanking his family, friends and "the many talented and generous individuals who—if not for my current predicament—I never would've crossed paths with." He also thanked people for sending letters, where they share fears, triumphs, advice and other aspects of their lives. "The monotony of my physical environment is offset by the variety and richness of the lives I experience through letters: multi-page life stories, retellings of workplace conversations, stream of consciousness journal entries," Mangione wrote. Mangione said he is grateful for the MDC Mail Room, which has processed thousands of letters from more than 40 countries. He also gave a nod to memes, the books that have been sent to him, and independent media and creators. The letter reveals information about Mangione's cellmate, who is identified only as "J." "Despite spending half of every day inside a shared birdcage and being sentenced to a decade away from his six kids who he loves—[he] tolerates the clutter of all my papers, shares his unique wisdom, and doesn't hesitate to humble me when I need it," Mangione said. The MDC staff and correctional officers are "nothing like 'The Shawshank Redemption' or 'The Stanford Prison Experiment,'" Mangione said. He said there is the "minor occasional dissent," but they are "largely there to help." Mangione said he is grateful for "Chicken Thursdays" and keyboard shortcuts. He thanked the people who have contributed more than $1 million to his legal defense fund. He said he is grateful for Friedman Agnifilo and the rest of his legal team. Mangione also lists "Latinas for Mangione," people who donated to his commissary account, the Federal Bureau of Prisons music catalogue, the trials he has endured, his "lucky long sleeve," hearts, creatives, being born in America and free speech as things he is grateful for. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in Mangione's federal case. What People Are Saying Luigi Mangione, in his message: "I spend each day between the same four walls of my unit, where I receive both holiday cards sent in December and birthday cards sent between March and May, creating a bizarre and disorienting Groundhog Day scenario where every day is both Christmas and my May 6th birthday. Nonetheless, I'm incredibly grateful." U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in an April 1 statement: "Luigi Mangione's murder of Brian Thompson—an innocent man and father of two young children—was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America." Defense Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, in an April 1 statement: "While claiming to protect against murder, the federal government moves to commit the pre-meditated, state-sponsored murder of Luigi." What Happens Next Mangione's next appearance in state court is scheduled for September 16. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on December 5. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Former PCSO tried to build a gun using 3D printer
A former police community support officer with an 'obsession' for weapons tried to build a gun using a 3D printer. Zoe Watts, 38, was found with an 'arsenal' at her Lincoln home, with items including parts to make a semi automatic weapon, a machete and a crossbow. Watts, who previously served as a PCSO with Lincolnshire Police, was arrested during an armed operation on Dec 11. It came less than four years after she was previously jailed for possessing illegal weapons and manufacturing explosives in 2021. The latest charge related to Watts trying to make an FGC MK II Nutty semi automatic weapon, jurors at Lincoln Crown Court heard. Christopher Poole, a ballistics expert for the prosecution, said: 'It was the first in the UK seen of this variant.' Giving evidence, Mr Poole said 3D printed guns had become an emerging trend where individuals were circumventing firearms laws. He confirmed videos of similar weapons being discharged were readily available on YouTube, while jurors were shown footage of a similar weapon being discharged at a metal target in America. Jonathan Dee, prosecuting, explained the initials of the FGC MK II stood for 'F--- gun control'. When firearms experts tried to put the weapon together, it did not work, but Mr Dee insisted it would have become a 'lethal' prohibited weapon if made correctly. The 3D printer was found in a cupboard during a search of Watts' home along with many of the parts needed to make the FGC MK II Nutty, including a 'very short' steel barrel. Other items including a machete, bladed article, crossbow and bow were recovered from Watts' home. 'The defendant had an arsenal, we say this was part of it,' Mr Dee told the jury. Two days before the search, Mr Dee said Watts had put a search into Google asking: 'Has anybody been killed by a 3D printed gun?' And a day later, a search was made for the death of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of United Healthcare, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in New York, Mr Dee said. During her trial, Watts claimed she was actually making a 'fidget' toy gun as a Christmas present. Watts told the jury she had previously run a YouTube channel dedicated to 'survivalism' and bushcraft. But a jury at Lincoln Crown Court convicted her of the offence after a five-day trial. Judge Simon Hirst adjourned sentence until Aug 8 and remanded Watts back into custody. Watts was previously jailed for 27 months in July 2021 after she 'hoarded' banned weapons and explosive substances and also made an improvised explosive device. Police also found a stun gun, butterfly knives and an illegal electric fly-swatter during a raid in October 2020. On that occasion Watts had made an explosive device out of a modified shotgun cartridge. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
