According to various news reports, the suspect's car had a manifesto, a hit list of people to target (one report said the list had a bunch of politicians, another said the list had a bunch of pro-choice activists), and apparently the car also had a bunch of No Kings signs in it. I'm guessing they thought he was going to slip into a protest and try to hurt people?

Something important to know about the two people who were shot: until her death, Melissa Hortman was a member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives; and John Hoffman is a member of the Minnesota State Senate. Both were Democrats.

And up until they were shot, the Minnesota House had 134 Members: 66 Republicans vs 67 Democrats (with one seat empty to be filled later). And the Minnesota Senate had 67 members: 33 Republicans and 34 Democrats. If the assassinations had both been successful, both chambers would have been tied. As it is, they're only saying that Hoffman is "stable", but there are no further details.

[–] Hegar@fedia.io 26 points 1 day ago

I'd heard it was over flyers in a car but I was hoping there was more to it than that. That's a pretty flimsy threat to be capitulating to when we're fighting murderous fascists, and sets a bad precedent.

I was not aware of how thin dem majorities were. That's very important context, thank you.