The Brew: Kohberger Guilty, ‘Diddy’ Guilty, UPenn Guilty and Apologetic

Editor’s Note: In honor of our nation’s birthday, this will be the last installment of The Brew this week. Our staffers are taking some well-deserved time off to enjoy the holiday tomorrow, and we hope you are too. But join us back here first thing Monday morning; we’ll have some news piping hot and ready to serve!

If guilt were an Olympic sport, we just witnessed a nationwide marathon of pleas, convictions, and apologies. Alas, we must begin on a somber note from a story we first reported way back in January 2023.

Pleading Guilty

Bryan Christopher Kohberger, the 30-year-old man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022, showed no emotion late Tuesday when he pled guilty to all charges.

BREAKING: Bryan Kohberger has pleaded guilty to all counts, admitting to the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students. He is expected to be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences on the murder counts, according to the plea agreement. https://t.co/iGAOJgzcJp pic.twitter.com/5qa9Qx2A94

— ABC News (@ABC) July 2, 2025

The deal spares Kohberger from both a jury trial and the death penalty, but not the four consecutive life sentences. He also faces up to 10 years for conviction of burglary; his sentencing hearing is set for July 23, according to ABC News. At the hearing, Kohberger waived his right to appeal before confirming his guilt by responding “yes” when asked if he killed each victim.

The victims’ families, who became aware of the deal last week, had mixed emotions about it, but some were enraged. Prosecutors believe the deal is a “sincere attempt to seek justice,” but Kaylee Goncalves’s family said in a Facebook post, “We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us.”

Ethan Chapin’s parents supported the plea deal, attending court for the first time since the murders. Tuesday also marked the first time that Kohberger’s parents had been in a courtroom since his arrest.

Justice Rolling Out Like a River

Across the country, New York jurors reached a final verdict yesterday in the federal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, which began on May 5. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted of racketeering and two sex-trafficking charges in a high-profile case that has captured and held national attention for the better part of a year. The split verdict spares him from a potential life sentence, but he still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution convictions.

The 55-year-old former hip-hop star was accused of using his Bad Boy Records empire to run a decades-long criminal enterprise that controlled and manipulated women, including his former longtime girlfriend, 38-year-old R&B singer Cassie Ventura. Combs’s legal team admitted that he was guilty of domestic violence against her and other girlfriends, but said the women were willing participants in the drug-fueled, days-long “freak off” sex performances and parties hosted by Combs, in which they were compelled to have sex with male prostitutes while Combs watched.

His defense team requested a $1 million bond so Combs could be released until he returns to court for his sentencing hearing; that date has not yet been determined. According to The New York Post, neither of these requests is likely to be granted due to his convictions on the prostitution charges. But some say the worst — for Combs — is still to come.

Journalist Liz Crokin says Diddy’s downfall has only begun. Even bigger criminal charges are coming. ‘This story is not over’:
“This party is just getting started. Facing lawsuits from 70 individuals. He will be getting more charges. This is just the beginning.” pic.twitter.com/hHuNyP80K4

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 2, 2025

If there is more to Combs’ crimes, let’s hope this is just the beginning of justice.

UPenn Makes a U-Turn

Finally some just plain ol’ good news! The U.S. Department of Education delivered a big announcement on Tuesday: The University of Pennsylvania has bowed to the Trump administration and will exclude biological male athletes from women’s sports going forward, following a Title IX investigation into UPenn’s swimming program. And not only that: Administrators apologized for their wrongdoings.

Common sense won today–a major victory for women and girls nationwide!@Penn has agreed to apologize and comply with Title IX, thanks to @POTUS‘s leadership and dedication to protecting women’s sports at the University and for future generations.https://t.co/kCaeHn84dG

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) July 1, 2025

The DOE began investigating the university on February 6, the day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order protecting females in women’s sports. Remember, this was the school where biologically male athlete Lia Thomas was competing on the women’s swim team in the 2021-22 season after previously competing on the men’s team — the controversy that later made Riley Gaines a household name. A statement from the DOE requires Penn to implement the following as part of the agreement:

Restore to female athletes all individual Division I swimming records, titles, or similar recognitions which were misappropriated by male athletes allowed to compete in female categories;
Issue a public statement to the University community stating that it will comply with Title IX, specifying that that school will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs or occupy UPenn Athletics female bathrooms or locker rooms;
Specify that Penn will adopt biology-based definitions for the words “male” and “female” pursuant to Title IX and consistent with President Trump’s executive orders “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism” and “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”;
Post the statement in a prominent location on its main website and on each of its websites for women’s athletics;
Rescind any guidance which violated Title IX, remove or revise any internal and public-facing statements or documents that are inconsistent with Title IX, and notify all staff and women’s athletics of all such rescissions; and
Send a personalized letter of apology to each impacted female swimmer.

UPenn released a statement acknowledging the resolution, admitting that female athletes were disadvantaged by prior NCAA eligibility rules, and made a commitment to correct the swimming records from 2021-22 using the current eligibility guidelines (meaning Lia Thomas will be officially stripped of all women’s swimming titles). Former UPenn swimmers Paula Scanlan, Riley Gaines and others who had spoken out against Thomas’ participation praised the resolution, and the strong leadership Trump showed to bring sanity back.

Justice, dear reader, has been served.

Along The Stream…

Coming up later this morning, Jules Gomes tells us how the “Ayatollah Who Praised Pope Francis Issues Fatwa Against U.S. President Donald Trump.”

Also later this morning, Pastor Shane Idleman responds to Tucker Carlson and Candice Owens on their views about Israel.

Gayle McQueary is The Stream’s social media specialist. She has a background in production and an opinion on most news headlines.

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