Reckoning with Charlie Kirk's killing

 

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September 11, 2025 By now, you have almost certainly heard the disturbing news: Right-wing influencer and Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed yesterday in Utah while speaking to college students. The shooter remains at large. Kirk, 31, was the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization that encouraged young people to get involved in right-wing politics. He was married with two children.  Kirk's killing comes as the latest chapter in a horrific trend of rising political violence in our country. This violence has proved to stubbornly transcend partisan divides, targeting officials and public figures on both the right and the left. Alarmingly, though, some of the rhetoric we have seen in the aftermath of Kirk's killing from some far-right influencers—and even from President Donald Trump himself—has falsely implied that this violence only flows one way: from people on the left, and toward conservatives. My colleagues Anna Merlan and Kiera Butler and I laid it all out in a piece we published last night. Let's be clear: The shooter has not been identified or detained, meaning any motivation remains speculative. Beyond that, it seems absurd, counterproductive, and just plain sad that some people's first instinct in the aftermath of such a tragedy is to try to blame their political opponents. And as my colleague David Corn writes, we can condemn this heinous assassination and empathize with Kirk's wife and kids while also being honest about the views he held:  Kirk did enjoy debating others. He visited campuses and held events in which he took on all comers, arguing over a variety of contentious issues. He was a showman, and his commitment to verbal duking was admirable. He appeared proud of the harsh opinions he robustly shared. Which means there’s no reason now to be shy about them while pondering his legacy. Moreover, as a movement strategist, he relied upon and advanced lies and bigotry—including falsehoods that fueled violence and an assault on our national foundation. That was not a side gig for Kirk. It was a core component of his organizing. He did not practice politics the right way. He used deceit to develop his movement and to weaken the United States. His assassination is heinous and frightening and warrants widespread condemnation. It should prompt reflection on what is happening within the nation and what needs to be done to prevent further political violence. It should not protect him or others who engage in such politics of extremism from critical review. I hope you'll take a deep breath and give it a read.  —Julianne McShane

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Politicians Unite to Condemn Killing of Conservative Influencer Charlie Kirk Officials on both sides of the aisle called for prayers and condemned the political violence. BY JULIANNE MCSHANE

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No, Charlie Kirk was not practicing politics the right way BY DAVID CORN “THIS IS WAR”: Some right-wing figures call for retribution following Kirk killing BY ANNA MERLAN, JULIANNE MCSHANE, AND KIERA BUTLER Pardoned insurrectionists are using Charlie Kirk’s death to call for civil war BY KIERA BUTLER AND JULIANNE MCSHANE

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When all protest is terrorism The groundwork for Trump’s free speech crackdown was laid by the War on Terror. BY CHRISTOPHER KETCHAM

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Lemon LIVE at 5 | MAGA Blames The Left for Charlie Kirk's Death - September 11th, 2025

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Unity, Forgotten Revenge and retribution are now at the black heart of American politics Dan Rather and Team Steady Sep 11 Credit: Getty Images Lest we forget. Today is the anniversary of the terrorist attacks that, for a time, unified our nation. Twenty-four years after 9/11 another American tragedy is a cautionary reminder of how much our country has changed. This time, we are being torn apart rather than united. The circumstances are not the same, not even close, but the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a young conservative, in broad daylight, in a public square, has given oxygen to a political firestorm — providing many Americans yet another reason to be angry at each other. As someone who has witnessed his share of political violence, I can testify that it seldom achieves the intended goals. It was, and will always be, wrong. I was in Dallas when our young president was gunned down. I covered the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and too many other horrific political crimes to recall. But there was always one constant: we knew that we would get through it. We had each others’ backs. Somehow, collectively as a nation, we would move forward, together. This time, we can’t be sure. So much has changed in how we Americans feel about one another. In 2001 social media was in its infancy. There was no Facebook, Twitter or TikTok. Do yourself a favor, steer clear of those sites today. The anger and hate that comes from anonymously spewed invectives is helping no one. Too few people are heeding the precaution, “think before you post.” Too many others just don’t give a damn. Donald Trump, who needs no excuse to rant, used the murder of his friend Kirk to blame the “radical left” for the crime. This was not an effort for a unifying moment and it gave tacit permission for his MAGA followers to flood social media with threats of violence and hate. It also doesn’t help that anchors for a supposed news network wondered aloud about retaliation for Kirk’s death. “They are at war with us. Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us. And what are we going to do about it?,” intoned Fox “News” host Jesse Watters. “We?” MAGA influencer Laura Loomer posted, “We must shut these lunatic leftists down. Once and for all. The Left is a national security threat.” Keep in mind that as of this writing, we don’t know the motive for Kirk’s murder, and no suspect has been arrested. Still, fingers are being pointed and blame laid, while many of Trump’s supporters are not waiting for evidence and facts to render their verdict. It’s a sign of our divided times that many in our country probably have no idea who Charlie Kirk is. Social media algorithms keep Kirk and his brand of in-your-face Trump support out of the feeds of most who are not professed MAGA. Still, for as much as the political class is consumed with the latest outrage, I believe many good-hearted Americans on both sides of the political spectrum are too worried about their everyday lives to be all-in on right vs. left. They’re more concerned with the price of groceries and their children’s health. Suffice it to say, Kirk was one of, if not the most, influential young MAGA voices. It is not appropriate at this moment to delve into what he believed or recount what many people consider the spewing of dangerous,racist and toxic rhetoric. We need to take the temperature down. Whatever you think of his politics, he was out there talking, debating, taking all comers, embracing one of the great tenets of American democracy: free speech, the free exchange of ideas. He didn’t deserve to die because of what he professed. Neither did the Democratic state legislator in Minnesota, or the Israeli embassy workers in Washington, D.C. Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul didn’t deserve to be assaulted in his own home. A police officer didn’t deserve to be killed and workers at the CDC in Atlanta didn’t deserve to be terrorized by a gunman who sprayed their building with automatic rifle fire. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro didn’t deserve to have his home fire bombed in an attempted assassination. There are so many examples, too many. Someone in a leadership position needs to step up and say “stop.” The Republican governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, should be applauded for acknowledging the need to “disagree better.” At a press conference after the shooting, he said, “Our nation is broken.” For those who “celebrated, even a little bit, at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror, and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere.” Does anyone have the courage to do better? We’re waiting. The hope is that somehow, some way, responsible and reasonable voices will win out. As those online algorithms dole out more and more extreme content, hyperpolarization is the unfortunate consequence. Now, for some, that polarization is manifesting into political violence. And sadly, pushing many to jump to conclusions that fit their own political agenda. One does not have to agree with his politics to mourn Charlie Kirk's death; but more importantly, to mourn what has happened to our nation. We all, in the spirit of 9/11, must keep striving for the ideal of “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Steady is free, but to support my team’s efforts to protect our democracy through the power of independent journalism, we’d appreciate it if you would consider joining as a paid subscriber. It keeps Steady sustainable and accessible for all. No matter how you subscribe, I thank you for being part of the Steady community. Stay Steady, Dan