""They" killed Charlie, many conservatives allege, seeking to tie the gunman's actions to an amorphous enemy bloc of Democrats, the media and progressive activists. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told NBC's "Meet the Press" that the suspect has shown a clearly "leftist ideology." Cox added: "I believe that social media has played a direct role in every single assassination and assassination attempt that we have seen over the last five, six years. There is no question in my mind. 'Cancer' probably isn't a strong enough word.""
"Trump has done little to dial down the tension. "I'd like to see [the nation] heal," Trump told NBC News in a phone interview. "But we're dealing with a radical left group of lunatics, and they don't play fair and they never did." Trump and his allies have downplayed political violence against Democrats, including this summer's shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, which left a former state House speaker and her husband dead."
"Why it matters: It's hard to see how people cheering Kirk's killing, and others threatening retribution, ends well. The big picture: Five days after the assassination in Utah, the temperature in the country is still rising, Axios' Zachary Basu reports. A few Republicans - like the mild-mannered House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) - have called for unity and de-escalation."
Assassination in Utah has heightened national tensions as some people cheered the killing and others threatened retribution, raising fears of escalation. A few Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. James Lankford, urged unity and de-escalation. Many MAGA influencers rejected that approach as weak and declared war on the political left, while elected Democrats overwhelmingly condemned the assassination. Conservatives alleged "they" killed Charlie, tying the shooter to Democrats, the media and progressive activists. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described the suspect as leftist and blamed social media for fostering assassinations. Former President Trump blamed a "radical left" while saying he wants the nation to heal. Some Trump allies have downplayed political violence, and others at vigils urged ending violence but blamed the other side.
Read at Axios
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]