2 h. ago Utah governor blames social media for fomenting US political violence

Spencer Cox said accused shooter of Charlie Kirk had been a ‘very normal young man’ who was radicalised online

Politics

7 h. ago Charlie Kirk’s killing was a tragedy. But we must not rewrite his life | Moira Donegan

In the wake of horror, honest accountings of his life have not only become rare – they have also become dangerousMaybe it is the gruesome suddenness of his death that has made so many people forget the realities of Charlie Kirk’s life. After the 31-year-old rightwing influencer was shot dead at a college campus appearance in Utah on Wednesday, many commentators rushed to condemn political violence, on the one hand, and to issue warm tributes to Kirk’s life, on the other. The former of these is legitimate: that political policy should not be determined by force, or political disagreements settled through homicidal violence, is a baseline precondition of not just a democratic form of government, but of any functional society. The latter, perhaps, can be explained by the admirable human impulse towards gentleness and reconciliation. The horror and shock of Kirk’s assassination prompted some to offer their generosity, and their sympathy, to the dead man.Perhaps it was these noble gestur...

Events

9 h. ago Charlie Kirk’s death raises fears of ‘beginning of a darker chapter’ for US violence

Social media and widespread availability of lethal weapons make this era more dangerous than the 1960s – and the violence may increaseCharlie Kirk’s killing came amid a rise in political violence in the US, the kind now so frequent that it moves swiftly out of news cycles it would once have dominated.The list is long and growing. From the two assassination attempts on Donald Trump during his campaign last year to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home burnt in an arson attack in April and the Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband gunned down by a man dressed as a police officer in June, to name a few. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago Minneapolis suburb's candidates campaign amid fear and violence after political assassinations

As the nation grapples with the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, two candidates are vying for a legislative seat left open by another political attack in Minnesota

Politics

42 h. ago ‘No idea what you’ve unleashed’: Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, gives statement after husband’s shooting – follow live

Tyler Robinson, 22, the suspect in the shooting is expected to be charged on TuesdayCharlie Kirk shooting: Utah governor confirms arrest of suspectWhat we know after suspect’s arrest: details of messages and gun casings emergeA video, a pastor and a tense meeting: timeline of suspect’s arrestHere are some images coming to us via the wires.Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim. Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting: suspect set to face aggravated murder charge

Tyler Robinson, 22, expected to be charged on Tuesday; family friend contacted authorities after being told he had shot rightwing activist Charlie Kirk shooting: Utah governor confirms arrest of suspectWhat we know after suspect’s arrest: details of messages and gun casings emergeA video, a pastor and a tense meeting: timeline of suspect’s arrestHere are some images coming to us via the wires.Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim. Continue reading...

Events

50 h. ago The US is on the brink of another era of political violence – and Donald Trump ‘couldn’t care less’ | Jonathan Freedland

In their humane responses to the killing of Charlie Kirk, Democrats are observing the old norms. Things are different now: anger and division ruleSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreThe killing of Charlie Kirk has left the US and those who care about it on edge. The arrest of a suspect, Tyler Robinson, has hardly settled the nerves, not when the revelation of any supposed political allegiances could touch off a fresh round of recriminations. The fear is that the country is about to descend into a new era of political violence, becoming a place where differences are settled not with words and argument but by guns and blood. After all, it has plumbed those depths before.The US was born in violence, fought a civil war less than a century after its founding and in living memory seemed to be on the brink of another one – with a spate of assassinations in the ...

Politics

52 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: Utah governor confirms identity of suspect and says family friend turned him in

Spencer Cox says Tyler Robinson, 22, told family friend he had shot Kirk; FBI director says suspect was taken into custody on Thursday eveningCharlie Kirk shooting suspect arrested, says Trump: ‘We have him in custody’How Charlie Kirk pushed a new generation to the rightHere are some images coming to us via the wires.Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim. Continue reading...

Events

53 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: Utah governor confirms suspect named Tyler Robinson arrested over killing

Spencer Cox says 22-year-old told family friend he had shot Kirk; FBI director says suspect was taken into custody at 10pm mountain timeCharlie Kirk shooting suspect arrested, says Trump: ‘We have him in custody’How Charlie Kirk pushed a new generation to the rightHere are some images coming to us via the wires.Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim. Continue reading...

Events

55 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: Trump says ‘with high degree of certainty’ suspect is in custody

President makes remark during interview with Fox News at their studio in New YorkHere are some images coming to us via the wires.Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago Charlie Kirk’s shocking killing sets the stage for a federal crackdown | Moustafa Bayoumi

Maga leaders blame a mythically powerful left for political violence. Now, they are bent on destroying anyone who opposes themI disagreed with Charlie Kirk on pretty much everything, but his shocking and morally repugnant assassination is deeply concerning, and not just because it’s another example of the lethality of our politics. Kirk’s killing is also sending prominent conservatives on a warpath, setting the stage for a dangerous expansion of federal government repression.Kirk was a social media megastar and the founder of Turning Point USA, the foremost rightwing youth organization in the country. His political positions were to the far-right, and his language was often combative, to say the least. He called Martin Luther King, Jr “awful” and said “we made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s”. He believed in the so-called great replacement theory, which asserts that elites are encouraging mass migration to undermine white people in western countries. ...

Events

58 h. ago Political violence expert reveals his biggest worry after Charlie Kirk’s assassination

The fatal shooting of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk brought renewed attention to the climate of political violence in America

Politics

58 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: killer still at large as video of suspect released

‘We cannot do our job without the public’s help,’ Utah’s governor said, adding the FBI had received more than 7,000 leads and tips so farHere are some images coming to us via the wires.Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim. Continue reading...

Events

65 h. ago Utah officials share video of Charlie Kirk shooting suspect as governor pledges death penalty

Briefing follows release of four new images of suspect and reward offer of $100,000Hunt continues for suspect who fatally shot Charlie KirkHow the shooting unfolded – in maps, videos and imagesA UK offshoot of a US conservative group set up by Charlie Kirk is to hold a vigil in London after he was shot dead, reports the PA news agency.Turning Point UK has said its activists will gather on Friday evening by the Montgomery statue in Whitehall and called on others to “join us in remembering Charlie”.It’s absolutely shocking, we’re heartbroken over here in the UK.My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.Political violence has no place in our societies.Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom.My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conservative community. Continue...

Events

66 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: four new images of suspect released by Utah officials

Images appear to be taken from surveillance video as Trump encourages nonviolent response to fatal shootingHunt continues for suspect who fatally shot Charlie KirkHow the shooting unfolded – in maps, videos and imagesA UK offshoot of a US conservative group set up by Charlie Kirk is to hold a vigil in London after he was shot dead, reports the PA news agency.Turning Point UK has said its activists will gather on Friday evening by the Montgomery statue in Whitehall and called on others to “join us in remembering Charlie”.It’s absolutely shocking, we’re heartbroken over here in the UK.My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.Political violence has no place in our societies.Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom.My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conserva...

Politics

69 h. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: Trump encourages nonviolent response as search continues for shooting suspect

Trump says Kirk ‘was an advocate of nonviolence. That’s the way I’d like to see people respond.’; FBI releases images of shooting suspect and offers $100,000 reward for informationHunt continues for suspect who fatally shot Charlie KirkHow the shooting unfolded – in maps, videos and imagesA UK offshoot of a US conservative group set up by Charlie Kirk is to hold a vigil in London after he was shot dead, reports the PA news agency.Turning Point UK has said its activists will gather on Friday evening by the Montgomery statue in Whitehall and called on others to “join us in remembering Charlie”.It’s absolutely shocking, we’re heartbroken over here in the UK.My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.Political violence has no place in our societies.Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom.My c...

Politics

2 d. ago A ‘deep divide’: Why political violence has spiked in recent years and what can be done to stop it

US is experiencing most profound surge in political violence since the 1970s, data shows

Politics

2 d. ago Charlie Kirk shooting latest: search for shooting suspect continues as FBI asks public for help

FBI releases images of shooting suspect and offers $100,000 reward for information; Turning Point USA statement on Charlie Kirk: ‘His legacy will endure’Full report: Hunt for suspect who fatally shot Charlie Kirk continuesHow the shooting unfolded – in maps, videos and imagesA UK offshoot of a US conservative group set up by Charlie Kirk is to hold a vigil in London after he was shot dead, reports the PA news agency.Turning Point UK has said its activists will gather on Friday evening by the Montgomery statue in Whitehall and called on others to “join us in remembering Charlie”.It’s absolutely shocking, we’re heartbroken over here in the UK.My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.Political violence has no place in our societies.Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom.My condolences to ...

Events

3 d. ago The Guardian view on the killing of Charlie Kirk: a perilous moment that may lead to more | Editorial

The shooting of the Turning Point USA co-founder should not be used to foment further division in a polarised country“Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” Lilliana Mason, a leading scholar of partisanship, observed recently. She added: “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” Dr Mason’s own research suggests that there is sharply rising tolerance of political violence. On Wednesday, it claimed one more victim.The shocking killing of the co-founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk, a hugely influential activist who rallied young people to Donald Trump’s cause and far-right ideology more broadly, has been widely and rightly condemned across the political spectrum. Leading Democrats and progressive activists made clear that such violence must not be tolerated.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in ...

Events

3 d. ago ‘This is not the way we do it!’ The View condemns political violence following Charlie Kirk assassination

‘We should be able to voice whatever opinions we have,’ Sunny Hostin said on show the day after the assassination

Politics