Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. National outlets confirmed the killing and the chaotic scene on campus; the FBI is assisting local authorities. President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death and said flags would be flown at half-staff. That’s the context — tragic, volatile, and nationally televised.
Almost instantly, influential voices on the right blamed “Democrats” and “the left” en masse. Rep. Nancy Mace declared, “Democrats own this.” Right-wing influencer Benny Johnson claimed Kirk “was answering a question about rampant left-wing violence … when he was shot.” Actor James Woods posted, “It’s not gun violence. It’s Democrat violence.” Others escalated to talk of “literal war.” This isn’t analysis — it’s bait. And it works by tempting progressives into reactive language that can be clipped, stripped of nuance, and weaponized with independents.
If you care about winning policy fights tomorrow, practice message discipline today. Political violence is rising across the spectrum, and the research is clear: dehumanizing rhetoric fuels acceptance of violence and hardens the public against compromise. Don’t feed it.
The hard truth for progressives
Whether fair or not, the other side is openly looking for anything to frame you as callous, gleeful, or hypocritical. They will use a stray dunk tweet to justify broader, more authoritarian policies and to peel off persuadable voters. That’s not paranoia — that’s the playbook playing out in real time on social media.
So here’s how to meet the moment with clarity and purpose.
Do this
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Lead with empathy. “This is a tragedy. Our thoughts are with Kirk’s family, colleagues, and the students who witnessed it. Political violence is unacceptable—full stop.” (Yes, full stop.)
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Stick to verified facts. Share only what reputable outlets have confirmed: a single shot, a campus lockdown, an active FBI-supported investigation, flags at half-staff. Don’t speculate on motive.
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Condemn collective blame. Make it explicit that blaming “all Democrats” or “the left” without evidence is reckless and dangerous. Point audiences back to principles and facts.
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Model the tone you want to see. Calm, humane, and brief beats clever and combustible. Research shows escalatory language normalizes support for harsh responses; don’t provide the pretext.
Don’t do this
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Don’t dunk on the dead. Whatever you thought of Kirk’s politics, resist the hot-take economy. Screenshots outlive context—and voters remember.
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Don’t insta-theorize a motive. You will be wrong or premature—and you’ll be used as Exhibit A for why “the left” can’t be trusted.
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Don’t mirror dehumanization. Calling your opponents monsters, plagues, or vermin doesn’t persuade the middle; it just licenses more extremism. The literature and lived experience say so.
Recommended language you can should use — right now
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Short post (X/Threads):
“The killing of Charlie Kirk is horrifying. Political violence has no place in America. We grieve for his family and the students at UVU. We reject collective blame and await facts from investigators.” -
Statement for officials/organizations:
“We condemn the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We extend our condolences to his loved ones and to the UVU community. As authorities investigate, we urge restraint and reject attempts to scapegoat entire communities or parties. Unity against violence must come before politics.”
Why discipline is strategy, not surrender
Some will argue that a softer tone dilutes our moral clarity. The opposite is true. In high-threat windows, disciplined language protects our ability to govern later — because it keeps independents listening and denies opponents the clips they’re desperate to circulate. Meanwhile, the data show politically motivated attacks have climbed in recent years; de-escalation isn’t just optics, it’s harm-reduction.
Bottom line
This is one of those moments when doing the smart thing is also the right thing. Speak with grace. Hold the line on facts. Reject collective blame. Leave zero scraps for those eager to turn grief into grievance — and grief into power.
What we’re watching
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Confirmed facts and official updates on the investigation and federal involvement.
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Ongoing attempts to assign partisan guilt by influencers or elected officials — posts that could seed further escalation.
- Any credible evidence from law enforcement about motive or suspect ties before drawing conclusions.