US EditionNation on Edge: Experts Warn of “Vicious Spiral” in Political Violence After Kirk Killing
Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck during a political rally at Utah Valley University; a suspect is in custody as investigations into the assassination attempt continue.
- Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University while addressing about 3,000 attendees.
- The shooting happened amid a significant rise in political violence in the U.S., driven by economic insecurity, demographic anxieties, and an increasingly inflammatory political discourse.
- Authorities detained and then released an unnamed suspect, and political figures from Michigan and beyond offered condolences, recalling Kirk's activism and warning about the national crisis of gun violence.
- Experts like Mike Jensen described the event as "horrifying, alarming, but not necessarily surprising," warning that such incidents could trigger a vicious spiral leading to more widespread civil unrest.
- The assassination marks a watershed moment that may inflame an already-fractured country, highlighting the urgent need for action addressing political violence and gun access to prevent further tragedies.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The attack on Charlie Kirk is more than a personal tragedy. It threatens to further fuel the spiral of violence in the US and to cause democracy to falter.
US on edge: Experts warn of “vicious spiral” in political violence
The assassination of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk marks a watershed moment in a surge of US political violence, one that some experts fear will inflame an already-fractured country and inspire more unrest. ”This event is horrifying, alarming, but not necessarily surprising,” said Mike Jensen, a researcher at the University of Maryland, which has tracked such violence in
Nation on edge: Experts warn of “vicious spiral" in political violence after Kirk killing
Experts in domestic terrorism cite a convergence of factors for increased violence in the US: economic insecurity, anxiety over shifting racial and ethnic demographics, and the increasingly inflammatory tone of political discourse
'We're all scared': House lawmaker delivers chilling message on political violence
Members of Congress were petrified Wednesday night that political violence would only worsen after the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday evening."I'm wondering, Congressman, your reaction to what happened today," said C...
Nation on edge: Experts warn of “vicious spiral” in political violence after Kirk killing
By John Shiffman, Ned Parker and Linda So (Reuters) -The assassination of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk marks a watershed moment in a surge of U.S. political violence, one that some experts fear will inflame an already-fractured country and inspire more unrest. ”This event is horrifying, alarming, but not necessarily surprising,” said Mike Jensen, a researcher at the University of Maryland, which has tracked such violence in a terrorism dat…
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