Slate Daily Feed What Next: TBD | A Very Online Shooter
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Sep 19, 2025 
Ryan Broderick, a reporter immersed in online culture and the author of the newsletter Garbage Day, unveils the complex relationship between internet culture and violence. He explores the viral impact of the Charlie Kirk murder, emphasizing how influencers shape public perception. The discussion touches on the chaos of online misinformation, the failure of law enforcement to grasp meme literacies, and the competing narratives that emerge around violent events. Broderick traces historical patterns of memeified violence, highlighting the challenges faced by institutions in responding effectively.
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Internet Culture Becomes Real-World Spectacle
- The Charlie Kirk killing shows how internet culture and real-life violence now blend into one visible spectacle.
- Ryan Broderick argues this fusion is a defining, darker portrait of 21st-century America.
Reporter Describes Unprecedented Online Chaos
- Ryan says he has covered massive internet-driven news stories for 15 years and never seen the chaos around this video.
- He highlights unprecedented misinformation, conspiracy, and algorithmic spread after the Kirk video went viral.
Local Weirdness Gets Nationalized
- Local eccentric figures around an event can fuel conspiracy and confusion once national attention arrives.
- Broderick notes local oddballs get amplified and misinterpreted when media and policing descend.