More or Less: Behind the Stats Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
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Sep 20, 2025 
Lizzy McNeill, a dedicated reporter who specializes in political violence analysis, joins to dissect the contentious claims made by JD Vance concerning left-wing violence. The conversation dives into polling data regarding public perceptions of political violence and explores how definitions and motivations complicate the picture. Lizzy highlights troubling trends where recent attacks have predominately involved right-identified individuals. The episode debates the role of mental illness and the challenges inherent in categorizing violent acts by ideology.
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Charlie Kirk's Assassination And Arrest
- Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in front of 3,000 people on 10 September 2025.
- A suspect, Tyler Robinson, was arrested two days later after his father persuaded him to surrender.
Vance's Claim And The YouGov Poll
- J.D. Vance claimed "most of the lunatics" are on the far left, citing statistics after Kirk's death.
- A YouGov poll showed higher reported acceptance of political violence among self-described "very liberal" respondents than "very conservative" ones.
Poll Timing Skews Support For Violence
- The YouGov poll found about 25% of "very liberal" respondents said political violence was sometimes justified versus 3% of "very conservative" respondents.
- Poll timing (just after Kirk's death) likely influenced responses, inflating hostility among those opposed to him.