The Foreign Desk Explainer 485: The aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder
Sep 17, 2025
The podcast dives into the complex aftermath of Charlie Kirk's murder, focusing on political reactions. It highlights the Minnesota shootings and the contrasting responses from officials. There’s a discussion on hypocrisy in mourning and the potential exploitation of the tragedy for political gain. The conversation critiques claims about political violence, spotlighting data that reveals right-wing extremism as a predominant threat. The commentary also draws parallels to McCarthy-era tactics, raising concerns about censorship in today's political climate.
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Minnesota Lawmakers Attacked At Home
- Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead at home, and Senator John Hoffman and his wife were seriously injured by the same attacker.
- Andrew Muller links the suspect's politics to a wider media-fuelled conspiracy culture driving violence.
Selective National Mourning Exposed
- Flags weren't ordered to half-staff and national leaders didn't attend the funeral, revealing political double standards in mourning.
- Muller highlights hypocrisy in how comparable tragedies are publicly acknowledged depending on partisan allegiance.
Condemnation Versus Celebratory Schadenfreude
- Muller stresses that condemning an opponent's views shouldn't include wishing them harm or celebrating their death.
- He contrasts recent outrage over mourning choices with past instances where similar calls for restraint were absent.