What Praising The UnitedHealthcare Shooter Says About America
Dec 13, 2024
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Ali Breland, a Staff writer at The Atlantic specializing in internet, politics, and tech, delves into the shocking online reactions to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He discusses the troubling support for the alleged shooter, highlighting systemic inequalities in healthcare. The conversation also touches on the recent acquittal of Daniel Penny and how these incidents reflect a disturbing trend of vigilante justice in America. Breland’s insights reveal deep-rooted issues in political discourse and public sentiment surrounding violence.
Public sympathy for the UnitedHealthcare shooter reveals deep frustrations with the healthcare system, blurring lines between victimization and violence.
The acquittal of Daniel Penny highlights a growing cultural acceptance of vigilante actions, reflecting polarized opinions on justice and morality in America.
Deep dives
Public Reaction to Health Care Violence
The podcast discusses the public response to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, highlighting a troubling trend where some individuals express sympathy for the alleged shooter due to perceived injustices in the American healthcare system. Many people have articulated that the violent act was a last resort against an industry they believe is failing its patients, leading to financial ruin and suffering. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that while violence is unacceptable, patients feeling victimized by insurance companies often perceive their experiences as forms of violence. This complex reaction raises critical questions about societal frustration with the healthcare system and how it may influence public attitudes toward violence.
Vigilantism and Political Violence
The episode examines the recent acquittal of Daniel Penny for the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway, which has polarized public opinion between seeing him as a hero or a murderer. This case is juxtaposed with the broader cultural acceptance of vigilante actions in America, where individuals feel empowered to act outside the law in response to perceived injustices. The podcast highlights how both right and left political factions have found points of agreement in supporting certain vigilante figures, reflecting a concerning trend of normalizing political violence. This presents a worrying sign for societal stability and the boundaries of acceptable behavior in conflict resolution.
Normalization of Political Violence
Discussions surround the idea that political violence is gaining acceptance in today’s society, as evidenced by the reactions to the aforementioned violent events and their perpetrators. The podcast references historical patterns, linking current sentiments to past periods of political unrest such as the 'years of lead' in Italy and violence in 1970s America. It notes that sociologist Peter Turchin's theories suggest that increasing political violence can arise when there are too many elite aspirants with too few opportunities, leading to unrest and radical actions. This context indicates a possible future where violence becomes increasingly viewed as an avenue for achieving political change, raising concerns about the health of democratic institutions.
The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked a massive reaction online that’s veered into support for the alleged shooter, with an outpouring of sympathy on social media. This week we also saw a jury acquit Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran who killed a man named Jordan Neely using a chokehold on a New York Subway train. The verdict prompted a similar outpouring of support for Penny on the right. Suffice it to say, it was a big week for vigilantism. Atlantic staff writer Ali Breland explains what it all says about our political discourse.
Later in the show, California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins us to discuss how the state is ‘Trump-proofing’ its progressive laws.
And in headlines: President-elect Donald Trump is Time magazine’s ‘Person of the Year,’ President Biden made history by commuting the prison sentences of nearly 1500 people and pardoning another 39, and the federal government says don’t worry about all of those drone sightings over New Jersey.
