The Media Research Center’s first reaction to the shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was to whine that it was pointed out he was a right-wing activist. Nicholas Fondacaro huffed:
In the immediate aftermath of conservative influencer and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck at Utah Valley University, MSNBC’s Katy Tur disgustingly took to her eponymous show and smeared him for his politics. She was also joined by vile former Republican strategist Matthew Dowd, who also attacked Kirk while his life was dangling by a thread.
While playing video of the panicked crowd scattering after the shot was fired, Tur diabolically described Kirk as “a divisive figure, polarizing, lightning rod. Whatever term you want to use.”
She then seemingly asked MSNBC political Allen Smith “why” someone would want Kirk dead. “One of MAGA’s most prominent voices online. He hosts a near-daily podcast. He opines on almost everything. He’s been very closely aligned with the President since his initial run for office in 2015-2015,” he said.
A few minutes later, Allen noted that Kirk had, “been front and center on a lot of the more divisive social and cultural issues that have driven the MAGA movement. I mean, you talk about trans rights, a lot of issues around racial justice. He has taken the sort of contrarian, more MAGA approach to a lot of these issues and he has, you know, he’s been pretty inflammatory in his rhetoric through – throughout the years.”
Tur also seemed to hint that Utah’s gun laws could be to blame, noting the state’s “constitutional carry” laws.
Fondacaro then groused that “vile former Republican strategist” Matthew Dowd “erroneously speculated that Kirk was shot by one of his supporters,” adding:
Seeming to suggest that Kirk got what was coming to him, Dowd accused Kirk of using “hate speech.” “He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this — who has constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups,” Dowd ghoulishly sneered.
Fondacaro didn’t dispute the accuracy of Dowd’s statement, but he did gloat in an update that Dowd was fired by MSNBC for those remarks.
Fondacaro followed up with more complaining that the truth was told about Kirk:
Minutes after the news broke that conservative influencer and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University, ABC News broke in and seemingly suggested he had it coming for his “controversial” views and for going to a campus that didn’t want him there.
“ABC news has confirmed conservative activists and podcaster Charlie Kirk has been shot during an event at Utah Valley University,” announced correspondent Kyra Phillips. “The founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization, is known for his outspoken views on politics, culture, religion, often taking his messages to colleges and universities, sparking sometimes pretty heated debates on campus.”
[…]Following Katersky’s report, Phillips pivoted to speak to far-left chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce and doubled down on justifying the attack: “It’s no secret that Kirk has said a number of controversial things over the years, in particular about DEI, Jews, women, LGBTQ community, people of color.”
Fondacaro did not back up his malicious claim that Bruce is “far-left,” and he did not dispute the accuracy of any claim about Kirk.
Intern Isaac White served up his own spin on the narrative:
During Deadline: White House’s breaking news coverage of Wednesday’s shooting at Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA event at Utah Valley University, where Kirk himself was fatally shot, MSNBC’s Ken Dilanian suggested that the FBI’s redistribution of manpower away from domestic terrorism towards illegal immigration may have played a role.
[…]In the midst of a sudden tragic event, MSNBC audaciously connected the story to another national focus in a completely partisan manner.
How is that different from what the MRC does? White didn’t explain.
The MRC’s nepo-baby leader made sure to stay away from Kirk’s divisive rhetoric in appearances in the safe space of right-wing radio, complete with gushiness from post author (and MRC senior communications officer) Kurt Etheridge:
At just 31, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, achieved what few have ever done in a lifetime. His trailblazing vision transformed college campuses, turning strongholds of leftist ideology into vibrant hubs of free speech, faith, and American principles. With infectious energy, he empowered countless young people, inspiring millions to embrace conservative values. As a devoted Christian, husband, and father of two, Charlie lived the values he preached, making our nation stronger with every word and action.
Tragically, that light was extinguished earlier today during an event at Utah Valley University, when a single gunshot rang out. Charlie, addressing thousands of students, was struck in the neck and succumbed to his injuries despite valiant medical efforts. President Trump confirmed the heartbreaking news, plunging the conservative world into mourning.
In the immediate aftermath, MRC President David Bozell appeared on two major platforms to honor Charlie’s legacy, decry the media’s shameful response, and warn against the escalating rhetoric of political violence. His insights remind us why Charlie mattered — and why we must fight on.
On Lars Larson’s nationally syndicated radio program, Bozell shared the profound impact of the assassination on conservative circles, expressing deep grief: “We’re devastated at the Media Research Center. He was a friend of ours, we’re just shocked. My thoughts and prayers to his family and his two children.”
Bozell went on to complain that Kirk’s divisive rhetoric was called out:
He further criticized the narrative, pointing to MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd, who suggested that Kirk’s rhetoric constituted hate speech. Bozell countered, “When you’re constantly pushing this sort of hate speech? Where was the hate speech? Charlie was inviting college kids to a grassy knoll to debate the issues of our time.” Connecting this incident to a broader pattern, Bozell cited attacks on conservative figures like Steve Scalise, Rand Paul, and Donald Trump, arguing that such events reflect a trend of left-wing demonization.
This pattern of vilification, Bozell argued, extends beyond Kirk. “The media have been demonizing Donald Trump ever since he came down the escalator in Trump Tower, and anyone who ever dared to vote for him — all 76 million of us,” he declared. Bozell also criticized pop culture’s role in this trend, singling out South Park: “I hope the South Park guys are happy. They spent an hour, a month ago, berating Charlie Kirk. Now, Charlie took it in jest and laughed along with it. But what else are you gonna do?”
In fact, Kirk is on record as:
- saying that Joe Biden is a “corrupt tyrant who should honestly be put in prison and/or given the death penalty for his crimes against America.”
- operating a website called Professor Watchlist, which listed college professors’ names and their pictures as part of an attempt to incite harassment against those who deviate from conservative groupthink on a host of issues.
- declaring that COVID vaccine mandates were “medical aparatheid.”
- describing transgender people as “groomers” and calling for transgender athletes to be physically confronted for the purported sin of trying to play sports as well as “Nuremberg-style” trials for doctors performing gender-affirming care.
Seems pretty hateful to us. Yet Bozell continued to rage at others telling the truth about Kirk:
Later, on Newsmax’s Frontline with Carl Higbie, Bozell doubled down, urging the media to confront their complicity in stoking division. “These guys have let Democrat politician after Democrat politician threaten violence,” he said, pointing to President Joe Biden’s remarks: “How Joe Biden got away with saying the MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our institutions is beyond me.”
Bozell listed further examples, citing “Tara Setmayer from the Lincoln Project labeling Charlie ‘the enemy,’ Frank Foer from The Atlantic accusing him of ‘antisemitism,’ and Danielle Moodie from The Daily Beast claiming Kirk sought a ‘fascist state.’” “Enough is enough,” Bozell declared, emphasizing a litany of assaults on conservatives.
Bozell concluded by getting all gushy: “Reflecting personally, Bozell paid tribute to Kirk’s legacy: ‘Every one of us in the conservative media ecosystem would have liked to have done it as well as Charlie did. It’s up to us to carry on the torch for him and ensure that he does not die in vain.'” But he never proved any of those criticisms of Kirk to be wrong.
The MRC, in a post by Curtis Houck, did offer some grudging praise for CNN because “Brian Stelter [was] demanding Americans come together in prayer for him,” adding, “As we mentioned, Stelter has been incredibly thoughtful and gracious, decrying this ‘appalling act of political violence’ against a ‘new-era Rush Limbaugh’.” Will that make the MRC apologize for its years of spewing hate at Stelter? Not likely.