The mainstream media is pointing the finger at Republicans in the aftermath of the horrific assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot and killed at the Utah Valley University campus on Wednesday during the first stop of his highly anticipated college campus tour. Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital, where the 31-year-old later passed away, leaving behind his wife, Erika, and their two beautiful children.
'Is this a moment for your party to reflect on political violence?'
Less than 24 hours later, CBS host Nate Burleson made a classless insinuation that Republicans are to blame for the atrocity, asking former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) if his party should "reflect on political violence" following Kirk's murder. At the same time, Burleson took it upon himself to remind the audience of Kirk's "offensive" rhetoric.
"Not everyone took to his words or his rhetoric," Burleson said. "You know, at times, they were offensive to specific communities. But with that said, this is not the time to focus on that. We are focused on this tragedy."
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"Speaking of this tragedy, is this a moment for your party to reflect on political violence?" Burleson asked McCarthy.
"Is it a moment for us to think about the responsibility of our political leaders and their voices and what it does to the masses as they get lost in misinformation or disinformation that turns in and spills into political violence?" Burleson reiterated.
McCarthy rejected Burleson's premise that Republicans are to blame. Another panelist interjected, "I say both parties."
"I don't even say parties; I say a nation," McCarthy responded.
"We have watched this political attack on both sides," McCarthy said. "We've watched what happened in Minnesota. We watched what happened to President Trump. We've watched this on both sides. This is not a question about parties; this is a question about nations."
"We cannot normalize this," McCarthy added. "But Charlie was not elected."
CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
RELATED: New York Times continues SPLC demonization of Charlie Kirk, accuses him of provocation
Burleson was not the only media talking head to pin the blame on Republicans. During the live coverage of the horrific assassination, MSNBC host Matthew Dowd seemingly blamed Kirk because he was "divisive."
Dowd said, “He’s been one of the most divisive — especially divisive younger figures — in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.
"And I always go back to: Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that's the environment we're in. ... You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we're in.”
After Dowd's remarks aired, MSNBC's public relations account on X issued a statement disavowing the host, and the network later fired him.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable," MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler said in the statement. "We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise."
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During the live news coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, many political figures issued statements of prayer and condolence for the atrocious killing of the beloved conservative leader. However, some people broke away from delivering a compassionate message.
MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was fired following his "insensitive" comments during the live coverage of the Charlie Kirk shooting, Variety first reported.
'Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.'
According to Variety, MSNBC anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about “the environment in which a shooting like this happens.”
Responding to the question, Dowd said, “He’s been one of the most divisive — especially divisive younger figures — in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.
RELATED: Charlie Kirk: Loving father, fearless communicator, happy warrior — 1993-2025
"And I always go back to: Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that's the environment we're in. ... You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we're in.”
These comments outraged viewers and internet users, leading to a decision by MSNBC to fire him.
"During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise," MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said in an MSNBC PR post on X in response.
Dowd issued an apology on Bluesky on Wednesday afternoon, prior to the first reports of his firing.
"My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind."
Prayer vigils were held across the country Wednesday night to mourn Charlie Kirk's passing and celebrate his impact on the conservative movement.
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Numerous companies, including Pfizer, The Economist, and P&G brands, ran advertisements on Katy Tur Reports on MSNBC Wednesday, during which Tur and one of her guests smeared Charlie Kirk following the news that he had been shot. These and other companies did not commit to pulling their advertisements from MSNBC in response to a Federalist […]
After Charlie Kirk was murdered, allegedly by a shooter who accused him of 'spreading hate,' the NYT falsely accused Kirk of making antisemitic statements.
MSNBC correspondent Katy Tur spewed some of the most soulless commentary imaginable during her “coverage” of Charlie Kirk’s assassination — and to little surprise, she still has a job. Abdicating all sense of humanity, Tur did her very best to smear the TPUSA founder shot and killed during a Wednesday speech at a Utah college. […]
Not even an hour after he was shot while speaking at a Utah college, media hacks leapt into action to smear TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk.
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