The real Charlie Kirk trial is happening on social media
Plus, Florida Men acting out at campaign events, members of Congress silent on ICE shooting, and Cory Booker's relentless hopecore
10 months later, we’ve entered a new phase of Charlie Kirk discourse … or have we?
The trial has officially started, but it doesn’t feel like resolution is coming to comfort those most afflicted by his death. I’ve periodically checked in with TPUSA and the main characters in the organization’s never-ending drama, but one thing is clear: the damage will be irreparable even if Tyler Robinson is convicted beyond all reasonable doubt.
A couple notes to add some color to these proceedings:
Nothing sums up the decline of interest and engagement with the TPUSA content arm more than this striking side-by-side. On the left: concurrent listeners on Twitter alone on day one of the trial. These are bigger numbers than the show has put up since the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s death. On the right: concurrent listeners by day four. Interest waned and listeners moved on, much like they have with the show as a whole.
A take from Jared Holt:
I’d say the most intriguing moment that’s come out of the preliminary hearings so far came from the judge, who had a very physical reaction himself to the clip of the shooting. I almost wonder if it was the first time he saw it. This one clip has 10M views alone. Other than that, I’m always on the lookout for an unusual perspective to add to the mix. Here’s one from a body language expert offering some color on the less visible reactions in the room.
Otherwise, everyone’s still in the places you left them. Andrew Kolvet trying to fill the content gaps his boss left behind (and struggling). Candace Owens going balls to the wall from dawn ‘til dusk. And the two of them ferociously mauling each other online for the rest of us to watch.
Kolvet: “Candace, you and Charlie were not friends. He managed you.” “You gave him anxiety whenever you called or texted asking (demanding) to speak at our events.” “You were not his friend. You are not his defender. You were his tormenter. And now you torment his wife and the organization he built.”
Owens: “I’m glad you finally came to the surface, rat.” “So was Charlie lying to his audience (and to his team in private conversations) weeks before he died, Andrew or are you simply a special kind of demon for attempting to rewrite history…”
Everybody grieves differently, I suppose.
Two things to promote:
1: You don’t see a video at the top of this Thursday post because I’m joining Julian Zelizer on his Substack Live tomorrow, Friday, July 10, at 10:30 a.m.! Chatting sports and politics which after this week … necessary.
2: My spectacular colleague Kim Avalos, who was holding it down behind the camera for much of the work I did in my life before Who Broke It, has just released a new mini doc. It follows her own uncle’s journey self-deporting to Ecuador. It’s riveting and devastating and too important to miss. Give it a watch.
ALL THE CONTENT YOU DIDN’T SEE THIS WEEK
There are some weeks when lawmakers have extra twitchy Twitter fingers. My nascent theory is that their screen time spikes when they’re on recess, like the House is ‘til July 13. Clear flaw in this thinking is … c’mon, it’s not like they don’t have plenty of free time when they’re in session too. And yet, shockingly few have weighed in on a fatal shooting by ICE on Tuesday. Where y’all at?
Gonna run through lawmaker trends and tussles below and some bonus content. If your work is at all impacted by the whims of our nation’s politics and officials, you should be subscribed to our paid tier. And if you’re just here for the love of the game … seek help (and upgrade too).
