Political Pestilence

What are the consequences of social media being used as a weapon for more than a decade? A Pew research center study of “cancel culture” attributed nearly double the amount of Democrats believed online “accountability” was justified. “Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say that, in general, calling people out on social media for posting offensive content holds them accountable...but only 32% of Democrats – Believe this type of action generally punishes people who didn’t deserve it.”i A majority advocated for such methods despite that some undeserving Democrats would likely suffer in the ideological crossfire. Several Democratic leaders embraced the online marginalization of political opponents and rejected principles which once afforded them greater public trust.

Many older democrats abandoned the genuine morality of the Peace movement, ideals of non-violent protest, supporting working class unions, and defending every citizens free speech. They have been ceded to censorship, warmongering, and unsustainable political ideologies rooted in the hatred of political opponents. A left wing cancellation movement has operated in varying social media platforms for more than a decade in the name of evolving causes. It frequently punished anyone deemed offensive with public shaming and financial destruction to enforce its expansive demands. This proved an effective way to censor people online and police free speech, especially when the levers of political power were under their control.ii A political pestilence within the United States has manifest differently on both sides the ideological divide throughout history. The illegal actions of all extremists in most groups often lead to one result, the entire public suffers.

Representative Melissa Horton was a Victim of Recent Political Violence

Following multiple assassination attempts on Donald Trump last year and some celebrating in the aftermath, I noted that historical evidence inferred this would lead to violent escalation. Praise for attacking perceived ideological enemies reached a fevered pitch following the murder of a corporate leader by Luigi Mangione. The District Attorney’s office of New York was attempting to charge Mangione with terrorism for what the facts supported was murder. Attempting to sensationalize the crime and seek more power under broad usage of terrorism laws is a legal overreach.iii Yet the ranks of those praising violence expanded and widespread political vandalism commenced as more people embraced illegal methods until subsequent legal consequences followed. The seeming violent counterstroke to ongoing violence was a right wing extremist that launched a deadly attack upon two Democratic State Senators in Minnesota and their spouses.iv

Political Activist Charlie Kirk Was Another Victim of Recent Political Violence

Further incitement was assured and the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk became part of a growing cycle of political violence.v While my past assessment of increased political violence proved accurate, the scope of the potential targets and the rapid expansion was not anticipated. Most historically targeted in America for political assassination hold a public office or control influential corporations. A political commentator has now been killed. Murdered not for any legal power they wield, nor vast corporate influence, but just because of ideological opposition. This massive expansion of potential targets is amongst the worst developments possible and must be curtailed. A nation’s public good is never served by abiding the assassination of citizens for constitutionally protected speech, no matter who it offends.

Some do not realize political opponents are not enemies and should enjoy the right to disagreeable free speech. Yet this applies only to legal speech, threats against anyone or any group has never been protected speech. Those claiming that violent speech is acceptable are supremely ignorant of the law and disturbingly inhumane. The most extreme leftists mistakenly believed their free speech has no restrictions. Venomous ideologues praising or excusing recent violence online range from Secret Service members to airplane pilots, and mirror the behavior of past right wing extremists.vi vii viii A wave of firings have followed in the wake of some people who seemingly believed words only had price for others. Free speech is not absolute when it deals with the law and corporate policies.

The United States Supreme Court long ago cited multiple reasons why legitimate “threats of violence are outside the First Amendment”. “Specifically, intimidation can be prohibited as ‘a type of true threat, where a speaker directs a threat to a person or group of persons with the intent of placing the victim in fear of bodily harm or death.”ix Several thousand conservatives now seeking to expose anyone celebrating the latest political violence. Individuals that prior simultaneously attempted to decry the use of fear and shame, while employing both selectively, are now set upon by the behavior initiated years ago. Blunt social media tools leftists once turned upon other individuals for “offensive” words are now hard at work dismantling their own creators. Unreasonable members of the public often reveal precisely who they are if given enough time.

Host JIMMY KImmel Misinformed his Audience About Political Violence

Most people on all sides of the political debate do not support violence but just a vocal number of extremists can damage any group with similar ideas. The previous methods employed to cause reputational demise set the stage for all now facing retribution. Prominent leftists and some democrats crying foul are the very individuals who once celebrated the firing of so many others. Several people have asserted Jimmy Kimmel’s brief suspension in some areas for spouting a political conspiracy theory equates to a grave injustice.x Author Stephen King at least apologized for his role in spreading online rumors about Charlie Kirk.xi Hundreds of celebrities spoke out for Kimmel’s right to spread misinformation and much fewer mourned assassination victims.xii Such media prominence was never afforded to a democratic political representative’s death earlier this year.

Author STephen King Apologized for Rumormongering about Recent Public Violence

Any ideology that relies upon, celebrates, or excuses murder for success is a malformed one. That is how religious cults behave when they forever attack opponents in life and death. Such groups disregard allies when they are no longer useful or they are politically sacrificed. However, even the most ideologically driven cannot forever maintain perfect status in an environment that demands ceaseless self-censorship. Anyone that engages with or even accords basic respect to deemed enemies is cast out. Their numbers and power invariably dwindle because those driven by ideology perpetually increase requirements for keeping political status. That was precisely the approach widely circulated by certain people in the political media since two thousand and sixteen.

Since the last American presidential election, some in left wing media or academia have told audiences that shunning friends or family who supported their political opponent is worthwhile.xiii xiv “During Trump’s first term, holiday time was a bonanza for pieces about liberals could rid their lives of Maga members.” The Vox Media reporter now realizes “...the Trump coalition is now more diverse, which means that more Americans are tied to a Trump voter, and that the strategy last time around of attempting to shame and marginalize Trump voters clearly didn’t work, and may have only made the problem worse.”xv Those weaponizing political shame and marginalization online for years did not realize this was incorrect before it was turned upon them.

Reasonable citizens will not abandon their family or associate with those supporting the illegal use of violence. The politically extreme will have their wish for many to be isolated, but lacked the imagination to realize it shall be them. Sensible human beings understand that violent action does not stop a political message, but amplifies it, and creates martyrs. The assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy, did precisely the same thing. Those largely extreme right wing militia groups which celebrated their deaths remain abominable. Anyone now supporting political violence serves a failed ideology held by some of the worst people in US history.
Sincerely,
C.A.A. Savastano

References:
i. Emily A. Vogels, June 9, 2022, A growing share of Americans are familiar with ‘cancel culture’, Pew Research Center, pewresearch.org
ii. Robby Soave, September 25, 2025, Google Admits Biden MADE Them Censor, YouTube Brings Back MAGA!, Rising, The Hill, thehill.com
iii. Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, and Megan Forrester, September 16, 2025, Luigi Mangione: Judge tosses 2 state murder charges related to act of terrorism, ABC News, abcnews.go.com
iv. Office of Public Affairs, June 16, 2025, After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting Two Minnesota Lawmakers and Their Spouses, United States Department of Justice, justice.gov
v. A timeline of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the arrest of a suspect, September 17, 2025, Associated Press, apnews.com
vi. Johnathan Limehouse, September 13, 2025, US Secret Service agent put on leave for ‘karma’ post after Charlie Kirk’s murder, USA Today, usatoday.com
vii. Kate Plummer, September 14, 2025, Pilots, Teachers, Professors Face Losing Jobs Over Charlie Kirk Posts, Newsweek, newsweek.com
viii. Dinah Voyles Pulver and Phaedra Trethan, September 18, 2025, Over 100 people have faced consequences for remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death, USA Today, usatoday.com
ix. United States Congressional Research Service, Constitution Annotated: Analysis and Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, First Amendment-Fundamental Freedoms, Amendment 1.7.5.6 True Threats, US Library of Congress, constitution.congress.gov
x. Eric Levitz, September 20, 2025, The comforting fiction that Charlie Kirk’s killer was far-right, Vox, vox.com
xi. Connor Clement, September 15, 2025, Stephen King apologizes for false claim about Charlie Kirk after his death, WCVB 5, wcvb.com
xii. Anastasia Tsioulcas, September 22, 2025, 400 entertainers co-sign ACLU letter supporting Jimmy Kimmel, National Public Radio, npr.org
xiii. Olivia Land, November 9, 2024, Yale psychologist urges MSNBC viewers to shun Trump-voting family members over the holidays, New York Post, nypost.com
xiv. Sarah Jones, July 18, 2025, It’s Okay to Go No Contact With Your MAGA Relatives, Intelligencer, New York Magazine, nymag.com
xv. Jill Filipovic, December 24, 2024, It’s time for a new approach to dealing with Trumpy relatives during the holidays, The Guardian, theguardian.com

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