The United States is entering one of its most volatile political moments in decades, defined by two high-profile acts of political violence: the July assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the killing of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Both cases have ignited national debate, fueled distrust in institutions, and amplified concerns about political rhetoric ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The attempted assassination of Trump by 20-year-old Thomas Crooks remains clouded in controversy. Tucker Carlson alleges the FBI is concealing Crooks’ digital history — including violent threats, assassination fantasies, and ideological shifts — while the FBI asserts it conducted an exhaustive investigation involving thousands of interviews, digital forensics, and review of 25 social media accounts. The White House says Americans “deserve answers,” and a New York Post investigation claims Crooks had online activity across 17 accounts dating back five years. Senator Ron Johnson accuses the FBI of stonewalling.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has magnified these tensions. Suspect Tyler Robinson faces deep public skepticism about whether he acted alone. Kirk’s security chief, Brian Harpole, publicly released messages showing he warned UVU police about rooftop vulnerabilities days before the shooting — warnings he says went unheeded. The speaker wonders whether the timing of these disclosures is organic or engineered to shift blame.

A new poll reveals 61% of Americans believe political rhetoric contributed to Kirk’s killing, with bipartisan agreement not seen since the Gabby Giffords shooting. The speaker expresses personal exhaustion, distrust of the FBI and CIA, and concern over possible AI-generated misinformation. With midterms approaching and threats against public figures rising, fear, confusion, and institutional distrust are reshaping civic life.

The speaker ultimately calls for stepping back from the noise, focusing on family, and awaiting clear information — while acknowledging the seriousness of the moment.

Assassination Attempts and Political Rhetoric

Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

* Incident: An assassination attempt was made on Donald Trump in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, by a 20-year-old named Thomas Crooks. Trump was wounded in the ear, two rally-goers were injured, and Crooks killed a fire chief before the Secret Service neutralized Crooks.

* Controversy: The case remains controversial as the FBI has not released a motive for the attack.

* Tucker Carlson’s Accusations:

* Carlson alleges the FBI is lying and hiding information about Thomas Crooks.

* He claims Crooks had an extensive digital trail, including violent threats on YouTube, and showed explicit signs of violent intent for years.

* Carlson believes the FBI is concealing this information and questions whether Crooks acted alone.

* FBI’s Response:

* FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back against Carlson, releasing a detailed account of the FBI’s investigation.

* The FBI insists Crooks acted alone after a thorough investigation involving:

* Thousands of interviews.

* Over 2,000 tips.

* 80 FBI personnel.

* Reviews of his online activity, digital devices, financial records, and 25 social media accounts.

* The FBI states it never denied Crooks had an online presence.

* White House Stance:

* Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the White House and the American public “deserve answers.”

* The President has requested updated briefings from the Secret Service and the FBI due to unanswered questions.

* Further Investigations:

* A New York Post investigation used Crooks’ phone number and online scraping tools to track activity across at least 17 different accounts, dating back five years to when he was 15.

* This uncovered activity showed he promoted political assassinations, threatened violence, and shifted from being pro-Trump to anti-Trump.

* Senator Ron Johnson stated the FBI has been “stonewalling” their investigation.

Assassination of Charlie Kirk

* Context: The speaker notes that the political climate contributed to Charlie Kirk’s death, highlighting that he was widely hated and that some on the left celebrated his assassination.

* Suspect: Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin. There is significant public doubt about whether he acted alone.

* Security Details Revealed:

* Brian Harpole, Kirk’s head of security, revealed on the Sean Ryan Show that he had warned Utah Valley University (UVU) police about open rooftop access two days before the event.

* Harpole read text messages sent to Police Chief Long, alerting him to the security risk.

* He had requested either restricted access to the roof or permission to station one of his own security officers there.

* Chief Long reportedly replied, “I got you covered,” but the roof was not secured.

* Speaker’s Skepticism: The speaker questions the timing and nature of these revelations, wondering if the information was “planted” to defend a specific narrative or shift blame between the UVU police and Turning Point USA’s security team.

Political Rhetoric and Violence

* Public Opinion:

* A poll indicates that 61% of people believe political rhetoric contributed to Kirk’s assassination.

* Majorities across all parties (54% of Democrats, 53% of Independents) agree that rhetoric was a significant factor, a consensus not seen in 15 years (since the Gabby Giffords shooting in 2011).

* 28% of respondents blame the act primarily on an “unstable individual.”

* Broader Concerns:

* The speaker notes the upcoming midterm elections and the potential for more violence, mentioning that Marjorie Taylor Greene has also reported threats against her life.

* There is a call for transparency from the government regarding these investigations, drawing parallels to the “Epstein stuff.”

Speaker’s Personal Reflections

* Information Overload: The speaker expresses feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the constant stream of information and conspiracy theories on platforms like TikTok, particularly regarding the Charlie Kirk case and related allegations about Candace Owens.

* Distrust in Institutions: A profound distrust is expressed towards the FBI and CIA. The speaker notes the proximity of a central CIA headquarters to Utah Valley University.

* Skepticism of AI-Generated Content: The speaker questions the legitimacy of online content, wondering whether some videos (e.g., of Candace Owens) are AI-generated fakes.

* Conclusion: The speaker advocates for disengaging from the overwhelming speculation and focusing on personal life, family, and children, while still acknowledging the importance of these national issues.

📅 Next Steps

* Tyler Robinson’s trial is scheduled to begin on January 16, 2026.

* Monitor forthcoming information and updates from figures like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, leading up to the trial.

* Follow White House press briefings for updates on the Trump assassination attempt investigation.

* Reflect on the impact of political rhetoric and violence, especially during the upcoming election year.

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