January 1, Assassination’s Dark Turn in Digital America

Wyatt’s Take

• Instant, graphic footage of political killings is now widespread.
• Gatekeepers no longer control what Americans see after tragedy strikes.
• This flood of violent media may dull our sensitivity to evil acts.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk was captured by numerous bystanders and spread across social media within minutes. Ordinary Americans watched the tragedy unfold in real time, a massive change from the days when assassination footage was rare or delayed.

Presidential historian Tevi Troy said,

“You’ll never have an assassination again that we don’t have footage of.”

He remembered how, in the 1960s, Americans waited over a decade to view the Zapruder film of President Kennedy’s death. Troy explained,

“The gatekeepers controlled what you saw.”

Now, violent moments are broadcast instantly, from multiple angles, and sometimes without any warnings or editing. Major outlets hesitate to show the most brutal details, but by the time they report the news, millions have already seen every second online.

This readily available footage has troubling impacts. Troy warned,

“Desensitizing is the right word… It’s not good for you. It’s not good for your soul. It’s not a question of not being available — it is available. Then you have to make an effort not to see it.”

He pointed out that some political voices try to spin or minimize these events if it benefits their side. Troy called this

“a ghoulish exercise.”

Kirk was gunned down at Utah Valley University while talking with students, leaving behind a wife and two young children. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, was quickly found and arrested after an intense search.

The way Americans encounter political violence is now shaped by immediate, often unfiltered images online. How we respond as a nation depends on whether we resist becoming numb to such horrors—or let them become just another trending video.

Don’t let manufactured outrage or selective coverage cloud your sense of right and wrong. Speak out. Pay attention. Stand strong for decency in the face of chaos.

Wyatt Matters

The flood of raw footage into our lives tests the strength of our communities and the values passed down through generations. People in the heartland know that real loss can’t be brushed aside and truth matters, even when others try to manipulate what we see or feel.

Full story here