Joe Rogan Speaks Out on Rising Political Violence
Podcast host Joe Rogan has raised alarms about the escalating hostility surrounding the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, suggesting it could inch the country closer to civil war.
During a recent episode, Rogan expressed his disbelief at the celebrations following Kirk’s shooting, questioning how society has reached a point where people rejoice in the harm of those they disagree with. “On a scale of 1 to civil war, what are we at now? Maybe a 7? I thought we were at a 5 or even 4, but after this incident, I’m not so sure,” he noted, highlighting his concern about the implications of such reactions.
Rogan elaborated that when regular folks start to cheer for the murder of someone on television, it’s indicative of a troublesome shift in societal norms. He emphasized that the worst thing Kirk could be criticized for was merely having views that people didn’t agree with. “To celebrate someone getting shot in the neck while everyone’s watching? That’s a dark place to be,” he stated.
He further questioned the rationale behind these sentiments on social media, remarking on the absurdity of justifying such celebrations. Rogan’s guest, Brian Redbun, provided a light-hearted retort, jokingly referring to “estrogen pills,” but the seriousness of Rogan’s message was clear.
This isn’t the first time Rogan has addressed the normalization of political violence. Following Kirk’s assassination on September 10, Rogan described the public’s reaction as “eye-opening,” stating it was shocking to witness such celebrations of a person’s death.
Two months after Kirk’s assassination, violence broke out at a Turning Point USA event at the University of California, Berkeley. During the incident, attendees in “Freedom” shirts were left bloodied, and a group labeled “Jihad” was arrested, demonstrating the volatile atmosphere surrounding these events.
Reports indicate that numerous arrests have been linked to further disturbances related to Turning Point USA on various college campuses nationwide. In the aftermath of Kirk’s death, footage has surfaced showing students threatening Turning Point USA activists, with a particular incident at the University of Arizona where a student referred to conservatives as “Nazis” and made a menacing remark about “watching their neck”—a chilling allusion to Kirk’s shooting.
In the wake of Kirk’s death, interest in forming new chapters of Turning Point USA has surged, with over 120,000 students reportedly reaching out to establish groups at their schools.
At a Rhode Island high school, a Turning Point USA chapter was recently formed after a teacher mocked Kirk’s death in a video, suggesting that attacks on conservative figures are becoming expected on college campuses.
