Tho Bishop on the assassination of Charlie Kirk

Modern America has been one of constant shock: decades of war, economic turmoil, covid lockdowns, contested elections, rising political escalation, and resulting political violence. Despite this contemporary backdrop, the assassination of Charlie Kirk is a moment that stands apart in the way that singular death—with a face, a family, a story, a particular context—is always easier to process than a broader event, no matter how horrible. 

Kirk was a 31-year-old husband, a young father, and perhaps America’s leading “political influencer” of an age defined by the craft. His traditional calling card, the one that brought him to the Grand Valley State University campus, was characterized by debate and dialogue that was dismissed by enemies on the left as cheap stunts and criticized by some on the right for being corny. Regardless of one’s opinions on Kirk’s individual views, it was a throwback to the romantic notions of persuasion and conversation still holding value when so many voices advocated for political domination and conquest.

It was precisely Kirk’s desire to engage with those he disagreed with that put him in the path of a killer bullet. This event will forever shape how generations of Americans view our politicized society.

~ Tho Bishop, "The Dehumanization of Charlie Kirk Came from the Establishment," Mises Wire, September 11, 2025