Since the horrific murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, U.S. media have eulogized him to the point of competitive saturation. The recent assassinations of Democratic Party lawmakers, the killing of a former U.S. Marine at the CDC, and this week's antisemitic school shooting all slipped quickly and quietly from coverage. This act, though, represents a unprecedented crisis for the Republic. But why?

The answer is not straightforward. Political media have parasocial relationships with MAGA influencers and Kirk was the brightest star on the beat. Pundits spend all day on social media and the algorithmic preferences of Twitter/X fill their media diets. Kirk's "debate me" branding serviced an ideal of superficial civility and manners that the media class considers more valuable than ac

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