AP Spotlight Charlie Kirk killing exposes a snapshot of a fractured nation TIM SULLIVAN Associated Press Sep 12, 2025 Sep 12, 2025 Updated Mar 18, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The governor of Utah struggled to find the right words to describe the question so many have been asking: What is happening in America?kAm%96 D:=6?46 =2DE65 2=>@DE `_ D64@?5D] w6 =@@<65 5@H?] w6 @A6?65 2?5 4=@D65 9:D >@FE9]k^AmkAmQ~FC ?2E:@? :D 3C@<6?[Q $A6?46C r@I 7:?2==J D2:5[ 9@FCD 27E6C E96 AF3=:4 <:==:?8 @7 r92C=:6 z:C<] %96 8@G6C?@C 56D4C:365 G:@=6?E 2EE24<D @? 3@E9 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 <:==:?8 @7 |:??6D@E2 =2H>2<6C |6=:DD2 w@CE>2? 2?5 96C 9FD32?5[ EH@ 2DD2DD:?2E:@? 2EE6>AED @? !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 E96 7:C63@>3:?8 @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2 v@G] y@D9 $92A:C@VD @77:4:2= C6D:56?46]k^Am People are also reading… 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County McDowell County man charged with sexual assault of employee Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike Investigation continues into fatal wreck that killed juvenile on Sunday See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts Tanker truck crashed on I-40 at McDowell, Burke line; milk spills into creek This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County McDowell County will help some households connect to county water Art gallery in Old Fort champions western North Carolina art McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame NTCC leaders earns doctorate, advances vision for student success at McDowell Tech Sheriff's office: Marion man charged with breaking and entering About 1 acre burns in Old Fort Mountain wildfire caused by lightning kAmw:D H@C5D DE@@5 @FE ?@E ;FDE 7@C E96 DE2C< =2?8F286 23@FE p>6C:42VD EC@F3=6D[ 3FE 7@C 9:D D@36C 24<?@H=6586>6?E E92E E96 G:@=6?46 C62496D 24C@DD E96 A@=:E:42= 5:G:56]k^AmkAmxE 42? 36 92C5 E@ C6>6>36C 2== E96 D46?6D @7 A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46 :? ;FDE E96 A2DE 76H J62CDi qFE=6C[ !6??DJ=G2?:2[ E96 |:??62A@=:D DF3FC3D[ $2? uC2?4:D4@[ }6H *@C< r:EJ[ (6DE !2=> q6249] p?5 >@C6] %2<6? E@86E96C[ E96J 2C6 6?@F89 E@ >2<6 p>6C:42?D H@?56Ci xD E96C6 2 H2J 7@CH2C5n (92E >:89E :E =@@< =:<6nk^Am kAmQ}@E9:?8 x D2J 42? F?:E6 FD 2D 2 4@F?ECJ[Q D2:5 r@I[ 2 #6AF3=:42?] Q}@E9:?8 x 42? D2J C:89E ?@H H:== 7:I H92E :D 3C@<6?]Qk^Am k9amp EC@F3=65 ?2E:@?k^9amkAm|2?J A6@A=6[ @7 4@FCD6[ 766= p>6C:42 :D 3C@<6?] *@F 42? 962C 23@FE E96 4@F?ECJVD >2?J EC@F3=6D — :ED :56@=@8:42= 5:G:56D[ :ED 2?86C[ :ED =24< @7 4:G:=:EJ — 7C@> 4@?D6CG2E:G6D 2?5 =:36C2=D[ 7C@> D@4:2=:DE 7:C63C2?5D 2?5 6G2?86=:42= AC62496CD[ 7C@> s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D] xE :D[ A6C92AD[ @?6 @7 E96 76H 36=:67D E92E F?:E6D p>6C:42?D C:89E ?@H]k^Am kAm$@ >2?J D66> E@ 86?F:?6=J H2?E E9@D6 5:G:56D E@ 36 >6?565[ 7@C E96 4@F?ECJ E@ 36 <?:EE65 324< E@86E96C] qFE E96 BF6DE:@? @7 H9J p>6C:42 :D 3C@<6?[ 2?5 H9@ :D E@ 3=2>6[ 2?5 9@H E@ C6A2:C :En %92EVD H96C6 E9:?8D 86E 4@>A=:42E65]k^AmkAmq642FD6 ?@ >2EE6C H92E J@F 36=:6G6[ E@52J — :? 3@E9 E96 >JC:25 C624E:@?D E@ z:C<VD G:@=6?E AF3=:4 562E9 2?5 :? 86?6C2= — J@F 42? A:4< E96 p>6C:42 J@F H2?E] *@F 42? A:4< E96 p>6C:42 E92E J@F 36=:6G6 6I:DED]k^Am kAm*@F 42? D66 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ :D DJDE6>2E:42==J C6>@G:?8 E96 C:89ED @7 p>6C:42?D[ @C 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ :D DE2?5:?8 FA 7@C 2 7@C8@EE6? >:55=6 4=2DD] *@F 42? D66 D:8?D @7 72D4:D> :? E96 >2D<65 :>>:8C2E:@? 286?ED 92F=:?8 A6@A=6 @77 E96 DEC66ED[ @C 2? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? E92E :D 6?7@C4:?8 :>>:8C2E:@? =2HD]k^Am kAmx? r92C=:6 z:C<[ J@F 42? D66 2 A@=:E6[ 3@J\?6IE\5@@C EJA6 H:E9 2 42AE:G2E:?8 5632E:?8 DEJ=6 H9@ =@G65 p>6C:42[ E96 49FC49[ 9:D 72>:=J[ 2?5 E96 C6DFC86?46 @7 4@?D6CG2E:D> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ 6DA64:2==J 2>@?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6] ~C J@F 42? D66 2 A@=:E:42= 9J3C:5 @7 E96 D@4:2= >65:2 286[ 2 A@H6C7F= A@=:E:42= @A6C2E:G6 H9@ H2D H:==:?8 E@ 6IA=@:E p>6C:42VD C24:2= 5:G:56 :? D62C49 @7 DFAA@CE 2?5 H9@ :?D:DE65[ 72=D6=J[ E92E G@E6C 7C2F5 4@DE %CF>A E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@?D]k^Am kAm(96? r@I DA@<6 >@FC?7F==J 23@FE p>6C:42VD AC65:42>6?E[ 96 4=62C=J 9@A65 z:C<VD 562E9 4@F=5 96=A 3C:?8 p>6C:42 E@86E96C] |@C6 =:<6=J[ E9@F89[ E96 <:==:?8 4@F=5 5C:G6 E96 H6586D 566A6C]k^Am kAmyFDE =:DE6? E@ 9@H A6@A=6 C624E65 E@ 9:D 562E9] r9@@D6 E96 E2<6 J@F H2?E E@ 36=:6G6]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts k9amp 5:G:565 C624E:@?k^9amkAmx? E96 9@FCD :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C E96 D9@@E:?8[ @77:4:2=D :? 3@E9 A2CE:6D 2AA62C65 6286C E@ D9@H C6DEC2:?E 2?5 564@CF>[ 6IAC6DD:?8 E96:C 8C:67[ DFAA@CE 7@C z:C<VD 72>:=J 2?5 C6AF=D:@? 2E A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46]k^Am kAmQ(@C5D 42??@E 56D4C:36 E96 D9@4< 2?5 9@CC@C x 76=E E@52J[Q pC:K@?2 #6AF3=:42? 492:C v:?2 $H@3@52 D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E[ D2J:?8 p>6C:42 Q>FDE ?6G6C 4@?5@?6 @C 6I4FD6 24ED @7 A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46]Qk^Am kAm|2:?6VD s6>@4C2E:4 8@G6C?@C[ y2?6E |:==D[ H9@ 92D DA2CC65 H:E9 %CF>A[ D2:5 D96 H2D Q9@CC:7:65 3J H92E 92D 92AA6?65 E@ r92C=:6 z:C<]Qk^AmkAmQs:776C:?8 G:6HD — C682C5=6DD @7 H9@ 9@=5D E96> 2?5 9@H >F49 J@F >2J 56E6DE E96> — D9@F=5 ?6G6C 36 >6E H:E9 G:@=6?46[Q D96 HC@E6]k^Am kAm$@@?[ E9@F89[ 6G6? H:E9 @?=J E96 32C6DE 724ED 23@FE E96 D9@@E:?8 <?@H?[ E96 2?86C 3682? E@ DA:== @FE] v6@C8:2 #6A] |2C;@C:6 %2J=@C vC66?6 D2:5 D96 H2D AC2J:?8 E92E QE9:D 4@F?ECJ C:D6D FA 2?5 6?5D E9:D]Q %96? @E96CD 3682? DA62<:?8 FA[ H:E9 A@=:E:4:2?D H2C?:?8 23@FE Q=67EH:?8 qC@H? $9:CEDQ 2?5 r9C:DE:2?D F?56C 2EE24<]k^Am kAm%CF>A BF:4<=J 4@?76CC65 >2CEJC DE2EFD @?E@ z:C<[ @C56C:?8 7=28D =@H6C65 2E 7656C2= 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 3=2>:?8 =67E:DE C96E@C:4 7@C z:C<VD 2DD2DD:?2E:@? :? 2 =6?8E9J G:56@ DE2E6>6?E C6=62D65 @? D@4:2= >65:2 =2E6 (65?6D52J]k^AmkAmQu@C J62CD[ E9@D6 @? E96 C25:42= =67E 92G6 4@>A2C65 H@?56C7F= p>6C:42?D =:<6 r92C=:6 E@ }2K:D 2?5 E96 H@C=5VD H@CDE >2DD >FC56CD 2?5 4C:>:?2=D[Q %CF>A D2:5[ DA62<:?8 7C@> E96 ~G2= ~77:46 2?5 4:E:?8 @?=J 2EE24<D @? #6AF3=:42?D]k^AmkAms6>@4C2E:4 A@=:E:4:2?D[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ 2AA62C65 6286C E@ 2G@:5 2?J D:8? E96J H6C6 56>@?:K:?8 z:C<] qFE :E H2D?VE E92E H2J :? D@>6 =67E\H:?8 ?6:893@C9@@5D @? D@4:2= >65:2]k^Am kAmQr92C=:6 z:C< :D?VE 2 >2CEJC[Q HC@E6 2 4@>>6?E2E@C @? ) H:E9 `b_[___ 7@==@H6CD[ 649@:?8 >2?J @E96CD] Qw6VD 2 42DF2=EJ @7 E96 G:@=6?46 96 :?4:E65]Qk^AmkAm%92E 42CC:65 649@6D @7 E96 AC2:D6 7@C {F:8: |2?8:@?6[ E96 >2? 492C865 H:E9 >FC56C:?8 E96 &?:E65w62=E942C6 rt~ :? |2?92EE2? =2DE J62C[ 2?5 E96 6IA=@D:@? @7 D@4:2= >65:2 >6>6D 46=63C2E:?8 E96 yF=J D9@@E:?8 562E9 @7 2 AC@>:?6?E C62=\6DE2E6 6I64FE:G6 :? E96 D2>6 3@C@F89]k^Am k9amq2=2?46 k^9am kAm~?=:?6[ @7 4@FCD6[ :EVD 62DJ E@ C6>2:? 2?@?J>@FD[ 2?5 :E 42? 36 :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 ECF6 AC2:D6 7@C A@=:E:42= G:@=6?46 2?5 G:8:=2?E:D> H:E9 25@=6D46?E EC@==:?8] xEVD 5:776C6?E 7@C A@=:E:4:2?D[ H9@ 42?VE DE2J 2?@?J>@FD — 2?5 H9@ 2C6 @7E6? =@@<65 E@ :? >@>6?ED =:<6 E9:D E@ 96=A D9@H E96:C DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 4@?DE:EF6?ED E96 H2J]k^Am kAm&?=:<6 %CF>A[ 9:D AC6D:56?E:2= AC65646DD@CD DA@<6 72C >@C6 86?E=J[ :? <66A:?8 H:E9 E96:C A2CE:4F=2C DEJ=6D] u@C>6C !C6D:56?ED y@6 q:56? 2?5 q2C24< ~32>2 D2:5 E96J H6C6 AC2J:?8 7@C z:C<VD 72>:=J] v6@C86 (] qFD9 42==65 7@C 5:G:?6 8F:52?46 E@ >@G6 E96 ?2E:@? E@ 4:G:=:EJ] k^Am kAm%92E <:?5 @7 >6DD286 E@@< C@@E :? D@>6 A=246D] x? r@??64E:4FE[ r@==686 #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 r@==686 s6>@4C2ED :DDF65 2 ;@:?E DE2E6>6?E 564CJ:?8 G:@=6?46] ~? (65?6D52J[ r@I — 2 #6AF3=:42? A@=:E:4:2? E9CFDE :?E@ E96 =:>6=:89E 3J EC2865J — DA@<6 6>@E:@?2==J 23@FE 2 36=:67 :? 7C66 DA6649 E92E 8@6D 324< E@ p>6C:42VD 7@F?5:?8[ 2?5 23@FE 9@H 92EC65 42? =625 E@ G:@=6?46]k^AmkAmQxD E9:D :EnQ 96 2D<65] QxD E9:D H92E ad_ J62CD 92D HC@F89E @? FDnQk^Am kAmQx AC2J E92E :D ?@E E96 42D6]Qk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe Patel also faces scrutiny over a purge of senior officials that prompted a lawsuit, his pursuit of the president's grievances and other issues. Fact focus: Charlie Kirk assassination prompts flood of false and misleading claims online The reaction followed a pattern of misinformation and conspiracy theories that often come after breaking news events. Schools tried to ban phones and avoid politics. Then came Charlie Kirk's assassination The news of his shooting — captured on video in grisly detail — sent shockwaves through classrooms everywhere. They witnessed Charlie Kirk's assassination. Now students reckon with the grief Pleas for civility in U.S. political discourse but those calls were not always heeded, and some people who criticized Kirk were fired. Waves of fake threats to colleges put students on edge and test dispatchers About 50 college campuses across the United States in recent weeks received hoax calls about armed gunmen and other violence. Growing chorus of conservatives wants Charlie Kirk's critics ostracized or fired The aftermath of Kirk's killing is increasingly a test of public tolerance over political differences in a nation splintered by politics. Political leaders confront security concerns — and fear — after Kirk's assassination Aggressive rhetoric and even death threats surged after Kirk was killed. The charged environment prompted some officials to postpone events. Analyst loses his MSNBC job following his Charlie Kirk commentary Photos before and after the shooting of Charlie Kirk Watch Now: Related Video Bourbon demand is down and tariffs aren't helping. But distillers keep building How Artemis II is setting up the next stage of space exploration How Artemis II is setting up the next stage of space exploration Wireless Festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from entering UK Wireless Festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from entering UK Artemis II Crew Return After Record Breaking Journey Beyond Earth Artemis II Crew Return After Record Breaking Journey Beyond Earth Recommended for you
Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe Patel also faces scrutiny over a purge of senior officials that prompted a lawsuit, his pursuit of the president's grievances and other issues.
Fact focus: Charlie Kirk assassination prompts flood of false and misleading claims online The reaction followed a pattern of misinformation and conspiracy theories that often come after breaking news events.
Schools tried to ban phones and avoid politics. Then came Charlie Kirk's assassination The news of his shooting — captured on video in grisly detail — sent shockwaves through classrooms everywhere.
They witnessed Charlie Kirk's assassination. Now students reckon with the grief Pleas for civility in U.S. political discourse but those calls were not always heeded, and some people who criticized Kirk were fired.
Waves of fake threats to colleges put students on edge and test dispatchers About 50 college campuses across the United States in recent weeks received hoax calls about armed gunmen and other violence.
Growing chorus of conservatives wants Charlie Kirk's critics ostracized or fired The aftermath of Kirk's killing is increasingly a test of public tolerance over political differences in a nation splintered by politics.
Political leaders confront security concerns — and fear — after Kirk's assassination Aggressive rhetoric and even death threats surged after Kirk was killed. The charged environment prompted some officials to postpone events.
