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White House Plans Broad Crackdown on Liberal Groups
Some of the highest-ranking officials in the federal government used Charlie Kirk’s podcast, guest-hosted by Vice President JD Vance, to lay out their plans.
President Trump and his top advisers threatened on Monday to unleash the power of the federal government to punish what they alleged was a left-wing network that funds and incites violence, seizing on Charlie Kirk’s killing to make broad and unsubstantiated claims about their political opponents.
Investigators were still working to identify a motive in the death of Mr. Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who was shot last week in Utah. The Republican governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, has said that the suspect had a “leftist ideology” and that he acted alone.
But Mr. Trump and his top allies suggested that the suspect was part of a coordinated movement that was fomenting violence against conservatives, without presenting evidence that such a network existed. America has seen a wave of violence across the political spectrum, targeting Democrats and Republicans.
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Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent for The Times, reporting on President Trump.
Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration.
Charlie Kirk Shooting
Crackdown on Liberal Groups: The Trump administration threatened to unleash the federal government to punish what they alleged was a left-wing network that funds and incites violence, seizing on Charlie Kirk’s killing to make unsubstantiated claims about their political opponents.
‘Radicalized’: Spencer Cox, the Utah governor, said the suspect held a "leftist ideology,” but did not go into specifics or offer details to substantiate his assessment of the suspect’s views.
Galvanizing Force: Calling Kirk a martyr, conservatives see an opportunity to supercharge the movement the right-wing leader began and to cement conservative Christian values in American life.
Political Influencers Are Reeling: Creators and commentators are more anxious than ever about their safety. Some are wondering whether they should continue to make themselves so accessible.
Connecting With Young Men: With his right-wing group Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk engaged controversial topics. Some were inspired. Others found his views appalling.
Melding the Personal and Political: Erika Kirk has played a key role in her husband’s movement. Speaking at Turning Point USA headquarters and on social media, she pledged that his work would continue.
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