The calls came swiftly and from all across the political spectrum after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“We need every political figure, we need everyone who has a platform, to say this loudly and clearly: We can settle disagreements and disputes in a civil manner, and political violence must be called out. And it has to stop,” Speaker Mike Johnson said soon after Kirk was shot.
For a brief period last month, just like in the days after the June murder of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, widespread calls for civility were paired with a focus in the halls of Congress on tightening member security. A glimmer of consensus appeared to emerge on the potential dangers of escalating political rhetoric, as it often does after similar tragedies — if only fleetingly.
