Currently, we find ourselves amid what could be described as America’s most significant moral crisis since 2001. Dubbed the “influencer apocalypse,” this turbulence was catalyzed by the assassination of influencer Charlie Kirk, marking a stark departure from the naivety once observed within the younger influencer generation.
This moment also highlights the stark generational divide in communication methods and political perspectives that set the youth apart from their elders.
As the United States grapples with dwindling resources, authority, and ethical credibility, the empire is turning inward.
<p><strong><br/>UPDATE [9-15-25 10:30PM ET]<br/><a href="https://x.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1967704156254449905" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Max Blumenthal</a>, <a href="https://x.com/RealCandaceO/status/1967694105242374226" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Candace Owens</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/vgclements1/status/1967577554120012249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Infowars’ Harrison H Smith</a> report that Bill Ackman convened a tense meeting about an Israeli 'intervention' involving Charlie Kirk. Political dynamics are shifting rapidly. <a href="https://x.com/BillAckman/status/1967752970260349095" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ackman’s full response</a> will be closely monitored, especially regarding Tucker Carlson’s approach to this situation.</strong></p>
<p>During a Hamptons meeting in August, Kirk was criticized for his increasing scrutiny of Israeli influence.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2025/09/trump-chicago-imperial-boomerang-johnson-dc-bowser.html">The Trump administration appears to seize the moment to suppress dissenting speech</a>, as Yves Smith previously cautioned in Naked Capitalism.</p>
<p>The mainstream media and the GOP are reviving the cancel culture of the 2010s, but now directing it toward perceived adversaries.</p>
<p>This approach merges <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/christopher-rufo-doreen-st-felix/684189/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the online cancellation strategies from the previous decade</a> with an aggressive clampdown on media aesthetics, reminiscent of the post-9/11 era leading to the Global War on Terror.</p>
<p>The timing coincides with a typical seasonal frenzy among Americans in the autumn. After two decades of jingoistic narratives, the cultural impact of 9/11 has weakened, allowing alternative narratives to persist with resilience.</p>
<p>Whether the murder of a social media influencer will afford the political right similar leeway for aggression as the most notable terrorist attack of the millennium remains to be seen.</p>
<p>Publications like <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/charlie-kirk-shot/card/ammunition-in-kirk-shooting-engraved-with-transgender-antifascist-ideology-sources-pdymd1sXXMSlVRhpvR4b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Wall Street Journal</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/14/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-roommate" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://x.com/JPHilllllll/status/1966576175578280275" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CNN</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/LauraJedeed/status/1966908755070906465" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The New York Post</a> wasted no time churning out sensational stories, often relying on unverifiable claims from unnamed law enforcement and the Republican Governor of Utah.</p>
<p><a href="https://x.com/theserfstv/status/1966970909744656406" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Retractions were plentiful</a>, though <a href="https://x.com/JessicaLBurbank/status/1966565480467964076" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">updates were discreetly embedded</a> into <a href="https://x.com/SarahLongwell25/status/1966849917109797335" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">older posts, ensuring they did not detract from the central narrative</a>.</p>
<p>Centrists quickly chimed in as well, with at least two Democratic governors (<a href="https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2025-press-releases/gov-shapiro-orders-u-s---commonwealth-flags-to-half-staff-honor-" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Shapiro of Pennsylvania</a> and <a href="https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-orders-flags-half-staff-honor-anniversary-september-11th-and-passing-charlie" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polis of Colorado</a>) announcing that flags would be flown at half-mast on September 11 in remembrance of both 9/11 and Charlie Kirk.</p>
<p>Of course, 2028 presidential frontrunner Gavin Newsom, who previously hosted Kirk on his podcast, also felt compelled to participate.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/QMtqghb2Lq" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/QMtqghb2Lq</a></p>
<p>— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natwilsonturner/status/1966276101791166483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 11, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/edO03AsM7X" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/edO03AsM7X</a></p>
<p>— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natwilsonturner/status/1966179708070146292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 11, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Leading voices in media also took note. Ezra Klein, in an op-ed for <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/opinion/charlie-kirk-assassination-fear-politics.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The New York Times</a>, praised Kirk for “Practicing Politics the Right Way.” Yet, Klein’s audience was quick to criticize his assessment.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/t9cXDSOu7b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/t9cXDSOu7b</a></p>
<p>— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natwilsonturner/status/1967440953662423140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 15, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Concern intensified when former <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/matthew-dowd-fired-msnbc-charlie-kirk-death-1236514875/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">George W. Bush pollster Matthew Dowd</a> was dismissed by MSNBC following remarks about Kirk’s assassination.</p>
<p>This coverage largely failed to mention Dowd’s extensive resume beyond his time at MSNBC, although it did reference <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/matthewjdowd.bsky.social/post/3lyj6q4q7ik2l" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">his apology on Bluesky</a>. Of course, he’s on Bluesky.</p>
<p>In collaboration with Karl Rove and fellow Texas Democrat Mark McKinnon, Dowd played an instrumental role in orchestrating both of George W. Bush’s campaigns.</p>
<p>Dowd's keen understanding of polling influenced the divisive "base strategy," which helped Bush secure re-election by concentrating on cultural flashpoints that aimed to split the electorate.</p>
<p>Once a titan in the cable TV political sphere rising from the 2001-2003 moral panic, Dowd has now found himself overshadowed by the unfolding moral crisis of 2025.</p>
<p>Kirk epitomized a newly waning yet similarly impactful epoch: the social media-driven 2010s, marked by woke culture.</p>
<p>As noted by Luke Winkie in <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/09/charlie-kirk-dead-shooter-utah-suspect-news.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Slate</a>,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“It’s impossible to overstate Kirk’s influence. The Republican Party’s transformation into a movement of anti-establishment outsiders confronting the so-called groupthink of liberalism can be traced back to him, beginning in his teenage years during the tea party movement. The conservativism he embraced was molded by a complex mix of cranks and analysts during the decline of the Obama era and adapted surprisingly well to his vision.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Kirk was caught in the crosshairs of the neo-liberal Silicon Valley alliance that fueled cancel culture during Trump’s first term.</p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>1. TWITTER FILES: THE MUZZLING OF CHARLIE KIRK</p>
<p>As the <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">@nytimes</a> mentioned in its controversial obituary, Kirk was briefly banned from Twitter in March 2020. This incident wasn’t isolated… <a href="https://t.co/anMHbqDqJA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/anMHbqDqJA</a></p>
<p>— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) <a href="https://twitter.com/mtaibbi/status/1966520198145454170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 12, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p>Taibbi, although now adrift in a bygone era, continues sharing musings from that time.</p>
<p>Brian Merchant, in <a href="http://bloodinthemachine.com/p/the-killing-of-charlie-kirk-and-the" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Blood in the Machine</a>, penned a eulogy for the passing communications era:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>This moment illuminated the current landscape of social media, three years following Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, its evolution into X, and the subsequent fragmentation into various platform domains. It has dispelled several persistent illusions while aggressively introducing innovative elements that are likely to hinder genuine engagement in historical participation.</p>
<p>Moreover, Elon Musk’s X showcases how a large social media platform can be reshaped to reflect the pursuits of its leading figure, stripping content moderation, reinstating users who had been banned for hate speech, introducing paywalls, and signaling via his behavior what types of content are endorsed.</p>
<p>Yesterday, at 12:27 PM, Musk tweeted, “The Left is the party of murder,” long before evidence emerged regarding the assailant's identity or motives. Despite the lack of substantiation, his statement fostered a flood of hostility and incitements to violence from some of X's most prominent figures.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/J7mSO7R5aO" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/J7mSO7R5aO</a></p>
<p>— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natwilsonturner/status/1966601711012696225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 12, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>In an essay that now seems oddly dated, despite being penned mere weeks ago, the editor of a new liberal magazine, <i>The Argument</i>, enthusiastically urged its readership to remain active on X for the sake of debate: “Twitter is—without question—the most influential public square we currently possess… Departing from Twitter means sacrificing the ability to advocate for the changes you desire.” Reading through the posts earlier, emerging from some of X's largest accounts, as well as from its owner, one might question if these individuals truly use any public square to participate in meaningful dialogue.</p>
<p>Right-wing activists are currently combing through lingering social media posts from those they believe are “celebrating” Kirk’s death—many simply reposting their earlier quotes—cataloging these interactions and exposing personal information online.</p>
<p>The aftermath of Kirk's assassination highlights why it's prudent to reconsider the conceptualization of X as a space conducive for debate, progression, and democratic exchange.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A deep analysis by <a href="https://www.nefariousrussians.com/p/the-spectacle-made-flesh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yasha Levine in "The Spectacle Made Flesh"</a> breaks down the profound implications of Kirk's death:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The assassination had a chilling effect on political influencers. Fear spread amongst them. Numerous influencers operated using cautious verbiage regarding the gravity of the situation, many labeling it a 9/11 event but for their class.</p>
<p>While political assassinations are appalling, actions against figures like Kirk were deemed out of bounds. Influencers, as political commentators, were considered a protected class, their freedom of speech expected to be upheld. The lingering fear is palpable; for many influencers, this incident struck too close to home. Their reality is shifting, and repercussions ripple through both the right and the left influencer spheres.</p>
<p>Political influencers represent a newer class, more visible and influential than traditional talk radio figures, and significantly more radical than cable news personalities. They exist, in many ways, at the capstone of the spectacle, made possible by monopolistic communication technologies. Most of them developed organically, stemming from the grassroots, possessing an innate understanding of their audience's desires, forging emotional connections. They wield considerable power, stirring societal grievances and turmoil to their advantage, profiting via fame, influence, and capital.</p>
<p>Until this incident, influencers stood insulated against the chaos they often stirred. They resided within secure enclaves, confident that the masses they engaged were too distracted or entranced to take action. Now, however, the understanding that the spectacle can manifest into reality—not merely an abstract notion, but one that can exact tangible consequences—has become apparent.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In a reflective piece, Taylor Lorenz considers the recent history in her work <a href="https://www.usermag.co/p/lets-talk-about-political-violence" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"Let’s Talk About ‘Political Violence’”</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Numerous voices on X have pointed out that political violence has become inherent in America's fabric.</p>
<p>When political figures and media personalities express anxiety over "political violence," it rarely encompasses a universal definition. Their concerns predominantly focus on violence directed against those holding elite power or maintaining existing hierarchies.</p>
<p>The violence faced daily by marginalized communities—poor individuals, Black citizens, immigrants, disabled persons, and queer identities—remains largely invisible to them. This inconsistency has long existed, fueling resentment towards the U.S. government, especially from countries with a history of American-imposed violence. Yet, with cell phones and social platforms illuminating these discrepancies, a more significant number of everyday Americans can now recognize this hypocrisy. Over the past five years, political violence escalated, but not in the manner politicians often portray.</p>
<p>The onset of the pandemic in 2020 exacerbated violence against marginalized individuals, subjecting them to hazardous working conditions devoid of airborne health measures. Incarcerated individuals, nursing home residents, and patients within hospitals were left to grapple with COVID without adequate protections.</p>
<p>Rather than attenuating this violence, the Biden administration urged a return to work, directing pandemic funds toward law enforcement. It cultivated a narrative convincing many—liberals and leftists alike—that the worth of fellow human lives could be disregarded. The notion that endangering individuals by rejecting mask mandates is morally acceptable has taken root. The ongoing pandemic itself constitutes a form of violence.</p>
<p>In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, countless individuals took to the streets demanding justice against racially motivated police killings. The response was an unprecedented surge of state-sanctioned violence. The Department of Homeland Security dispatched tactical teams into various cities. Journalists were confronted with aggressive tactics—kettled, assaulted, and arrested. Many protesters suffered severe injuries, and some paid with their lives; yet mainstream media did not commemorate these individuals as martyrs of democracy.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lorenz also critiques mainstream media's approach:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">99% of media professionals think being "hyper plugged into online culture" consists of spending time on media Twitter.</p>
<p>— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/1967023654799348086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 14, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is crucial to acknowledge that <a href="https://www.thebulwark.com/p/how-the-groypers-won-charlie-kirk-nick-fuentes-immigration" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kirk faced challenges from his right flank from figures like Nick Fuentes and the Groyper movement.</a></p>
<p>There <del datetime="2025-09-15T22:30:38+00:00">are compelling reasons</del> exists a possibility that the alleged assassin was associated with the <a href="https://x.com/knowyourmeme/status/1966602897174466737" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Groyper movement</a>, despite desperate attempts from the right to pin blame on various left-leaning ideologies and groups.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Miller: “Under President Trump’s leadership, the power of law enforcement will be utilized to find you, strip away your financial resources, your influence, and if you have violated any laws, your freedom.”<a href="https://t.co/uafIvtUZk1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/uafIvtUZk1</a></p>
<p>— Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1966679480350765175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 13, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This demand for COINTELPRO 2.0 emerged quite swiftly.</p>
<p>(Rufo’s organization, the neocon Manhattan Institute, was established by a former CIA director.) <a href="https://t.co/pDeSLfpr5r" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/pDeSLfpr5r</a></p>
<p>— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1965904551032369424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 10, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>There's an audaciousness at play.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Billboard and mural dedicated to right-wing activist Charlie Kirk emerge in Israel.</p>
<p>🟡 LIVE updates: <a href="https://t.co/EL9YmKPvH0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/EL9YmKPvH0</a> <a href="https://t.co/qt9QogJrF9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/qt9QogJrF9</a></p>
<p>— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/1966483286852518168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 12, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>While efforts to lay the blame for the killing on the left appear haphazard, even centrist figures like Bill Maher are offering pushback, inviting Ben Shapiro onto his show to exemplify centrist-MAGA solidarity:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shapiro: "We know he was left-leaning."</p>
<p>Maher: "We don’t actually know anything, Ben. I've heard he's affiliated with a faction that believes Kirk wasn't sufficiently right-wing—the Groypers. Are you certain he isn’t?"</p>
<p>Shapiro: "I can't say for sure." </p>
<p>Maher: "Just moments ago, you were." <a href="https://t.co/ba4mzhBbmJ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/ba4mzhBbmJ</a></p>
<p>— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMaineWonk/status/1966840957581881388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 13, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Historian of the American right, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rick.perlstein/posts/pfbid02kVcqQueTdHAVfByoRTKteUKU9BQomqwA2vZdsGm4S85YBAHBAUtLAys3Cna823Gfl" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rick Perlstein</a>, shared his insights on Facebook:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“In 2019, Nick Fuentes' neo-Nazi 'Groypers' engaged in sustained harassment of Charlie Kirk at his public events for not being extreme enough in his beliefs. His reaction to this pressure was to embrace more extreme views, which culminated in a successful career characterized by his striking talent. His address during the 2024 Republican convention is among the most compelling I have seen, passionately articulating the feelings of dispossession and alienation experienced by a typical young adult today, while skillfully presenting fascism as a potential remedy.”</p>
<p>In Naomi Klein's ‘Doppelganger,’ one of the most revealing political books I've read recently, she brilliantly argues that Steve Bannon possesses a similar ability to articulate vulnerable people's feelings of dispossession, yet the Democratic Party remains dominated by leadership unfriendly to such perspectives, like AOC and Mamdani.</p>
<p>Moreover, the way he is memorialized, as someone who welcomed “dialogue with diverse perspectives rather than just hostile exchanges,” further underscores the complexity of his impact.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Fuentes, meanwhile, asserts he is being unjustly implicated:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">My supporters and I are currently being scapegoated for Charlie Kirk's murder by mainstream media, all based on absolutely no evidence.</p>
<p>After the left took him down, many celebrated and rationalized the act. They even claimed I was next. Now they're placing the blame on me. It’s pure malevolence. <a href="https://t.co/WRQdt7G3Dp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/WRQdt7G3Dp</a></p>
<p>— Nicholas J. Fuentes (@NickJFuentes) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickJFuentes/status/1966734737499730025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 13, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The ongoing chaos is undoubtedly perplexing, making it unsurprising that the FBI struggles to establish a coherent narrative.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/TEj4L5YU4j" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/TEj4L5YU4j</a></p>
<p>— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natwilsonturner/status/1967024243276976267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 14, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>In this tumultuous cultural landscape, narratives are rapidly shifting; the prevailing authoritarian storyline struggles to maintain coherence.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">While I once doubted, my perspective has shifted. I thought Eldertiktok couldn't be surpassed in the Charlie Kirk meme tapestry, but then came a Christian TikToker vowing to resurrect him: “If anyone has connections to the Kirk family and… <a href="https://t.co/nz2qIPq96z" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/nz2qIPq96z</a> <a href="https://t.co/qGCzC1ifsh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/qGCzC1ifsh</a></p>
<p>— ParaPower Mapping (@KlonnyPin_Gosch) <a href="https://twitter.com/KlonnyPin_Gosch/status/1966686207015838191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 13, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>A TikTok video essay effectively elucidates the tensions between the Kirk vs. Fuentes narratives, highlighting the Christian nationalist vs. Groyper divide and the distinct communicative styles prevalent in each:</p>
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@cybelecanterel/video/7549384885798980894" data-video-id="7549384885798980894" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;">
<section> <a target="_blank" title="@cybelecanterel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@cybelecanterel?refer=embed" rel="noopener nofollow">@cybelecanterel</a>
<p>A brief overview of blackpill accelerationism: the memes serve as the ideology.</p>
<p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Cy Canterel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7549390027353115423?refer=embed" rel="noopener nofollow">♬ original sound – Cy Canterel</a> </p></section>
</blockquote>
<p>Partial transcript:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Media narratives frequently conflate two factions on the right. One embodies the traditional far-right Christian nationalism, while the other represents the Groyper scene, particularly its blackpill accelerationist strain.</p>
<p>While these groups share rhetoric and adversaries, their visions for the future diverge significantly and they utilize the internet in markedly different ways.</p>
<p>The term "Groyper" refers to a youth-driven online far-right community associated with the America First brand, led by Nick Fuentes.</p>
<p>The "blackpill" concept, originating from incel forums, conveys a sense of fatalism regarding improvements in humanity, affirming that decline is inevitable and thus rendering despair rational. “Acceleration” in this context signifies provoking crises to hasten societal collapse.</p>
<p>One can conceptualize this as a contrast between builders and burners. For hard-right Christian nationalism, there exists a builder impulse—insisting that the nation should declare explicit Christian values and prioritizing hierarchy and order as a return to rightful societal roles. Even when their discourse becomes apocalyptic, their strategy remains institutional.</p>
<p>Conversely, the world of Groypers revolves around younger demographics, comprising streamers and various online personalities, drawing from a confluence of incel content, gamer chat, chiaroscuro comedy, and ironic engagements reflective of an entirely online engagement.</p>
<p>At the core distinction lies the blackpill wing's rejection of reform—culturally or institutionally—or any belief that progress is possible. The blackpill embodies the assertion that decline is irrevocable. If redemption is unattainable, then the only valid creative expression becomes negation.</p>
<p>In this context, “acceleration” suggests pushing every societal fault line—race, gender, religion, and class—until a rupture occurs.</p>
<p>It's a question not of policy but of physics. This anticipates collapse followed by nothingness. Unlike certain white supremacist or apocalyptic Christian variants that envision a future beyond collapse, mainstream blackpill discussions seldom propose a constructive order post-collapse. It revels in the worship of chaos, accelerating disintegration just for the spectacle of it.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@aidanetcetera/video/7549640789652032790" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aidenetcetera on TikTok</a> provides a similar perspective from a Zoomer standpoint.</p>
<p>Additionally, it's vital to recognize that, despite his vocal denial regarding genocide, Kirk had recently expressed sentiments that could be construed as heretical toward Israel.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tucker Carlson shared that Charlie Kirk visited the Oval Office to argue against war with Iran—his donors reportedly responded with “intense” backlash regarding Kirk's stance. <a href="https://t.co/jnPh6vgHTa" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/jnPh6vgHTa</a></p>
<p>— An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LegendaryEnergy/status/1966534598822658329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 12, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This shift surprisingly aligned him more closely with Fuentes, who regards opposing Israel as an integral aspect of his brand.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇮🇱 EVERY VARIABLE CONNECTING CHARLIE KIRK TO HIS ASSASSINATION (so far):</p>
<p>— He was fostered by Israeli interests as a young adult<br/>— He remained Israel’s top non-Jewish ally<br/>— He began *mildly* critiquing Israel<br/>— He suggested Epstein had ties to Mossad<br/>— He advocated against a military action towards Iran on Israel's behalf<br/>— He lobbied…</p>
<p>— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1967191592999026952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 14, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>“Laura Loomer, an unofficial advisor to Trump, influential in pivotal national security appointments, opted to delete this post, realizing the implications it may have in light of Kirk's killing,” <a href="https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/1966126751115084213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Yglesias (ironically) tweeted and later removed</a>: </p>
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<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/DFGGppLM5X" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/DFGGppLM5X</a></p>
<p>— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natwilsonturner/status/1970141674165899273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">September 22, 2025</a></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">There were accusations that Charlie Kirk had infiltrated Turning Point USA with “antisemitism.”</p>
<p>The Fox News editor warned that Kirk’s continued leadership at TPUSA could foster an antisemitism crisis.</p>
<p>Charlie had begun to endure growing disdain from supporters of Israel.</p>
<p>A month prior, he remarked… <a href="https://t.co/hjscsWMp14" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/hjscsWMp14</a></p>
<p>— ADAM (@AdameMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdameMedia/status/1965914534217998349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tim Dillon reflected: "Can you recall any instance of a political assassination where a foreign leader has publicly refuted involvement?"</p>
<p>Max Blumenthal replied: "No. Nor have I witnessed anything like Netanyahu’s behavior following a tragedy since 9/11." <a href="https://t.co/fgdKyyldIt" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/fgdKyyldIt</a></p>
<p>— James Li (@5149jamesli) <a href="https://twitter.com/5149jamesli/status/1967318575208890582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Meanwhile, amidst all these developments:</p>
<p>- The US House of Representatives approved an amendment on September 11, 2025, prohibiting the Pentagon from engaging with companies participating in “politically motivated” boycotts of Israel;</p>
<p>- Proposed legislation from Rubio aimed at revoking US…</p>
<p>— Priscilla RivasLoria, Ph.D. ☦️ 🇪🇸🇵🇷🇺🇸 (@PRL1111) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRL1111/status/1967261423291224525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: The ADL released a report condemning the "antisemitic conspiracy theories" surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, specifically naming Jackson Hinkle, Ian Carroll, Syrian Girl, and Paul Miller. Interestingly, they decided to omit <a href="https://twitter.com/HarrisonHSmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HarrisonHSmith</a> from their significant discourse… <a href="https://t.co/uZRY9tVeV4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/uZRY9tVeV4</a></p>
<p>— Sam Parker 🇺🇸🧯 (@BasedSamParker) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedSamParker/status/1967392698660503976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2025</a></p>
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<p>This moral panic starkly contrasts with the one experienced during George W. Bush's presidency; it appears to be beyond the management of those attempting to leverage it.</p>
<p>Yet, there is substantial momentum behind this drive:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The elaborate ceremony surrounding Charlie Kirk's dignified transfer raises eyebrows. This honor is typically reserved for military members, Presidents, and occasionally Congress members. It is unprecedented for a civilian to receive such treatment.</p>
<p>Could VP Vance… <a href="https://t.co/4Wa9gkcoeL" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/4Wa9gkcoeL</a></p>
<p>— CannCon (@CannConActual) <a href="https://twitter.com/CannConActual/status/1967276160703725803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s yet another tweet from Netanyahu eulogizing Charlie Kirk.</p>
<p>What is he trying to compensate for? <a href="https://t.co/4pTm8FeHwG" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://t.co/4pTm8FeHwG</a></p>
<p>— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1967088756298772682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Although the influencer apocalypse has yet to unravel fully, it's clearly progressing into uncharted territory.</p>
