Charlie Kirk and the rise of political violence in the US

Charlie Kirk and the rise of political violence in the US

Author: The Times September 12, 2025 Duration: 29:24

A sunny afternoon at Utah Valley University suddenly became a scene of terror when the right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a campus event on Wednesday, 10 September. His death was quickly described as an “assassination” by President Trump, and it is the latest in a worrying spate of politically-motivated attacks in the US. So what’s behind this trend? Is political violence becoming normalised? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Katy Balls, Washington Editor and Columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Shabnam Grewal and Micaela Arneson.

Read more:

Search for Utah Valley University shooter after two suspects released

Who was Charlie Kirk? TikTok wizard who conjured up Trump youth vote

Clips: New York Post, Republic TV, CNN, KTLA 5, Fox News, Charlie Kirk via Instagram, President Trump via Truth Social  

Photo: Getty Images

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com     


This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Why questions remain about the collapsed China spying case [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
Since the case against two British men accused of spying for China suddenly collapsed, the Government and the Crown Prosecution Service have been playing the blame game, each accusing the other of being responsible. So w…
Channel chaos laid bare in distress calls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:19
With increasing numbers of people crossing the Channel in small boats, emergency call logs lay bare the fears faced by those trying to reach Britain. These calls highlight the risks taken every day by those at the centre…
How Trump's Gaza deal could still unravel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
There was a sense of euphoria in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv, yesterday, as all of the living hostages held by Hamas since the October 7th attacks were released. But while Trump told the Israeli parliament the peace plan he…
INVESTIGATION: The forensic expert and the parents accused of murder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
The Times has uncovered cases of parents accused of killing their babies, based in part on testimony from a forensic expert who claimed to find evidence of harm. But serious concerns have now been raised about his conclu…
Jilly Cooper: The queen of the bonkbuster - The Sunday Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:12
For more than 40 years. Dame Jilly Cooper was the undisputed queen of the bonk buster, that glorious British blend of sex, scandal and social satire. As Britain says farewell to her, three Times journalists who loved, kn…
The Story presents: Planet Hope - Sylvia Earle at 90 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each episode is hosted by The Story released as a bonus weekly series on Saturdays. L…
A breakthrough in Gaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:46
President Trump hails 'everlasting peace' in Gaza and promises hostages will be released as early as Monday. But will a ceasefire hold? What changed to allow this breakthrough? And should Trump now win the Nobel peace pr…
How Trump’s using the government shutdown to remake America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:02
The US government has been shut down for more than a week, and Democrats and Republicans are locked in a political blame game. Shutdowns are nothing new in US politics, but this time President Trump has made an unusual t…
My daughter used ChatGPT as a therapist, then took her own life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
When 29-year-old Sophie Rottenberg took her own life, her family later discovered she’d been confiding in a chatbot called ‘Harry’ things that she wasn’t telling any human.This episode discusses suicide and mental health…
Should pro-Palestine protests be held on October 7? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:35
Two years ago Hamas fighters launched a terror attack on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking around 250 hostage.The Hamas-linked Gaza health authorities say tens of thousands have been killed in the subsequ…