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Fear and resolve have spread across the conservative media sphere after the fatal shooting of influential right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Some are upping security measures and predicting a chill on outdoor events while also expressing a desire to keep speaking out.
At Blaze Media, which is home to Glenn Beck’s show, building security was increased after the shooting, editor in chief Matthew Peterson told Business Insider.
“We were all informed security was elevated in the building, and I think everyone is thinking about what this means today for security in the future,” Peterson said. He said it’s still early, but that his team would rethink live events.
“This is the end of outdoor events, in terms of political events,” Ben Shapiro, the Daily Wire editor emeritus, said on a livestream on Wednesday. “It’s over.”
The FBI hasn’t apprehended a suspect or announced a motive.
Spencer Coursen, a security specialist, said his phone had been “ringing off the hook” with calls from people he hadn’t heard from before: TV talking heads on both sides of the political aisle, and influencers engaged in political or hot-button topics.
“What they’re worried about is, it’s become open season on political pundits,” Coursen said.
Coursen said people were requesting security audits and revisiting their strategies for appearances.
“They’re not canceling appearances, but maybe they’re not doing the meet and greets,” he said. “Or they’re doing things more in a controlled setting. Their arrival plans are changing.”
Across conservative media, many also struck a defiant tone.
Political commentator Matt Walsh posted on X that he wouldn’t go into hiding, despite receiving threatening messages himself.
“We have to be louder and bolder now than ever. Or else the demons who killed Charlie win. And they cannot win,” he posted. “And that is exactly why we must continue to appear in public.”
While The Daily Wire’s Shapiro said he had canceled book signings this week out of respect for Kirk, he said in a video posted to X Thursday that he still intended to visit college campuses — “many of them” this year.
“We are not going to be deterred,” he said.
Mark Weaver, a crisis comms professional who advises political figures and officeholders, said clients have been increasing their security details for a while in the wake of gun violence against public figures, and he expects the trend to continue.
“This is a reminder that you don’t have to be in government to be a target,” Weaver said. “People not in government are wondering what their security improvements should be. Gun and alarm companies will be doing more business.”
Some in conservative media were friends with Kirk and find themselves grappling with personal loss while processing the impact of the shooting on the country and their work.
“It changes everything in terms of the seriousness of the political divide and potential for this kind of violence to spread,” Peterson said. “I’m concerned with getting this story right. We want to make sure we take this slowly, piece by piece. The work is cut out for us.”
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