It has been 9 days since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and there has been an incredible wave of faith running across the United States. The assassin silenced Kirk’s voice, but his message has resonated globally. Let’s take a look.
Do Journalists and Mainstream Media Show Bias Against Faith?
Essentially, yes, there is considerable bias amongst many “journalists” in the MSM, especially where there is overlap with conservative politics. Faith bias aligns primarily with the political persuasion of the network:
- Mainstream TV news (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC) is most trusted by Democrats and secular Americans.
- Republicans and conservative Christians trust Fox News and right-side outlets (OANN, Newsmax) more.
- Religious Americans, especially evangelicals, often perceive mainstream outlets as dismissive or hostile toward faith — particularly when religion intersects with conservative politics.
Bias is most evident when reporting a story with faith at the center. Networks report the story, but journalists portray it differently depending on their network’s focus.
The Charlie Kirk Story
The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a horrific story. Most networks covered the assassination similarly, although the analysis differed greatly depending on the network you were watching:
Matthew Dowd of MSNBC was the first to blame Kirk for the killing:
“Charlie Kirk has been one of the most divisive, especially divisive, younger figures… constantly pushing hate speech aimed at certain groups. I always go back to: hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.“
Kirk’s campus programs promoted faith and open dialogue with students of different views. Dowd felt that was “hate speech.” The network fired Dowd for those comments:
“MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler called Dowd’s remarks “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable” and issued a public apology.”
The network got it right. Dowd’s remarks were wildly inappropriate and unacceptable, although Dowd has a long history of what would be considered “inappropriate” remarks.
Applications for Turning Point USA Chapters Soar
A huge part of the story was the tremendous response Turning Point USA (Kirk’s company) received, with over 54,000 applications for new high school, college, and faith chapters in the days following Kirk’s assassination. Club America is Turning Point USA’s high school initiative designed to promote faith, patriotism, and civic engagement among teenagers. It’s part of Charlie Kirk’s vision to “saturate every high school in America” with chapters that blend conservative values and a biblical worldview. The exact breakdown by chapters is unavailable, but the reporting was inconsistent.
- Fox News reported over 54,000 applications and included Club America’s vision.
- MSNBC reported 37,000+ applications focused on political impact and organizational momentum – no direct reporting on Club America’s vision.
- USA Today reported 32,000 applications in 48 hours and mentioned Club America.
- Newsweek reported over 60,000 applications with no mention of Club America.
- Of the three major networks, CBS, NBC, and ABC, only CBS quoted Erika Kirk on faith and patriotism, but none of these stations mentioned Club America.
This was a tremendously important aspect of the story, yet the major networks generalized the response and didn’t focus on faith.
Faith-Based Networks
As expected, the faith-based networks were very focused on this aspect in their reporting:
- American Faith spotlighted Kirk’s spiritual mission, especially his vision for Club America and the surge in faith-based chapter applications. Their coverage framed the moment as a call to spiritual awakening and generational readiness.
- Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) focused on Erika Kirk’s grief and resolve, highlighting her vow to continue Charlie’s mission “in faith, not fear.” They aired segments on forgiveness, spiritual warfare, and the biblical call to courage.
- Victory News and FlashPoint (affiliated with Kenneth Copeland Ministries) hosted prayer vigils and prophetic reflections. Their tone was pastoral and urgent, calling believers to “armor up” and engage culture with conviction and grace.
- Charisma News published devotionals and op-eds urging Christians to respond with spiritual discernment, not retaliation. They emphasized themes like martyrdom, legacy, and the cost of public witness.
The Ugly Response to Kirk’s Murder
Social media erupted with many celebrating Kirk’s death and equally as many condemning them for it. The networks, for the most part, remained neutral:
- ABC, CBS, and NBC reported the facts of the assassination, the investigation, and the public response. Their tone was generally neutral, though they focused more on political fallout than Kirk’s faith or legacy.
- Some MSNBC and CNN contributors framed Kirk’s death within broader debates about political extremism, sometimes emphasizing the divisiveness of his views more than the tragedy of his loss. This led critics to accuse them of moral equivocation.
- Some commentators and segments on outlets like MSNBC and CNN made remarks that many viewers interpreted as insensitive, politically charged, or morally ambiguous, especially in the immediate aftermath of his murder.
Truth in Reporting
There were a few instances where public broadcasters openly lied and/or purposely misrepresented facts in the case:
- Kaitlan Collins from CNN stated publicly that “no motive had been determined” in an interview with Sen. Ted Cruz after text exchanges from the assailant clearly indicated Kirk was killed for his “hate speech.” Cruz and Collins ended up talking over each other, and the discussion spiraled into a shouting match.
- Jimmy Kimmel on ABC pointed the finger at President Trump and the MAGA party as responsible for Kirk’s murder. ABC affiliates dropped Kimmel’s show and forced Disney to pull it from the lineup indefinitely.
Social media was abuzz with much focus on the “Smith-Mundt Act of 1948.” Many people believed this act was repealed by President Obama in 2013, when it was amended when Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act. The gist of the rumor was that Obama repealed a law blocking government propaganda. USA Today responded:
“The claim is wrong on multiple fronts. The law referenced in the post was not repealed; it was amended. And the legislation refers only to broadcasts that the U.S. government produces for foreign audiences. The law doesn’t impact traditional media outlets, and laws remain in effect banning the government from producing programming designed to influence the public opinion of Americans.”
The Catholic View
As expected, networks like CBN, American Faith, and Victory News condemned the murder unequivocally. They framed it as a spiritual attack on Christian witness, while calling for forgiveness, unity, and faith. This is the only way to respond from a faith perspective to events we witnessed last week.
Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
We must speak truth, but not with bitterness. Jesus never justified violence — even when falsely accused or betrayed. He bore injustice with dignity and called His followers to do the same. That doesn’t mean silence. It means witness: bold, clear, and rooted in love.
Please share your thoughts about this article in the “Comments” section.
Peace
If you like this article, you might enjoy:
Two Assassinations: One Disturbing Trend
Political Tensions Surge After Charlie Kirk’s Death
We’ve Failed Them Again: Another School Shooting
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