Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence?
Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, we look at the statistics around political violence in the US.
On September the 10th 2025, right-wing political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at an event in Utah. In the aftermath, his friend JD Vance, the US Vice President, hosted a special memorial edition of 鈥楾he Charlie Kirk Show鈥�, live from the White House, during which he called for unity, but said that could only be found by 鈥渃limbing the mountain of truth鈥�.
鈥淲hile our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left,鈥� he said. We investigate the statistical evidence around political violence 鈥� both in people鈥檚 attitudes and the crimes themselves.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Reporter: Lizzy McNeill
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Richard Vadon
Podcast
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More or Less: Behind the Stats
Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics around us.
