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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 ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’, live from the White House, during which he called for unity, but said that could only be found by “climbing the mountain of truth”.

“While 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,” he said.

We investigate the statistical evidence around political violence – both in people’s attitudes and the crimes themselves.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Reporter: Lizzy McNeill
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Richard Vadon

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9 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Sep 2025 23:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 20 Sep 2025 04:50GMT
  • Sat 20 Sep 2025 17:50GMT
  • Sun 21 Sep 2025 04:50GMT
  • Sun 21 Sep 2025 08:50GMT
  • Sun 21 Sep 2025 10:50GMT
  • Sun 21 Sep 2025 23:50GMT

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