_WHAT’S HAPPENING_

A Texas man has been charged with making terroristic threats after allegedly plotting to bomb a Turning Point USA event where Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, was scheduled to speak.

The arrest comes as threats against political figures have reached historic levels, as a recent report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) links the threat against Kirk to a broader pattern of "assassination culture" and anti-Christian extremism spreading online.

_THE FACTS_

  • Jacob Wenske, 26, was charged with a third-degree felony for making terroristic threats involving public fear of serious bodily injury.

  • Wenske sent an email to Turning Point USA threatening to bomb an event where Erika Kirk was the keynote speaker, specifically targeting Kirk and "Christian nationalists."

  • NCRI linked anti-Christian extremism and an emerging "assassination culture" to the threat against Erika Kirk in a study published this month.

  • “Christian nationalism” is being used as the pretext to justify political violence.

  • A 2025 NCRI study found that 38 percent of US adults, and 55 percent of those left of center, considered it "somewhat justified" to murder President Donald Trump.

  • Just 153 days before his murder, Charlie Kirk cited the study, arguing that left-wing protest culture was fueling a rise in political violence.

  • Travis Hawley, a cyber threat analyst at the Institute, warned that foreign influence operations are shaping Western discourse through social media to accelerate political violence and civil unrest.

  • Threats against members of Congress increased 58 percent from 2024 to 2025, according to the US Capitol Police.

  • Overall threats against political figures have nearly doubled since 2020.

_OUR TAKE_

Tyler Robinson, Luigi Mangioni, Cole Allen, the myriad of school, church, and synagogue shooters, and the shocking number of left-wing Americans who agree that murder is justified against prominent figures — all point to a culture in the US that is increasingly more comfortable with violence.

And according to the NCRI studies, conservatives — especially religious conservatives — are even greater targets.

Charlie Kirk, tragically a victim of the same violence he had just called out half a year prior, said it best: “This is the natural outgrowth of left-wing protest culture tolerating violence and mayhem for years on end. The cowardice of local prosecutors and school officials have turned the left into a ticking time bomb.”

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Fred Scott5 months ago

It certainly is a major problem, the left being the primary cause! This is a designed tactic used by Marxists, Communists, and Socialist organizations. It's been used throughout history by Marxist followers expressly for the overthrow of nations. Wake up, America!

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Photo Man5 months ago

"Do you view America’s “assassination culture” as a major issue?" It IS a major issue. It is Not an " "emerging "assassination culture" " because it has already been here now for a few years. Promoted no less by the DemolStructive party, in many formats, and promoted by individual so-called prominent Democrat politicians. And yet those same idiots contend that us Christians are the #1 domestic terrorist threat. Go figure! But welcome to the warped world of the DemoCommies.

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Amy Wick5 months ago

This is a direct result of the cancel culture. Charlie said whenever we stop having open discussions and allowing different viewpoints is when violence takes over. The liberal Left’s attempts to silence anyone who doesn’t agree with their agenda and encouraging violence, whether implied or overtly, has led to this state of acceptance of KILLING PEOPLE and the general public being ok with that. What in the world?!?

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Shirley Damonte 5 months ago

Yes , it’s scary that people don’t see this as wrong. And the fake news outlets are thrilled. It’s becoming “America- land of the free unless you disagree with me “

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Robert Baublitz 5 months ago

It is a tragedy that so many believe the lies. This nation was founded on Judeo-Christian truth. This nation overcame every evil of the enemy of Almighty God up until this point in time. Like the book of Exodus, just three generations after WWII (that's World War eleven, for you marxists) we're not taught the miracles to bring God's people out of slavery. Here in the U.S. during WWII, our nation including the President, praying to the God of Bible, for victory over the enemy and for restoration of Peace. Just three generations later, we have never been farther from our nations Founding Thruths. As Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". One God, over the whole Universe. Any other is false teaching, as the Apostle Paul witnessed. If you don't know Paul's encounter, you will never understand Truth. You can see this written history for yourself in Acts chapter 9. You can deny it. But then you already deny Truth.

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F. Williams5 months ago

Absolutely, this culture of death is a dangerous and sadly fast-spreading poison! Not only did Erika lose her husband, but she has to deal with such serious threats to herself. This is an attempt to steal her freedom of speech, such as when she wasn't able to come speak when I went to the TPUSA rally in Athens, GA this past April.

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S Lyon5 months ago

Indeed. Half of our voting adults seem quite happy to kill any opponent. Then claim killing an opponent is protecting democracy. Twisted logic, intended to bring us the dictatorship of socialism.

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Photo Man5 months ago

"...dictatorship of socialism." = Wake up, S. Lyon and all of you like minded souls. This country has been under that rule now for a few decades. (60% of the US annual budget are mandated social welfare entitlements, meaning US is a socialist nation.) And greatly enhanced under OBummer and Yoey dictatorial extreme leftist communist regimes. Yes, communism. That is what the Democrat party promotes. They are a stooge for the UN 2020, 2030, 2050 agenda, as the Democrats continue to fall prey to that UN 1 world globalist society. Go study those lofty UN Goals - absolutely frightening!!!!

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Susan McCarley5 months ago

Yes, we are very nearly at the point, as in Noah’s day, when “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” ‭‭

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Terry McCall5 months ago

No, murder culture is the result of the bigger issue of moral values being lost. We used to be a country of which the vast majority had a fear of God. The results of that are apparent.

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J Y5 months ago

I feel the younger generation are being desensitized to violence through video gaming. Most videos games today have grotesque violence in them. With this mindset, we are seeing more atheist, extreme leftist politics, and more violence in public. All being fueled by mainstream news outlets and dark web chat rooms. The staged destruction of private property by leftist criminals during the G7 meeting should never have been tolerated. It seems to me that if they can’t get their way they’re going to harm or kill someone. Examples must be made out of these criminals. If you do the crime, you should do the time. Everything has consequences.

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Vicki Small5 months ago

Yes. It is an outgrowth of the "culture of death" that has grown in the U.S. since at least the early '70s. From the race riots of the '60s to legalizing abortion in the '70s (and the growing support of abortion-on-demand, at every stage over 50+ years), to one teenager killing another for his shoes (remember Air Jordans?) to where we are today. But that more than 50% of Americans supports the killing of political figures and anyone who disagrees with them--?

Chapter 21 in the book of Judges in the Old Testament describes a time when "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." That sentence appears four times in the book of Judges. Not one of those occasions describes good culture or true reliance on the God of Israel. America is increasingly there, where people do what is "right" in their own eyes. For whatever reasons they deem sufficient--the color of someone's skin, political ideology, religion, or anything else, they will kill or "justify" murder.

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Bob Tasker5 months ago

Yes. And the threat is being escalated by the democrat leadership. Statements made by Schumer and Jerries encourage the escalation of violence, projecting the view that extreme violence is not only acceptable but necessary as a political position. Both of these individuals should face charges for insurrection against the government, if not for treason. The country should indeed “wage war against the democrat leadership, everywhere and all the time”. Bob Tasker

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Patricia D Smith5 months ago(edited)

I do. Perhaps 1) those who have distanced themselves from Judeo-Christian values are incapable/unwilling to understand the sacredness of human life and the value of human life that is given by God and 2) some of us who do ascribe to /are devoted to Judeo-Christian values, have erroneously considered ourselves entitled to the incredible level of law enforcement we have been largely protected by here in the USA and until it “hits us in our own family and home” we choose to be oblivious to what is happening around us

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Jennifer Vaughn5 months ago

Assassination culture is a huge issue in our country, and it clearly shows that the foreign psyops poisoning America's minds has been successful. ~Jennifer

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david kerkhoff5 months ago

yes. the radical leftists are trying and succeeding in mobilizing the young, ignorant and gullible to carry out these attacks. the education system has failed, along with online propaganda.

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Rich Henke5 months ago

YES!

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Bob Hrebec5 months ago

Political violence is not new. We can start with Caesar and walk through the centuries Ferdinand's started WWI. Lincoln, Hardy, attempted on Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. John Kennedy and Bobby too. There's more of course but the trend is almost always from the left. Nothing new EXCEPT the tolerance and celebration of it from so many people with power. News, judicial, and political support. They encourage it. And the speed of communication today amplifies it.

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Kathie A5 months ago

This is a serious problem. It is the antithesis of the Freedoms that America is based on. Its like Mob Rule - ‘our way or cement shoes’. The whys are likely myriad - but I would propose a big contributor to be the rejection of basic morals: the sanctity of Life foremost. And the lack of conscience - the sense that accountability for one’s own actions does not exist and there will be no repercussions for bad behavior.

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Jim Powers5 months ago

It is a major issue that needs to be addressed. The left caused it and continue to fuel the fire. Law enforcement MUST start arresting and prosecuting people to the fullest extent the law allows, who are committing these crimes or even planning them. It needs to be done in mass and needs to start now and continue. That's the only way to reel this back in.

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P H5 months ago

Yes. We are no longer a unified, law abiding , respectful nation under God. When God’s Word was removed from our classrooms, and we stopped saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and starting our day with prayer, we started deteriorating. We used to rise early, eat food without toxins, and talk around the dinner table, and go to bed early. Then along came late night television, 7/11 stores selling junk foods and “girly” magazines, and then “no fault divorce” was introduced which started the decline of fathers in the home. Kids became undisciplined, spoiled rotten. There’s so much more, like our wide open borders letting in MILLIONS of America-haters, unpunished riots in or street, and hatred of law enforcement of any kind. Now we have law-breaking judges putting criminals through a revolving door instead of jails. There are NO CONSEQUENCES!!! We’d better take back our country THIS YEAR or we’re doomed!

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Jim Ahern4 months ago

Well stated P.H.. Our countries on the clock to right this most atrocious wrong that's been going on far to long..

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Roger Kirkpatrick5 months ago

Absolutely a threat on every level! A study and definitive analysis of the forces that have brought our free nation to the very cusp of revolution needs to be done immediately with an eye to openly condemning the anti-cultural enemies!!

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Jim Ahern5 months ago

Of course it's an issue and Charlie Kirk's the most prominent example in recent years. And we know that certain organizations/Leftist NGO's are almost certainly tied to these atrocities in one form or fashion. The ongoing problem, and for a long time now, is the utter failure of the US Justice System. We hold no one to true accountability for their actions, period. We are talking about (Pre-Meditated 1st Degree Murder(s) in many cases over the years and yet how many of these parasites and deranged individuals simply sit on (Death Row) on endless appeals or worse as we saw in (Karmelo Anthony's) case given an extended prison sentence which will most certainly be reduced before all is said and done. It's pathetic, it's not justice and it needs to end. Executions need to make a huge comeback in this country and the Letter of the Law demands it. You start with the likes of (Mangione, Anthony, Robinson, Brown Jr.) to show that extreme/fatal violence carries terminal consequences..

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Chris Baum5 months ago

Our mayor, who is also the principal of a school here, called out ICE at a town council meeting for illegal activities and murder. I pressed her for evidence and she had none. I stressed to her that undermining law enforcement without any evidence is extremely counterproductive to a properly functioning society. She never answered me. My take is that our government school system is responsible for fostering a lack of respect for the traditions and culture that have made our country the greatest in history. We won't be able to take things back until the educational system reverses itself.

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Chuck Evans5 months ago

“‎‭They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” “‎‭And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.” John 16:2-3

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Michael H.5 months ago

The attacks coming from the left are encouraging some on the right to use language that supports self defense against these violent attacks, but using greater force i retaliation. With the number of conservatives who own firearms it is only a matter time before return fire is heard. We could be on the brink of a blood bath in the form of a "civil war."

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Shaun Hurrie5 months ago

Absolutely! Those who have no moral grounding, nor no morally grounded arguments to make (since God is out of the picture typically) cannot but resort to violence to attempt to make themselves heard🙏😔