Overview
- On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s killing, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro held a joint forum in Philadelphia urging less hostile political speech and better civic conversation.
- A judge has recently cleared the trial of Tyler Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder in Kirk’s death, a legal step that keeps the case on track for prosecution.
- Shapiro recalled the 2025 firebombing of his residence and said six people have been arrested in the last six to seven months for terroristic threats against his family, many tied to antisemitic motives.
- Speakers and published data at the event pointed to a broader pattern of rising threats, including a U.S. Capitol Police finding of roughly a 58% increase in threats to lawmakers in 2025 and a report showing some students view violence as acceptable to stop speech.
- Governors blamed online platforms and inflammatory public rhetoric for amplifying violence, and they warned that the trend could affect campaign conduct and public safety in the run-up to next month’s elections.