The brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10 exposed more than just the cowardice of a killer; it exposed the moral rot of a political class willing to weaponize a death for cheap partisan points. Within hours celebrities and some on the left amplified grotesque and demonstrably false claims about Kirk’s views, including assertions that he openly advocated stoning gay people — a charge that was promptly shown to be untrue.
Conservative commentator Dave Rubin didn’t sit quietly while the mob rewrote the record; he went on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum and publicly debunked the smears, then shared the exchange for Americans who still value facts over spectacle. Rubin’s message was clear: truth matters, even when it’s inconvenient for those who profit from outrage and victim theater.
Even one of the most famous authors in America, Stephen King, got caught up in the frenzy and publicly repeated the falsehood before deleting it and offering a belated apology — a reminder that influence without responsibility is a dangerous thing. King’s mistake was treated as trivial by some on the left, but conservatives rightly pointed out the real harm of amplifying lies about the dead; slander doesn’t become OK because an influential person says it first.
Representative Ilhan Omar’s reposting of an inflammatory video criticizing Kirk further inflamed the situation, prompting House Republicans to try to hold her accountable — efforts that culminated in a failed censure attempt but left no doubt about how divided the country has become. The House vote and the surrounding theater underscored a larger truth: the left’s instinct is often to excuse or redirect when their side harms public discourse, rather than to call out bad actors.
The aftermath has been ugly and revealing: institutions across media, government, and entertainment have disciplined or fired employees for celebrating Kirk’s death, while conservative leaders press for consequences for those who trafficked in lies and dehumanization. This is not about vengeance; it is about restoring standards — if society tolerates casual, unverified smears from powerful people, the next escalation will be worse and more dangerous.
Patriots who love free speech must also love truth — that means calling out the left when it lies, demanding accountability from celebrity influencers, and refusing to let tragedies be twisted into political cudgels. Dave Rubin did the right thing by standing up on national television and refusing to let this moment be stolen by cynics; conservatives should double down, defend decency, and make clear that America will not accept truth-free politics.
