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Good afternoon, Press Pass readers. The news moves fast, and so do we. Keep pace with the political peloton by joining Bulwark+. We’d love to have you riding with us:
Today’s edition takes a look at how Republicans across the Trump administration and Congress are responding to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. For many of them, grief is taking an aggressive form. We’ll review the flurry of recent actions and pieces of legislation aimed at restricting speech and fencing in non-conservative organizations in Kirk’s name.
In addition, a megadonor thinks political contributions should be restricted further, but his history suggests he thinks his own donations should be exempt. Lastly, Jeffrey Epstein’s old sweatshirt ended up in a consignment store, and some weirdo bought it for the cost of a used car. All that and more than you probably want, below.
Republicans Prepare Punishments for Progressives After Charlie Kirk Murder
“Listen, we are in a fight right now to save our democracy—that’s true.”
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The assassination of conservative podcaster and political organizer Charlie Kirk was rightly condemned by politicians and public figures across the political spectrum in the days following his death. Many called for unity and for a lowering of the national temperature in response to the shocking act of violence. But among Republicans, even more visible than grief over Kirk’s murder was a growing sense of rage. In the last few days, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have operationalized that rage by pushing for crackdowns on speech, on the left in general, on liberal organizing, and more. Their furor has produced executive branch investigations, new bills, and a cultural push to punish ordinary people for speaking ill of Kirk, whose importance to the MAGA movement is hard to understate.
The activist has received governmental honors normally reserved for deceased lawmakers and members of the military, including Trump’s order to lower flags to half-staff. In an unusual move, Vice President JD Vance guest-hosted, from the White House, an episode of the podcast Kirk ran, making comments that illustrated the party’s dark mood—and its aggressive posture: “When you see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder, call them out—and, hell, call their employer.” Vance also dedicated time on the show to excoriating financial backers and subscribers who support publications whose coverage of Kirk’s murder he considers offensive, saying, “There’s no unity with people who fund these articles, who pay the salaries of these terrorist sympathizers.”
It wasn’t the only podcast on which immoderate words were spoken by administration officials. In an interview with Katie Miller, the former White House and DOGE staffer, Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested that the Department of Justice would expand the scope of its investigation to include almost anyone who may have had a role in promoting the violent ideology Republicans believe to have motivated the assassination. (There is no evidence that suspect Tyler Robinson did not act alone.)
Asked by Miller if “we” are gonna target more people beyond Robinson, Bondi said, “We have to look at all of that,” adding, “We’re going to look at everything. We are looking at everything.”
Bondi went a step further when she appeared on television, telling Fox News that the DOJ’s civil rights division would probe any reports of denials of service from companies that, in her example, refuse to produce materials for vigils for Kirk. Bondi also posted on X that “Free speech protects ideas, debate, even dissent but it does NOT and will NEVER protect violence. It is clear this violent rhetoric is designed to silence others from voicing conservative ideals.”
Trump seemed to confirm that investigations into left-wing organizations and individuals have already begun, although it’s often hard to tell whether he’s just blustering for the cameras or revealing genuinely new information.
“Well the problem is on the left. It’s not on the right like some say—on the right—the problem we have is on the left,” Trump said Monday. “And when you look at the agitators, if you look at the scum that speak so badly of our country—the American flag burnings all over the place—that’s the left. That’s not the right.”
“We’ll see. We’ll be announcing. They’re already under investigation,” he added. “You know they’re already under major investigation. A lot of the people that you would traditionally say are on the left.”
Trump continued on Tuesday morning, telling reporters that media organizations would also be targets. After an ABC reporter mentioned Bondi’s comments teasing investigations and asked whether hate speech is free speech, Trump said, “She’ll probably go after you. Because you treat me so unfairly. It’s hate. You have a lot of hate in your heart.” (Today, Bondi clarified that she was not directing the DOJ to investigate or prosecute anyone for hate speech, only speech that incites violence.)
In Congress, Republicans have been similarly animated about the Kirk assassination. In the days since, they have introduced a series of legislative actions ranging from simple resolutions honoring his life and work to bills that would aggressively crack down on speech and organizing.
While there are currently four separate proposed resolutions either honoring Kirk’s life, condemning his assassination, or combining honor and condemnation, more bellicose bills are also expected in the congressional hopper.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is planning to restore the Smith-Mundt Act