Hot Takes

I continue to believe that Americans should not be allowed to purchase assault weapons, although I realize that Trump and most Republicans believe in an unfettered right for people to freely acquire the arsenals of their choice.

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 14, 2024

I can’t compete with this pic.twitter.com/pBNeM0q0Fb

— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) July 14, 2024

Are we? All MAGA?

This is MAGA. pic.twitter.com/szMCWi4rrH

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 14, 2024

I’m trying to figure out from the Republican narratives if it is Biden’s fault, Antifa’s fault, God’s plan, or just women in the workforce. pic.twitter.com/sPp8ytfVId

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 14, 2024

20 year old white dude with an AR-15 starts shooting at Trump at a rally and Republicans are blaming women and DEI.

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 14, 2024

If we are going to combat political violence in America, we must begin by acknowledging that the target of Saturday's shooting is also one of the most dangerous advocates for such violence in our country's history. https://t.co/MscTIHIAVq pic.twitter.com/PaeLRrse2d

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) July 14, 2024

This sounds like a powerful statement but it’s actually based on nothing more than an immediate emotional reaction. We don’t really have any idea what the impact of any of this will be. https://t.co/oSkX2jWldE

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 14, 2024

Eh, I don’t know. Guy who foments violence the way other people comment on the weather is victim of violence, is not exactly the formula for winning hearts and minds. Rasmussen even tried to analogize reaction to this shooting to the murder of George Floyd, which has to rank as the dumbest hot take so far. Trump will try to capitalize on it. But Trump is incapable of accruing sympathy. Trump will turn it into the sucking need of his narcissistic ego. As I said before, true martyrdom might win Trump some true sympathy; but that wouldn’t do him any good, either.