By Shannon Brincat, Frank Mols and Gail Crimmins
A modern-day political inquisition is unfolding in “digital town squares” across the United States. The slain far-right activist Charlie Kirk has become a focal point for a coordinated campaign of silencing critics that chillingly echoes one of the darkest chapters in American history.
Individuals who have publicly criticised Kirk or made perceived insensitive comments regarding his death are being threatened, fired or doxed.
Teachers and professors have been fired or disciplined, one for posting that Kirk was racist, misogynistic and a neo-Nazi, another for calling Kirk a “hate-spreading Nazi”.
Journalists have also lost their jobs after making comments about Kirk’s assassination, as has the late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel.
A website called “Expose Charlie’s Murderers” had been posting the names, locations and employers of people saying critical things about Kirk before it was reportedly taken down. Vice President JD Vance has pushed for this public response, urging supporters to “call them out … hell, call their employer”.
This is far-right “cancel culture”, the likes of which the US hasn’t seen since the McCarthy era in the 1950s.
The birth of McCarthyism
The McCarthy era may well have faded in our collective memory, but it’s important to understand how it unfolded and the impact it had on America. As the philosopher George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Since the 1950s, “McCarthyism” has become shorthand for the practice of making unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty against political opponents, often through fear-mongering and public humiliation.
Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons
The term gets its name from Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican who was the leading architect of a ruthless witch hunt in the US to root out alleged Communists and subversives across American institutions.
The campaign included both public and private persecutions from the late 1940s to early 1950s, involving hearings before the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Millions of federal employees had to fill out loyalty investigation forms during this time, while hundreds of employees were either fired or not hired. Hundreds of Hollywood figures were also blacklisted.
The campaign also involved the parallel targeting of the LGBTQI+ community working in government – known as the Lavender Scare.
And similar to doxing today, witnesses in government hearings were asked to provide the names of communist sympathisers, and investigators gave lists of prospective witnesses to the media. Major corporations told employees who invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to testify they would be fired.
The greatest toll of McCarthyism was perhaps on public discourse. A deep chill settled over US politics, with people afraid to voice any opinion that could be construed as dissenting.
When the congressional records were finally unsealed in the early 2000s, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said the hearings “are a part of our national past that we can neither afford to forget nor permit to reoccur”.
Another witch hunt under Trump
Today, however, a similar campaign is being waged by the Trump administration and others on the right, who are stoking fears of the “the enemy within”.
This new campaign to blacklist government critics is following a similar pattern to the McCarthy era, but is spreading much more quickly, thanks to social media, and is arguably targeting far more regular Americans.
Even before Kirk’s killing, there were worrying signs of a McCarthyist revival in the early days of the second Trump administration.
After Trump ordered the dismantling of public Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, civil institutions, universities, corporations and law firms were pressured to do the same. Some were threatened with investigation or freezing of federal funds.
In Texas, a teacher was accused of guiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) squads to suspected non-citizens at a high school. A group called the Canary Mission identified pro-Palestinian green-card holders for deportation. And just this week, the University of California at Berkeley admitted to handing over the names of staff accused of antisemitism.
Supporters of the push to expose those criticising Kirk have framed their actions as protecting the country from “un-American”, woke ideologies. This narrative only deepens polarisation by simplifying everything into a Manichean world view: the “good people” versus the corrupt “leftist elite”.
The fact the political assassination of Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman did not garner the same reaction from the right reveals a gross double standard at play.
Another double standard: attempts to silence anyone criticising Kirk’s divisive ideology, while being permissive of his more odious claims. For example, he once called George Floyd, a Black man killed by police, a “scumbag”.
In the current climate, empathy is not a “made-up, new age term”, as Kirk once said, but appears to be highly selective.
This brings an increased danger, too. When neighbours become enemies and dialogue is shut down, the possibilities for conflict and violence are exacerbated.
Many are openly discussing the parallels with the rise of fascism in Germany, and even the possibility of another civil war.
A sense of decency?
The parallels between McCarthyism and Trumpism are stark and unsettling. In both eras, dissent has been conflated with disloyalty.
How far could this go? Like the McCarthy era, it partly depends on the public reaction to Trump’s tactics.
McCarthy’s influence began to wane when he charged the army with being soft on communism in 1954. The hearings, broadcast to the nation, did not go well. At one point, the army’s lawyer delivered a line that would become infamous:
Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness […] Have you no sense of decency?
Without concerted, collective societal pushback against this new McCarthyism and a return to democratic norms, we risk a further coarsening of public life.
The lifeblood of democracy is dialogue; its safeguard is dissent. To abandon these tenets is to pave the road towards authoritarianism.
Shannon Brincat is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Frank Mols is Senior Lecturer in Political Science at The University of Queensland. Gail Crimmins is Associate professor at University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Deborah Coffey says
Right. Well, I dissent. I despise Trump and his entire administration as something only Lucifer could conjure up. Because I love my country and the democracy we strive to make better and better and because I love our institutions which have served the people so well for 250 years, in their eyes, I am the “enemy within.” God save my country from all those that LIE and HATE. Help me to pray for them…because I’m having a really hard time with that. But, I am not afraid. I’m angry so, I dissent.
Thomas Hutson says
Most AMERICANS both left and right know this TACO ORANGE MAN is a WACK JOB! Those reds that drink everything he has to say are just as BAD! Using a dead supporter, a private citizen/podcaster trying to elevate him to MARTYR STATUS is not working! Making threats, removing or firing AMERICANS IS NOT WORKING! Word to you REDS 2026 is coming!! TACOS MINIONS will be gone! ENJOY YOUR DAY, TACO ORANGE MANS POWER WILL BE GONE! Barbie, the Knuckle Dragger, DOG AND CAT MAN AND the other suck ups will looking for a way out! TACO MAN’S status will then rest in his other minions on the High Court John Roberts, the HOUSEMAID and the rest of the Hightower! Take note AMERICA of what has been taken from you and VOTE!
R.S. says
Florida was one of the last states to give up McCarthyism. When I taught as a part time teacher in the then Daytona Beach Community College, I still had to sign a loyalty oath, etc. I guess it’s little surprise that Floriduh is the first to swallow the new McCarhyism hook, line, and sinker with immediate enthusiasm.
Justsayin says
Please spare me the mccarthyism nonsense. I noticed the story says nothing about the COVID time when the government tried to shut down, everyone’s free speech rights. Flaglerlive being one of them. If you did not parrot the government talking points.You would be shut down. Does anyone remember the twitter files where it was proven the government was telling big tech to censor people.
Where was your outrag when ABC got rid of Roseanne Barr and Gina Corrado for statements, they did not approve of. Maybe because it did not fit your political beliefs
Just my thought says
Trump has promoted verbal and physical violence since day one he got into politics, and encourages his base to do the same. He is stealing our country blind and hates the US Constitution and is fighting to destroy it with the help of Project 2025. He discriminates all those of color and only supports the rich that can donate to his political base.
His name is all over the Epstein files and his AG Pam Bondi is covering it all up for him. She was involved with it when she was AG for the State of Florida when Acosta gave Epstein a sweetheart deal. Wake up people and smell the coffee.
Tired of it says
We are losing our rights, one at a time, and trump supporters don’t care…as long as he gets rid of all those illegals. We are already, effectively, living in a dictatorship.
Just Saying says
All of this just makes me sick. We keep saying this is not who we are. Unfortunately, it appears that this is who we are. Disgusting.
Mischa Gee says
Beyond fear mongering and public humiliation has been the threats made and some carried out in the form of firings and blacklisting people. This is seriously wrong and it needs to stop. It seems the only way it will is she. Trump is removed from office for abuse of his power.
Laurel says
This article is right on! Republicans, you have to pay attention to this. This is real, and will effect all of us, not just those you dislike. I don’t believe all of you are okay with this, as it is now. I married a life long Republican, and he is very concerned about the very wrong direction this country is going in.
Don’t turn a blind eye. Don’t play it down. Don’t make excuses. You are used to this country being stable, so you show little concern. I get that. It’s hard for me too. But the fact of the matter is, Trump is still in the process of overthrowing this country, like he attempted on January 6th.
Anne Frank, and her family, hid out in an attic for two years during the Nazi occupation. It is believed, through modern investigation methods, that a Jew turned them in to save his own family. They were murdered in Auschwitz. Turning in your fellow citizens, over political ideology, is about as un-American as you can get! Yet, our very own Vice President of the United States is calling for us to do so. Yet our own President of the United States calls people who do not agree with him “vermin.”
Many of us here keep referencing George Orwell’s novel “1984.” There is good reason for that. It includes Big Brother’s call to turn in your neighbors, friends and even family members, should they even appear to not be 100% supportive of the government. Little children turned in their parents. Fear was a daily fact of life. We are approaching this dilemma in real time, and Trump and his cabinet are accelerating this un-American behavior, at a mind blowing speed!
This is not a joke, people, this is becoming real. It is up to you Republicans to put a stop to it! Our country does have problems, it is not perfect. We need to come together to make a more perfect union.
What y’all really need to understand is, Trump is not coming up with all these executive orders himself. Sorry, fans, he’s not that smart. He is doing what Steve Bannon calls “Flooding the zone with shit.” This is a method Bannon came up with, and Steve Miller continues to this day. The concept is to come up with multiple bullshit distractions like “Their eating the dogs” and making Canada the 51st state. While we’re sorting out the shit, Steve Miller’s executive orders are signed by Trump. We are being bombarded with nonsense while those behind the scenes take over our country.
https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-flood-zone-strategy-explained-trump-policy-blitz-2027482
This is clearly not your retribution! You Republicans stopped Nixon when he was a threat. Now you need to stop Trump before our way of life is lost forever.
Pogo says
@The only thing
…that’s going to break this fever is so terrible that sane people fear to think it — much less utter the words. The consequence of dreaming of the perfect, instead of doing first things first, will be awful — they always are.
Good luck, and good night.
Sherry says
Right On Laurel! Thank You!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
@ Justsayin says
” I noticed the story says nothing about the COVID time when the government tried to shut down, everyone’s free speech rights.”
Who was President when Covid hit and everything shut down? Not hard to figure it out.
DaleL says
Authoritarians do not like being made fun of and they do not like news media that contradicts their lies. Mr. Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. He has gotten Stephen Colbert’s show cancelled, effective next year before the midterm elections. He just recently got ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show. He has openly threatened NBC’s late night show hosts. Is this similar to what other dictators have done in the past? Yes, it is.
“The New York Times reported in 1939 that Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels terminated the careers of five prominent German comedians. Their crime? Making political jokes about the Nazi regime.” by Ellsworth Toohey.
Mussolini was “…a man with little or no sense of humour and in which oppositional humour was severely punished.” Stephan Gundle: “Laughter Under Fascism: Humour and Ridicule in Italy, 1922–43”
“25 Years Ago, Russia Had Its Own Kimmel Moment.” by Peter Theil.
I just hope that Mr. Trump turns out to be just another McCarthy. I fear he might be far worse.
DaleL says
@Justsayin
I don’t remember that the “…government tried to shut down, everyone’s free speech rights.” I do remember how the CDC, responsible government and medical professionals tried to counter the wild false claims concerning Covid-19 treatments. Particularly the false claim that an anti-parasite drug, ivermectin, was an effective treatment for Covid-19, a virus. It is no surprise that the former Morgan & Morgan, ambulance chasing attorney, RFK jr. still promotes ivermectin.
I also remember that my wife was employed at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine. That hospital, as with others in the state, was over capacity with Covid-19 patients. Even with the novel mRNA vaccines, as the result of Mr. Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, the hospitals were still over capacity as late as August 2021.
“AdventHealth Palm Coast now exceeding capacity, joining Volusia hospitals amid COVID-19 spike” the Daytona Beach News-Journal, August 30, 2021.
Me says
Laurel,
I admire your honesty and concern like most of us are. It appears our Congress and Supreme Court have let us down that is what is so disheartening.
Creating violence verbally or physically or promoting vengeance against someone you dislike is not what our country was build on and now we are watching a political party trying to remove that and feel it is acceptable. Not how I was raised.
Trump despiser says
I think if his ego got any bigger. He does nothing for this country only to line his pockets. He’s taking away everything just to prove that he can. Don’t get me started on ” KENNEDY” . Everyone TRUMP has appointed is basically BATSHIT CRAZY just like he is.
jane doh says
It turns out McCarthy was right about the commies in Hollywood and gov’t. You people who commented so far – why don’t YOU wake up and smell the coffee – it’s not longer left/right – it all one team now – Them against us, the little people.
Jason says
“The slain far-right activist Charlie Kirk…”
1) What exactly does “far-right” mean? Everyone seems to reluctant to define this terminology and if you cannot define it then it means nothing. It is akin to being called a nazi and racist by keyboard warriors when you’ve never exhibited any actual behaviors that would make you deserving of those labels.
“When neighbours become enemies and dialogue is shut down, the possibilities for conflict and violence are exacerbated.”
1) “neighbours” is misspelled, it should be “neighbors”
2) Do you know how many times the owner of this very site and some of the sites most prolific commenters have done exactly this to people that don’t agree with the narrative in some articles? The cognitive dissonance to post an article on this site that seems to portray this behavior as McCarthyism while its actively being engaged in is quite impressive.
3) Does labeling people as “far-right” count as shutting down dialog? Labeling people that you disagree with on an issue with charged language was and is s tactic used to dehumanize people and make it justifiable to commit violent acts against them.
Willy James says
I think that Charlie Kirk has become a national treasure! As such, he should be buried in Arlington National Cementry. Congressman Fine, make it happen!
Marlee says
Saint Charlie Christ Kirk
John Stove says
I will NOT BE SILENT…..Republicans by their complicity and their Idiotic Imbecile of a leader will be remembered as the worst era of our country from education, public health, economy to basic human rights.
They are so desperate to stay in power that they have sold their souls to the orange buffoon who is incapable of speaking in a full sentence without attacking someone. If you support them and their agenda…..YOU are the problem.
This country has collectively been sabotaged internally ever since that Idiot (Trumpo) decided to run for office…..
We can agree to disagree, we can argue, we can have different beliefs but the Republicans have lost their mind.
BillC says
“He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them, I’m sorry.”
— Trump address at Kirk memorial
Deborah Coffey says
@ Jason
Want me to define Nazism so you’ll recognize it when you see it? History 101.
Jason says
@Deborah
Unfortunately, even the definition of nazism has been expanded from its historical meaning. Which is why, as I stated in my comment, it is important to define certain words and what they mean to you when they are being used as pejoratives against your “neighbors”. The term “far-right” never really had a concrete definition just like “far-left” doesn’t either. They are simply words used by individuals that cannot participate in an intellectually honest discussion or debate on ideas and philosophies without resorting to personal attacks when they can no longer defend their position factually.
If you want a seat at the adult table, to be respected, to be heard, and to be valued then you must first show respect for yourself and then others.
Sherry says
@ jason. . . Before you begin lecturing others about how to have a seat at. . .your very biased. . . table, perhaps you should come down off your high horse and learn a little something yourself:
Both neighbors and neighbours are correct spellings for the plural of “neighbor” (or “neighbour”), but the preferred spelling depends on the dialect of English you are using. Neighbors (without the ‘u’) is standard in American English, while neighbours (with the ‘u’) is standard in British English and other Commonwealth countries.
Deborah Coffey has been commenting regularly here with an educated and open mind for several years. How about showing some of the respect you have not yet earned. Facts First! Trolling Not Allowed!
Jason says
@ Sherry
You are correct in that there is a difference between American and British English. However, this site is for local, State, and some national news so you’ll have to forgive me for not expecting to see non-American English spellings and jargon here. I suspect those words were written by Dr Frank Mols as he is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland in Australia. The other two authors are in the US.
I think you read my reply to Deborah as being directed at her personally, it was NOT. My comment was meant for everyone at large. I have no desire to attack anyone personally. I’m only interested in having civil discourse with people that are themselves interested in the same thing.
Finally, it is grammatically correct and a sign of respect to capitalize a persons name when communicating with them. I’m sure it was not intentional on your part, but we have to avoid what might be perceived as a microaggression to have civil discourse.
Sherry says
@jason. . . I make it a point to never capitalize the name of a person I do NOT respect. Just my own tiny way of protesting. ;)
R.S. says
Oh, let’s not ever discuss the poetry of e. e. cummings here, shall we? Or fie on us if we should mention bell hooks. Unfortunately, Brits and Americans are divided by a common language. Yet on this small globe, we all are common neighbours, are we not? Shall we not practice a bit of tolerance linguistically or eventually–as we pass the briary pastures of the dead–be pursued by gorgons with long whips. ;-)