Douglas Murray: The Attempt on Trump’s Life and Political Violence in America

Douglas Murray, journalist and author, joins School of War host Aaron MacLean to discuss the assassination attempt that both witnessed in person at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. Was there a lapse in appropriate security? Is political violence being normalized? Can it be contained? WATCH BELOW.

Ele Ludemann: If violence is answer

This is a very red flag:

A new Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll reveals worrying levels of support for political violence across the political spectrum. One in four Te Pāti Māori voters and one in five ACT voters agree that “New Zealanders may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track.”

Ele Ludemann: Stuck in activist mode

In 2008 the Māori Party accepted the National Party’s invitation to join it in government and by doing so its MPs had influence and were able to show its supporters what they had gained.

Led by Tariana Turia (now Dame) and Pita Sharples (now Sir), the party supported the government on confidence and supply but voted against many of the government’s initiatives which included stymying attempts to reform the RMA and National’s policy to disestablish the Māori seats..

But they didn’t only oppose, they also made gains, including getting funding for the establishment of Whānau Ora.

Tim Watkin: Unsurprising, But Trump Shooting Creates Opportunity For A Surprising Response

I can’t say I’m shocked. As the US news networks offer rolling coverage dissecting the detail of today’s shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and we hear eye-witnesses trying to make sense of their trauma, the most common word being used is shock. And shocking it is. That someone should try to shoot dead a candidate in a democratic election in the developed world in 2024, as it seems happened just outside Pittsburgh today, is thankfully incredibly rare. It is therefore by definition shocking. And not just in the “surprise” meaning of the word, but also the “disgust” meaning. We should all without hesitation say violence has no place in democratic contests. Elections are battles of ideas, not of bullets.