America’s Political Violence PROBLEM: Gov. Shapiro, Luigi Mangione, & A Dangerous New Normal
The Josh Lafazan Show on YouTube - Episode 87
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On today’s powerful episode of The Josh Lafazan Show, we dive deep into a chilling moment in American politics: an attempted assassination attempt against Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. A 38-year-old man, Cody Balmer, allegedly launched a violent, politically motivated attack on the Governor’s mansion, armed with Molotov cocktails and a hammer, with the intent to kill the sitting governor. Thankfully, Governor Shapiro and his family were evacuated safely thanks to the quick and courageous response of first responders. But this was not just a close call — it was a direct assault on American democracy.
Josh breaks down the details of the attack, the charges Balmer now faces — including attempted murder, aggravated arson, and terrorism — and why this moment should be a wake-up call for the entire country. This isn’t just about one man with a twisted mission; it’s part of a larger and deeply disturbing trend of rising political violence in America — from both the far right and far left.
Josh explores the tragic pattern we’ve seen unfolding in recent years: the brutal hammer attack on 84-year-old Paul Pelosi in his San Francisco home, which some on the right mockingly dismissed; the shocking assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally, where some voices on the left openly joked it was a “near miss”; and the chilling murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by 26-year-old Luigi Mangione — a killing that has disturbingly morphed into an internet fandom.
Yes, you read that right: a murder carried out as an act of vigilante “justice” has become something of an online phenomenon. TikTok and Twitter (now X) are flooded with content glorifying Mangione, praising him as a hero of the people, despite his brutal killing of a father of two. Josh dissects this warped moral compass and the real-world consequences of turning violent individuals into viral celebrities. When CNN’s Taylor Lorenz described Mangione as “handsome,” “smart,” and “morally good,” it raised a critical question: What is happening to our values?
Josh cites new polling data from Emerson College showing just how far this rot may have spread: 68% of Americans overall say Mangione’s actions were unacceptable — but among Americans aged 18 to 29, it’s a statistical dead heat. 41% of young voters say Mangione’s actions were “acceptable.” That’s not just troubling. That’s terrifying. What does it say about our civic fabric when nearly half of the youngest voting bloc in America is comfortable with murder as a political tool?
Josh gets raw and real about why this cannot continue. He points to a growing cocktail of cultural decay: social media addiction, political polarization, moral relativism, anti-American indoctrination in academia, and the effects of COVID-era isolation — all contributing to a radicalization of young people who seem more willing than ever to justify violence in the name of ideology.
He also debunks the dangerous narrative being pushed online — that people like Brian Thompson, because they represent large institutions like health insurers, are somehow “fair game.” Josh firmly states: This is the United States of America. We are a nation of laws. We are a democracy, not a mobocracy. The entire foundation of our system is built on due process, not vigilante justice. If someone is guilty of wrongdoing, we have criminal and civil courts to pursue justice. But we do not execute people in the streets based on vibes and viral outrage.
Josh challenges listeners to reject this trend from both political extremes — to call out the lunacy when they see it, no matter who it comes from. He asks: Why have we become so numb to these acts? Why are some people more upset about who gets platformed on social media than the fact that elected officials are being burned out of their homes or bludgeoned in their sleep?
And perhaps most importantly, he issues a call to action: It’s time for the adults in the room to take the mic back. The vocal minority that condones political violence must be drowned out by a national chorus of sanity, civility, and conscience. No more memes about hammer attacks. No more romanticizing vigilantes. No more pretending that murdering your political enemies is brave or justifiable. It is not. It is barbaric.
In this sobering yet urgent episode, Josh makes it clear: the stakes have never been higher. If we allow violence to become an accepted part of our political discourse — cheered on by keyboard warriors and egged on by influencers who confuse rage for righteousness — then we are in danger of losing the very essence of what makes this country worth fighting for in the first place.
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