Headline Roundup • September 11th, 2025
MSNBC Fires Matthew Dowd After Comments on Kirk Killing
Media Industry,MSNBC,NBC,Television,Journalism,Turning Point USA,Politics,Assassination Of Charlie Kirk
Summary from the AllSides News Team
MSNBC (Left bias) fired political consultant Matthew Dowd after comments he made on air in the wake of the Charlie Kirk (Right) shooting were interpreted by some as shifting blame towards Kirk.
Initial Quote: Dowd said, “[He's been] constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech, sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to: hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
Following Statements: MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler wrote on X, “Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.” Dowd wrote on Bluesky, “My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
For Context: Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event in Utah on Wednesday. Dowd also drew criticism online for another comment he made during the broadcast: “We don’t know the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration, so we have no idea.” The move is the latest shakeup for MSNBC, which recently announced it will split from its parent company, NBCUniversal, and change its name to MS NOW.
How The Media Covered It: Variety (Lean Left) first reported the news, attributing it to “a network source.” ZeroHedge (Lean Right) wrote that Dowd insisted Kirk “had it coming” and highlighted criticisms of his comments.
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Featured Coverage of this Story
MSNBC has issued an apology and fired political consultant Matthew Dowd after comments he delivered shortly after the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk that the broadcaster deemed inappropriate.
The statement was posted to the MSNBC Public Relations X account rather than the company's main account, which has drawn some backlash from X users.
MSNBC via ZeroHedge
MSNBC has fired political analyst Matthew Dowd, after he suggested that conservative activist and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday, had it coming - Variety reports.
During coverage of Kirk's shooting, anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about "the environment in which a shooting like this happens" - a disgusting framing in itself, to which Dowd replied: "He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful...
Getty Images
Political analyst Matthew Dowd has been fired from MSNBC after his comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a network source.
During MSNBC’s coverage of Kirk’s shooting, anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about “the environment in which a shooting like this happens.” Dowd responded with the following about Kirk: “He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead...
