Katie Couric thought she had a perfect “gotcha” moment when she pressed Sen. John Fetterman to denounce Charlie Kirk on her podcast, but it quickly blew up in the legacy media’s face. What was meant to be a theatrical ambush—an attempt to use a grieving family’s tragedy as political ammunition—turned into a rare reminder that not every Democrat will play the media’s game. The Outnumbered panel was right to call it another example of reporters twisting anguish to inflame the country.
Fetterman refused to take the bait. He said plainly that free speech matters, that no political disagreement justifies violence, and that he would not use the moment of a father’s death to score cheap points. In an era when too many on the left reflexively scream “fascist” and “Nazi” at their political opponents, his steadiness was a welcome reminder of common-sense decency.
Make no mistake: Couric’s persistent prodding was exactly the kind of performative journalism that corrodes trust in the press. Instead of honoring the victims and calling for national healing, she tried to manufacture a controversy to fit a narrative—one that excuses the left’s habit of blaming speech for criminal acts. Patriots should be disgusted when journalists weaponize tragedy to silence dissent.
Conservative viewers saw what many in the Beltway refused to acknowledge: debating ideas is American, assassinating people is a crime, and neither should be conflated. Critics, including some in public office, rightly blasted the interview for appearing to justify using a violent act as fodder for political rhetoric. If the media wants to be taken seriously, they should stop staging gotcha moments and start reporting facts.
This episode also exposes a double standard: when conservatives spare political speech from being criminalized, the left often demands punishment for thought and words. Fetterman’s refusal to play that game is not cowardice—it’s courage. He held to principles that many in his party abandon when headlines and outrage are on the line.
Americans who love their country should demand better from our journalists and our leaders. We must condemn political violence unequivocally while defending the free debate that built this nation. Let this be a lesson: the media will try to divide us, but decent patriots will choose unity and truth over cheap political theater.
