Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes

Episode: Gov. Cox Preaches Peace. Trump Demands Revenge

Date: September 14, 2025
Host: Will Salatan (The Bulwark)

Episode Overview

This episode examines sharply contrasting responses from two prominent Republicans to the recent, shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah. Host Will Salatan compares Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s call for unity and the rejection of political violence on all sides, with Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric blaming only the left and calling for revenge. Throughout, Salatan underscores how these divergent messages from Republicans have deep implications for political violence in America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk and Immediate Reactions

• Will Salatan begins by noting the emotional shock and anger following the sniper attack and murder of Charlie Kirk in Utah.
  • [00:00] “By now everybody knows that Charlie Kirk…was shot by a sniper, and everybody’s pretty shocked.”

2. Governor Cox’s Broad Call Against Political Violence

• Governor Spencer Cox, a conservative Republican, responds by condemning political violence on all sides, not singling out any one political faction.
  • [00:30] Cox: “We've had political assassinations recently in Minnesota...an attempted assassination on the governor of Pennsylvania, and...on a presidential candidate and former President of the United States.”
• Salatan interprets Cox’s message as recognizing violence across the spectrum, not just from one side.
  • [00:53] “Cox is sending a message that…violence is not just a left wing problem. It’s a problem of political violence on both sides.”

3. Trump’s Response: Exclusive Blame and Escalatory Rhetoric

• Donald Trump’s reaction is to blame only “radical left” actors for political violence, omitting any mention of violence perpetrated by the right.
  • [01:27] Trump: “Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives.”
  • Trump’s list of victims includes himself and other conservatives, all at the hands of the left, ignoring violence against or by others.

4. Contrasting Philosophies on Calling for Peace

• Salatan highlights Governor Cox’s appeal to all Americans—right, left, MAGA, progressive—to avoid hatred and not return violence with violence.
  • [02:33] Cox: “I desperately call on every American, Republican, Democrat, liberal, progressive, conservative, MAGA, all of us, to please, please, please…follow what Charlie taught me.”
• Trump, when encouraged on Fox to send a message for unity and peace, refuses to equate “radicals on both sides.”
  • [03:20] Trump: “The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical 'cuz they don’t want to see crime. The radicals on the left are the problem and they’re vicious and they’re horrible and they’re politically savvy.”
• Salatan notes that even when handed a chance to lower the temperature, Trump doubles down on partisan rhetoric.

5. Human Connection versus Dehumanization

• On ABC News, Cox makes a broader plea for Americans to see the humanity in their opponents.
  • [04:03] Cox: “Are we going to hate our neighbor? Are we going to return violence with violence, or are we going to find a different path?...When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to commit violence.”
• Trump, by contrast, labels Democrats as “sick” and intent on destroying the country.
  • [04:31] Trump: “Here’s the problem the Democrats have. They’re sick. There’s something wrong with them. They want to…destroy the country.”

6. Pathways Forward: Dialogue or Revenge?

• Governor Cox shares a story of cross-party dialogue and the search for “better angels.”
  • [04:55] Cox: “Republicans and Democrats in my little town are getting together to have a discussion…to find their better angels again.”
• Trump escalates by suggesting violence as a solution.
  • [05:31] Trump: “We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them.”
• When pressed on Fox whether revenge should be avoided (as Kirk would have wanted), Trump again deflects, suggesting that ballots as a means of revenge are futile because elections are rigged.
  • [06:09] Fox Host: “So is the message…not to have revenge…Charlie Kirk would not want revenge.”
  • [06:24] Trump: “You want revenge at the voter. That’s where to go. But unfortunately, we don’t have so many ballot boxes because they have mail in voting which is totally rigged.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Will Salatan (on Cox’s message):

  • [00:53] “Cox is sending a message that what happened…is not just a left wing problem. It’s a problem of political violence on both sides.”

• Governor Spencer Cox:

  • [02:33] “I desperately call on every American…to please, please, please…follow what Charlie taught me.”
  • [04:03] “Are we going to hate our neighbor?...Are we going to find a different path?”
  • [04:55] “At some point we have to find an off ramp. …[Republicans and Democrats]…are getting together…to find their better angels again.”

• Donald Trump:

  • [01:27] “Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives.”
  • [03:20] “The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical 'cuz they don’t want to see crime. The radicals on the left are the problem…”
  • [04:31] “The Democrats…they’re sick…they want to destroy the country.”
  • [05:31] “We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them.”
  • [06:24] “Voting which is totally rigged.”

• Will Salatan (summarizing the danger):

  • [06:25] “If you tell people…the other side is evil and…can't be defeated through the political process, guess what some of them are going to do? They're going to resort to violence.”

Memorable Moments

• The powerful contrast between Governor Cox’s genuine, repeated pleas for all Americans to resist hate, and Trump’s pointed refusal to condemn violence on the right, even when prompted, stands out as the emotional core of the episode.
• Trump’s “beat the hell out of them” line is highlighted and questioned—does he mean it as incitement or metaphorically? This moment ([05:31]) crystallizes the podcast’s concern about dangerous rhetoric.
• The closing takeaway from Salatan underscores the fundamental difference—both men are conservative Republicans, but one is trying to heal, the other, intentionally or not, encourages cycles of revenge and violence.

Conclusion

Through direct comparison, the episode demonstrates how voices from the same political party are responding in radically different ways to a moment of national instability: one emphasizing mutual humanity and dialogue (Cox), the other fueling division and resentment, even in the face of tragedy (Trump). The Bulwark frames the episode as a warning about the power of rhetoric and the urgent need to reject cycles of political hatred and violence.