Did Charlie Kirk's killing shatter Spencer Cox's vision of politics?

Summary

Consider This from NPR

Episode: Did Charlie Kirk's killing shatter Spencer Cox's vision of politics?

Date: September 21, 2025
Host: Scott Detrow
Guest: McKay Coppins (The Atlantic staff writer)
Theme: The aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah and its impact on Governor Spencer Cox’s vision of politics, particularly within the context of Utah’s Mormon political tradition, set against the increasing polarization and MAGA influence within the Republican Party.

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Episode Overview

This episode unpacks the consequences of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University and explores whether this violent incident has crushed Governor Spencer Cox’s hope for a politics rooted in civility, consensus, and faith-inspired moderation. NPR host Scott Detrow speaks with Atlantic writer McKay Coppins, who provides historical and cultural context and examines the challenges facing traditional Mormon Republican leaders like Cox in an era of rising partisan hostility.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Immediate Aftermath and Governor Cox’s Response

• Setting: Kirk’s memorial service held in a packed Arizona football stadium (00:00–00:10).
• Governor Cox’s reaction:
  • Shaken and somber, Cox urges the public to “take down the temperature” and remember the human costs of political violence (00:22).
  • He frames Kirk’s death as “an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals.” (00:44)

2. Influence of Mormon Faith and the Utah Political ‘Way’

• Utah’s exceptionalist identity:
  • McKay Coppins details how Mormon pioneers intended Utah to be a haven from political strife and violence, and that culture shapes current governance (04:19).
  • Utah’s leaders have promoted the “Utah way”—a model of consensus-building, compromise, and moderation on divisive issues (LGBTQ rights, religious freedom, etc.) (05:00).
• Religious leadership:
  • LDS President Russell M. Nelson’s landmark “Peacemakers Needed” sermon denounces vilification of rivals and calls for peacemaking and bridge-building (01:24, 01:41).
  • Cox’s rhetoric and political posture are heavily influenced by such teachings (09:02).

3. The Struggle Against Partisan Polarization and MAGA Drift

• The wall of polarization:
  • Cox’s idealized “disagree better” campaign is struggling amid rising extremism in Utah and beyond (06:34).
  • Attempts at civil, peacemaking leadership from Cox, Romney, Huntsman, and others are increasingly marginalized; the “bulwark” of moderate Mormon Republicanism is breached (07:11).
• Declining Mormon moderate influence:
  • Noted decrease in Latter-day Saint representation in Congress; figures like Jeff Flake retire or are squeezed out (08:30).

4. The Broader Religious and Civic Call for Peace

• Faith in public life:
  • Coppins observes that Utah’s moderate political leadership continues to take cues from the LDS Church’s focus on peacemaking, but national politics “shout[s] down” that message (03:26, 09:02).
  • The “disagree better” ethos is now in tension with rising hostility even within Utah’s own GOP ranks.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Gov. Spencer Cox on the stakes of Kirk’s death:

  “This is certainly about the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, but it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals.”
  — Spencer Cox, (00:44)

• Russell M. Nelson on polarization:

  “I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign and vilify anyone who does not agree with them.”
  — Russell M. Nelson, (01:24) “I urge you to be a peacemaker now and always consider this.”
  — Russell M. Nelson, (01:41)

• McKay Coppins on Utah’s founding and exceptionalism:

  “The Mormon pioneers who settled the territory had been driven into the desert, essentially from a campaign of state-sanctioned persecution...They wanted [Utah] to be a haven from political strife and violence...That idea was always there, and it’s still reflected today.”
  — McKay Coppins, (04:19)

• Coppins on Cox’s realization about political change:

  “There’s been a breach in the bulwark. I think Spencer Cox is realizing even more than ever that this attempt to promote a form of conservatism that is not rooted in grievance or culture war is really not very fashionable in this moment.”
  — McKay Coppins, (07:35)

• On Mormon political influence diminishing:

  “Researchers...have seen actually a decline in Latter Day Saint representation in Congress...the stereotypical Mormon brand of Republicanism is just not well represented or very popular these days.”
  — McKay Coppins, (08:30)

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Major Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–00:44 — Remembrance of Charlie Kirk & Governor Cox’s emotional response
• 01:06–01:41 — LDS President Nelson’s call for peacemaking
• 03:26–04:19 — Introduction of McKay Coppins; Utah’s founding & exceptionalist vision
• 05:00–06:34 — The “Utah way” and its political manifestations
• 06:34–07:35 — Friction between Cox’s vision and polarized GOP reality
• 08:30–09:57 — Decline of moderate Mormon political representation and enduring religious calls for civility

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Conclusion

This episode of “Consider This” examines the broader repercussions of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the fragility of Governor Spencer Cox’s hope for a more civil, values-driven politics—a vision challenged by America’s accelerating polarization and the transformation of the Republican Party. Through insightful historical, cultural, and religious context provided by McKay Coppins, listeners come to understand how the uniquely Utah/Mormon approach to moderation and consensus is under increasing strain, both from within and outside the state. The episode offers a nuanced reflection on the future of civic discourse and the limits of faith-inspired peacemaking in modern American politics.

Transcript

[Scott Detrow]

Mourners filled a football stadium in Arizona to remember conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Well, good morning, everybody. Welcome this morning.

[Russell M. Nelson]

We're so thankful to have you here.

[Scott Detrow]

We celebrate the life of our friend Charlie Kirk. Kirk was slain on the campus of Utah Valley University. And in the aftermath of his death, Utah's Republican Governor Spencer Cox was shaken.

[Spencer Cox]

We are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights. The first one of those is life. And today a life was taken.

[Scott Detrow]

In the days following the shooting, Cox urged the public to take down the temperature, to consider the human price of political violence and the precarious balancing act of the American experiment.

[Spencer Cox]

This is certainly about the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, but it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals.

[Scott Detrow]

Like many politicians from Utah, Cox's political views are shaped by his Mormon faith.

[Russell M. Nelson]

My dear brothers and sisters, it is a joy to be with you.

[Scott Detrow]

Russell Nelson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, addressed polarization directly in a landmark sermon two years ago called Peacemakers Needed.

[Russell M. Nelson]

I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign and vilify anyone who does not agree with them.

[Scott Detrow]

Nelson urged his flock to choose peace over contention.

[Russell M. Nelson]

I urge you to be a peacemaker now and always consider this.

[Scott Detrow]

As the Republican Party solidifies under President Trump, is there still room in the party's tent for for traditional Mormon politicians like Governor Cox? From npr, I'm Scott Detrow. This message comes from Carvana. Explore Carvana's quick and easy financing and browse thousands of car options, all within your budget and timeline. Get pre qualified [e-mail] financing subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

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The Trump administration has canceled billions in federal research funding at major universities.

[Scott Detrow]

We feel like collateral damage.

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They've also clamped down on visas for international students. Was the visa process hard?

[Scott Detrow]

No.

[Spencer Cox]

Don't ask me about was awful.

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Trump's war on higher ed. Listen now to the Sunday story on the up first podcast from npr.

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[Scott Detrow]

It's consider this from npr. Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Utah's Governor Spencer Cox has been appealing to Americans to consider our common values and humanity. It is a view that is guided by his faith and one that is being increasingly shouted down in national politics. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins talked with Cox as he navigated the fallout of Kirk's shooting, and he joins us now. McKay, welcome.

[McKay Coppins]

Thanks for having me.

[Scott Detrow]

I want to talk about what Cox has been saying, and in your article, you put that into a really thoughtful context of the history of Utah. The founding of Utah by its original Mormon settlers and the idea that they thought of this as an American Zion. Can you talk about that general idea and how that is still reflected in prominent LDS politicians talking about Utah today, centuries later?

[McKay Coppins]

Yeah, there's always been this sort of exceptionalist idea to Utah as a place, as a state, as an idea. Right. The Mormon pioneers who settled the territory had been driven into the desert, essentially from a campaign of state sanctioned persecution in places like Illinois and Missouri, and had settled Utah as a place that they wanted to be, a haven from the political strife and violence and sin that they believed characterized the rest of the country. So that idea was always there in Utah, and it's still reflected today. You know, in recent years, many of Utah's political leaders have made a concerted effort to position and sort of brand their state as a model of cooperation and consensus building and compromise. They call it the Utah way. They've hammered a number of state bills and policies that are sort of detentes in the culture war on issues like LGBTQ rights and religious freedom, immigration, the environment. And in that kind of political context, people like Spencer Cox and Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, sort of more moderate and genteel Republicans, have been able to thrive while the rest of the national party has sort of moved away from that brand of Republicanism.

[Scott Detrow]

Yeah. And it is fair to say that's what Cox seemed to be thinking and talking about when he made that remark. That got a lot of attention, that I had hoped that this person wouldn't be from Utah. And I should say that was a paraphrase.

[McKay Coppins]

Well, I mean, it's basically what he said. And, you know, when I talked to Cox about that, he sort of rushed to clarify that he wasn't saying that because he hoped the shooter would be a politically convenient scapegoat. And that really wasn't what he meant. Which is this place, this state, was supposed to be a sanctuary from this. This kind of politics. And there is something, I think, really unnerving for Spencer Cox and a lot of Utahns to see that this kind of Wrathful, bitter, mean, frightening turn that's taken place in our national politics has arrived in Utah as well.

[Scott Detrow]

Yeah. You know, Cox's campaign, this disagree, better campaign that he had been on and obviously has gotten a lot more attention the last few weeks. This is the latest in a lot of varied, different ways that various prominent Mormon politicians from Utah have tried to counter the MAGA type drift of the Republican Party and the way that national politics has gotten just a lot more nasty. Right. What do you make of the fact that these various attempts kind of hit a wall when they go beyond Utah? And even as you report within Utah, within Utah politics, the current discourse is becoming more and more prominent?

[McKay Coppins]

Well, you know, it's interesting. I actually profiled Spencer Cox last year for the Atlantic, and I spent a lot of time talking to him. And even then last year, as he was running for reelection, he kind of confided to me that he was worried about what was happening in Utah politics. You know, he had this idea, this idealized vision of Utah, and he was seeing the conspiracy theories and the extremism kind of leach into his state and even to his own campaign, his primary campaign. And what he said to me last year was, there's been a breach in the bulwark. And I think that with this shooting, with the very bitter recriminations that have followed, I think Spencer Cox is realizing even more than ever that this kind of attempt to circumvent the magification of the GOP and promote a form of conservatism that is not rooted in grievance or culture war is really not very fashionable in this moment. Right. And it's worth noting that researchers who study these things have seen actually a decline in Latter Day Saint representation in Congress. You've seen people like Jeff Flake of Arizona, who retired rather than tried to run in a Republican primary during the Trump era. And I think one of the driving factors in that is that the kind of stereotypical Mormon brand of Republicanism is just not well represented or very popular these days in the Republican Party.

[Scott Detrow]

Have church leaders continued to try to take the same path that Cox is taking in this moment? Trying to create a bulwark almost of an ability to disagree but get along?

[McKay Coppins]

Yeah. In fact, I think a lot of people would say that Spencer Cox is sort of taking his cues from a lot of the messaging that's been coming from Latter Day Saint religious leaders. The current president of the church, Russell m. Nelson, who's 101 years old, has spent kind of these last years of his life and tenure, repeatedly hammering this message that Christians are called to be peacemakers. And he gave a kind of totemic talk on this subject several years ago called peacemakers needed calling on Latter Day Saints to avoid the increase in bitterness and anger in our politics, to try to build bridges of understanding across political divides. And this is a very kind of top of mind discussion within Mormonism, not just in politics, but in churches in the pews. I hear about it almost every Sunday when I go to church.

[Scott Detrow]

That is Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins. Thank you so much.

[McKay Coppins]

Thank you.

[Scott Detrow]

This episode was produced by Avra Keatley with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Ahmed Daman and Sarah Robbins. Our executive producer is Sammy Yanigan. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Scott Detrow.

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