Abstract
The polarized reaction to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO in December 2024 underscored the potential of ideologically framed acts of violence to undermine societal cohesion and challenge democratic norms. While many condemned the killing as an unjustifiable attack on a private citizen, others celebrated Mangione as a “folk hero,” glorifying him and his act as a symbol of resistance against an industry perceived as corrupt and dehumanizing. Using data from a rolling cross-sectional survey in the U.S., we causally tested partisan differences in support for political violence before and after the CEO’s assassination and the perpetrator’s subsequent arrest. While Democrats initially condemned violence against Republicans, their support for partisan violence increased following Mangione’s arrest. These results underscore the role of public discourse in shaping attitudes towards political violence, raising concerns about the normalization of politically motivated aggression, even among groups traditionally less inclined to endorse it.
I went through a medical bankruptcy at age 24, and I have never financially recovered. I have been bedridden twice in my life, and one of those times was due to gross medical negligence. So you’re right, I am desperate for a fleeting sense of power, and one of my goals is to radicalize people against the evil system we suffer under.
Luigi Mangioni is a hero. Instilling fear into the billionaire class is a positive and noble thing, otherwise their power is completely unchecked.
And if you can’t handle pushback, then I suggest you go find a comfy echo chamber, because this ain’t it.