On Thursday, Chris Cuomo from NewsNation commented on MSNBC’s reporting about the shooting incident involving political analyst Matthew Dowd, which followed “unacceptable” remarks Dowd made regarding the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Cuomo disagreed with the idea of firing individuals for their opinions.
As reported by Variety, Dowd was let go by MSNBC late Wednesday evening, shortly after network president Rebecca Kutler condemned certain analyst comments. During an episode of “Cuomo,” conservative commentator Benny Johnson highlighted Dowd’s remarks as the news of Kirk’s shooting emerged.
“In fact, MSNBC’s Chris had guests who suggested he deserved it after Charlie Kirk was shot, like Matthew Dowd,” Johnson stated before Cuomo interjected.
“Matthew Dowd didn’t claim he deserved it. He pointed out the toxic nature of what Charlie was provoking,” Cuomo clarified.
Reports surfaced Wednesday afternoon about Kirk being shot while speaking with students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Throughout his career, Kirk has frequently engaged in debates on various campuses about differing political perspectives.
In the midst of this coverage, Dowd appeared on the “Katie Tar Report,” addressing Kirk’s alleged promotion of “hate speech” towards certain groups. Political analysts noted that Kirk is considered one of the most polarizing conservative figures, regularly engaging in rhetoric that targets specific demographics.
Johnson continued to contest Cuomo’s viewpoint, asserting that Dowd was evidently fired due to his comments. “He was fired. That’s a fact contrary to your argument,” he stated. “I don’t support firing people for what they say—it’s complicated. I didn’t agree with Dowd’s statements. If he were on my show and this hadn’t happened at MSNBC, I’d definitely challenge him. But firing him feels like an easy way out for MSNBC.”
Cuomo replied, acknowledging that responsibility is key in such discussions. “My question is, what’s the focus right now?” he asked.
Johnson quickly interjected, reiterating that Kirk “never defended violence.”
In response to the backlash from Dowd’s remarks, Kutler later issued a statement on the network’s public relations account. While she criticized Dowd’s comments as “inappropriate,” she indicated that there hadn’t been a formal on-air apology, based on reviews from Live TV Transcription Services.
“During the news coverage of Charlie Kirk’s shooting, Matthew Dowd made inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable comments. We apologize for his statement,” was the essence of her message.
Kirk was reportedly speaking with students for about 20 minutes when he was shot. He was quickly taken to the hospital, but despite initial reports of him being stable, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two children. His body was seen being loaded onto Air Force 2 on Thursday evening, with Vice President JD Vance assisting in the process.
