What Ben Shapiro got wrong about the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting

Issue 146: Why CEO Brian Thompson's assassination triggered conversations about class solidarity in the U.S.

As we are learning more about the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, one of the most striking features has been the massive public response on social media. Within hours of his arrest, murder suspect Luigi Mangione gained hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and the hashtag #FreeLuigi was trending on social media platforms such as X, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit.

One prominent public figure came under fire for misconstruing the reactions of the general public. In reference to the assassination, Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator, claimed that the “EVIL Revolutionary Left Cheers Murder” and celebrates attacks in an attempt to villainize liberals. What he failed to understand is the role of working class identity.

While the death of Brian Thompson horrified some and seems to have pleased others, reactions to his murder do not break down on politically partisan lines. Instead, they appear to be about class. UnitedHealth Group is one of the b…