Staff Reports
America is witnessing a deeply troubling shift in cultural attitudes, as a growing number of young people openly support individuals accused of heinous crimes, including Luigi Mangione, the man charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione, whose actions have been linked to extremist ideologies and described as terrorism by prosecutors, has nonetheless become a cause célèbre among certain segments of the youth. His legal defense fund has soared past $900,000, fueled by large anonymous donations and vocal support from public figures in the media. This is not just a legal story—it’s a cultural wake-up call.
What’s most alarming is the way mainstream media and social influencers have contributed to Mangione’s bizarre celebrity status. Instead of unequivocally condemning violence, some prominent voices have either downplayed the severity of his alleged crime or, worse, romanticized his actions as a form of “righteous justice” against the so-called evils of the healthcare system. Taylor Lorenz, a well-known media personality, typifies this trend by suggesting that Mangione’s supporters see him as a “morally good man.” This kind of rhetoric is not only irresponsible but also dangerous, as it blurs the line between legitimate protest and outright criminality.
The roots of this phenomenon run deep. As Dr. Drew Pinsky has observed, today’s youth are increasingly disconnected from reality, living in a digital echo chamber where social media rewards outrage and mob behavior. Many young Americans, lacking the life experience and moral grounding that previous generations took for granted, are easily swayed by narratives that glorify violence and demonize success. The result is a generation that idolizes criminals as antiheroes, while the real victims—like Brian Thompson and his family—are pushed to the margins of public sympathy.
This glorification of violence is often fueled by a sense of grievance and resentment. Young people, convinced that the system is rigged against them, are quick to latch onto figures like Mangione as symbols of rebellion. But history teaches us that romanticizing violence leads only to chaos and destruction. The left’s obsession with “burn-it-all-down” populism, amplified by a complicit media, is eroding the moral fabric of our society and encouraging the very extremism it claims to oppose.
If America is to reverse this dangerous trend, it’s time for parents, educators, and community leaders to step up and instill a strong sense of right and wrong in the next generation. We must reject the media’s attempts to turn criminals into martyrs and instead teach our children the value of personal responsibility, respect for the law, and compassion for victims. Only then can we hope to restore sanity and order to a culture that is, all too often, losing its way.
