No civility in a shutdown? For Congress, security fears and rhetoric collide

The calls came swiftly and from all across the political spectrum after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

“We need every political figure, we need everyone who has a platform, to say this loudly and clearly: We can settle disagreements and disputes in a civil manner, and political violence must be called out. And it has to stop,” Speaker Mike Johnson said soon after Kirk was shot.

For a brief period last month, just like in the days after the June murder of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, widespread calls for civility were paired with a focus in the halls of Congress on tightening member security. A glimmer of consensus appeared to emerge on the potential dangers of escalating political rhetoric, as it often does after similar tragedies — if only fleetingly.