Remember “stochastic terrorism"? It's a phrase the left and their media lapdogs loved to use to describe what they saw as violent rhetoric coming from the right. The idea behind the phrase is that violent acts can be inspired by rhetoric that stops just short of making explicit threats. Words are violence!
A remarkable, yet wholly unsurprising, double standard is now unfolding before our eyes: the very same media outlets that insisted language matters are suddenly acting like words don’t matter at all when they come from the left.
Let's take a look.
Bomb Threats Targeting JD Vance? Serious, Sure, But Not a Big Story
As RedState reported last week, law enforcement charged a California man for making explicit online threats tied to Vice President J.D. Vance’s family during their summer vacation to Disneyland last summer; Marco Antonio Aguayo posted claims that bombs had been planted around the amusement park and made ominous promises of “bloodshed.” Federal authorities treated this as a serious violent threat with potential prison time on the table, yet this has been barely been covered in national media.
Ask yourself: if someone on the right posted these kinds of threats at Disneyland aimed at a Democrat politician, would the headlines have been so quiet?
'Drive, Baby, Drive' – What the Press Chooses to Ignore
As we watch the anti-ICE spectacle rage on in Minnesota, we’ve seen repeated calls that go far past "rhetoric" and turn into incitement. Phrases like “drive, baby, drive” aren’t innocuous, hypothetical threats — they’ve turned regular federal law enforcement activities into deadly confrontations.
Have you noticed how easy it is for the media to wave off these kinds of words and actions as merely expressions of frustration? Oh, how they'd treat them with deadly seriousness if we were talking about the actions of conservatives and not radical, lesbian troublemakers.
'Direct Action' Against ICE? No Big Deal
And those increasingly violent "protests" against ICE? They have proven to be aggressive and deadly, and many have even openly advocated for "direct action" against federal agents – "direct action" being a term that, in other every other context, is shorthand for activism that embraces violence.
Yet this kind language used by the left is often portrayed sympathetically by the media, who frame it as “responding to injustice” rather than thug tactics meant to put law enforcement in the line of fire. That’s not just word play – it’s an editorial decision about what’s worthy of sustained scrutiny ... and what's not.
Don Lemon and 'Journalism as a Shield'
Perhaps nothing demonstrates this double standard better than the saga surrounding former CNN host, and current influencer-wannabe, Don Lemon. Lemon was recently put “on notice” by the Justice Department for his role in broadcasting and participating in an alarming and repulsive protest inside the Cities Church, an event that was tied to anti-ICE activism and led to federal scrutiny and potential charges.
In response, Lemon claimed he was acting as a journalist and dismissed any criticism of him as bigotry. But video from the event shows his involvement went well beyond observation. Rather than treat this as a legitimate subject of inquiry, much of the national press has either downplayed it or pivoted to criticizing the DOJ for investigating a "journalist."
The Press Isn’t Neutral – It’s Selective
This difference isn’t even subtle. It’s not that journalists suddenly decided violence doesn’t matter – it’s that violence only matters when it fits the narrative they want to push.
Outlets that once lectured the nation about the power of rhetoric now retreat or just plain hide when the rhetoric comes from their side. Calls for “direct action,” praise for disruptive tactics against law enforcement, or threats like those made against Vice President Vance’s family? That's not newsworthy, apparently.
Until the media applies the same standards to all violent rhetoric, they will continue to be part of the problem and can be considered willing co-conspirators with the raging hordes.
