Here’s what persistent attacks on the media and a rampant gun culture get you: A man has been arrested for threatening to go to Georgia and gun down CNN employees because of “fake news.” Yes, yes, yes, all the caveats apply—most people can hear attacks on the media and not decide to gun down reporters—but the point is that the political atmosphere and the things powerful people say matter. They register on disturbed or violent people. Like this one:
[Brandon] Griesemer told a CNN operator, among other things, "Fake news. I'm coming to gun you all down."
He then called again, saying "I'm smarter than you. More powerful than you. I have more guns than you. More manpower. Your cast is about to get gunned down in a matter of hours."
Griesemer continued, "I am coming to Georgia right now to go to the CNN headquarters to f---ing gun every single last one of you."
“Smarter than you. More powerful than you.” Sound like anyone familiar? Oh, and Griesemer has a history of anti-Muslim comments.
The morning after news of Griesemer’s arrest broke, Donald Trump was back to tweeting about “Fake News CNN” and “Crazy Jim Acosta.”