My Role as a ‘Complicit’ Journalist
Cole Tomas Allen, accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump, allegedly consumed and amplified online political outrage before his attack. His purported manifesto reflects dehumanizing rhetoric common in social media discourse, raising concerns about the role of media in fueling political violence. Journalist Michael Scherer reflects on how news coverage and algorithms may contribute to a dangerous cycle of polarization and extremism.
- ▪Cole Tomas Allen is accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump after expressing extremist views on social media.
- ▪Allen's alleged manifesto dehumanized political figures and justified violence by labeling attendees as 'complicit.'
- ▪Journalist Michael Scherer attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and questions the media's role in amplifying rage-fueled political discourse.
- ▪Recent attacks by individuals influenced by online political discourse include those targeting Brian Thompson, Charlie Kirk, and Sam Altman.
- ▪The U.S. continues to operate under the rule of law, with independent courts and upcoming elections serving as checks on executive power.
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PoliticsMy Role as a ‘Complicit’ JournalistAlgorithms turn nuanced articles into rage bait that helps fuel political violence.By Michael Schererlllustration by The AtlanticMay 5, 2026, 7 AM ET ShareSave Cole Tomas Allen, the man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump late last month, appeared to consume political news like so many of his fellow citizens, absorbing daily doses of outrage on social media, metabolizing the anger, and projecting it out into the world in his own voice.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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