Shrugging at calamity: America is reacting in strange ways to our chaotic times | Francine Prose
The recent shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner has sparked a mix of outrage, exhaustion, and skepticism among Americans. Many are questioning the authenticity of the incident and expressing distrust towards government narratives. This event highlights a troubling normalization of political violence and a growing sense of disbelief in official accounts.
- ▪A shooting occurred at the White House correspondents' dinner, which was an assassination attempt that was thwarted without casualties.
- ▪Social media reactions included conspiracy theories suggesting the attack was staged to distract from other pressing issues.
- ▪The shooter was identified as a 31-year-old Californian who expressed anger towards the president in a manifesto.
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‘As a nation we have become so overwhelmed by the rapid succession of brutal and unnecessary deaths that we simply can’t process the horror and the grief.’ Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/ReutersView image in fullscreen‘As a nation we have become so overwhelmed by the rapid succession of brutal and unnecessary deaths that we simply can’t process the horror and the grief.’ Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/ReutersOpinionWhite House correspondents' dinner shootingShrugging at calamity: America is reacting in strange ways to our chaotic timesFrancine ProseThe reaction to the Washington DC shooting shows that Americans are swinging between outrage, exhaustion and numbness Tue 28 Apr 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 28 Apr 2026 10.07 EDTShareIn the early hours of Sunday, I awoke to check the time on my…
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