In this update, we aim to explore how polarized the conversation was following Kirk’s death by identifying the most popular claims made following his assassination and evaluating the extent these claims were agreed with (supported), disagreed with (refuted) or its themes discussed (other).

Charlie Kirk’s assassination, an act of political violence, intensified national debate about polarization and free speech. We examine public attitudes towards political violence, assessing whether the incident and ensuing debates are perceived by Canadians as a shared concern or a uniquely American issue.

We evaluate how the death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing American commentator, has provoked widespread online debate. Controversy around the legacy of Kirk has sparked discussion around the increasing partisan divide, ideological polarization, and threats of political violence. That has spilled over into the Canadian information landscape.

• Canada post strike, tied for the most talked about story of the year

• Canadians place little trust in celebrity and well-known political influencer endorsements

• Concern about US foreign influence jumps 7%

• Persistent misinformation in the Canadian information ecosystem

• The US Election was closely followed and discussed in Canada.

• Canadians think the Trump presidency will be terrible for Canada.

• Huge spike in Canadians attributing foreign influence to India.

• Widespread awareness of calls for Trudeau to step down.

• TikTok increasingly dominates news engagement.

• Elected officials lose trust. 

• Podcasts playing an increasingly important role in Canada, particularly for the politically interested.

• CBC surges in popularity, BlogTO enters the Top 5 and appetite for local news increases.