A New York Post opinion package published Sept. 17, 2025, gathers a chorus of views on political civility, media culture and crime in U.S. politics. The collection juxtaposes a recent campus moment involving Charlie Kirk with historical lessons on grace and leadership, while assembling arguments from across the spectrum about how public figures should respond to a polarized public.
In one thread, The Free Press’ Eli Lake points to Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 visit to segregationist Alabama Gov. George Wallace in a hospital after he was shot. Lake says Chisholm’s insistence that grace belongs in public life helped plant a quiet transformation in Wallace, who would campaign as a changed man in 1982.
Conservative voices punctuate the package with strong warnings about media culture. The Wall Street Journal’s Gerard Baker argues that a soulless media ecology feeds extremism and feeds a "grotesque" online spectacle of blood, rage, lies and loathing. He contends that sensational coverage and the race for clicks can corrode judgment and even motivate violence, citing the broader context around contemporary political discourse.
From the right, Byron York of the Washington Examiner weighs in on migrant-crime debates. He catalogs incidents and policy fights around deportation and due process, noting that Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and 155 other Democrats opposed the Laken Riley Act, while Khanna has said violent criminals among illegal migrants should not remain after due process. York argues that ignoring the public’s crime concerns risks alienating voters and undermining trust.
Analysis from RealClearInvestigations summarizes recently declassified 2017 documents that allege leaks of classified information to reporters intended to cast Trump and allies as aligned with Russia. The documents point to people close to Comey and Rep. Schiff, with reporters at The Washington Post and The New York Times named as recipients of leaked material. The review suggests the leaks were mishandled or politically motivated, though it does not identify specific leakers.
Liberal voices urge Democrats to address crime and public safety more directly. Michael Baharaeen of Liberal Patriot argues that a fear of crime is a real voter concern, and Democrats should connect on issues beyond culture war headlines. Poll data cited show 81% of Americans view crime in big cities as a major problem, 66% nationwide, and 53% support Trump's handling of crime, signaling a challenge for Democrats to rebuild public trust by grounding policy in safety and core issues.
Compiled by The Post Editorial Board, the package stitches together historical reflection, media critique and policy debate to map how political leadership might respond to a moment of heightened rhetoric.