The life and death of Charlie Kirk: inside the 19 September Guardian Weekly
America reacts to the death of a Maga super influencer. Plus: the Boris files
The killing of Charlie Kirk last week sent shock waves through America among both supporters and opponents of his views. Yet until last week, the young rightwing activist was relatively unheard of – by older generations anyway – outside the US.
As the ripples and implications of his death continue to spread across the US and beyond, our big story takes a step back. Washington bureau chief David Smith explains how the young activist rose to prominence and gained a place within Donald Trump’s inner circle, his provocative brand of populism and charisma playing an outsize role in the Republicans’ 2024 election victory. As Steve Bannon, the prominent rightwing commentator, told the Guardian, Kirk’s popularity with young voters “changed the ground game” for Trump and the Maga movement.
Kirk’s shooting also returned the focus to the vexed issue of gun control in the US. Ed Pilkington examines whether a country where weapons violence has become normalised is prepared to ask searching questions of itself. And commentator Jonathan Freedland gives a pessimistic prognosis that a “country born in violence” shows even less inclination under Trump than it may have done in previous administrations to heal the division that is pulling American society apart.
Thank you for subscribing to the Guardian Weekly – and if you’re a new reader, welcome! Here are a few other highlights I’d recommend you look out for in the forthcoming edition.
Get the Guardian Weekly magazine delivered to your home address
***
Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | Why has England become festooned with flags?
Chief reporter Daniel Boffey visits a Birmingham suburb to track down the genesis of a movement that wants to see the union jacks or the flag of St George displayed across the country
Special investigation | Boris Johnson’s pursuit of profit
A cache of leaked documents show a blurring of lines in the former prime minister’s private business ventures and political role after leaving office, our investigations team reveals
Feature | The porn business stripped bare
In Amsterdam, at Europe’s biggest pornography conference, Amelia Gentleman discovers the perils of a booming industry, from burnout to the advent of AI
Opinion | Trump is just a paper tiger
While the US president likes to present himself as the biggest, baddest strongman, he crumples in the face of Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin’s belligerence, says Simon Tisdall
Culture | The power of pure pop
Famous for getting us through lockdowns with her kitchen disco and a stream of catchy hits, Sophie Ellis-Bextor tells Rebecca Nicholson about why the perimenopause is a gift to renewed creativity
***
What else we’ve been reading
As relatable out of the ring as he was ferocious in it, Manchester boxer Ricky “the hitman” Hatton drew a legion of new fans to the sport in the 2000s. Yet he was also a fighter who struggled openly with the adoration and demons of fame, as this poignant tribute by sports writer Donald McRae reveals. Graham Snowdon, editor
With the weather turning cold and gloomy almost overnight here in the UK after our unusually warm summer, curling up with a good book feels fitting, and our autumn books special has done the difficult job of choosing our next read. Jade Lovitt, Guardian Weekly business manager
***
Other highlights from the Guardian website
Video | Between Moon Tides: hacking nature to save the saltmarsh sparrow
Gallery | Janeites unite: Austen festival in Bath celebrates 250th anniversary of author’s birth
***
Get in touch
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the magazine: for submissions to our letters page, please email weekly.letters@theguardian.com. For anything else, it’s editorial.feedback@theguardian.com
***
Follow us
Get the Guardian Weekly magazine delivered to your home address