He founded Turning Point USA, which did a whole heck of a lot of bad things, not to mention that his rhetoric actively radicalized many people, who will then perpetuate much more harm.

For example, he advocated against abortion even in cases of rape, which then helped push people to support local legislation against abortion in all cases, which is then correlated with an increase in deaths during and just after pregnancy.

He actively spread COVID misinformation that led to many people not getting vaccinated, which likely killed some of those unlucky, and he actively perpetuated anti-immigrant rhetoric that likely played at least some part in the violence directed toward them.

This doesn’t even begin to get into his anti-queer views, the fact TPUSA was influential in growing Trump’s campaign and popularity, his support for Israel’s genocide, or any of the knock-on effects caused from the people he himself radicalized.

So yes, he most definitely had an effect.

One actual effect so far was getting racist history revisionism mandated in some states children’s schools to replace the history of slavery in America.

I’m now up to speed. I don’t know if the shooter was listening but their timing was impeccable. He was asked a question about mass shootings/gun violence and his response was to try and get racist about it by saying something about “gang voilence”. Then he got popped.

One of those rare moments where someone who spreads hate gets it shoved back in their face, almost literally.

I would be very surprised if there wasn’t a scope