How Can We Fact Check What We See and Hear Online When it Comes to Charlie Kirk? (The Patrick Madrid Show)

Image via Carrington Tatum / Shutterstock. A caller named Marvin from Hinsdale, Illinois, asked Patrick how people can discern what is true or untrue when they encounter confusing video or audio clips, especially snippets circulating online. Patrick Madrid emphasizes the importance of listening to or reading full statements rather than relying on short, selectively edited clips. He points to recent soundbites from Charlie Kirk as an example: A widely shared clip made it seem as though Charlie had a callous disregard for shooting deaths, quoting him as saying they are "the price we have to pay for the Second Amendment." Patrick explains that when you look at the entire context, Kirk was making an analogy to car accidents: -Around 50,000 people die annually in automobile accidents. -Despite this, society doesn’t outlaw cars because the benefits (transportation, work, groceries, etc.) outweigh the unavoidable risks. -Charlie was using this reasoning to explain his position on the Second Amendment, not to minimize victims’ suffering. Patrick warns that there appears to be an effort to cherry-pick quotes to paint certain people (like Charlie Kirk) as racist, callous, or extreme. He stresses the need for discernment and fairness: -Don’t accept clips at face value. -Seek full context before forming opinions. -Share truthful, contextualized information with family and friends. ✅ Key Takeaway: Patrick urges you to be cautious with viral soundbites, always verify context, and avoid falling for misleading edits that distort meaning. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.