When Tragedy Strikes: Finding Space for Kindness Amid Political Violence

Send us a text

How do we respond when darkness seems to be winning? Following a horrific act of political terrorism in Minnesota, this special episode takes a raw, honest look at the struggle to maintain faith in kindness during our darkest moments.

The podcast recounts the chilling details of recent attacks on multiple Minnesota lawmakers, including the tragedy that claimed the lives of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband, and their family dog. With remarkable candor, host Mike Rathbun acknowledges the challenge of advocating for kindness when confronted with such senseless violence: "Sometimes advocating for kindness feels a little bit like beating your head against a wall."

Yet rather than surrendering to despair, this episode makes a powerful case for why compassion becomes most essential during times of grief and trauma. Political violence has haunted humanity since ancient Rome, but history remembers both the perpetrators and those who respond with healing. We face a choice: Will we allow hate to harden our hearts, or will we be "the ones who stay, who hold hands, who refuse to let hate win"?

As our communities grapple with increasing polarization and dehumanization of political opponents, this timely reflection reminds us that kindness isn't merely a pleasant sentiment—it's a necessary response to a fractured world. Join us as we explore how small acts of compassion can begin to rebuild what violence has shattered.

Listen, reflect, and consider how you might bring healing to your corner of the world today. Subscribe to the Kindness Matters podcast for more episodes exploring how everyday acts of compassion create ripples of positive change.

This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network. If you have an idea for a podcast and need some production assistance or have a podcast and are looking for a supportive network to join, check out maydaymedianetwork.com.

 

Like what you hear on the podcast? Follow our social media for more uplifting, inspirational and feel-good content.

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

TikTok 

Support the show

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello there and welcome.
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
What is this podcast all about?
It's about kindness.
It's a pushback againsteverything negative that we see
in the news and on social mediatoday, and it's a way to

(00:20):
highlight people, organizations,that are simply striving to
make their little corner of theworld a little better place.
If you want to join in on theconversation, feel free, Go
ahead and follow us on all ofyour social media feeds.
We're on Facebook, instagram,tiktok.
We're even on LinkedIn underMike Rathbun.

(00:43):
Check us out.
Uh, we're even on LinkedInunder Mike Rathbun.
Check us out.
And in the meantime, so sitback, relax, enjoy and we'll get
into the Kindness Matterspodcast.
Hello everyone, you'relistening to a special edition
of the Kindness Matters podcastand I am your host, mike Rathbun

(01:07):
.
It was early 2 am on a Saturdaymorning, july 14, 2025, when a
man dressed as a police officerknocked on the door of Minnesota
State Senator John Hoffman.
He had claimed that there hadbeen a report of gunfire at the
home.
He carried a flashlight, worethe uniform, but something

(01:30):
wasn't right, and as theflashlight lowered, the Senator
said what would become the onlywarning?
You're not the police.
What followed was a brutal,chilling act of political
violence 17 shots, nine hit thesenator, eight struck his wife

(01:54):
who had thrown herself overtheir daughter, and then he fled
.
But it was not over, not evenclose.
At 2.24 am he arrived atanother lawmaker's home.
They weren't there.
Then he drove to a third.
A police officer arrived for awellness check, alerted by the

(02:17):
attack on Senator Hoffman.
She saw the suspect in whatlooked like a police vehicle,
sitting silently.
He didn't respond.
When she attempted to engage inconversation he just stared
straight ahead.
When backup arrived, she wentabout her wellness check and
then he disappeared again.

(02:41):
At 3.30 am, the former Speakerof the House of Minnesota,
melissa Hortman, along with herhusband Mark, became his next
target.
He parked in their driveway,emergency lights flashing.
Two police officers arrived.
As they stepped out, he openedfire immediately and rushed into

(03:03):
the house.
He opened fire immediately andrushed into the house.
By the time it was over,representative Hortman, her
husband and their family dogwere dead.
Officers recovered a handgun, amask and body armor In his car

(03:30):
a list of over 45 electedofficials.
For 48 hours, the largestmanhunt in Minnesota history
unfolded Eventually.
Vance Bettler was captured inrural Sibley County.
This was an act of politicalterrorism, domestic extremism,

(03:50):
and for many in Minnesota andacross the country it shattered
something, a sense of safety, ofdecency, of order.
And as I record this, I feeltorn.
Sometimes advocating forkindness feels a little bit like

(04:12):
beating your head against awall, especially on days like
this, when there's so much grief, so much anger, despair, evil
Right here in our community.
And yet isn't this the verymoment when we most need

(04:38):
kindness?
Isn't this exactly when we needto reach out to offer a hug, a
shoulder, a heart willing tolisten?
The need for empathy, forcompassion.
It didn't vanish overnight.
It grew exponentially.
Ever since Brutus plunged adagger into Caesar in the Roman

(05:00):
Senate, political violence hashaunted humanity.
John Wilkes Booth, lee HarveyOswald, james Earl Ray, john
Hinckley the names echo throughhistory, but they are not the
ones we must model ourselvesafter.
Instead, today, let's choose tobe the ones who stay, who hold

(05:24):
hands, who refuse to let hatewin, who insist loudly, softly,
persistently, that kindnessstill matters, especially now.
Thanks for joining me today onthis special episode of the

(05:45):
Kindness Matters podcast.
We'll be back again on Thursdaywith a brand new episode.
Take care and be kind.