The internet seems to be on the right side of things when it comes to Luigi Mangione—at least, it’s been interesting to watch the contrast between how the online world is reacting and how mainstream media has handled the story. The case of the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder, coupled with the actions of Mangione, the primary suspect, has sparked intense debate. One of the most striking aspects of this coverage is the media's sudden moral high ground about vigilante justice. They’ve been quick to caution against it, emphasizing the dangers of individuals taking the law into their own hands. But on the same platforms, another vigilante, Daniel Penny, is being celebrated as a hero for his actions in killing a man on the NYC subway—a man who was suffering from homelessness and a mental health crisis.
This double standard isn’t surprising, given the media’s tendency to protect the status quo. But what is shocking is how poorly this smear campaign against Mangione has played out. Yes, mainstream media has worked overtime to paint Mangione as a dangerous, unstable individual. They’ve gone to great lengths to show that, at one point, he considered using a bomb to kill Thompson. But they also made sure to emphasize that Mangione showed restraint, not acting on that impulse—considering the innocent lives that might be affected by such a violent act. That’s restraint the American government, notably in its overseas operations, has failed to demonstrate time and again. They’ve tried to frame Mangione as an elite, as though a wealthy family background and privilege immunizes you from the corrupt systems that harm the rest of us. And yet, even when the evidence is right there—that Mangione had personal stakes in this system and wanted to change it—they’ve struggled to paint him as a “lone wolf” who doesn’t have a valid reason for what he did.
Perhaps the most bizarre aspect of this narrative is how the New York Times sent internal messages instructing their staff not to publish or post images of Mangione’s face. Why? Because he’s arguably hot and has somewhat risen to sex symbol status on the internet. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, showing Mangione’s face might make him too sympathetic. And we can’t have that when we’re trying to build a story that fits a very specific agenda. They also kept his manifesto under wraps. But as anyone who follows independent media knows, Ken Klippenstein—the GOAT and legendary “blogger” of the people—leaked it. And once it was out there, it quickly became clear that Mangione’s views weren’t just his own. His words resonated with a large portion of the internet, which had already been voicing similar frustrations in the wake of the murder. We’ve even seen individuals have eve used the phrase left on his bullets “delay, deny, depose,” and have been arrested for it. This, of course, was inconvenient for the narrative the mainstream media wanted to sell.
It’s not just about Mangione anymore. The media is trying to turn you and me—the everyday people—against him. But the question no one seems to be asking is: Why?
The answer, as clear as it is unsettling, is that this is capitalism at its most naked and brutal, and its endgame is fascism. The system we live in feeds off the suffering of the masses, while the elite grow richer and more powerful. And when someone dares to challenge that system—even if they resort to violent means—the response is swift, coordinated, and vicious.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on a key piece of media coverage: NBC News recently aired footage featuring NYPD Intelligence & Counterterrorism Bureau Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner. In her interview, Weiner likened the murder of Brian Thompson to domestic terrorism. And she expressed concern over the “torrent of online vitriol” that followed Mangione’s actions. Now, let’s pause for a moment to process this. The murder of a white millionaire CEO—one who built his fortune off the backs of millions of struggling Americans—has somehow been redefined as a “domestic terror attack.” Meanwhile, Daniel Penny, who killed a homeless Black man on the subway, is hailed as a hero. The message couldn’t be clearer: the murder of an elite figure is terrorism, but the killing of an economically disadvantaged, mentally ill individual is somehow justified. What’s even more telling is that both of these murders happened in New York City.
This is not just about the murder of a CEO. It’s about a media system that is designed to preserve power, not question it. The media is part of a larger propaganda machine, one that serves the ultra-wealthy and the powerful. Have you ever wondered why Time Magazine named Hitler "Man of the Year" in 1938? Or why Donald Trump—who has repeatedly shown his fascist leanings—is honored as "Person of the Year" for the second time? It’s because mainstream media is not built to challenge those in power. It’s built to serve them. So while you can argue its not an endorsement, it is a normalization. And when journalists dare to step outside that framework, they lose access. They get silenced. Thompson’s murder, and the massive wave of “positive” reactions it has sparked, is an extremely inconvenient story for the powers that be.
This is where it gets really interesting. The mainstream media is, in fact, giving away the game. CEOs and big business are the true governing force in this country. Politicians may hold office, but the CEOs of America’s largest companies are the ones really calling the shots. In many ways, they are politicians, and their interests are often indistinguishable from those of the political class. When you attack one of them—whether through murder, protest, or public criticism—the response is swift and overwhelming. You’ve attacked the very structure of American power. The system will treat you like an enemy of the state, even if your actions are driven by a sense of justice. You’re not just attacking an individual CEO; you’re attacking the corporate state itself. And in that case, the powers that be will stop at nothing to crush any dissent.
This is about more than just one man. It’s about what Mangione’s case represents: a challenge to the corporate capitalist system that oppresses and exploits the working class. The ruling class doesn’t want us to wake up to this reality, so they do everything they can to normalize criminals—those who perpetuate the systems of oppression—while vilifying those who dare to question or disrupt them. When mainstream media unites to push a narrative that you should hate someone, it’s a red flag. The real question is: Why?
And the reason is simple: it’s about keeping you poor, powerless, and divided. They want to normalize the criminal actions of the wealthy and powerful, all while painting anyone who dares to challenge the system as dangerous. So, next time you see the mainstream media rallying against a figure, especially one like Mangione, take a moment to consider: Are they truly hated for the reasons they say? Or are they hated because they threaten a system that keeps the rich in power and the rest of us struggling to survive?