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Rep. Steve Scalise responds to Kirk shooting

House majority leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who survived a politically-motivated attack when he was shot at a congressional baseball practice in 2017, speaks to "CBS Mornings" about the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Sep 11, 2025 (04:35)

TRANSCRIPT FOR: “REP. STEVE SCALISE TALKS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING AND REFLECTS ON HIS OWN 2017 ATTACK”

GAYLE KING:
00:03:12

But we're not doing better. But we're not doing better. That's the problem. Go ahead, Nate.

NATE BURLESON:
00:03:17

Congressman-- It was a great example of that. You're right. We do have to denounce and move forward. But too often, in these tragedies, our leaders default to blaming the other side. What does a more constructive conversation look like? What role should Congress play in leading us there? Because right now, we are fractured. Yeah, Nate, and what we all need to do is, number one, recognize one of the greatest things of America is that we do have differences and that we can express them. There are countries where you can't. You'll be executed in the street for disagreeing with your government. So, number one, celebrate the fact that we have differences. And we can freely express them. And don't allow anybody to try to threaten somebody, to try to physically attack somebody for their differences. And that's not just all of us in politics, we clearly need to do better. And I share that with my colleagues all the time. Like, we're going to have differences. Don't make them personal. Don't try to demonize. And you almost make somebody a caricature or a meme instead of a human being. And that's what we all are. And that's what Charlie was. Yeah, you are right. Whether your views align with someone or not, political violence, violence of any kind is not the answer. Representative Steve Scalise, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks, Nate.

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