The National Security Hour

The National Security Hour


When bad guys become folk heroes: America’s new obsession

August 07, 2025

The National Security Hour with Blanquita Cullum – I explore how alleged assassin Luigi Mangione transforms into a modern folk hero and sex symbol, inspiring a sold-out Musical Comedy and an obsessive online following with vigil candles, shirts, and ironic memes. As bystanders film violence instead of intervening, I question our fascination with antiheroes and wonder if fringe fixation speaks to a deeper cultural shift in America...