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Fact check: Tucker carlsons claim about the minnesota assasinations

Checked on June 27, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Tucker Carlson's claims appear to involve two distinct topics that have become conflated: the George Floyd case and recent political assassinations in Minnesota.

Regarding George Floyd's death, multiple sources directly contradict Carlson's claims. The autopsy report definitively concluded that George Floyd's death was a homicide caused by cardiopulmonary arrest due to law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression - not a natural cause or overdose [1]. Medical examiner findings have remained unchanged, with no evidence supporting claims that Floyd died of an overdose or natural causes [2].

Concerning the Minnesota political assassinations, the sources confirm that Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated, while state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded [3] [4] [5]. These tragic events have prompted widespread concern among lawmakers about their safety and whether public service is worth the danger [3] [5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original query lacks crucial context about the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation surrounding the Minnesota shootings on social media. Sources reveal that false claims circulated about the suspect being a "leftist activist," which contradicted actual information about the suspect's political leanings and motivations [6].

The analyses also reveal that Tucker Carlson conducted an interview with Liz Collin specifically discussing these assassinations, George Floyd, and Tim Walz [7] [4]. This interview appears to be a key source of the claims being examined, suggesting that Carlson may be attempting to connect these separate incidents into a broader narrative.

The sources indicate that political rhetoric and violence have increased in recent years, providing broader context for the Minnesota assassinations [4]. This represents a concerning trend of threats and violence against public officials nationwide [5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement appears to conflate two separate issues - the George Floyd case and recent Minnesota political assassinations - potentially creating a misleading narrative.

Regarding the George Floyd claims, the sources demonstrate clear factual inaccuracies in Carlson's assertions about the cause of death [1] [2]. These false claims about Floyd's death being due to overdose or natural causes directly contradict established medical findings.

The framing of "Minnesota assassinations" in connection with Carlson's broader claims may serve to amplify conspiracy theories that have already spread on social media platforms [6]. Media personalities like Tucker Carlson benefit from generating controversial content that drives viewership and engagement, potentially incentivizing the promotion of unsubstantiated claims even when they contradict established facts.

The combination of verified tragic events (the actual assassinations) with debunked claims (about George Floyd's death) creates a particularly problematic form of misinformation that exploits real violence to legitimize false narratives.

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