The New York Times podcast, "The Ethic Culture Editor Nadja Spiegelman," featured the views of left-wing influencers Hasan Piker and Friedrich Engels, who argued that the murder of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson was understandable. The podcast also featured New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino who argued against shoplifting and suggested that it could be justified in a certain way of avoiding punishment. The Times had previously condemned a U.S. senator for advocating for the use of the military to quell violent protests, and even forced out its own opinion editor for publishing such an opinion. The episode highlighted the moral relativism on the left, with some suggesting that shopping and murder may be justified due to perceived injustice.