The fact that we got multiple fairly high-res videos of the bullet hitting his neck and blood gushing out does make a difference. The news gets shared more and more people engage with the news out of shock value and morbid fascination, which gives it more traction.
Had Paul Pelosi been shot while several cameras were filming it, it would have also become much bigger than it became.
Edit: lol the comments really bring the average redditor reading comprehension out on display. People really seem to think I'm saying that Republicans are lovely defenders of free speech or something to that effect. It's fucking weird.
The video elevates it quite a bit.
I remember Ray Rice (nfl player) domestic assault came out. Some criticism, couple game suspension.
Then the video came out. Public outcry. Full season suspension. Cut from his team.
There was no new info in the video. But seeing something happen changes perception.
Edit: for the record I don't agree with Kirk's ideology and am not defending ambivalence on other killings. I just think it hits different.