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The `Blood Populism’ Driving Political Violence in America

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A rolling billboard that reads "Reject Trump's Violence" sits in front of a car lot that was burned during protests earlier in the week while President Donald Trump visits the city on September 1, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Airdate: Tuesday, May 12 at 10 AM

A 2025 study found political violence is shifting from a primarily right-wing phenomenon to one now more common on the left (fueled partly by a significant decrease in right-wing attacks during President Trump’s second term). And it’s increasingly accepted across the political spectrum, with about a fifth of Americans saying they’d support violence to achieve political goals. The Atlantic’s Adrienne LaFrance calls this dangerous attitude “blood populism,” and we’ll talk to her about why she believes people with these opinions should be seen not as partisans but extremists. Plus, a violence prevention researcher explains why political violence is a public health issue.

Guests:

Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor, the Atlantic

Garen Wintemute M.D., M.P.H. , director, Centers for Violence Prevention at UC Davis; he also practices and teaches emergency medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine.

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