Pod Save America The Roots of Political Violence and How We Prevent It
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Sep 21, 2025 Dr. Lilly Mason, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University, explores the unsettling rise of political violence in America. She analyzes the implications of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the challenges both parties face in humanizing their opponents. The conversation delves into the influence of presidential leadership and celebrity rhetoric on mitigating violence. Dr. Mason emphasizes the importance of addressing identity politics and emotional narratives to heal societal rifts and restore democratic norms.
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Violence Is Rare But Perception Is Inflated
- Political violence is not an epidemic but high-profile events and violent rhetoric make it feel larger than it is.
- Researchers find rare violent acts amid widespread nonviolence, so perception often outpaces reality.
Approval Of Violence Rose Equally Across Parties
- Approval of political violence rose from ~7% in 2017 to 15–20% recently across parties.
- About 80–90% still say violence is never acceptable, so extremists remain a minority.
Retaliation Justifies Violence For Many
- When asked "what if the other side starts it?" support for retaliation jumps to ~50–60% across parties.
- Conditional approval fuels cycles of tit-for-tat violence and risks uncontrollable escalation.
