Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast Political Violence Getting Worse in the U.S. with Benjamin Wallace-Wells
Dec 9, 2025
Benjamin Wallace-Wells, a staff writer at The New Yorker, delves into the alarming rise of political violence in the U.S. He discusses the implications of threats against officials and how they shape democratic participation. The conversation explores lone-actor violence versus organized extremism and the intertwining of mainstream rhetoric with violent acts. Wallace-Wells also highlights the chilling effects on public events and the growing security burdens for politicians, revealing a complex landscape of fear and its impact on civic life.
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Harrisburg Firebombing Details
- Benjamin Wallace-Wells recounts the Harrisburg firebombing at Josh Shapiro's mansion with vivid, harrowing details.
- The attacker used Molotov cocktails, tried to breach a locked door to Shapiro's sleeping wing, and the family escaped as rooms burned.
Lone Actors Replace Organized Cells
- Recent political attackers often act alone without ties to organized extremist groups.
- Wallace-Wells notes many assailants show minimal ideological training, differing from historical organized political violence.
Ubiquitous Threats Transform Politics
- Threats against public officials have multiplied roughly seven- to eight-fold since a decade ago.
- Wallace-Wells says this ubiquity of threat changes how politicians live and make decisions.