Best of the Spectator

Americano: left-wing violence is being normalised

Jun 9, 2025
Max Horder, an author and anthropologist from the Network Contagion Institute, delves into the unsettling normalization of left-wing violence in the US. He discusses how recent political events have shifted the societal psyche, fostering an 'assassination culture' that challenges the norms against political violence. Horder highlights the moral justifications surrounding this aggression and critiques the media's uneven scrutiny of left versus right violence. Additionally, he examines the rise of influential online figures, illustrating the troubling intersection of social media and radical ideologies.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Rise of Assassination Culture

  • America is experiencing an 'assassination culture' with eroding norms against political violence.
  • Increased tacit approval in left-wing online spaces makes violence more frequent and perceived as justified.
INSIGHT

The Left-Wing Violence Blind Spot

  • Left-wing violence is under-studied due to academic biases and ideological assumptions.
  • Demonizing the enemy as Nazis justifies violence against them in left-wing rhetoric.
ANECDOTE

Luigi Mangione's Violent Iconography

  • Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old, shot Brian Thompson, a healthcare CEO, becoming a hero figure online.
  • He is meme-ified quickly, spreading his symbolic status as a resistance icon.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app