Today, Explained America the extreme
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Jun 16, 2025 
John Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University focusing on ideological violence, joins Meredith Lehrer, a Professor at George Mason University studying American culture and the military. They discuss the shocking rise of political violence in the U.S., linking it to incendiary political rhetoric and social media influence. The pair also examines the implications of a recent military parade, exploring the complexities of patriotism and the widening gap between the military and civilian life. Their dialogue reflects on America’s conflicting narratives of progress and protest.
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Rise of Political Violence
- Political violence in the U.S. has sharply increased recently, with more plots, attacks, and FBI investigations targeting officials.
- This rise is fueled by social media's role, COVID, and normalization of violent rhetoric in mainstream politics.
Far Right Drives Violence
- Most political violence offenders come from the far right, with far-left violence being rare.
- The deadly violence reflects long-term effects of divisive, us-vs-them political campaigns.
Rhetoric Amplifies Extremism
- Trump's rhetoric aligns with and amplifies far-right extremist language, escalating political violence.
- Social media creates echo chambers, intensifying conspiracy and hateful narratives leading to violence.