The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway America’s New Age of Political Violence — with Barbara F. Walter
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Sep 14, 2025 
Barbara F. Walter, a UC San Diego professor and author of How Civil Wars Start, dives deep into America's escalating political violence. She discusses the implications of the Charlie Kirk assassination and critiques how leaders exploit crises for power. Walter highlights the troubling role of social media in radicalizing young men and examines factors fueling civil unrest. She advocates for strengthening democracy and tackling the roots of extremism to foster a healthier political climate.
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Crisis As A Path To Power
- Aspiring authoritarians seek or create crises to centralize power and justify emergency measures.
- Barbara F. Walter warns a future crisis between now and 2028 could be used to scare Americans into trading freedom for security.
Social Media's Radicalizing Effect
- Social media use, especially prolonged exposure, correlates with depression, anxiety, radicalization, and violence per internal Facebook studies.
- Walter connects heavy online time to increased radicalization among young men who commit most political violence.
A Promising Life Derailed
- The shooter discussed was an A student with a full scholarship who spent increasing time online before the attack.
- Walter uses this example to illustrate how online seclusion can derail promising futures.
