Mehdi Unfiltered Is MAGA Trying To Assassinate This Anti-Trump Author?
Jan 31, 2026
Don Winslow, award-winning crime novelist known for books about drug cartels, discusses receiving violent threats that forced him to cancel parts of his book tour. He recounts online smears and assassination and kidnapping threats. Conversation also covers the normalization of political violence and where responsibility lies in today's polarized discourse.
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Book Tour Canceled Over Violent Threats
- Don Winslow cancelled in-person book events after receiving kidnappings, rape threats, and calls for his assassination.
- He moved appearances online to avoid exposing fans and staff to those violent threats.
Right-Wing Threats Escalated Since 2015
- Winslow links his longstanding threats to a rising wave from the American right since 2015.
- The scale and substance of recent threats made continuing public appearances impractical.
Previous Threats From Cartels And Contrast With Today
- Winslow recounts prior threats from Mexican drug cartels due to his reporting on them.
- He contrasts those earlier threats with the current domestic threats prompting tour cancellations.