How serious is the threat of political violence in the U.S.?

Diane Rehm: On My Mind

For years experts have warned of a wave of politically motivated violence in America. And, some might argue, that threat of violence has become a reality.

There were the events of January 6th when one woman was killed, police officers were beaten, and the Vice President Pence’s life threatened. There was the foiled kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer that ended in multiple convictions. And there was the recent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, when bullets narrowly missed ending the former president’s life.

“You certainly see by every possible measure that it’s worsening,” says Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic.

LaFrance has written extensively about political violence in the U.S. She joins Diane to talk about her new essay titled “American Fury,” in which she asks if the situation will get worse before it gets better.