Sabrina Tavernise and Sean Westwood examine rise in US political violence

4 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 29

Recent incidents include three attempts on Donald Trump’s life, the killings of Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman, and attacks on political figures’ homes.
Westwood notes that while current violence is alarming, historical periods like 1865-1901 and the 1960s saw even higher rates of political assassinations and organized attacks.
Unlike past eras dominated by organized extremist groups, today’s violence is more often perpetrated by individuals, and experts caution against overstating the threat to American democracy.

Does history show that high-profile attacks lead to national decline?

Could artificial intelligence become the next major catalyst for political violence?

Is the fear of societal collapse a greater threat than the violence itself?

How can society defend against extremism that has no clear political goal?

What is the link between online rhetoric and real-world violent acts?

Are modern lone attackers truly isolated or part of new digital networks?