Hi, it's Diane. On my mind, the threat of political violence. For years, experts have warned of a wave of politically motivated violence in America.

They point to escalating rhetoric from politicians, widening social divisions, and the widespread

access to weapons, and the threat hasn't just been hypothetical.

There was, of course, January 6th.

There was the kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmert and there was the recent assassination

attempt on Donald Trump.

You certainly see by every possible measure that it's worsening.

That's Adrian La France, executive editor of the Atlantic.

She's written extensively about political violence.

Her essay, American Fury,

will appear in the September edition of the magazine

and can be found online now. of the

assassination attempt on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump

do you see that as the peak of our trend toward violence, or do you see it as

a stepping stone to even more?

I wouldn't say that this is a peak.

I mean, obviously my hope is that there is no more political violence in America.

And I feel I should also point out

that there is some degree of debate

over whether this should be called political violence

because there are questions about the motives of the shooter.

That said, we have a very well established pattern of worsening political violence in America, which I would say I would include

...