The latest PBS News NPR Marist poll out today shows that nearly a third of Americans now believe political violence may be necessary to get the country back on track.

That's up from 19% just a year and a half ago.

It follows a series of high-profile attacks, including the June killing of a Democratic state legislator and her husband in Minnesota,

and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah last month. Cynthia Miller

Idris, a professor at American University who studies polarization and extremism, says

the rising support for political violence is translating into real acts and the trend is deeply

alarming.

It's just a horrific moment to see that people believe, honestly believe that there's no other

alternative at this point than to resort to political violence. We've had years now of rising

support for political violence and willingness to participate in it.

And now we're seeing actual rising acts of political violence follow on the heels of that.

So having this go up even more is a real wake-up call.

It should be a real wake-up call.

The poll also tackles the administration's handling of free speech and a number of other issues.

Joining us now to break it all down as NPR's senior political editor and correspondent, Domenico Montanaro. Always great to see you. Great to be with you. So what's driving the increase in Americans who now say that violence might be necessary? Well, it's really fascinating because it went up 11 points. points. It's 30 points now in our poll for people who are saying that they might have to resort to

violence to be able to get the country back on track.

It was 19% back in April of 2024.

What's driving that here? Mostly Democrats.

Only 12% of Democrats back in April of 2024 said this.

Now it's up to 28%.

A huge jump, really.

I mean, statistically very significant.

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