The `Blood Populism’ Driving Political Violence in America

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2026

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A 2025 study found political violence is shifting from a primarily right-wing phenomenon to one now more common on the left (fueled partly by a significant decrease in right-wing attacks during President Trump’s second term). And it’s increasingly accepted across the political spectrum, with about a fifth of Americans saying they’d support violence to achieve political goals. The Atlantic’s Adrienne LaFrance calls this dangerous attitude “blood populism,” and we’ll talk to her about why she believes people with these opinions should be seen not as partisans but extremists. Plus, a violence prevention researcher explains why political violence is a public health issue. Guests: Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor, the Atlantic Garen Wintemute M.D., M.P.H. , director, Centers for Violence Prevention at UC Davis; he also practices and teaches emergency medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:28.5	Learn more at gene.com.
0:30.4	That's g-e-ne.com.
0:33.9	From K-QED.
0:37.0	Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim.
0:39.8	After a California man was charged last week with attempting to kill the president,
0:43.9	marking the third assassination attempt against Trump,
0:47.0	many have been left wondering where this apparent cycle of political violence were in will lead.
0:52.4	Last year, gunman killed Charlie Kirk and Minnesota lawmaker
0:55.5	Melissa Hortman. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's home was firebombed, and a couple of years
1:00.4	before that, Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked in their home. This hour, we've invited
1:06.3	Garin Wintamute and Adrian LaFrance to help ground us in data and context for what we're seeing.
1:12.9	Garon has been researching and surveying Americans on their attitudes toward political
1:16.8	violence at UC Davis for years. Garen, welcome to Forum.
1:21.3	Nina, thanks for having me.
1:23.1	The Atlantic Executive Editor Adrian LaFrance has been reporting on political violence for two decades.
1:29.0	Thanks for coming on as well, Adrian.
1:30.8	Thank you.
1:31.8	So, Adrian, I'll start with you.
	...

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