Rise of the Blood Populist
Political violence in the United States is increasingly driven by a cross-ideological belief system the author terms 'Blood Populism,' where individuals justify violence to achieve political goals, despite most Americans rejecting such tactics. The problem is exacerbated by partisan blame-shifting and a lack of consensus on what constitutes political violence. Although only a small percentage of Americans express willingness to engage in violence, recent surveys indicate a concerning level of acceptance toward its use in advancing political objectives.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
IdeasRise of the Blood PopulistMost Americans fully reject political violence. It’s time to differentiate between those who tolerate it and everyone else.By Adrienne LaFranceIllustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty.April 29, 2026, 2:05 PM ET ShareSave Listen−1.0x+Seek0:0010:12There are three major problems when it comes to understanding political violence in America. First, Americans cannot seem to agree on a definition of political violence. Second, people are too busy blaming their perceived political foes to see the larger problem for what it is.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
