Experts warn of a dangerous shift in American societal norms

[justaprogressive]

The normalization of political violence is taking root in public life in the United States. Once shocking near-assassinations are now becoming grimly accepted chapters in political campaigns. Experts warn this signals a dangerous shift in societal norms — and the consequences are already unfolding, The Hill reported Sunday.

The report notes that in the year following the first assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, public threats toward officials have not only persisted — they have escalated.

From the tragic killing of a Minnesota state legislator to last week’s firefight at a U.S. Border Patrol station in Texas, high-profile incidents are mounting.

Jon Lewis, a research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, told The Hill: “We continue to see a normalizing of political violence, a very casual acceptance that some elected officials may be legitimate targets for violence—based on conspiracies, based on disinformation—and unfortunately and tragically, we’ve seen that that has real-world consequences."

He added: “When there is so much rhetoric…it’s only a matter of time before someone with a grievance and a gun finds that justification.”

https://www.alternet.org/political-violence-us-cases/

[biophile]

1. Stating the obvious

[raccoon]

3. And who's normalizing it? Those who are always coming out with the violent talk, they encourage it.

Stochastic terrorism.

[biophile]

6. You speak the truth!

[UpInArms]

2. Remember Sarah palin's rhetoric?

The fart started with her

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Our side maintains their outrage,

Their side turns people who incite threats against Democrats as heroes and Trump pardons them. Gee, where does the disconnect begin?

[3catwoman3]

5. It feels like we don't have any societal norms left.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. There were

Last edited Mon Jul 14, 2025, 04:09 PM - Edit history (1)

No assassination attempts on Krasnov. I find both incidents to be sketchy.

[ancianita]

8. It's already here.

He added: “When there is so much rhetoric…it’s only a matter of time before someone with a grievance and a gun finds that justification.”

It's already happened.

[wishstar]

9. Article fails to mention violent January 6 perpetrators being pardoned

Despite participating in a huge mass event of political violence at the Capitol, attacking law enforcement and damaging the building and threatening Congress members inside.