Episode Details

Description:  We’re bringing you back to an episode from early 2024, co-hosted by Laura Flanders and Scot Nakagawa, because the forces they examined then are not behind us. They are very much with us now.

Political violence in the United States didn’t peak on January 6th. It metastasized. From threats against election workers and school board members, to attacks fueled by conspiracy, grievance, and organized extremism, the impact of violent political action continues to ripple through our communities — shaping who feels safe, who participates, and whose voices are pushed out of public life.

In this conversation, Laura and Scot convene organizers, researchers, and frontline leaders to define what political violence really is — not just spectacular acts, but sustained intimidation — and to ask how democracy survives when fear becomes a political tool.

You’ll hear from guests who have lived this reality, studied it, and resisted it — voices reminding us that while violence is meant to isolate and silence, community remains one of the strongest counterforces we have.

As the current political climate continues to normalize threats and reward extremism, this episode feels less like history — and more like a guidepost.  

“As a child of a [Black] Panther, I saw inspiration in every action. Even when I saw my mother's friends being jailed for long periods of time or even killed by police terror . . . A lot of those folks went on to continue fighting against terror of the state and building community. I wanted to be a part of that . . .” - Sala Cyril

“Violence has greatly limited our ability to function as an inclusive, robust, multiracial democracy that in fact, we must deal with it . . . We need to believe we can win, and we need to think about who it is that we need on our side  . . .” - Scot Nakagawa

“I can report anecdotally through different interactions with conservatives that they are experiencing political violence. I've been in attendance with secretaries of state, former Lieutenant governors. They all have stories of themselves or their families being on the receiving end of political violence . . .” - Maria J. Stephan

Guests:

• Sala Cyril: Interim Executive Director, Vision Change Win; Organizer, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, NYC

• Hardy Merriman: Author, Harnessing Our Power to End (HOPE) Political Violence; Expert, Democracy Movements

• Scot Nakagawa (Co-host): Executive Director, 22nd Century Initiative & 22nd Century Conference

• Maria J. Stephan: Co-Lead & Chief Organizer, The Horizons Project; Co-author with Erica Chenoweth, Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict

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*Recommended book:

“​Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict” by Erica Chenoweth & Maria J. Stephan: Get the Book

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Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:

•. Countering the Coup: From the Grassroots Up: