
UChicago Professor on Threats of US Political Violence
Clip: 6/15/2023 | 5m 37sVideo has Closed Captions
A look at the number of Americans who support the use of political violence.
More than two years after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. capitol, a new study estimates some 12 million Americans still support violence to restore former President Donald Trump to power.
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UChicago Professor on Threats of US Political Violence
Clip: 6/15/2023 | 5m 37sVideo has Closed Captions
More than two years after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. capitol, a new study estimates some 12 million Americans still support violence to restore former President Donald Trump to power.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ATTACKS ON THE U.S. CAPITAL, A NEW STUDY ESTIMATES THAT SOME 12 MILLION AMERICANS STILL SUPPORT VIOLENCE TO RESTORE FORM PRESENT DONALD TRUMP TO POWER, BUT SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE IS NOT CONFINED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT.
22 MILLION AMERICANS SAY THE FORCE MAY BE JUSTIFIED TO RESTORE ABORTION RIGHTS.
MEANWHILE, MORE THAN ONE IN 10 ADULTS BELIEVE THAT POLITICIANS WORSHIP PEDOPHILES, SUCH A BIZARRE CLAIM THAT I CAN BARELY REPEAT IT.
JOINING US IS OUR FRIEND AND DIRECTOR.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 12 MILLION NUMBER.
YEARS AFTER THE JANUARY 6 THE TACH IT IS STILL A PRETTY HIGH NUMBER BUT NOT AS HIGH AS IT WAS.
>> PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THIS VIOLENT SUPPORT FOR TRUMP WOULD JUST SIMPLY FADE AWAY AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THAT IS NOT TRUE.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS EVERY THREE MONTHS AND WE WILL DO THIS EVERY THREE MONTHS BETWEEN NOW AND THE 2024 ELECTION.
IT IS NOW BEING PUBLISHED IN THE GUARDIAN.
THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO BRING THIS TO THE WORLD EVERY FEW MONTHS BETWEEN NOW AND THE 2022 ELECTION.
IF WE CAN FOCUS ON THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIND-SET, REALLY THE RADICAL MIND-SET OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, IT WOULD ANSWER FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
>> YOU DID SOME RESEARCH, AND THE THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT IS KIND OF COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR 2024?
>> IT MEANS THAT IF WE THINK WE WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS SIMPLY BY GOING AT DONALD TRUMP, WE WILL LIKELY BE MAKING HIM STRONGER, AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE DATA.
THERE ARE OVER 100 MILLION AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE THAT LEADERS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT ARE THE MOST IMMORAL IN AMERICA.
IN OTHER WORDS, HALF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THINKS THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS CORRUPT!
THIS LEADS TO SUPPORT FOR AUTHORITARIANISM.
WHY ARE WE DRIFTING THAT WAY, AND WHY IS IT HARD TO GET A GRIP ON IT?
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SEEING HOW DEEPLY ERODED THE CONFIDENCE IS IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
>> YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ANYBODY, IT IS ALMOST UNCANNY HOW MUCH THIS IS THE BIGGEST MATTER ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> EXACTLY.
THE DRIFT IN GERMANY TOWARD AUTHORITARIANISM WAS BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN DEMOCRACY.
WHY DOES ISIS ALSO HIGHLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST?
IT IS BECAUSE THE BELIEF AND CORRUPTION OF THESE MIDDLE EASTERN REGIMES.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS THE SAME THING.
THE MORE THE PUBLIC BELIEVES THAT OUR LEADERS ARE DEEPLY CORRUPT, AND LISTEN TO WHAT IS HAPPENING ON FOX NEWS ABOUT HOW JOE BIDEN IS DEEPLY CORRUPT, AND THAT OF COURSE ON THE OTHER SIDE DONALD TRUMP, WHAT THIS IS DOING BEYOND THOSE DETAILS IS PRONE PERSUADING LARGE SWATHS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT AMERICA, WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL THEM AWAY FROM AUTHORITARIANISM.
>> MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS RUN BY SATAN-WORSHIPING PEDOPHILES.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
>> THIS IS A VERSION OF WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT, BELIEVING THAT OUR LEADERS ARE DEEPLY IMMORAL.
WHEN YOU FOCUS GROUP PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THESE THINGS, THEY WILL POINT AT JEFFREY EPSTEIN, BILL CLINTON, DONALD TRUMP GETTING ON PLANES WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY WOULD GET ON A PLANE WITH A KNOWN PEDOPHILE FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AS A PEDOPHILE.
IT IS MORE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BUT IT IS NOT 100% REPUBLICANS BECAUSE OF WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT.
>> MANY AMERICANS JUST PUT THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR AND SAY THEY ARE ALL CORRUPT.
I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION HERE?
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR TRACKER WHICH IS 80% OF THE PUBLIC REJECTING THE IDEA OF DICTATORSHIP OVER DEMOCRACY.
BUT THEY ARE ALL BROKEN UP RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO LEAN INTO THAT 80%.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE CAN SEE IN OUR TRACKER.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BUILD ON, BECAUSE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY.
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