Right-wing terrorism, like the recent plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the state government, has been the deadliest form of terrorism in the United States in recent years—and is likely to continue, says Vanda Felbab-Brown. She draws on the history of antigovernment movements in the U.S. to explain how these extremist groups have capitalized on public discontentment with the COVID recession, and warns against any explicit incitement or implicit acceptance from politicians or other public authorities.
Related material:
- US policing after wave one of COVID-19
- Who is a terrorist, actually?
- How COVID-19 is changing law enforcement practices by police and by criminal groups
- How serious are threats to the US homeland?
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Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo, Chris McKenna, Fred Dews, Marie Wilken, and Camilo Ramirez for their support.
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Authors
Commentary
PodcastWhat does the plot against Gov. Whitmer tell us about right-wing domestic terrorism?
Vanda Felbab-Brown and
Vanda Felbab-Brown
Director
- Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors,
Co-Director
- Africa Security Initiative,
Senior Fellow
- Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
@VFelbabBrown
Adrianna Pita
Adrianna Pita
Office of Communications
October 9, 2020