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What does the plot against Gov. Whitmer tell us about right-wing domestic terrorism?

October 9, 2020

FILE PHOTO: Members of a militia group, including Michael John Null and Willam Grant Null (R) who were charged October 8, 2020 for their involvement in a plot to kidnap the Michigan governor, attack the state capitol building and incite violence, stand near the doors to the chamber in the capitol building before the vote on the extension of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's emergency declaration/stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Lansing, Michigan, U.S. April 30, 2020. REUTERS/Seth Herald/File Photo
  • 1 min read

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.

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Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo, Chris McKenna, Fred Dews, Marie Wilken, and Camilo Ramirez for their support.

The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Authors

Vanda Felbab-Brown
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

Adrianna Pita Office of Communications
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Foreign Policy

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U.S. States and Territories

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Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors