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The Washington Post’s Friday story spoke to multiple anonymous sources who said they had knowledge of Hegseth’s order to “kill them all.”
last updated Nov 28

Accountability

How a society moves on from episodes of political violence becomes an important part of that society’s history and can help determine whether that society grows or diminishes over time. Legal, social, economic and political accountability are key pillars of how a society can recover from this instability. Without any accountability, political extremism often spreads. In democratic systems, key methods of accountability include elections, court rulings, public debates and even casual political conversations between citizens.
Felix Leon / AFP via Getty Images
The FBI reportedly foiled a series of New Year's Eve bombings planned for California, but the news has been met with skepticism from some.
last updated Dec 15

Polarization

How people think and speak about those they disagree with can either promote cooperation or fuel extremism. Dehumanization – reducing others to less than human – is a dangerous form of polarization. The language used in debates, and how opponents are perceived, plays a crucial role in shaping whether society moves toward conflict or collaboration.
Department of Justice
Australia's prime minister is signaling possible gun law changes after a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15.
last updated Dec 15

Violence

While political violence is still comparatively rare in the United States today, a disturbing trend of extreme polarization and widespread radicalization – together with a number of high-profile assassinations – has concerned political experts and observers alike. Political violence is frequently treated more seriously than equivalent acts of violence because it can have a destabilizing impact on free societies.
Claudio Galdames Alarcon/Anadolu via Getty Images

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Timeline

October 2025

Key Event
October 2025

Man accused of setting fire to PA governor’s mansion pleads guilty

Cody Balmer pleaded guilty to setting the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion on fire on April 13, while Gov. Josh Shapiro, D, and his family slept inside. While the family was able to evacuate without injury, the building sustained major fire damage. Balmer faces 25 to 50 years in prison on 22 counts of arson, terrorism, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Shapiro and 21 counts of reckless endangerment and loitering.

September 2025

Key Event
September 2025

Left-wing attacks surpass right-wing violence for first time in 30 years: Study

A study by the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows a sharp decline in right-wing political violence, while left-wing political violence saw a small uptick during the first half of 2025. The large decline was enough for left-wing violence to overtake right-wing violence for the first time in 30 years, and the report said that political leaders across the spectrum should condemn all forms of political violence.

Key Event
September 2025

Ryan Routh found guilty of attempted Trump shooting, tries to stab himself with pen

After a nearly three-week trial, in which Routh represented himself, he was found guilty of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at his golf course in 2024. During the trial, it was revealed that Routh made 17 trips to the golf course while planning the attack, and he was linked to a scoped rifle and a confession letter.

Key Event
September 2025

‘I have bad news’: Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin confessed on Discord: Report

After the earlier shooting and death of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, evidence surfaced that 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson may have confessed to the crime on social media platform Discord. “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this,” Robinson allegedly wrote. The messages were written roughly two hours before law enforcement took Robinson into custody.

Key Event
September 2025

Search for shooter continues hours after Charlie Kirk killing on Utah campus

Conservative commentator and cofounder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk was shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, later dying of his wounds. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that one suspect was released, while another is in custody and faces seven charges, including aggravated murder and witness tampering. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the 22-year-old suspect.

July 2025

Key Event
July 2025

‘Senseless act’: Va. councilman set on fire, police say attack was personal

A City Council member in Virginia was set on fire on July 30th, which police described as a targeted and personal attack. Director of sales at Showcase Magazine, Lee Vogler was working in his office when an individual entered with a five-gallon bucket of gasoline, pouring it on Vogler then setting him ablaze as he tried to escape the office.

Key Event
July 2025

Vance Boelter indicted on federal charges in shooting of Minn. lawmakers

After being captured days after allegedly shooting two Minnesota legislators and their spouses, killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, 57-year-old Vance Boelter was accused with six criminal charges at the federal level, including for the shootings, as well as stalking Hortman and state Sen. John Hoffman.

June 2025

Key Event
June 2025

2 Minn. Democrats targeted in ‘politically motivated’ attacks; 1 dead

Early Saturday, June 14, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman’s home in Champlin, Minnesota, was attacked, with Hoffman and his wife shot multiple times. Shortly after, in Brooklyn Park, the same attacker shot and killed Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. The attacks are alleged to have been politically motivated.

April 2025

Key Event
April 2025

Pennsylvania police link governor’s mansion arsonist to Palestinian cause

An attack on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence on April 13, which Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside, has been framed as an attempted political assassination, and the alleged attacker seemingly targeted Shapiro due to “perceived injustices toward the people of Palestine.” While there were no injuries, the building suffered significant damage.

David Ryder/Getty Images

January 2025

Key Event
January 2025

President Donald Trump issues series of executive actions on Day 1

On President Donald Trump’s first day back in office he issued a series of executive orders, with one of them pardoning 1,500 Americans that stormed the U.S. Capitol, including a number of violent offenders.

December 2024

Key Event
December 2024

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot, killed in Manhattan

On Dec. 4, 2024, 50-year-old UHC CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside the Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan, which seemed to be a targeted attack. He was taken to the nearby Mount Sinai West Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The killing began a manhunt which culminated in the arrest of Luigi Mangione on Dec. 9.

October 2024

Key Event
October 2024

Domestic violent extremists aim to disrupt election: DHS

The Department of Homeland Security under former President Joe Biden sent out bulletins warning of violence at polling places, destruction of ballot drop boxes and physical violence at voter registration sites and campaign events as the 2024 presidential campaign was in full swing.

September 2024

Key Event
September 2024

Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination' at golf club: FBI

After surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, then-candidate Donald Trump was the target of an alleged “attempted assassination” in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sept. 15. Trump was playing golf at the time, when Secret Service agents spotted the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, who was taken into custody during a nearby traffic stop shortly after.

July 2024

July 13, 2024

During a campaign event at Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt orchestrated by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks fired an AR-15 type weapon from the roof of a nearby building, reportedly hitting Trump in the ear and killing a bystander. Crooks was then shot and killed by a sniper with the Secret Service.

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