The Gist Not Even Mad: Russ Muirhead & Ben Dreyfuss
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May 7, 2026 Ben Dreyfuss, author of the Calm Down newsletter and commentator on how the internet shapes public discourse. Russ Muirhead, Dartmouth professor and New Hampshire state rep who studies democratic institutions. They debate media catastrophizing of political violence, RFK Jr.’s controversial health views and electoral impact, and a provocative proposal to expand the House to improve representation.
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Media Amplifies Political Violence Fears
- Political violence is being catastrophized by media even though long-term polls show limited growth in support for violence.
- Russell Muirhead cites Bright Line Watch polling and the asymmetry of perceptions where each side overestimates the other's willingness to use force.
Bystander Approval Is The Dangerous Shift
- Rising bystander approval for violence among young people is the worrying trend, not just perpetrators' numbers.
- Muirhead highlights poll data showing ~40% of people under 30 found the Thompson murder acceptable, signaling corrosive normalization.
Calm Political Fear By Spending Time Together
- Reduce political paranoia by encouraging direct social contact and nonpolitical shared activities.
- Ben Dreyfuss and Russell Muirhead recommend spending time with people across divides, breaking bread, and talking about neutral topics like sports or TV.