The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: “I’m angry that I exist”: Nihilistic Violent Extremism with Seamus Hughes and Jacob Ware
Mar 10, 2026
Jacob Ware, author and researcher of nihilistic violent extremism, and Seamus Hughes, a counterterrorism researcher and Lawfare editor, unpack the FBI’s new NVE label. They explore the rise of online groups like 764, why schools are targeted, youth radicalization and mental health, prosecution challenges, grooming on platforms such as Telegram and Roblox, and prevention versus enforcement.
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NVE Defined As Hatred Driven Chaos
- Nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) labels individuals who act from hatred of society to sow indiscriminate chaos rather than coherent political ideology.
- Jacob Ware traces the FBI's NVE use to a March 2025 court filing and notes rapid growth in investigations as bureau seeks new terminology.
Two Distinct NVE Movements
- Two dominant NVE categories emerged: 764-style sexual-exploitation networks and the true crime community that idolizes and replicates attackers.
- Jacob Ware describes 764 as mixing white supremacy, Satanism, ritualized child sexual exploitation and grooming.
NVEs Reflect Broader Radicalization Trends
- NVEs exemplify trends: online radicalization, youth recruitment, ideology convergence, and rising suicidality among attackers.
- Ware highlights that many violent NVE incidents end in suicide, complicating prosecution and threat categorization.
