KQED's Forum The `Blood Populism’ Driving Political Violence in America
May 12, 2026
Adrienne LaFrance, Atlantic editor and reporter on political violence, and Garen Wintemute, UC Davis violence‑prevention director and emergency physician, unpack rising tolerance for political violence. They define shifting trends, introduce the idea of "blood populism," and discuss why social conditions, rhetoric, guns, and public‑health approaches matter. Short, urgent conversation about risks and prevention.
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Left Incidents Rose Because Right Incidents Fell
- A recent shift toward more left-wing violent incidents was driven mainly by a sharp drop in right-wing violence after the 2024 election.
- Garen explains left incidents didn't surge long-term; right-wing attacks plummeted, temporarily flipping the counts.
Structural Forces Raise Political Violence Risk
- Structural conditions heighten risk: wealth inequality, declining trust, demographic change, and online misinformation.
- Adrienne LaFrance links these combined pressures and social media dynamics to a potentially explosive environment.
Blood Populism Frames Tolerance For Violence
- 'Blood populism' frames tolerance for political violence as part of a broader populist movement rather than mere partisan behavior.
- LaFrance coined the phrase to push people beyond partisan defensiveness and see violence as a shared problem.