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Political Violence Escalates: Charlie Kirk’s Assassination and the Fragility of Democracy

The appalling assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while speaking at Utah Valley University marks another escalation in the dangerous normalization of political violence in the U.S. The murder of such a high-profile political figure underscores the fragility of democracy when disagreement is expressed not through debate or ballots but through the barrel of a gun. The tragedy must be understood as part of a broader pattern of radicalization, identity threat, and inadequate safeguards for candidates and elected officials.

After the assassination of a state legislator in Minnesota, we published an analysis on the psychological roots of political violence. That piece examined how violence is often driven more by deep psychological insecurity than by ideology, which political psychologists refer to as “defensive extremism.” Individuals who feel excluded, humiliated, or stripped of control can come to see violence as the only way to regain significance. This is especially true in contexts of rapid change, social isolation, or echo chambers that amplify grievances. As research indicates, the majority of violent acts are expressive rather than strategic eruptions of anger and fear, which are framed as moral or political necessities.

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For Whom the Bell Tolls: What Political Violence Reveals About Us

The bell tower from Mission Concepcion in San Antonio, Texas.

Getty Images, Gabriel Perez

For Whom the Bell Tolls: What Political Violence Reveals About Us

“Ask not for whom the bell tolls, the bell tolls for thee.”

The English poet, John Donne, wrote those words in the early 17th century, when it was customary for villagers to announce their fellow inhabitants’ deaths by the tolling of a single church bell.

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A U.S. Border Patrol agent checks immigrants' identification as they wait to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the border from Mexico.
Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images

Bordering on Despair: The True Cost of the American Dream

On TikTok, migrants post themselves wading through the Rio Grande or crowding into shelters at the southern border. Families also share clips of green card approvals and swearing-in ceremonies, cheering as loved ones become citizens or can finally be reunited with loved ones from their home countries. These images highlight a contradiction: the United States exposes migrants to dangerous uncertainty, yet it remains the world’s top destination for people seeking new lives.

The U.S. foreign-born population reached 53.3 million in January 2025 before dipping to 51.9 million in June, still one of the highest levels ever recorded, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census data. Immigrants now comprise approximately 15% of the U.S. population, a share that has steadily increased over the past two decades.

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