Violent Populism: Robert Pape on Charlie Kirk's Assassination and the Rise of Political Violence

In this episode of The Burn Bag, political violence expert Dr. Robert Pape joins us to unpack the alarming rise of political violence in America following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Pape, director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST), argues the U.S. has entered a dangerous new phase—what he calls the “era of violent populism.” We discuss what’s fueling this crisis, from deep demographic change to growing public support for political violence on both the left and the right. Pape breaks down the data behind this surge, why generational shifts in societal wealth can contribute to extremism, and outlines how bipartisan leadership could help de-escalate the moment.