People Need To Stop Calling Right-Wing Extremism A 'Civil War,' Says Yale Professor

As Donald Trump and his legal team continue to shift their narrative surrounding classified documents, the fear mongering by the former President and his allies continues to have a far-reaching impact. On Thursday, a fervent Trump supporter was shot and killed by police—after he fired a nail gun into an FBI office in Cincinnati. All week, right-wing Republican leaders have been ironically threatening to “Defund the FBI” as punishment for the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search. Meanwhile, Trump fan pages on social media have ratcheted up calls for a bloody “civil war.” Yale Professor and historian Joanne Freeman takes issue with that language. In addition to being “threatening,” Freeman says the “civil war” crowd isn’t organized enough to spark a war. And ultimately, it undermines “the real ugliness and violence on the surface of what’s going on right now.” “Words and rhetoric really matter,” says Freeman, “particularly if they are coming from someone high up. Not only do they frame things, but they are a way of sort of setting things in motion.”

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#FBI #Politics #Extremism

[HannibalOrJustRex]

It's terrorism and it's intentional. It just hasn't reached the level it's intended to yet.

[shirleyallen]

Regardless of how high up someone is, if they are a lying crook, they don't deserve praise, support or the Presidency.That's akin to idolizing your own enemy. 🇺🇸

[kevinp]

Hold speakers accountable for the consequences of their speech.
One has a right to yell fire. If one yells: "Fire!" in a crowded theater and people die, there are consequences.
If one yells: "Let's have trial by combat!" and people die as a result, there should be an accounting

[EdA-bzbu]

Freedom of speech is not freedom for sedition.

[GaiaCarney]

Joanne Freeman makes some really good points. The extreme right is engaged in domestic terror, IMO 😡

[GEOMETRICINK]

It’s domestic terrorism. Call these people domestic terrorists.

[You_Dont_Like_My_Music]

I lived through the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. When armed militias start forming and marching in the streets, it's time to worry.

[michaeljosephschilingno]

“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect." Frank Wilhoit

[pie_tor]

God damb it call it what it is, it domestic terrorism. Full stop!

[ThemagavilleDiaries]

Seems pretty simple, time to stop making excuses for these domestic terrorists . They have been coddled and enabled for way too long. If you see someone post a threat against law enforcement or suspect they are plotting something turn them in.

[shawnpowers]

It's the Republicans that are calling it that, and calling for it.

[babooll]

Fools calling for "civil war" have no idea what that entails.

[MelioraCogito]

Voting is like driving a car: if you want to go forward, select “D”; if you want to go backward, select “R”.

[dirkwilliams]

This is not happening by accident. Those who are saying such things need to be held accountable.

[ChristopherChristophercIverson]

That is why it is important to stop playing politics and hold everyone accountable att he time. Id they held MTG and Gosard, and James accountable and have ejected them from congress for violating the laws at the time no office holder shall be involved in acts against the US.

[oil_can]

I love Joanne Freeman and never miss her podcast, NOW & THEN. She always has brilliant insights regarding how current events mirror past events.

[richardstephens]

Malcolm Nance calls it the Trump Insurgency in The United States. Looks like he is right. Again.

[janetmccusker]

Trump and his cronies need to be accountable for what they're saying though

[tanyasteers]

These people making threats need to be arrested terroristic threatening all of them especially the ones toting guns around Arizona you may have a right to open carry but you don't have rights to threaten

[jockyoung]

"Civil war" is a pretty silly description, since they aren't fighting anything except their own delusions. Domestic terrorism would be about all they could manage