Why So Much Violence in This Country?

The United States is experiencing a dangerous, underreported wave of left-wing political violence, argues Noah Rothman in his new book *Blood in Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence in America*. Rothman contends that while right-wing violence triggers national alarm and moral condemnation, left-wing violence is routinely excused, contextualized, or even celebrated as a response to systemic injustice—creating a dangerous asymmetry in how society processes political extremism. He traces this pattern across a century of revolutionary activism, from the 1910s to today, revealing a recurring profile: educated, affluent individuals who turn to violence not from desperation, but from ideological conviction and a belief that bloodshed can ignite revolutionary change. Rothman warns that this mindset—fueled by performative outrage, social media spectacle, and political leaders who co-opt radical energy—has created a fertile ground for violence, especially among young people. He cites the aftermath of the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s assassination, where prominent Democrats condemned the murder but immediately pivoted to excusing it as a symptom of a broken system. The episode also explores the broader geopolitical implications, including the failure of the Iran ceasefire, the risk of nuclear escalation in Ukraine, and the strategic importance of confronting Iran’s regime to free U.S. foreign policy from perpetual regional entanglement.