As the definition of “terrorist” expands, so does state violence

This episode of Code Switch explores how the U.S. government's definition of 'terrorism' has expanded dramatically since 9-11, transforming from a label primarily tied to foreign threats into a tool used to criminalize domestic dissent, particularly left-wing and anti-imperialist movements. Hosts B.A. Parker and Gene Demby examine how the Trump administration has labeled Antifa, campus protests, and even the Democratic Party as terrorist entities, despite the lack of formal organization behind groups like Antifa. Drawing on interviews with Sahar Salad and Alex Lubin, the episode traces the historical roots of the term, revealing its long-standing use to delegitimize Indigenous resistance, Black liberation movements, anti-colonial struggles, and anti-imperialist activism. The expansion of counterterrorism policies—such as the USA Patriot Act, fusion centers, and indefinite detention—has eroded civil liberties and enabled state surveillance and violence against marginalized communities. The episode argues that the 'war on terror' has never been truly foreign; it has always been domestic, with its logic now fully embedded in U.S. policing, immigration enforcement, and surveillance, blurring the line between homeland and battlefield. The hosts warn that this normalization of state violence under the guise of national security threatens democratic norms and civil rights. Key takeaways include: 1) The term 'terrorism' is dangerously ambiguous and has been weaponized to justify state violence against dissenters; 2) Counterterrorism policies created after 9-11—like the USA Patriot Act and fusion centers—have been repurposed to surveil and criminalize domestic protests; 3) The U.S. has a long history of labeling anti-colonial and civil rights activists as terrorists, including Native Americans, Black Panthers, and Palestinian freedom fighters; 4) The concept of 'homeland' has been expanded to justify global military action and domestic policing, erasing the boundary between foreign and domestic; 5) The erosion of Fourth Amendment rights and due process under the guise of counterterrorism poses a fundamental threat to democracy. The episode concludes with a call to vigilance: when the state can label any political opposition as terrorism, civil liberties are at risk.