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Growing Threats Against Public Officials, and Trump’s Diesel Deal With Putin

9m 58s

Growing Threats Against Public Officials, and Trump’s Diesel Deal With Putin

Threats against elected officials have become increasingly common and severe across the United States, with political figures reporting intense, personal, and persistent harassment—ranging from death threats to graphic online videos. The New York Times’ investigation, using court records, police reports, and social media data, reveals a clear escalation in threats targeting local officials, governors, and members of Congress. Many have responded by investing heavily in security, including hiring guards, installing cameras, or purchasing firearms, with security spending rising sharply over the past decade. Some officials have resigned from public office due to fear, and political recruitment—particularly among women—has become difficult amid the hostile environment. The rise in intimidation has fundamentally altered the political climate, making public service more dangerous. In parallel, the Trump administration addressed economic hardships by issuing $500 refunds to nearly one million Americans and smaller rebates to some Obamacare recipients, aiming to alleviate financial strain amid broader political tensions. Together, these developments illustrate how political threats are now a normalized and pervasive feature of American politics, impacting both public safety and democratic participation.

Transcription

459 Words, 2780 Characters

English
From The New York Times, it's The Headlines. I'm Traci Mumford. Today's Monday, October 12th. Here's what we're covering. They're trying to intimidate me because they don't like the way that, you know, I think politically. He repeatedly called into my office threatening to kill me and my whole staff. I mean, really, it was a feeling of being hunted. Recently, The Times has been looking into how, across the country, threats against elected officials have become the new norm in American politics. Right, I mean, your family's been involved in politics for a while, right? And I wonder if any of your relatives ever had anything close to this kind of experience. No, nothing close. My colleague Nick Corcinetti has been speaking with dozens of politicians and officials across the political spectrum about their experiences. Seems like the temperature and the tenor is a lot more intense now. Than it was a number of years ago. The rise in threats is also clear from materials The Times obtained through records requests, including court documents, police reports, emails, social media posts, even voicemail messages. I hope you die. I hope your family dies. The targets have included everyone from local election officials to governors like Minnesota's Tim Walz. My daughter just sent me one yesterday where somebody said, you know, wait what I've got in store for you and then a picture in front of the house. So it's personal. It's persistent. It's constant. As a result, lawmakers are pouring tons of money into protection for themselves and their families, often paying out of pocket for private security. Dozens of officials have fortified their homes, installed cameras and hired guards. And the cost is growing. This year, candidates for federal office have spent more than four times as much on security than they did about a decade ago. One judge in Florida even described to The Times how she went out and bought a handgun. After an animated video of her being murdered circulated online. Overall, it's gotten to the point that some officials have decided to leave public office altogether in the face of constant intimidation. Some members of Congress have quit outright, telling The Times they feel safer now that they're out of office. And both parties have struggled to recruit new candidates, especially women, in this environment. Over the last few days, the Trump administration has pushed forward on several initiatives aimed at the high costs Americans are facing. Nearly one million hardworking Americans in 30 states will soon be getting refunds of $500 each. On Friday, the White House followed through on a promise to send out $500 rebate checks to some Obamacare recipients. The administration also issued $90 rebate checks to some Obamacare recipients.

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. Threats against elected officials have surged across the U.S., with many reporting intense and personal harassment, including death threats and online intimidation.
  2. Investigations by The New York Times reveal a pattern of threats ranging from voicemails and social media posts to court records and police reports, targeting officials from local to national levels.
  3. The rise in threats is evident in the increasing costs of security, with federal candidates spending more than four times as much on protection as a decade ago.
  4. Some officials have taken drastic measures, such as purchasing firearms or hiring private security, while others have resigned from office due to fear and constant pressure.
  5. The political environment has become more hostile, leading to difficulties in recruiting new candidates, especially women, who face heightened risks.
  6. Threats are not only widespread but also persistent, with individuals receiving threatening messages and images that appear to be personally directed.
  7. The Trump administration responded to economic pressures by issuing $500 refunds to nearly one million Americans and $90 rebates to some Obamacare recipients.
  8. These developments highlight a growing trend where political intimidation is normalizing, reshaping the landscape of public service and political participation.

Summary:

Threats against elected officials have become increasingly common and severe across the United States, with political figures reporting intense, personal, and persistent harassment—ranging from death threats to graphic online videos. The New York Times’ investigation, using court records, police reports, and social media data, reveals a clear escalation in threats targeting local officials, governors, and members of Congress. Many have responded by investing heavily in security, including hiring guards, installing cameras, or purchasing firearms, with security spending rising sharply over the past decade.

Some officials have resigned from public office due to fear, and political recruitment—particularly among women—has become difficult amid the hostile environment. The rise in intimidation has fundamentally altered the political climate, making public service more dangerous. In parallel, the Trump administration addressed economic hardships by issuing $500 refunds to nearly one million Americans and smaller rebates to some Obamacare recipients, aiming to alleviate financial strain amid broader political tensions.

Together, these developments illustrate how political threats are now a normalized and pervasive feature of American politics, impacting both public safety and democratic participation.

FAQs

The Times is investigating a rise in threats against elected officials across the U.S., including phone calls, social media messages, and threats of violence, with many officials reporting feeling targeted and intimidated.

Yes, one official reported receiving threatening calls and voicemails, including messages like 'I hope you die' and 'I hope your family dies,' which made them feel hunted.

The Times has obtained records such as court documents, police reports, emails, social media posts, and voicemail messages to show the scale and nature of threats.

Many have invested in private security, fortified their homes with cameras and guards, and some have left public office due to ongoing intimidation.

Yes, candidates for federal office have spent more than four times as much on security in the past decade compared to ten years ago.

Yes, both parties have struggled to recruit new candidates, especially women, due to the hostile and intimidating environment facing political figures.

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Transcription

459 words