Data Check: What the Stats Really Say About Political Violence

Michael sits down with Cato Institute Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies Alex Nowrasteh to unpack hard data on politically motivated violence—who commits it, how often it happens, and what the numbers really show since 1975, and in a refocused set since 2020. A rigorous, nonpartisan, “stats over spin” conversation that challenges assumptions, separates outliers like 9/11, and puts recent headlines in context. Perfect for listeners who want facts, not fury. Original air date 16 September 2025.

Episode 1540 of the The Smerconish Podcast podcast, hosted by Alex Nowrasteh, Michael Smerconish, titled "Data Check: What the Stats Really Say About Political Violence" was published on September 16, 2025 and runs 25 minutes.

September 16, 2025 ·25m · The Smerconish Podcast

Summary

Michael sits down with Cato Institute Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies Alex Nowrasteh to unpack hard data on politically motivated violence—who commits it, how often it happens, and what the numbers really show since 1975, and in a refocused set since 2020. A rigorous, nonpartisan, “stats over spin” conversation that challenges assumptions, separates outliers like 9/11, and puts recent headlines in context. Perfect for listeners who want facts, not fury. Original air date 16 September 2025.

Episode Description