FSF Hot Takes: The Rise of Political Violence & Decline of Free Speech – Proximate & Root Causes (Part 2)

"The president is not supposed to have so much power. It shouldn't make such a difference who actually wields the executive pen." Chris and Joia dive deep into several of the causes behind America's rising political violence, starting with an October 2025 Pew Research survey that asked Americans why they think violence is increasing—offering eight options from "Trump/MAGA rhetoric" to "social media" to "partisan polarization." But Chris and Joia argue these are merely proximate causes that miss fundamental drivers.Throughout, Chris and Joia make clear these aren't just academic distinctions: "If we can find… just the few roots that have to be cut, then we can be much more effective with our own time and efforts in trying to solve this problem."Check out the full conversation to discover the multiple proximate and more fundamental causes they identify.Find Part I here: https://youtu.be/X_eojPaO5Ao