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UnFiltered 009 | Political Violence in America: Has Assassination Culture Gone Mainstream?
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UnFiltered 009 | Political Violence in America: Has Assassination Culture Gone Mainstream?

The shocking survey revealing how many Americans justify violence against political figures

Welcome to another episode of Unfiltered with Meseidy and Rachel! In this unedited conversation, we dive into a shocking study that found over half of leftists think violence against political figures could be justified (like, what?!). We get into why this kind of thinking has become normalized, the whole assassination culture that's developing, and how the media's constant "Trump is Hitler" messaging might be contributing to this insanity. We also chat about everything from Puerto Rico's potential statehood to Rachel's zoo trip to see pandas and that guy at Waffle House who brings his chihuahua to share pancakes (while open carrying, because America).

This is straight-up truth from your favorite news skeptics - no spin, no fluff, just real talk about the stuff that matters.

Episode Highlights:

  • Alarming Survey Results - Meseidy and Rachel discuss a Rutgers University study showing 55% of left-leaning respondents find violence against political figures potentially justifiable.

  • Cultural Implications - The hosts explore how media messaging, political rhetoric, and the devaluation of human life may contribute to increased acceptance of political violence.

  • Observing Political Asymmetry - The conversation examines why the hosts perceive a difference in how political violence manifests between the left and right sides of the political spectrum.

  • Book Recommendations - Rachel recommends "Hannah Coulter" by Wendell Berry and "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, while Mercedes shares her connection to "When I Was Puerto Rican."

  • Waffle House Encounters - The hosts share a humorous story about a regular Waffle House customer who arrives with a cowboy hat, an open-carry firearm, and a tiny chihuahua that he feeds bits of pancake while dining.

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Chapters

00:00 Chihuahua Breakfast at Waffle House

00:29 Welcome to Unfiltered: Raw and Real

01:07 Morning Chit-Chat: Pandas and Gardening

02:39 Unfiltered Format and Today's Topic

04:14 Survey Findings: Justifying Violence

20:42 Dehumanization and Political Extremes

35:38 Fringe Voices and Political Violence

36:30 Anticipating Protests and Social Unrest

37:21 Hypocrisy in Political Rhetoric

41:11 Social Media and Confirmation Bias

50:17 Cultural Observations and Gun Ownership

01:00:33 Puerto Rico's Political Status Debate

01:05:25 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Discussion about this episode