"Random Minds" by Katherine Brodsky

"Random Minds" by Katherine Brodsky

What's fuelling political extremism

A 'forbidden' conversation with Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss

Katherine Brodsky's avatar
Katherine Brodsky
Sep 11, 2025
∙ Paid
18
3
4
Share

Watch Interview

Share

Since recording this interview just last month for my podcast, Forbidden Conversations, political commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated and a 16-year-old who was radicalized by extremists shot up a high school in Evergreen, Colorado on the same day.

It seems we’re living through a moment where political violence is increasingly common. But what’s most disturbing is that we aren’t merely seeing higher incidents, but also increased public displays of support for political violence. Is that a coincidence or is it part of a cultural environment that emboldens those who seek to make their point through bloodshed?

For this episode, I spoke with Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a leading scholar in the study of extremism, radicalization, and polarization, whose work bridges academic research and practical interventions.

As the director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University, her research informs policy, media, and community-based strategies to…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to "Random Minds" by Katherine Brodsky to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Katherine Brodsky
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture