UC San Diego Political Scientist Warns Of A Second Civil War After Capitol Riot

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Photo by Jose Luis Magana AP

Above: Supporters of President Trump climb the west wall of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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Barbara F. Walter, a political scientist at UCSD, has been sounding the alarm about a rise in political violence. She explores how rioting at the Capitol could implicate a Second ... Read more →

Aired: January 7, 2021 | Transcript

The riots at the nation's Capitol Wednesday were a wake-up call to many Americans who never thought something like this could happen here.

Four people died including a woman from San Diego. And after windows were broken, offices vandalized and Confederate flags carried into the Capitol, many people are asking what does the deadly riot say about the future of our democracy?

Barbara F. Walter, a political scientist at UCSD, has been sounding the alarm about a rise in political violence. She is writing a book expected to be published this year about how the U.S. is heading toward a second civil war.