Episode 42 | Civic Terrorism Is Not Protest

Chief Justice Roberts likes to take some time away from DC every summer and relax in Maine. It's a lovely community. Boats and barbecues. Neighbors and no cars. For years, it helped him reset from one of the country's biggest jobs. Then a local activist published an op-ed urging people to yell at him, give him the finger, refuse to serve him, and generally make sure he never has a moment's peace. Other activists obliged, kayaking up to his home every morning to denounce him. But is that really "protest"? The effort to make one man's life a living hell? Hosts Joshua Kleinfeld, Ilan Wurman, and Kathryn Johnson argue that: This is not protest. We need to call it by its name, and its name is "civic terrorism." Civic terrorism is illegal both criminally and civilly — and is not First Amendment protected. Civic terrorism is a form of cruelty, even when its motive is so-called "justice." It is also very effective. It is tactical cruelty. The only way to end civic terrorism is to impose consequences for it. The Right's preference for bemoaning bad behavior, rather than taking action against it, fails to meet the moment. But how to respond without falling into cruelty oneself presents deep moral questions that the Right must grapple with. This is the rational — and based — discussion of harassment, menace, and the breakdown of social norms you won’t hear anywhere else. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to rationally BASED! Subscribe to our Substack! New Podcast Episodes every Thursday morning, find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on YouTube! Follow us on social media on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok!