Our November Club Meeting Video of Dr. Pape Discussion

The speaker emphasized that these trends could culminate in a constitutional crisis during the 2026 midterms, where political violence might be exploited to invalidate election results. Historical parallels, such as the late 1960s unrest that helped elect Richard Nixon, suggest that rising violence could strengthen authoritarian tendencies rather than weaken them. To counter this, the speaker urged leaders to lower the temperature, discourage violent responses, and focus on winning elections decisively by appealing to blue-collar voters through economic messaging rather than identity politics. A broad margin of victory, rather than a narrow one, is critical to prevent scenarios where force could be used to overturn results.

On foreign policy, the speaker criticized the Trump administration for deepening global quagmires rather than resolving them. Conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran remain unresolved, and new tensions—such as the deployment of U.S. military assets near Venezuela—risk further instability. Tariff policies are alienating allies and strengthening China’s position globally. These foreign policy failures, combined with domestic unrest, are creating fractures within the MAGA movement, which may lead to even harsher deportation measures as a unifying tactic. The overarching message was clear: political violence is the greatest threat to American democracy, and mitigating it requires strategic messaging, grassroots engagement, and a commitment to moderation.