Militia Expert Warns Trump's Capitol Insurrectionists Could Try Again

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January 11, 2021

Dear Reader, Following the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building last week, incited by President Donald Trump, Americans and people around the world want to know more about the motivations and mentality of the rioters. Will they be a long-term presence in our political system? In an interview with a forensic psychiatrist, senior editor Tanya Lewis discusses the psychology behind Trump's destructive behavior, what drives some of his followers—and how to free people from his grip when this damaging presidency ends. Plus, today's lead story by militia expert Amy Cooter explains why it is unfortunately likely that we will continue to see violent efforts to disrupt the Biden administration in the next four years.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement @sunyaaa

Behavior & Society Militia Expert Warns Trump's Capitol Insurrectionists Could Try Again Fieldwork shows white men fighting against equality gains by women and minority groups in the U.S.—and longing to return to a past that nullifies such changes By Amy Cooter

Behavior & Society The 'Shared Psychosis' of Donald Trump and His Loyalists Forensic psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee explains the outgoing president's pathological appeal and how to wean people from it By Tanya Lewis

Natural Disasters Billion-Dollar Disasters Shattered U.S. Record in 2020 The 22 events that each caused at least $1 billion in damage show the increasing costs of climate change By Thomas Frank,E&E News

Space Martian Satellite Photos Show Dynamic Planet The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter celebrated its 15th year circling Mars By Clara Moskowitz

Biology Brown Tree Snakes Twist Themselves into 'Lassos' to Climb The reptiles scale trees with a technique never before observed in any snake By Stephanie Pappas

Biology Towering Sequoias Are Even Bigger Than Thought, Laser Scans Suggest Laser light reveals the structure of the planet's tallest trees By Katherine Kornei

Behavior & Society The Science of Spiritual Narcissism Self-enhancement through spiritual practices can fool some of us into thinking we're evolving and growing when all we're growing is our ego By Scott Barry Kaufman

Biology Bees Use 'Bullshit' Defense to Keep Giant Hornets at Bay The prospect of death by giant hornet has pushed some Asian honey bees to resort to a poop-based defense system By Jason G. Goldman | 05:26

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QUOTE OF THE DAY "When a highly symptomatic individual is placed in an influential position, the person's symptoms can spread through the population through emotional bonds, heightening existing pathologies and inducing delusions, paranoia and propensity for violence--even in previously healthy individuals. The treatment is removal of exposure." Bandy X. Lee, forensic psychiatrist at the Yale School of Medicine

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