Episode 9: Words as Weapons: Unpacking Trump's Rhetoric and the Rise of Hate

On The Basis Of Democracy

In this compelling episode, Dr. Nicole Asquith joins us to delve into her enlightening study: "We’re led by stupid people": Exploring Trump’s use of denigrating and deprecating speech to promote hatred and violence."

We unpack her analysis of verbal-textual hostility (VTH) in Trump's campaign speeches and discuss the alarming implications of linguistic choices made by politicians in shaping public discourse.

Dr. Asquith shares her insights on the specific categories of verbal hostility, focusing on denigration and deprecation and how they serve as precursors to acts of violence. She highlights the power of political speech in promoting ideologies such as white nationalism and its correlation with an increase in hate crimes and bias-motivated violence, as suggested by the "trifecta of violence."

Throughout the conversation, we touch on significant frameworks and theories behind hate speech, drawing connections from previous studies and discussions in the field of criminology. We also consider the relevance of criminological research in the context of Trump's presumed criminality and its broader impact on American perceptions of crime and criminal law.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion that sheds light on the intersection of language, power, and violence and explores the urgent need for a closer examination of political rhetoric in shaping societal norms and behaviors.