Accessibility links
Odette Yousef Odette Yousef is a National Security correspondent focusing on extremism.
Odette Yousef headshot
Stories By

Odette Yousef

Friday

Violent online rhetoric heats up after Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

The Colorado Supreme Court in Denver hears arguments on Dec. 6 regarding former President Donald Trump's eligibility for the state's primary ballot. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

toggle caption
David Zalubowski/AP

Politics

Violent online rhetoric heats up after Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

Far-right users online have reacted to a Colorado court ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on that state's primary ballot. They're calling for "civil war."

Violent online rhetoric heats up after Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

Listen · 3:20
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1221031783/1221128973" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defense table while waiting for proceedings to begin in his civil business fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court on Dec. 7, 2023 in New York City. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Pool/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

The former president continues to recite his greatest hits on the campaign trail, along with adding some new autocratic language. His words are drawing criticism from many, but on his social media platform, Truth Social, he has the base to support it.

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

Listen · 14:33
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197958585/1221010755" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Politics

Trump's rhetoric draws alarming comparisons to autocratic leaders and dictators

Former President Trump has been using increasingly autocratic language over the campaign season. Many Americans have found this rhetoric to be shocking; but for a portion of his base, it is welcomed.

Trump's rhetoric draws alarming comparisons to autocratic leaders and dictators

Listen · 7:14
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1220443867/1220456082" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

National

Two states are filing lawsuits to curtail the activities of a neo-Nazi organization

Attorneys general in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are fighting to curtail the increasingly public activities of the neo-Nazi organization NSC-131.

Two states are filing lawsuits to curtail the activities of a neo-Nazi organization

Listen · 3:47
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1219956660/1219956661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Religion

Speaker Mike Johnson draws scrutiny for ties to far right Christian movements

House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to keynote an event for lawmakers who promote conservative Christian dominance — the latest connection illustrating his close relationship with Christian extremists.

Speaker Mike Johnson draws scrutiny for ties to far right Christian movements

Listen · 6:58
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1217452058/1217452059" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

For years, the FBI quietly stopped tracking anti-Arab violence and hate crimes

In a still frame from video law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a shooting late last month in Burlington, Vt. The suspect is accused of shooting three young men of Palestinian descent who were attending a Thanksgiving holiday gathering near the University of Vermont campus. Wayne Savage/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Wayne Savage/AP

National

For years, the FBI quietly stopped tracking anti-Arab violence and hate crimes

When the FBI developed its program to collect hate crime data, it included a category to track anti-Arab incidents. But this code was dropped, masking the scale of the problem.

For years, the FBI quietly stopped tracking anti-Arab violence and hate crimes

Listen · 3:41
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1215840101/1215966646" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Race

Why hate crimes against Arab Americans have long been difficult to track

The families of three men of Palestinian descent who were shot in Vermont say it was a hate crime. But investigators aren't sure, and tracking anti-Arab hate crimes is uniquely complicated.

Why hate crimes against Arab Americans have long been difficult to track

Listen · 3:41
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1215765465/1215765466" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Analysis

National

Did a letter written by Osama bin Laden really go viral on TikTok this week?

Videos praising a letter written by Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden briefly circulated on TikTok this week. But the reaction exceeded the reach of the videos themselves.

Did a letter written by Osama bin Laden really go viral on TikTok this week?

Listen · 5:42
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1213890413/1213890414" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news conference with families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol November 7, 2023 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., has long-held ties to Christian activists and leaders — some of whom are linked to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and the growing Christian nationalism movement. We explore what those views are, and why they matter in today's political landscape.

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

Listen · 21:52
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197956540/1213298604" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

National Security

When Israeli-Palestinian conflicts erupt, threats against U.S. Jews and Muslims surge

Surges in religious hate crimes in the U.S. historically follow conflicts between Israel and Palestinians. Extremism experts say the latest outbreak of U.S. violence may have more profound effects.

When Israeli-Palestinian conflicts erupt, threats against U.S. Jews and Muslims surge

Listen · 3:37
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1208676966/1208676967" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

National Security

New survey shows that local officials are experiencing increased hostility

Municipal and county officials are consistently experiencing high levels of harassment and even threats, according to new data. Many worry this may tip into violence as the 2024 election nears.

New survey shows that local officials are experiencing increased hostility

Listen · 3:42
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1201849605/1201849606" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

National

RICO case against cop city protesters in Atlanta stirs concerns about free speech

The case against 61 people who oppose a planned police and fire training facility in Atlanta is charting new – and to some, concerning – territory.

RICO case against cop city protesters in Atlanta stirs concerns about free speech

Listen · 5:06
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1200898062/1200898063" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Law

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio sentenced to 22 years for Jan. 6 riot role

The former national chairman of the far-right Proud Boys was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Tarrio had been convicted for seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio sentenced to 22 years for Jan. 6 riot role

Listen · 2:46
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197824591/1197824592" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

National

Enrique Tarrio, ex-Proud Boys leader, is sentenced to 22 years for his role in Jan. 6

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in attempting to overthrow the 2020 election. Prosecutors had been asking for a 33-year sentence.

Enrique Tarrio, ex-Proud Boys leader, is sentenced to 22 years for his role in Jan. 6

Listen · 3:10
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1197765950/1197777000" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript