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Odette Yousef Odette Yousef is a National Security correspondent focusing on extremism.
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Odette Yousef

Saturday

Friday

National Security

Domestic terrorism investigations and arrests shot up in 2021

A new U.S. government report shows that domestic terrorism investigations and arrests reached new heights in 2021, but it shows a complicated landscape when it comes to threats against the country.

Domestic terrorism investigations and arrests shot up in 2021

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Monday

Those fake active shooter calls to schools? A similar thing happened before

Police officers respond to a call that an active shooter had reportedly injured 24 students at Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, in September. The call turned out to be a hoax. Similar scenes have played out at schools across the country in recent weeks. Chillicothe Police Department/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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Chillicothe Police Department/Screenshot by NPR

National Security

Those fake active shooter calls to schools? A similar thing happened before

As schools across the U.S. are targeted by false calls about active shooters, NPR has found evidence that a similar scheme took place in the spring.

Those fake active shooter calls to schools? A similar thing happened before

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Saturday

National

Schools across the country are being targeted with hoax calls about active shooters

There's been a surge in hoax calls about active shooters at schools across the country during the last three weeks. Many of them fit a strange, new pattern.

Schools across the country are being targeted with hoax calls about active shooters

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Friday

False calls about active school shooters are rising. Behind them is a strange pattern

In response to a false call about an active shooter, police and emergency workers descended on Robert Anderson Middle School in Anderson, South Carolina, on Oct. 5. Parents rushed to pick up their children, causing a traffic jam in front of the school. Ken Ruinard/USA TODAY Network/Reuters hide caption

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Ken Ruinard/USA TODAY Network/Reuters

National Security

False calls about active school shooters are rising. Behind them is a strange pattern

In September, schools across the country started getting hoax calls that active shooters were on their campuses. But nearly one month in, there are more questions than ever.

Wednesday

Calls grow for a tougher legal approach to white nationalist group Patriot Front

A police officer holds one of a group of men, among 31 arrested for conspiracy to riot and affiliated with the white nationalist group Patriot Front, after they were found in the rear of a U-Haul van in the vicinity of a North Idaho Pride Alliance LGBTQ event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on June 11, 2022. John Rudoff/Reuters hide caption

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John Rudoff/Reuters

National Security

Calls grow for a tougher legal approach to white nationalist group Patriot Front

Trials began this week in Idaho for 31 members of a far-right group accused of conspiring to riot at an LGBTQ event. But calls are growing for federal involvement to bring greater accountability.

Monday

Law

Trials begin for Patriot Front members, but some say local prosecutions aren't enough

Jury trials are beginning for some members of a white nationalist group accused of conspiring to riot at a June LGBTQ event. But some experts say these local prosecutions yield little accountability.

Trials begin for Patriot Front members, but some say local prosecutions aren't enough

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Thursday

National

White House summit kicks off efforts to help communities address hate-fueled violence

The White House is spotlighting the rise in hate-fueled violence at Thursday's United We Stand summit. It aims to kickstart efforts to help communities prevent, respond to and recover from attacks.

White House summit kicks off efforts to help communities address hate-fueled violence

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National Security

White House hosts bipartisan summit to tackle hate-fueled violence

Many say rising political division and ideological violence threaten democracy but there are risks with Biden addressing it directly. President Biden and Vice President Harris will give remarks.

White House hosts bipartisan summit to tackle hate-fueled violence

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Monday

National

A campaign made it harder to access an anti-trans website linked to multiple suicides

A recent campaign succeeded in diminishing the reach of a website that is notorious for harassing autistic and transgender people, and which has been linked to at least three suicides.

A campaign made it harder to access an anti-trans website linked to multiple suicides

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Friday

National Security

What Biden's speech left out about the growing popular support for political violence

President Biden's speech honed in on "MAGA Republicans" as an extremist force in politics. But his remarks also left out much of the context that has led to popular support for political violence.

What Biden's speech left out about the growing popular support for political violence

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Thursday

Anti-government threats are up, but it's tough to assess them

An Ohio State Highway Patrol vehicle leaves the scene where an armed man was shot and killed by police after breaching the FBI's Cincinnati field office on Aug. 11 in Wilmington, Ohio. Jay LaPrete/AP hide caption

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Jay LaPrete/AP

National Security

Anti-government threats are up, but it's tough to assess them

Experts say the U.S. approach to countering violent extremism has worked well against foreign terrorists. They question whether it will work as well to identify credible domestic threats.

Tuesday

National Security

As far-right rhetoric spikes, gauging what's an actual threat is difficult

A recent attempted attack on an FBI office has raised concern about violent far-right rhetoric, but assessing the exact nature of the threat presents new challenges.

As far-right rhetoric spikes, gauging what's an actual threat is difficult

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Thursday

National Security

Far-right figures in prison get their message out by podcasting behind bars

Steve Bannon's conviction for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 House panel could result in fines or jail time. That's raised a question of whether the ex-Trump adviser would podcast from prison.

Far-right figures in prison get their message out by podcasting behind bars

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Wednesday

Why the Highland Park suspect represents a different kind of violent extremism

Law enforcement personnel secure the scene after a mass shooting Monday at a Fourth of July parade in downtown Highland Park, a Chicago suburb. Nam Y. Huh/AP hide caption

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Nam Y. Huh/AP

National

Why the Highland Park suspect represents a different kind of violent extremism

The Highland Park shooting suspect doesn't seem to be associated with a ideological or political bent. But extremism researchers say these kinds of acts may actually be part of a troubling new trend.