How Should We Respond To Political Violence - A Common Good Approach

In this episode of the Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse confront the rising tide of political violence in America. In the wake of the tragic murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and  Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump has excused right-wing violence as “stopping crime” while casting the political left as “people who hate America.” Doug and Robb take on this dangerous rhetoric and the way it distorts our public life. They discuss how we, as people of faith and conscience, must respond—not with silence, fear, or retaliation, but with a renewed commitment to peace, justice, and the common good. Together, they reflect on how faith communities, civic leaders, and everyday citizens can push back against this toxic narrative and stand together against violence in all its forms. This conversation is both sobering and hopeful—calling listeners to courage, clarity, and a deep commitment to nonviolence as the only way forward for a healthy democracy.