CSIS 2025 Report: Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States: What the Data Tells Us

Brief by Daniel Byman and Riley McCabe

Published September 25, 2025

The Issue

In recent years, the United States has seen an increase in the number of left-wing terrorism attacks and plots, although such violence has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers. So far, 2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumber those from the violent far right. Despite its decline this year, right-wing terrorism could easily return to previous high levels. It is important to resource counterterrorism efforts against both right- and left-wing terrorism and work with communities to gain their support against extremists. Leaders across the political spectrum must condemn violent extremism of all kinds, denying it legitimacy and reducing its appeal.

Introduction

The tragic killing of political commentator and conservative activist Charlie Kirk has once again put the spotlight on political violence in the United States, with figures on both sides of the political aisle decrying extremism on the other. To understand the danger of political violence today and to find the best solutions for reducing it, it is important to understand the overall threat landscape and how both left- and right-wing violence have evolved and could change in the future.

Our analysis of terrorism trends in the United States shows that, indeed, left-wing violence has risen in the last 10 years, particularly since President Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence in 2016, although it has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers. More contentious politics in the United States and the expansion of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement appear to have reenergized violent left-wing extremists. The left-wing movement as a whole has not returned to its violent heights of the 1960s and 1970s, but the number of terrorist incidents involving left-wing extremists so far this year puts 2025 on pace to be the left’s most violent year in more than three decades. Moreover, 2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing attacks outnumber those from the far right.

Indeed, the increase in left-wing attacks is particularly noticeable because attacks from right-wing perpetrators have sharply declined in 2025. This decline is striking, and explanations are speculative. One possibility is that many traditional grievances that violent right-wing extremists have espoused in the past—opposition to abortion, hostility to immigration, and suspicions of government agencies, among others—are now embraced by President Trump and his administration.

Similarly, jihadist attacks have declined in frequency since their peak in the 2010s, owing largely to the destruction of major groups like al Qaeda and the Islamic State and the subsequent decline in the power of the jihadist ideology to inspire attackers.

Left-wing attacks are remarkably less lethal overall than jihadist or right-wing attacks. However, even incidents that do not result in mass casualties can still have a significant impact. Fortunately, many left-wing attackers (though not all) have demonstrated limited skill in carrying out violence, and the movement is disorganized, with little formal coordination.

The rise in left-wing attacks merits increased attention, but the fall in right-wing attacks is probably temporary, and it too requires a government response. In any case, many of the prescriptions for fighting terrorism effectively apply to violence from both the left and right. These include ensuring proper counterterrorism resourcing, avoiding overreactions, and having leadership unequivocally condemn such attacks.

The remainder of this brief is divided into six sections. First, terms such as “left-wing” and “terrorism” are defined. Second, trends in left-wing terrorism in the United States are analyzed, with an emphasis on the increase in the number of incidents since 2016. Third, the causes of the rise of left-wing incidents are assessed. Fourth, weaknesses that limit the impact of left-wing terrorism are examined. Fifth, possible reasons for the decline in right-wing and jihadist terrorism are discussed. The sixth and final section discusses several policy implications that can help combat violence from perpetrators across the political spectrum.

Definitions

This analysis defines terrorism as the deliberate use or threat of premeditated violence by nonstate actors with the intent to achieve political goals by creating a broad psychological impact. Using this definition, CSIS researchers compiled and analyzed a dataset of 750 terrorist attacks and plots in the United States between January 1, 1994, and July 4, 2025. The dataset includes information such as incident date, location, target and location type, weapon used, and victim fatalities, as well as perpetrator age, sex, ideology, group affiliation, and current or former affiliation with the military or law enforcement. A full methodology and codebook for the dataset is available at CSIS.org.

This brief defines left-wing terrorism as that which is motivated by an opposition to capitalism, imperialism, or colonialism; black nationalism; support for LGBTQ+ rights; support for environmental causes or animal rights; adherence to pro-communist, pro-socialist beliefs or “anti-fascist” rhetoric; opposition to government authority under the belief it is a tool of oppression responsible for social injustices; support for decentralized political and social systems, such as anarchism; or partisan extremism, where violence is justified against political opponents and parties perceived as advancing right-wing agendas.

Right-wing terrorism as used in this analysis includes incidents motivated by ideas of racial or ethnic supremacy; opposition to government authority, believing it is tyrannical and illegitimate; misogyny, including incels; hatred based on sexuality or gender identity; belief in the QAnon conspiracy theory; opposition to abortion; or partisan extremism, where violence is justified against political opponents and parties perceived as advancing left-wing agendas.

Note that terms such as “left-wing terrorism” and “right-wing terrorism” as used in this brief do not correspond to mainstream political parties in the United States, such as the Democratic and Republican parties, nor do they correspond to the overwhelming majority of political liberals and conservatives in the United States.

In many cases, a clear ideological categorization of perpetrators is difficult. Former FBI Director Christopher Wray once referred to a “salad bar of ideologies,” where perpetrators of violence choose among an array of causes, many of which do not align with a traditional right-left dichotomy or other easy ideological classification. In other cases, perpetrators may not have political motives despite their targets. 

For example, Thomas Crooks, who tried to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, reportedly searched online before his attack for locations where both Trump and then-President Joe Biden would be publicly speaking. While it is possible Crooks had political motives, FBI reports, and journalist investigations suggest the explanation was more likely a mix of personal issues.

Left-Wing Terrorism Incidents Are on the Rise

The first half of 2025 was marked by an increase in left-wing terrorist attacks and plots in the United States, which continues a trend noticeable over the last decade. In absolute terms, left-wing incidents are on track in 2025 to reach historically high levels in the last 30 years.

From 1994 through 2000, there was an average of 0.6 left-wing incidents annually; in the following decade, that figure doubled to 1.3 a year. Numbers began to grow substantially, however, in 2016, and from 2016 to 2024, they averaged 4.0 a year. Through July 4, 2025 (thus excluding the Kirk attack), there were five left-wing attacks or plots, which sets a trajectory for a record-breaking year in the last 30 years.

This elevated number of left-wing incidents is even more striking when compared with the number of incidents classified under other ideological orientations. Left-wing terrorist attacks and plots as a percentage of all terrorist attacks and plots were at a record high in the first half 2025, although the decline of other forms of terrorism plays a significant role in this relative increase.

Indeed, a dramatic decline in right-wing incidents in 2025 has contributed significantly to the relative increase in left-wing incidents. So far, 2025 is the first year in the CSIS data where the number of left-wing incidents is greater than the number of right-wing ones.

Though the number of left-wing terrorist attacks and plots is experiencing a rise, the effectiveness of perpetrators typically remains limited. Although left-wing perpetrators often carry out their plans, they rarely do so with deadly effect. Two metrics illustrate this dynamic.

First, a large share of left-wing plots succeed in becoming actual attacks. In 2025, of the five left-wing incidents that occurred before July 4, four were attacks carried out, and only one was a disrupted plot. This continues a long-standing pattern. 

The number of left-wing attacks carried out is typically much greater than the number of plots disrupted. This trend is mirrored in right-wing and ethnonationalist incidents and is likely influenced by bias in data collection. That is, incomplete public information means disrupted plots are likely undercounted.

By contrast, jihadist incidents exhibit the opposite pattern. Disrupted plots are far more common than successful attacks, probably a reflection of decades of intense intelligence and law enforcement focus on jihadist activity after 9/11, as well as the far greater media publicity given to disrupted jihadist attacks, which enables greater data collection.

The fact that left-wing plots so often result in completed attacks elevates the significance of the recent rise in incidents because it indicates that the recent increase is likely to translate into realized violence.

Second, despite the rise in the number of left-wing incidents and the likelihood that such incidents involve realized violence, the lethality of left-wing attacks remains very low. Left-wing attacks are overwhelmingly non-lethal and far less lethal compared with other ideological orientations. 

Since 2020, only two fatalities have resulted from left-wing terrorist attacks in the United States: Luigi Mangione’s assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City in December 2024 and Michael Reinoehl’s fatal shooting of right-wing protester Aaron Danielson in Portland, Oregon, in August 2020 (if the Kirk killing is included, as seems likely, it would be a third fatality). Right-wing and jihadist attacks, by contrast, have caused far higher fatalities.

In the past decade, despite the increase in the number of left-wing incidents, left-wing attacks have killed 13 victims, compared with 112 and 82 victims for right-wing and jihadist attacks, respectively. Some of the key factors driving these dramatic discrepancies are explored in a later section of this brief.

What’s Causing the Rise in Left-Wing Incidents?

The increase in left-wing incidents in the past decade is driven by plots and attacks directed at government and law enforcement targets. Of the 41 left-wing incidents since 2016, anti-government extremism motivated 17 of them, and partisan extremism motivated another 11. 

All left-wing attacks through July 4, 2025, appeared to be motivated by one of these ideologies, and the Kirk killing fits this pattern, although details about Kirk’s alleged killer are still emerging.

The only significant break from this trend was a surge of six left-wing firebombings against pro-life targets (pregnancy crisis centers and the office of an anti-abortion group) in the summer of 2022 around the time of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. These attacks were intentionally perpetrated at night against unoccupied buildings to reduce (though not eliminate) the risk to people.

To understand rising left-wing violence, it is useful to distinguish between partisan extremism and anti-government extremism.

Partisan extremism includes attacks and plots against elected officials, political candidates, political party officials, and political staff and workers from terrorists with opposing political views. 

For example, on January 28, 2025, U.S. Capitol Police arrested Riley Jane English, a 24-year-old from Massachusetts, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., after she approached officers and revealed she was carrying a folding knife, two Molotov cocktails, and a lighter. 

According to prosecutors, English said she intended to kill senior U.S. officials, initially identifying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom she described as a “Nazi,” before shifting her focus to House Speaker Mike Johnson and then to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. She also expressed a desire to attack the conservative Heritage Foundation.

In a separate incident on March 30, 2025, an assailant set fire to the headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico in Albuquerque, igniting the entrance late at night. Graffiti reading “ICE = KKK” was spray-painted on a wall near the site.

Attacks such as English’s plot to assassinate senior officials and the arson of the Republican Party’s New Mexico headquarters reflects the most severe effects of polarization in the United States. A variety of survey data underscores that this issue is widespread and worsening. 

In 2016, fewer than half of Republicans or Democrats described the opposing side as immoral, dishonest, or unintelligent. By 2022, however, most Republicans described Democrats as immoral (72 percent), dishonest (63 percent), and unintelligent (70 percent), while most Democrats said the same of Republicans (64 percent, 61 percent, and 52 percent, respectively).

Similarly, while less than 4 percent of Americans express support for partisan violence such as assault, arson, or murder, both sides greatly overestimate their opponent’s willingness to endorse such actions, with Democrats believing 45.5 percent of Republicans support partisan murder, and Republicans believing that 42 percent of Democrats do.

Although the vast majority of Americans would never commit partisan violence and oppose it, widespread polarization and misperceptions that the other side is far more violent than it actually is creates a dangerous environment where extremists can more easily rationalize using violence. 

Growth in even a tiny minority who are willing to commit partisan violence has the potential for tremendous consequences considering the combustible political climate in the United States and the fact that symbolic and strategically important political leaders are among the potential targets.

In addition to partisan extremism, anti-government extremism has also become more pronounced as a motive for left-wing attacks in 2025, particularly around the issue of immigration.

In one incident on July 4, 2025, a group attacked the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas. According to federal prosecutors and law enforcement statements, approximately a dozen individuals dressed in black clothing and equipped with tactical gear initiated the attack by detonating fireworks and spray-painting anti-ICE graffiti on vehicles and structures outside the facility. 

When an Alvarado police officer responded to the scene, an assailant positioned in a nearby wooded area opened fire, wounding the officer in the neck. Meanwhile, another individual reportedly fired 20 to 30 live rounds at unarmed ICE correctional officers outside the facility. 

Law enforcement subsequently apprehended 14 suspects, who now face federal charges including attempted murder of federal officers and firearm-related offenses. Searches uncovered AR-style rifles, a pistol, body armor, two-way radios, spray paint, and flyers with anti-ICE slogans. One of the alleged attackers stored cellphones inside Faraday bags, which are used to block signals and indicate premeditated efforts to evade law enforcement tracking.

Traditionally, anti-government extremism refers to violence aimed at state institutions viewed as illegitimate or oppressive, whereas partisan extremism targets specific political figures or individuals based on party affiliation. 

As events such as the Prairieland ICE attack suggest, left-wing opposition to the Trump administration in 2025 often manifests as both: rejecting its political leadership and resisting its efforts to expand the authority of military and law enforcement institutions. Together, partisan and anti-government extremism help explain why 2025 has seen an escalation of left-wing violence, as opposition to the Trump administration fuels attacks against both its political leadership and the state institutions that carry out its agenda.

Left-Wing Weaknesses

Despite the rise in the number of left-wing terrorist incidents, there exist several characteristics and conditions that limit the scale and sophistication of attacks. The overall low lethality rates in left-wing attacks are probably attributable to several factors, including target selection, target scope, tactical methods employed, low levels of perpetrator skill, and counterterrorism measures.

First, left-wing perpetrators typically select targets that limit opportunities for mass killing. In the past decade, left-wing attacks most commonly occurred at government or law enforcement facilities. These locations are often protected by physical fortifications and security personnel, making it more difficult for perpetrators to kill targets during an attack. 

For example, in the July 2025 attack on ICE’s Prairieland Detention Facility, one police officer was wounded before additional law enforcement forced the attackers to flee. The attackers’ choice of a hardened federal compound with security personnel on site contributed to the attack’s failure to kill any victims. This contrasts with jihadist attacks, which most commonly target crowded public areas with limited or no security measures, such as the car ramming attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on January 1, 2025, that killed 14 victims.

Second, left-wing violence is often narrowly directed at specific individuals rather than indiscriminate killings of civilians. Most notably, 10 of the 13 victim fatalities from left-wing attacks in the past decade have been police officers ambushed in public areas by attackers using firearms. This pattern underscores that even the deadliest left-wing attacks have tended to focus on targeted confrontations with law enforcement rather than mass-casualty events.

Third, left-wing perpetrators frequently employ tactical methods poorly suited to producing mass casualties. 

In the past decade, 20 of 35 left-wing attacks have involved the use of incendiaries or arson as the primary weapon. Incendiaries and acts of arson typically lack precision, resulting in damage that can be severe but not necessarily lethal. In some cases, the arson was done at night, which further reduced the likelihood of fatalities because the targets were often sites that were largely unoccupied.

Taken together, the typical target selection, scope, and weapon selection of left-wing attackers reflect an intent to signal opposition or cause disruption rather than inflict mass casualties.

Fourth, left-wing perpetrators frequently lack the weapons and tactical training to maximize their impact. 

For example, on February 14, 2022, Quintez Brown, a 21-year-old black nationalist, entered the Louisville campaign office of Democratic mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg with a 9mm pistol. Prosecutors argued that Brown saw himself as an “equalizer” striking at a symbol of gentrification and oppression. Despite firing multiple rounds at point-blank range, Brown missed his target, with one bullet only grazing Greenberg’s sweater.

Fifth, unlike many foreign terrorist organizations with centralized leadership, funding, and training infrastructures, left-wing terrorists, like most terrorist actors in the United States, operate as loosely affiliated networks or as lone individuals, limiting their ability to train and to plan and execute complex operations. 

Social and technological factors, including online radicalization, often result in isolated actors lacking the resources, expertise, or coordination needed for sophisticated attacks.

The lack of organization also creates a multiplicity of competing goals that hinders strategic effectiveness. Like their right-wing counterparts, left-wing terrorists are against many things, and there is no clear prioritization of targets within the movement. Similarly, they are unable to calibrate violence, making it more likely to backfire.

Sixth and finally, U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies have developed robust counterterrorism measures, particularly since 9/11, that disrupt plots and largely deter large-scale attack planning across all ideologies. Legal restrictions, such as controls on explosives and surveillance of known extremist networks, further constrain terrorist operational capacity. 

Social media, in addition to enabling radicalization, also hinders operational security, revealing intentions and possible actions of individuals who, in the past, might have remained undetected. Combined, these dynamics help ensure that, while the threat of terrorism remains, the capacity of all U.S.-based terrorist movements to execute attacks is significantly diminished.

Why Have Jihadists and Right-Wing Incidents Fallen?

Explaining non-events, such as why attacks from rival ideological groups and individuals have fallen, is always difficult, but there are several possible reasons for the decline in jihadist and right-wing terrorism.

For jihadists, the main foreign terrorist groups in recent years—al Qaeda and the Islamic State—are far weaker than they were at their peaks. The United States and its allies have killed group leaders, often leaving them in disarray. 

Al Qaeda, for example, still has not named a successor since the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022. The Islamic State likewise has lost numerous leaders, and it no longer has an above-ground caliphate where it can train people. 

In both cases, the losses have made the group less inspiring, although some bottom-up radicalization remains a concern. Finally, factors like aggressive law enforcement and a U.S. Muslim community that collaborates with law enforcement lead many would-be attackers to be caught in early stages of plotting.

The sudden decline in right-wing terrorism is both more striking and harder to explain. From 1994 through 2000, there was an average of 21 right-wing attacks or plots each year. In the following decade, right-wing incidents fell to an average of 7 annually. From 2011 through 2024, right-wing incidents climbed back up to an average of 20 a year. 

In the first half of 2025, however, there was only one right-wing terrorist incident in the United States—the killing of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in June—a remarkable drop off.

Aggressive law enforcement efforts under former President Biden hurt the right-wing extremist movement, with the January 6 investigation in particular causing disarray. The U.S. government brought charges against over 1,000 individuals, including many leaders of groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. 

In addition, like left-wing terrorism, right-wing terrorism is highly decentralized, and the vast majority of the most lethal attacks in the last 10 years have been perpetrated by lone actors linked to various networks but not tied to any group.

Trump’s election, however, appears to have changed the threat. Although it is impossible to definitively prove the link between the policies of and positions championed in Trump’s second term and the decline in right-wing terrorism incidents in the United States, it is probable that at least some extremists do not feel the need to act violently if their concerns are being addressed.

Most notably, the administration has aggressively targeted immigrants, with high-profile efforts to identify, detain, and deport them. Anti-immigrant sentiment is one of the most important violent extremist motivations in recent years. The Trump administration has also warned of “deep state” abuses, criticized and abolished programs involving diversity, promoted some conspiracy theories, and hired individuals who openly embraced white supremacy. 

In addition, Trump’s victory temporarily ended many concerns about a Democrat-orchestrated “stolen election,” a leading conspiracy that motivated many extremists in the past. Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader and a convicted seditionist whom Trump pardoned, recently summed up the president’s potential psychological effect on the violent far right: “Honestly, what do we have to complain about these days?”

At the same time, it is important to stress that correlation does not mean direct causation. The administration’s rhetoric and policies may overlap with themes found in extremist discourse, but that does not necessarily imply intent to encourage violence. 

Rather, extremist actors may perceive mainstream political validation of their grievances as reducing the need for independent mobilization or, more concerningly, as tacit endorsement of their worldview in situations where the administration faces resistance or does go far enough in the eyes of an extremist.

What Is to Be Done?

The best responses to the Kirk killing and political violence from any source involve few theatrics but can be highly effective.

First, the government should avoid overreacting with crackdowns on peaceful organizations, which will serve to strengthen extremist views. Radicals will argue that peaceful politics will inevitably fail and that only violence will make a difference. In response to the Kirk killing, President Trump warned that a “radical left group of lunatics” are engaged in a campaign of violence. 

Other conservative voices, from members of Congress to online influencers, have similarly claimed that the left is engaged in “war.” Kirk’s shooter appears to have acted alone, but Trump has claimed that a network of political organizations fund and support violence, and must be neutralized—a threat that, if acted on, could lead to government action against an array of non-violent organizations whose political positions were anti-Kirk and are anti-Trump. These actions will be counterproductive for combatting terrorist threats.

Second, it is important to resource all dimensions of the terrorism threat. Left-wing terrorism is a Trump administration priority, but jihadist terrorism also remains a concern even though it has declined. Right-wing terrorism could come roaring back, especially if in 2028 there are complaints of a “stolen election” or similar incendiary claims. Developing the programs and expertise to suppress different forms of terrorism takes years, and ignoring a long-term threat to go after a more immediate one could be deadly over time.

Finally, although leaders are not responsible for extremists in their midst, they are responsible for how they behave toward extremists. U.S. political leaders and activists need to lead by condemning violence on their side and calling for calm when it involves violence on the other side. The American Muslim response to jihadist terrorism offers a useful model. Muslim leaders came together to repeatedly condemn jihadist violence, and this reduces the appeal of terrorism. 

When the mainstream condemns an attack, the individual is less likely to be seen, and see themselves, as a hero or successful agitator, and the community as a whole is more likely to work with law enforcement.

Many leading Democrats have vehemently condemned the Kirk shooting. For their part, many prominent Republicans also immediately condemned right-wing attacks in recent years, including the assassination of Hortman earlier this year and the attack on Paul Pelosi in 2022. But the track record is far from perfect. 

The celebrations among some on the left of Luigi Mangione is a failure to undermine support for left-wing violence. Similarly, the failure of some conservative leaders to condemn white supremacists and other violent extremists is a major problem, allowing these extremists to believe they are carrying out the will of a broader political movement.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has served as a model in unequivocally denouncing extremists. Cox described Kirk’s killing as “an attack on all of us.” And he offered a simple exhortation that would benefit both sides, particularly in moments like these, when violence can spiral: “Disagree better.”

Daniel Byman is the director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. 

Riley McCabe is an associate fellow for the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at CSIS.

This report is made possible by general support to CSIS. No direct sponsorship contributed to this report.

CSIS Briefs are produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

© 2025 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.

Appendix: What Is Excluded?

This analysis excludes a number of incidents that further contribute to the perception of an increase in left-wing violent activity in 2025. Different definitions and coding might legitimately include these, but the explanation below details why they are excluded from this dataset.

The definition of terrorism used here excludes the series of attacks against Tesla vehicles and facilities. There were more than 20 such incidents in the United States from January to April 2025. Attacks on Tesla in the United States were linked to individuals expressing opposition to CEO Elon Musk’s political affiliations, particularly his role and actions in the Trump administration. Although the CSIS study team determined these attacks were incidents of economic vandalism rather than terrorism, many involved substantial property destruction and drew sharp condemnation from the Trump administration and the Department of Justice. In some cases, prosecutors have even sought terrorism enhancements in charging decisions. Although excluded from this dataset, these highly publicized incidents attracted significant attention and reinforced the perception of escalating left-wing violence in 2025.

There were three high-profile terrorist attacks in the United States in the first half of 2025 motivated by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. These include the April arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, a May shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, D.C., and a June firebombing of a pro-Israel solidarity walk in Boulder that injured 15 demonstrators. In this dataset, these attacks are classified as ethnonationalist incidents, rather than left-wing ones. However, it is noteworthy that all three incidents involved attackers motivated by opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza or U.S. support for Israel—a political position traditionally (though not always) associated with left-wing politics in the United States.

Finally, political demonstrations against immigration and customs enforcement activity across the United States in 2025 also resulted in many violent encounters, namely between law enforcement and demonstrators. However, most of these incidents did not reach a level of violence that satisfied this study’s definition of terrorism, and they were not intended to cause a broad psychological effect. Nonetheless, they too contributed to the perception of growing left-wing violence.

-- end of 2025 Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report on the rise of Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States: What the Data Tells Us

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is not a U.S. government agency. It is a private, non-profit, bipartisan think tank that provides independent policy research, though it receives funding from government (both U.S. and foreign), and works with policymakers, making it an influential voice in international security and public policy. CSIS acts as a strategic planning partner for the U.S. government by providing independent analysis, policy recommendations, and expert testimony to Congress and the executive branch. It advises the U.S. Congress, the President, and others and serves as a significant source of policy recommendations.

I know this is a long read. I also know this type of report is highly focused on intricate details. But, because I've seen the violence coming from the Left for years and haven't seen the violence from the Right that they always talk about, I figured I'd post what the experts are saying about the subject of political violence. And frankly, I hope you found it interesting to see how experts are debunking the Democrat Party's propaganda -- their lie trying to blame political violence in America on Conservative and specifically Trump Supporters like you and me. 

As usual, I'm posting this as it was published. It should be noted that this report included charts and graphs, which I'm unable to post here.

I know this isn't an Old West story or something dealing with horses, cattle, firearms, or the Cowboy life. But really, it has to do with our recognizing the truth of what has been taking place in America for a while now. 

Tom Correa

Say Merry Christmas - Vocal Carrie Rinderer and the American Christian L...

I love this video. It's a great message, perfectly appropriate for this time of year. Yes, especially because Democrats and Muslims want to say that the United States, which is the largest Christian nation in the World, is not a Christian nation.

The video addresses the persecution of Christians and the efforts made by Democrats, Liberals, and the Leftist Socialist Communists out there to dismiss the reason for the season. And really, there's no getting around it or denying it, Liberal Atheist Communists and Muslims are truly bothered that we Christians celebrate Christmas with the fanfare that we do.

Remember, during the Biden Administration, businesses such as Walmart openly threatened employees with termination for saying "Merry Christmas." Instead, they told their employees to say, "Happy Holidays" just so no one offends people who identify as Democrats, Socialists, Atheists, and Muslims.

Well, I will not give any store a dime's worth of my business if I find out they consider my saying "Merry Christmas" offensive. More importantly, because no employee should be threatened with disciplinary action for saying "Merry Christmas," I will either complain to their management or boycott that store if they take disciplinary action against an employee for wishing me a "Merry Christmas" in return.

I hope you enjoy the video and the message.

Say "Merry Christmas" -- the lyrics

If you don't see Merry Christmas in the window. 

Yes! You walk right by that door.

Oh, it's all about the little baby Jesus and my Savior's birth.

It's the one and only reason that we celebrate the season, 

Wishing love to all, and peace upon the earth.

If you don't hear "Merry Christmas" when they greet you 

When you're walking through the store

Simply turn and say, "It's very nice to meet you," 

As you walk right out that door.

Words are chosen every year to hide its Christmas, the reason for our holiday.

They're not happy with what we're singing, but they want their tills a-ringing.

Trying to sell my Christmas every other way, 

Come and stand out from the crowd, 

Say Merry Christmas, and be proud.

Christmas isn't just another holiday. 

What would be missing, now let's see, if not for the Christmas nativity?

No silent night or first noels, No Santa's sleigh,

No jingle bells, no star atop the Christmas tree, no special day for family

No bells that ring for angel's wings

No dolls and trains that Santa brings

No drummer boy or Tiny Tim

No, Mr. Scrooge, we all know him

No list of those who've been good or bad

Well, maybe that won't be too sad.

No candy canes or mistletoe

No Christmas lights out in the snow.

No stockings hung with so much care, hoping Santa finds them there.

And one more thing, there wouldn't be no partridge in a rum pum pum pum.

If you don't see Merry Christmas in the window,

No, you don't go in that store.

If you don't see Merry Christmas in the window. 

Yes! You walk right by that door.

If you don't believe the reasons for my Christmas, then it's sure okay with me.

Please don't tell me what to say, or what music I can play, 

After all, my Christmas is my special day.

Come and stand out from the crowd, 

Say "Merry Christmas," and be proud. 

Christmas isn't just another holiday.

-- end lyrics.

The song is performed by American Christian Life United (ACLU) Choir with the vocals by Carrie Rinderer.

If you agree with this song, then you're obviously tired of getting pushed around by Liberals, Atheists, Democrats, and Muslims who are trying to make America into something that we're not. After hearing the song and watching the video, join us in standing up to those who want us to bow to their wishes and downplay our love for Christmas. 

Let's remember that we are not a nation that bows to the demands of Political Correctness, Muslims, and those with authoritarian dreams of ruling us, those who want us to stop celebrating the birth of Christ as we do. Let's celebrate the wonder of Christmas. Let's keep saying "Merry Christmas." And yes, let's get others to keep the spirit of Christmas year-round with us. 

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you!

Tom Correa

The Ignored 1849 Death Valley Christmas Tragedy

I recently posted a story from the National Park Service, titled "Christmas Tragedy on the Emigrant Trails: Christmas 1849 at Death Valley, California." It is a classic tale of pioneer perseverance and survival during the Westward expansion, with a key account in William Manly's memoir, Death Valley in '49.

The story is about a large group of 49ers crossing Death Valley at Christmas. But the "Christmas tragedy" of 1849 wasn't a single Christmas Day event. Also known as the "Death Valley 1849 Disaster," it is a cautionary tale about the harrowing experience of the Death Valley '49er pioneers traveling to the California Gold Rush who got stranded in the harsh desert valley while taking a supposed shortcut from Salt Lake City.

It's a tale about the torturous winter ordeal of those who were told of a shortcut to the California goldfields. They became lost, faced starvation, burned their wagons, and ate their oxen. It was a desperate situation where 13 members of their party died. Reports state "a stranger showed the emigrants a curious, hand-sketched 'trapper’s map' leading directly to the gold diggings and purporting to shave about 500 miles off the overland trip."

Their goal was to use that shortcut to reduce their journey to the California gold fields during the Gold Rush by 500 miles. They left Salt Lake City in the fall of 1849, too late to cross the Sierra Nevada, and chose the Old Spanish Trail, then a supposedly shortcut that proved disastrous. They were trapped by the desert, and they faced extreme thirst and hunger, leading them to slaughter their oxen, burn wagons for fuel, and leave behind possessions in a grueling march to escape.

As the stranded group left, someone was heard famously saying, "Good-bye, Death Valley," as they left. The name stuck. It is commonly believed that their plight is why Death Valley is named what it is. It became known as Death Valley after their fatal experience. And yes, their ordeal cemented Death Valley's fearsome reputation.

You would think that what happened during the Christmas Tragedy of 1849 would teach a moral or practical lesson about avoiding harm. I would think knowing how members of that group made such poor choices and suffered so severely, faced tremendous consequences, death, that someone may have learned something from that horrible event. Fear of that memorable lesson would prevent others from repeating the same mistakes.

In that story, people faced a choice, but temptation won out. They ignored warnings. They ignored good advice and common sense. Indeed, they faced the consequences of their poor decision. In the 1849 Death Valley Christmas Tragedy, the participants suffered a tragic end, illustrating the consequences of their actions.

The lessons of the "Lost 49ers" were many. Among those lessons is that their poor choices led them to take a shortcut that brought them into the desolation of Death Valley just before Christmas 1849. Consequently, those pioneers suffered greatly from a lack of water and food. Their animals died of exhaustion and thirst. The group splintered, with different parties pursuing various escape routes, only exacerbating the disaster. Their choice to take that so-called shortcut not only cost them their valuable time and nearly all their possessions and animals, but also the lives of 13 of their group. 

The experience became a testament to pioneering grit and to how the ultimate dangers of ambition can override caution in the American West. Of course, the primary lessons learned from the 1849 Death Valley Christmas tragedy center on the dangers of ignoring expert advice, the critical need for reliable information and preparation, and the necessity of cooperation for survival.

The most significant mistake was ignoring the warnings of seasoned guide Jefferson Hunt, who advised the wagon train to stay on the established and safer Old Spanish Trail. A large portion of the group believed a "shortcut" existed and decided to venture into an uncharted arid desert, which led to the disaster. The pioneers used a "hand-sketched trapper's map" that was inaccurate and left out obstacles, water sources, and accurate distances.

It would have been a blessing to have up-to-date information when navigating such a dangerous and unforgiving land. It would also have been beneficial if they had adequate supplies for the harsh conditions they encountered. Those pioneers were forced to adapt to the harsh terrain by abandoning their heavy wagons and many of their possessions to survive the treacherous terrain, highlighting their need to adapt to changing conditions and prioritize essential supplies such as water and food.

Because they lost direction and became trapped in the desolate valley, this led to immense suffering, and they nearly perished before being rescued.

Of course, while some died, most of the group survived the desperate hardship and immense suffering with courage and tenacity. Young scouts William Manly and John Rogers famously set out on foot to find help. It was their determination that eventually enabled them to reach civilization and return to lead the remaining families out to safety. Imagine that for a moment. William Manly and John Rogers left on foot to find help. Then they actually returned with supplies, saving the stranded families. To me, that qualifies as a miracle of sorts.

It's true. While some groups splintered and some individuals abandoned their companions, the survival of the Bennett-Arcane and Wade families ultimately depended on perseverance and the selfless actions of two young men, William Lewis Manly and John Rogers, who trekked more than 250 miles to seek assistance and return with supplies. This rescue stands as a testament to the value of teamwork and loyalty in a crisis. 

What baffles me is why they followed that stranger's advice? Was it just the prospect of cutting 500 miles off their journey? Was that the lure that made some jump at the chance, even though the route they were on was known, and the other was the unknown? 

There are so many questions that hit me as I read more about this.

Even back in the day, it was a widely recognized truth that following bad advice can have devastating, and even life-threatening, consequences. This was especially true when dealing with important matters like taking an untraveled "shortcut" in a desert. There were reasons that the untraveled "shortcut" was not used. And yes, someone should have asked about the availability of water.

On that shortcut, they found no water. They learned the hard way that the absence of water was likely the reason the route was not being used as the primary route. And no. I can't help but wonder if that "hand-sketched trapper’s map" pointed out where water was to be found, and it simply wasn't there. 

Frankly, it sounds like it wasn't much of a map to risk the lives of the entire group. Because they didn't know what lay before them beyond what was known on a "hand-sketched trapper's map," and because lives were at risk, the potential for harm underscores the need to approach such advice with caution and a grain of salt.

Let's be frank here, bad advice can be dangerous. And yes, back in the day, such advice as telling gullible travel-weary folks about a shortcut that can save them 500 miles should have been questioned. They were lucky that more didn't die.

Today, bad advice can get folks in trouble and even cost people money. As for the physical harm of bad advice today? In extreme cases, acting on poor advice can directly lead to injury or death. From telling someone that it's okay to have another drink when they're already showing signs of intoxication, to telling someone drive faster than they should, to telling someone that they are capable of doing things they obviously shouldn't be doing, bad advice is unhealthy. And really, it's not funny. 

It's like the guy who sets up a greenhorn for disaster as a joke. And yes, I've seen someone tell a greenhorn, someone who knew nothing about horses, that riding a rank horse is how you become a good cowboy. Advice like that can get someone hurt or worse.

Of course, even in less extreme scenarios, bad advice can lead to significant suffering, cause anxiety, stress, depression, and possibly result in long-term regret, and make one wary of trusting others again. Losing trust in others can erode confidence in one's own judgment and affect future relationships.

That is why we know we should never blindly accept advice. It can hinder our ability to trust our own judgment and screw with our essential decision-making skills. And let's be honest here, there is the possibility that the stranger who came up with that "hand-sketched trapper’s map" could have been someone intentionally offering bad advice. Sadly, some people intentionally offer harmful advice to sabotage others.

As for simply accepting what they were told and taking that route, why didn't they consider the source? They didn't know the person giving them advice. What made them think the stranger had relevant, trustworthy expertise of that supposed shortcut? And why not question everything that didn't seem right or didn't align with their own knowledge? Why not ask if he ever traveled that route? Why not ask about the terrain? Why not find out why that shorter route isn't being used as the primary route? Why not get more answers before gambling on an unknown route that no one used, especially since there were lives at stake? And let's remember, 13 people died because the gamble to take that shortcut didn't pay off.

The bottom line should have been a combination of trusting your judgment while trying not to bow to the temptation of cutting 500 miles off such a grueling journey. Ultimately, they were responsible for their own decisions and outcomes. Hopefully, they weighed the stranger's advice against their own knowledge and instincts before committing to possible disaster.

Although it is a cautionary tale that one would think would serve as an example to warn others about potential dangers or negative consequences, teaching a lesson through the mistakes and adverse outcomes of others to encourage safer behavior or better decisions, Death Valley continued to draw prospectors seeking silver, gold, and borax.

While some say the cautionary tale of the 1849 Disaster faded from memory, it simply didn't matter to many who knew the story. We know this because prospectors risked death in Death Valley for the allure of immense wealth from gold, silver, and borax. Driven by dreams of striking it rich, possibly escaping poverty, or maybe just for the sheer thrill of discovering a fortune in a seemingly barren land, many prospectors went into Death Valley believing the extreme danger kept rivals away and really wasn't a problem for them. 

Although many found only hardship and really lived small, meager lives, never getting close to being rich, following the 1849 California Gold Rush, prospectors continued to search for new deposits. And yes, mere rumors of silver or gold strikes pulled people in. After all, many saw the dangers as not applying to them.

Many were desperate for a new life, seeking freedom from stifling traditions or escaping financial hardship, viewing the desert as a last chance for a better future. The extreme difficulty and isolation of Death Valley acted as a magnet for some. Regarding the dangers of prospecting in Death Valley, many saw them as not applying to them, while others viewed them as beneficial because they supposedly meant fewer competitors. Some believed that the hardship and danger of Death Valley increased the likelihood of their success.

Let's remember that prospectors risked going into Death Valley after the 1849 Disaster because of the unquenchable lure of gold, silver, and, later, the discovery of borax. Combined with the belief that the earlier group failed due to "bad luck" or "bad choices," not inherent impossibility, with the promise of wealth overriding the horrors of the past, the prospect of instant wealth drew them back to exploit new mineral discoveries.

The horrible story of the "Lost '49ers" became a cautionary tale, and just as with other stories of survival that took place out there, many believed they could succeed where others failed by taking better routes or planning more carefully. Basically, the desire for wealth, coupled with the human tendency to believe that people can outsmart and overcome past failures, drove prospectors to Death Valley despite the known dangers.

Yes indeed, the desire to strike it rich motivates some to do things that most of us are completely unable to fathom. For example, believe it or not, it's said that some members of the rescued group of '49ers decided to return to Death Valley later to strike it rich. As strange as it sounds for anyone to return, some did. And yes, we can only hope they were better prepared the second time around.

Of course, no one knows how many prospectors died prospecting Death Valley while ignoring the lessons of the past. It's true. No one knows. The fact is that the exact number of prospectors who died is unknown because of the harsh conditions and remoteness of the area.

The fact is that many prospectors just disappeared, never to be seen again. If they died, most were never found. Of course, many prospectors died alone or in small, undocumented groups far from settlements. Many died from thirst, heat, and starvation. And yes, even with later mining booms, there were more deaths from accidents and the desert's unforgiving climate. Official records are scarce because most early mining operations focused on extraction and paid little attention to documenting fatalities.

So while Death Valley's history is filled with stories of prospectors meeting tragic ends, the number of people who have died there over the years since 1849 is anyone's guess. And no, Death Valley itself has never been a help in the process of recovering dead prospectors. After all, extreme heat and the absence of water quickly destroyed bodies and evidence of how one met their death. That's always been the case.

Most prospectors experienced little to no success, faced extreme heat, lacked water, had scarce food, and struggled to travel. Venturing into the valley and possibly thinking that you were above what happened to the "Lost 49ers" would have made you a fool. Of course, that was the real danger of Death Valley in the 1800's. And yes, it's the same today.

In the 1800s, the real danger of prospecting in Death Valley wasn't the heat and lack of water. The real danger came from a powerful, all-consuming ellexer of arrogance. It was a mix of dreams and the tantalizing possibility of finding unimaginable wealth. The mix produced an exaggerated sense of one's own abilities in such an unforgiving environment. It's what drove people into Death Valley despite the very real risks of death.

Overconfidence in conquering nature and "gold fever" drove many a prospector to take insane risks, ignoring warnings of such tales of what happened to the "Lost 49ers." The valley's lethal heat and lack of water didn't stop the pursuit of riches. Many believed their ambition could overcome the harsh desert, but the reality was a harsh lesson in humility, with many perishing, earning the valley its deadly reputation. And yes, it often led to the deaths of many.

The discovery of gold in California triggered a mass migration, making prospectors feel invincible and driven by an almost religious zeal to find wealth, no matter the cost. The infamous "Lost '49ers" group, who took a supposed shortcut through the uncharted Death Valley desert to reach the California gold fields, did so defying their Wagon Master's warnings. Their arrogance sealed their fate.

It's true. While it was a good thing that our early pioneers had immense faith in their wagons and willpower, their underestimating the extreme desert conditions, the scorching heat, lack of water, and horrid terrain all proved deadly. Death Valley was notoriously unforgiving, a place where basic survival was a daily struggle, something many newcomers failed to grasp. The arrogance of many a fool led to catastrophic misjudgments. They died as a result of starvation and dehydration while famously giving the valley its name. And yes, that's how we know the 1849 Death Valley Christmas Tragedy became an ignored cautionary tale. 

As with many accounts of the Old West, the 1849 Death Valley ordeal is a compelling testament to the toughness and pure resiliency of human endurance. It's a cautionary tale that teaches us what can happen when bad choices and poor decision-making, fueled by the desire to reach the California goldfields more quickly, result in the deaths of many. 

The tale of life-or-death consequences was overshadowed by the temptation to find wealth. And yes, by the arrogance of those who believed such things happened to other people. So, while the 1849 Death Valley Christmas Tragedy served as a reminder of the bad choices of others who entered Death Valley, those who died following that tragedy show us how the lessons learned were sadly ignored by later groups.

Tom Correa

Let's Talk About "The Last Leaf" and "It's a Wonderful Life"

 

As I've said over the years, I usually read "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry each Christmas. Why that story? Well, I love short stories. And while I love short stories for different reasons, "The Last Leaf" is all about acting out of selflessness to help someone else. 

The story is about loyalty to your family when a loved one is in need. It's about maintaining hope and making sacrifices for others. But mainly, it's about a selfless act. It's about an unlikely masterpiece, a symbol of hope, love, and the power to overcome despair. The story's hero is someone who does something extraordinary for someone else without thinking about or wanting fame, recognition, or money.

During a pneumonia epidemic in New York City, when his sick neighbor believes she will die when the last leaf falls from an ivy vine outside her window, Mr. Behrman is initially dismissive of such nonsense, but at the same time, he secretly resolves to help. Mr. Behrman, a pessimistic, gruff, grumpy old artist, paints a realistic leaf on the wall during a storm. That unlikely source of innate goodness, contracted pneumonia, and sacrificed his own life to give his sick neighbor the will to live.

O. Henry's "The Last Leaf" is about the power of hope, selfless sacrifice, and friendship. It's about how a simple act of kindness can reignite someone's will to live. It's about how a small act of compassion can result in a masterpiece that helps someone else overcome despair. 

His sick neighbor believed she'd die when the last ivy leaf falls. The permanence of Mr. Behrman's painted ivy leaf gave her the power of hope and the will to recover. The story emphasizes that lives are intertwined, that we really are connected, and that we can make a difference, even in the strangest ways. The story focuses on how one person's actions can save another. It teaches us that even in our darkest moments, hope, friendship, and selflessness can create miracles. It speaks to the idea that a single act of selflessness can change everything for others. Yes, even a single act that might not be seen as significant to us at the time.  

Imagine for a moment. A gruff but ultimately heroic old man who sacrificed his life by painting an ivy leaf on the wall during a stormy night just to satisfy the belief of a neighbor, and maybe give her the hope she needs to survive pneumonia. It was his final act. He created his long-awaited masterpiece. What was it that he created? A realistic ivy leaf to inspire a dying friend to live. Something so real, something with so much weight and importance, that it was the medicine she needed. Painted out of compassion to help a friend fight despair.

For a person like me who has fought the urge to give up on hope and embrace the notion of "Bah humbug" from time to time over the years, I find myself clinging to the idea that there is more innate goodness in people than I sometimes give them credit for. The saying, "Bah humbug," captures the feelings of some folks this time of year. Defined, it combines "Bah," an exclamation of disdain, and "humbug," which is an old term for "fraud" or "nonsense." 

While I truly believe there is a great deal of humbug going on today, I work very hard to remain true to what I was taught in that when it comes to living with moral behavior, goodness, and kindness for others, we are all born with a fundamental, inherent inclination, a natural built-in tendency, a predisposition, to behave, feel, and think in certain ways without needing to learn it. That's part of God's gift to us. While evil is a learned behavior, I believe we all start out as good. And yes, I believe there are more acts of such weight and kindness happening every day, more than we know, all good medicine for what ails us.

Frankly, though I shake my head in disbelief when catching up on the news these days, I still believe we have the capacity to respect others and to be selfless when it comes to caring about people in general. We all have a natural moral compass, the ability to judge what is right and wrong, act accordingly, and do good. I would love to believe that our true nature is good, even if we have seen so much evidence to the contrary.

Maybe that's why I love watching the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," each year at Christmas. I still believe that every life has value, even ordinary ones, and that small acts of kindness create a huge, very positive ripple effect in the lives of others we've met. The film reminds us that our purpose in life comes from connecting with others, from hard work, from doing for family, from sacrificing for those we love, from appreciating the unseen good we bring to the table, and from our faith in God. 

I've seen despair and felt the urge to believe I had failed myself and others. Those feelings are real. There's nothing fun about feeling overwhelmed. There is nothing that hurts so much as experiencing loss, betrayal, and feeling like you're at the end of your rope. These feelings come from the negatives that life throws at us, those life events and past experiences that we wish we hadn't lived but did. The good part is that such feelings are temporary and not absolute truths. Of course, it's hard to keep that in mind when you're going through tough times. 

In the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey, a man feeling down on his luck, is desperate over the loss of funds he is ultimately responsible for. It was George's Uncle Billy who misplaced $8,000 from the Bailey Building & Loan, wrapping it in Mr. Potter's newspaper. Mr. Potter owns the local bank and is as amoral and dishonest a person as one can imagine. Potter found the money and kept it, then framed George by accusing him of fraud and embezzlement. Then, when George sought a loan from Potter to cover the money Uncle Billy lost, Potter threatened to have him arrested and put in prison. 

George vehemently defends his integrity, but the evidence, or lack of it, and Potter's power leave him facing jail time and financial ruin, leading to his breakdown. So yes, George Bailey's world came crashing down around him as he faced legal problems and the possibility of arrest. He sees himself losing his family, his good name being dragged through the mud, scandal, and ruin. He is an innocent man who knows that he will be seen as guilty by those who want to believe the worst in people. He also knows the reality of life: people accused of crimes are more likely to be treated as guilty until proven innocent. 

It's a flaw in people. And yes, I've experienced it firsthand, where I was falsely accused, in an effort to make people automatically assume I was guilty. It didn't work because people knew better than to believe such unfounded slander. What helped me was that people recognized that the source of the accusations had zero credibility. As for the system automatically seeing someone as guilty, it has nothing to do with right or wrong; that's just how the system works. 

It's a flawed system in that innocent people must prove their own innocence. Like it or not, it's a presumption of guilt. And believe me when I say that the presumption of guilt is a heavy burden to shake. No matter how innocent you are, while most understand the likes of the Potters in the world, there are still going to be people who will believe the lies, the misinformation, the false accusations. 

Sadly, I've been there. I've had to present evidence to prove I didn't do what unscrupulous individuals accused me of. And really, contrary to what we're told, the lie is that our legal system assumes innocence and requires proof of guilt, as seen in the phrase "innocent until proven guilty." That's not how the real world works. 

In my case, instead of feeling at the end of my rope, I defended myself and fought back against the personal attacks and the false allegations. I took on the Potters who attacked me, and I won. But really, it wasn't easy, and it was expensive.   

The greatness of this classic movie is its honesty in how it was written. In "It's a Wonderful Life," whether he was right or wrong in his thinking in his moment of despair, George Bailey felt that people would believe the worst, even though it wasn't true. In his gut, he knew the scandal of improprieties would ruin his Savings & Loan business, ruin his name and his family, and possibly send him to jail. 

And yes, his worries about jail and ruin overshadowed any attempt he had to figure out what had happened to the money Uncle Billy had lost. Yes, as sad as it is, he felt overwhelmed to the point that his life looked worthless -- so worthless that he saw suicide as his only answer.

Overwhelmed by the possibility of financial ruin and despair, feeling he had nowhere else to turn, George prayed for guidance. Beside himself, George Bailey prayed for help. His heartfelt plea, "Dear Father in Heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there, and you can hear me, show me the way. I'm at the end of my rope. Show me the way, God." 

How did God answer George's prayer? God pointed George in the right direction by teaching him a lesson. George needed to find his inner strength to fight on, not to bow to the all-consuming despair he felt at that moment, and certainly not to let the Potters of the world win. George needed to see his goodness and self-worth. God needed George to see what he knew George was made of. 

To do that, George's prayer prompts his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, to show him what the world would have been like had he never been born. If he never existed, he would see for himself the immense good he brought to others. George needed to know the value of an ordinary life and how seemingly small actions have profound impacts. His guardian angel, Clarence, showed him the impact of his life.

Because George Bailey reached a breaking point on Christmas Eve and wished he'd never been born, Clarence grants George's wish, allowing him to see a version of his life and surroundings in which he never existed. It is a dark lesson, but he sees that his everyday acts of integrity, his keeping to his moral compass and doing the right things, his generosity, and love for others, gave him a life that was, though often frustrating for George because he wanted different things in life, a wonderful life.   

In the film, he has to be taught how good a life he has had and how good a person he is. He has to learn that his life is a gift, not to be thrown away. He needed to learn that good prevails over evil, and that he had to do what it took to fight what had happened. 

George Bailey's primary "fight" is an emotional and moral one in which he must overcome despair and a sense of failure before his community rallies to help him address the financial accusations. In his case, the townspeople who know and trust him raise more than enough money to cover the missing funds and clear his name. Yes, showing him that his positive impact on their lives was his ultimate defense.

That's the core message of the Christmas film, "It's a Wonderful Life." George Bailey, feeling like a failure, is shown by his guardian angel, Clarence, what the world would be like without him, revealing the profound positive impact of his seemingly ordinary life, self-sacrifice, and countless small acts of kindness. His prayer, spoken in despair on Christmas Eve, led to the miraculous revelation that his life truly matters. 

In the film, George Bailey learned that God sent him an angel to help show him that, ultimately, his life was indeed wonderful and valuable. While the film emphasizes that a life isn't measured by grand achievements but by the positive ripples from small, consistent actions and relationships, it also highlights how deeply intertwined our lives really are, and that there is a great deal of strength to be found in kindness, being a good person, and appreciating the blessings and positive impact we have, even when we feel down. 

To me, it's a movie of hope and inspiration, especially when hope seems lost, and the bright side of things is hard to see. Ultimately, George learns that, despite his frustrations and dashed dreams, and despite the troubles that seemed insurmountable at the time, his life was a treasure, rich with meaning and love, and truly wonderful. Realizing his life's worth when an angel shows him how the world would have been worse off without him. This experience renews his determination, and he returns home to face the situation with the support of his family and friends. To his credit, the community rallied around him and contributed what was needed to cover the money Potter had stolen. 

The film's central message is that everyone matters, and one's impact isn't measured by fame or fortune but by love and good deeds. Yes, one person's life touches many others in profound, often unnoticeable ways. For George, he sacrificed his dreams for his family and his town, and later learned that his true purpose lay in those selfless acts. It's a story of finding light in one's darkest hour. It reveals the miracle hidden in an ordinary man, and encourages people to see the good in their own lives and the positive impact they have on others. 

Why watch such a film at Christmas? Well, Christmas offers moral lessons in generosity, love, hope, humility, and forgiveness, all about connection and giving. Let's remember above all else that Christmas is about God's gift of Jesus. It's about emphasizing values like family, kindness, and second chances. Let's remember that God's gift to us was to give mankind a second chance.

In "The Last Leaf" and "It's a Wonderful Life," we see the power of faith and the importance of empathy and selflessness. We see George, who lives a life of selflessness and empathy. We see his wife who sees her troubled husband and supports him in his time of need. We see his community's selflessness when they rallied around George and contributed what was needed to cover the money Potter had stolen. 

The film is about God's love, reminding us to find joy in simple things. The Wise Men's gifts point to God's ultimate gift, Jesus, and inspire us to give time, resources, and kindness to others. The Nativity story's humble setting teaches the value of humility and the sacredness of life, even in simple circumstances. Jesus' birth signifies God's deep love for humanity, encouraging us to love one another. The season reminds us that God provides and nothing is impossible, offering us hope and a path to new life through faith. 

Christmas stories and traditions teach vital life lessons about love, generosity, selflessness, hope, and the importance of community, while emphasizing that true joy comes from giving and connection, not just gifts. Themes like second chances and finding the magic of Christmas in simple faith and kindness, even amidst hardship, remind us that small beginnings can lead to big things. It reminds us to find the good in our current situation. It reminds us to appreciate our family and the traditions that strengthen our bonds and create lasting memories.

Christmas is a time to be reminded to be thankful for our blessings, both big and small. It's a time when we can look beyond ourselves to help those in need. And really, what's wrong with spreading joy, being a source of positivity? 

God's immense love for humanity, demonstrated by giving His Son, calls us to love others. Jesus' arrival brought hope, peace, and a divine plan, showing us that even humble beginnings, a manger, can fulfill great purposes. And yes, let's remember forgiveness. The core message is God's forgiveness and reconciliation, a principle we should extend to others. The magic of Christmas encourages believing in good and finding joy, a mindset that we should carry with us year-round.

Christmas traditions are vital for creating family bonds, providing comfort, and passing down values, fostering a sense of belonging, continuity, and shared identity through predictable, joyful rituals like decorating trees, singing carols, and all enjoying that special meal together. Such traditions offer stability amid the busyness and chaos of today's world, helping to anchor us in our history, connect generations, and create lasting memories, reinforcing faith, love, and community.

Practicing Christmas traditions is important because it helps keep families together by creating shared experiences and fostering a strong sense of "home," making members feel accepted and secure. Christmas offers us a safe haven and a familiar rhythm in a chaotic world while building cherished memories. Believe it or not, studies show that our Christmas traditions and how predictable they are actually reduce anxiety. 

As for our Christmas tradition of gift-giving? It not only highlights the joy and purpose found in selfless giving, but also focuses on caring, the intentional mindful close personal connection that we have to those we have with loved ones. Rather than being about material value, giving a gift to those we love fosters genuine joy for both giver and receiver. And frankly, that's not a bad feeling to share with those we care about. 

So yes, let's form a legacy that links children to their past. Give gifts to those you love. Feel good about the season. And really, let's all do things together that truly reinforce our core family values of faith and love while we renew our sense of belonging. And at the same time, let's celebrate our uniquely American cultural identity. 

The bottom line is that our traditions, especially our Christmas traditions, ground us in shared beliefs while helping us focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas traditions serve as meaningful anchors. As with all of our traditions, they bring joy, inspire unity, and renew our sense of purpose by connecting us to our past, present, and future as we reconnect with loved ones.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tragedy on the Emigrant Trails: Christmas 1849 at Death Valley, California

Panamint Valley
NPS Photo/Death Valley

Most emigrants reached the end of their long overland journey weeks or months before December 25 rolled around. A few, though, stranded or lost along the way, spent their first Christmas in the West in winter camps many miles from the settlements. Here’s how they observed the holiday.

Rev. James W. Brier, a Methodist preacher from Ohio, wanted to reach the California gold fields in the worst way, so that’s exactly what he did. He chose the very worst way imaginable: a “shortcut” across the untracked badlands of southern Nevada.

The Rev. Brier, his wife, Juliet, and their three little sons, ages 9, 6, and 4, reached Salt Lake City via the California Trail in October 1849. Fearing they were too late in the season to cross the Sierra Nevada safely on the Truckee Route—the Donner disaster had made national news just three years earlier—the family and other ‘49ers joined a hundred-wagon train heading south to intercept the Old Spanish Trail in the vicinity of present-day Parowan, Utah. The Old Spanish Trail, a well-worn trade route used by mule-packers traveling between Santa Fe and Los Angeles, passed south of the Sierra Nevada, avoiding the danger of mountain blizzards.

But along the way, a stranger showed the emigrants a curious, hand-sketched “trapper’s map” leading directly to the gold diggings and purporting to shave about 500 miles off the overland trip. The captain of the Briers’ wagon train, a Mormon frontiersman named Jefferson Hunt, tried to dissuade them from trying the mysterious route. ‘49er William Manly reported years later that Hunt “very much doubted if a white man ever went over it, and that he did not consider it at all safe for those who had wives and children in their company to take the unknown road.”

“Gentlemen!” Captain Hunt—a man of few words—supposedly exclaimed, “All I have to say is that if you take that route, you will all be landed in Hell!”

The San Francisco Call article, “Our Christmas Amid the Terrors of Death Valley.” Dec. 25, 1889.

The Rev. Brier did not fear hell. He helped persuade other families to join his, along with several parties of single young men, in trying the shortcut. On Oct. 9, 1849, near today’s town of Enterprise, Utah, some 80 wagons peeled off the Old Spanish Trail and headed due west into the untracked barrens. Within a few days, most of those wagons turned around and rejoined Hunt’s wagon train on the Old Spanish Trail, reaching Los Angeles about seven weeks later. The Briers, three other families, and a number of the single men blundered on, little imagining they would become known to history as the Lost ‘49ers.

Starvation, desperate thirst, and exhaustion plagued the emigrants as they struggled and straggled through the barren wastelands of southern Nevada. They splintered into at least six groups to try different directions, parting and sometimes re-merging and parting again along the way. Some slaughtered some of their oxen, burned their wagons in the cook-fires, abandoned their belongings, and continued on foot. The youngest Brier child, barely out of toddlerhood, had to be carried. The middle son, John, remembered, “After many days of bitter travel we reached the Armargosa [an intermittent stream] and camped in the dry channel, counting ourselves fortunate to find a muddy pool of water. The end of the next day (Dec. 23) found us, with our canteens empty, at the summit of a pass where there was no water, no grass, no fuel….”

The following morning, Christmas Eve, the Rev. Brier spotted a green oasis in the distance. All day the little party hurried toward it, desperate for water. They finally reached the springs—one hot, one cold—around 3 o’clock on Christmas morning. Today that spot in Death Valley National Park, located at the mouth of Furnace Creek Canyon, is known as Travertine Spring.

In an article published by the San Francisco Call newspaper on Christmas Day 1898, when Juliet Brier was in her eighties, the preacher’s wife remarked, “This was a Christmas none could forget.”

My little ones had no thoughts of Santa Claus that year. The men killed an oxen for our Christmas, but its flesh was more like poisonous slime than meat. There was not a particle of fat on the bones, but we boiled the hide and hoofs for what nutriment they might contain. We also cooked and ate the little blood there was in the carcass. I had one small biscuit, but we had plenty of coffee, and I think it was that which kept us alive.

Music and singing? My, no! We were too far gone for that. Nobody spoke very much, but I knew we were all thinking of home back east and all the cheer and good things there.

To add a bit of cheer to the occasion, the Rev. Brier delivered to his boys a Christmas lecture on the importance of education. John remembered it as amusing. One of the single ‘49ers, William Manly, reached their camp in time to hear the speech, too.

“It seemed very strange to me to hear a solemn discourse on the benefits of early education when, it seemed to me, starvation was staring us all in the face,” Manly wrote in his popular published account, Death Valley in ’49. “None of us knew exactly where we were, nor when the journey would be ended, nor when substantial relief would come.”

In a separate camp, Louis Nusbaumer’s party of ‘49ers and families despaired over the condition of a failing ox: without it, they would have to abandon their wagon and carry their remaining supplies. In his journal, Nusbaumer wrote:

December 24…. Our prospects again look dismal. One of our oxen is about to die but we will not despair on the eve of the day when our Savior was born. We came about fifteen miles today through abominable alkali swamps and were compelled to camp without water and grass. In fact, we had to go back quite a distance to get water for our supper.

December 25. Christmas day in the mountains of California [actually Nevada] …. This is a day of sorrow for us as the ox, before mentioned, is not able to go further and it is necessary for us to throw out a great deal of our goods in order to lighten the load…There is quite a difference between Christmas days in different states. In some of them you receive presents, in others you must throw things away. I hope my dear wife is having a happier Christmas day than I am. May God keep her in good health. Should I never return to her and should chance deliver this journal into her hands, she will glean from these pages that she was never far from my thoughts and that my heart beat for her to the last.

Ahead lay the salt flats of a great sink, where the Lost ‘49ers would wander from seep to seep for about two months. Survivors would name that desert Death Valley.

At least 13 emigrants lost their lives on this detour. William Manly and a companion eventually emerged from Death Valley and made their way to a Spanish rancho. Being given provisions, they headed back to help others waiting in the desert and led them to safety. 

On Feb. 12, 1850, the Briers and some of the single ‘49ers walked up to the same rancho and were taken in by its kind and generous owners. Louis Nusbaumer and companions reached civilization on March 1. Nusbaumer’s wife later joined him in California. Altogether, their shortcut had taken them about four months to complete.

Lost ‘49ers leaving Death Valley.

The story above comes from the National Park Service, Christmas on the Emigrant Trails: Christmas 1849 at Death Valley, California, California National Historic Trail, Death Valley National Park

George Maledon - Prince of Hangmen

George Maledon 

By Terry McGahey

George Maledon served as Judge Isaac Parker's Chief Executioner in Fort Smith, Arkansas, during the so-called Wild West period, and later became known as the Prince of Hangmen.

Born in Germany on June 10, 1830, his family immigrated to the United States of America while he was still a small child. As an adult, George ended up in Fort Smith working as a police officer. When the Civil War began, he enlisted in the Arkansas Light Artillery, first battalion, serving through the conflict. At war's end, George went back to Fort Smith and resumed working as a police officer, but this time he became a deputy sheriff. Then, several months later, he became the turnkey (Jailer) for the federal jail in 1871. Several months later, he became the Special Deputy in charge of executing condemned prisoners.

With over sixty hangings and the shooting of five prisoners trying to escape, killing two, he had become Judge Parker's favorite executioner over the next twenty-two years. During the years between 1873 and eighteen, the hangings became public, drawing large crowds of onlookers. During this time period twenty-two men were hung on top of the twenty-foot-wide scaffold, which could process up to twelve hangings at one time. The most hung at one time upon the scaffold was six men on September 3rd, 1875.

This was truly a publicized event, and one week before the executions took place, people from near and far, as well as many news reporters from many papers of that time, converged on Fort Smith, bringing over five thousand people to watch the gruesome event, as these men met their final destiny. Of the six men, three were white, two were native American, and one was black, all being hung at the same exact time once the death warrants were read to each one and then given their chance to say any last words.

In 1878, a sixteen-foot-high fence was built around the gallows, that disallowed any further witness by the public to the executions. From that point on, there were usually less than fifty people within the fenced area.

After twenty-two years, George Maledon retired in 1894 and opened a grocery business in Fort Smith. The following year, his eighteen-year-old daughter Annie was murdered by a man named Frank Carver. The two met in Fort Smith while Carver was being tried on whiskey charges. Annie fell in love and followed Carver to Muskogee, Oklahoma where she found out that Carver was already married to an Indian woman, they got into a huge argument and Carver being drunk, shot Annie. She was taken back to Fort Smith, where she passed away on May 17, 1885.

Frank Carver was found guilty of murder, and Judge Parker sentenced him to hang. Carver found a slick lawyer who appealed to the Supreme Court, and Carver's sentence was reduced to life in Prison.

After this huge disappointment, George Maledon left Fort Smith and took his memorabilia with him, and started his own road show. He would display some of the ropes he used, a piece of the gallows beam, and many pictures of the notorious outlaws whom he had sent to their final reward. People flocked to see the famous hangman wherever he went.

George Maledon was not a very large man, standing about five feet six inches tall with a slight build, dark eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, and a long beard. He very rarely smiled and was a quiet man who mostly wore black clothing, which seems appropriate for his profession. In 1905, George's health took a bad turn, and he entered an old soldiers' home in Humboldt, Tennessee. According to government records, he passed away on May 6, 1911, and was buried at the Johnson City Cemetery.

George Maledon has the dubious honor of sending more men to their final eternity than any other executioner.

Once, George was asked if he had a bad conscience or was afraid of possible spirits he had hung. He replied, "No, I have never hanged a man who came back to have the job done over". The last execution in Fort Smith took place on July 30, 1896. Eleven and a half months later, the gallows were destroyed, and their remains were burned. In 1981, the gallows were rebuilt as part of the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

Terry McGahey is a writer and Old West historian.

This once-working cowboy is best known for his epic battle against the City of Tombstone and its historic City Ordinance Number 9, America's most famous gun-control law.

Terry was instrumental in finally repealing Tombstone City Ordinance Number 9. He is directly responsible for compelling the City of Tombstone to adhere to Arizona's laws.

If you'd like to read about his epic battle against the City of Tombstone, click here: The Last Gun Fight -- The Death of Ordinance Number 9 (Chapter One)