Thread by @juliettekayyem

NEW: The National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism is out. Importantly, it distinguishes our focus on 1/6 from the larger issue of white supremacy, which predates it. Some of it is familiar, but there are also some important new highlights. 1/
whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

Before getting into the details, it is essential that the WH owns this issue, and owns it for us. While there is evidence of foreign countries amplifying our hate, this is an American problem. We have to embrace it to try to expel it. And that is a start. 2/

Details. First, it focuses on a specific issue: violence. While it gives due course to underlying hate, it also recognizes that the use of violence, or threat of it, is of primary importance. That is key because it opens up a conversation about guns, which are hard to ignore. 3/

Second, it may be the most honest reflection of the insider threat -- radicalization in the military and law enforcement -- that I've ever seen. The answers are harder, but include potential changes to security clearance. 4/

Third, I really appreciate its focus on disruption and deterrence. While hearts and minds (prevention) matter, they are impacted by the punishment we are willing to dole out through the criminal justice system. Wray and FBI are key figures here. 5/

Prosecutions provide a narrative to potential recruits to violence -- those whose hearts and minds may be wavering or curious -- that we (the US) are not messing around anymore. Trump is gone; no safe haven. 6/

Fourth, there are other important aspects to this: working with social media platforms, understanding the demographic and societal shifts that lead to violent extremism, etc. Some are familiar, but still good. 7/

Strategies like this are written as not only government statements to public -- and this is a good one, that violent hate must be addressed and eradicated -- but also as a statement to itself, about priorities, cleaning house, and focusing budgets. And that's a huge benefit. 8/8