NOTE: Faculty, if you are interviewed and quoted by news media, or if your work has been cited, and you have an online link to the article or video, please let us know. Contact us at news@csusb.edu.

CSUSB professor co-writes article on diversity of Biden’s cabinet
FiveThirtyEight
Jan. 11, 2021

Meredith Conroy, a CSUSB associate professor at Cal State San Bernardino, joined with FiveThirtyEight staff to write an article about the diversity of President-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet. “If all of his nominees are confirmed, 12 of the 24 offices he has designated as Cabinet-level will be held by women,” they wrote.

Furthermore, “Biden’s Cabinet is also poised to reach another remarkable milestone: A majority of its members aren’t white, and many will break barriers by serving in their future role.”

Read the complete article at “Biden’s record-breaking cabinet nominees, in one chart.”

Violence similar to Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol likely nationwide, CSUSB professor says
ABC 10 (Sacramento)
Jan. 11, 2021

Just days after insurrectionists tried to storm the nation's Capitol, experts are worried that they could try again. And this time, much closer to home. 

"This is probably not the last of this, sad to say. We'll probably see more of this kind of violence to the level we saw at the Capitol," said Dr. Kevin Grisham, the associate director for the Center for Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino. "We won't know and we hope that won't happen, but there will be more action. There will be other events that are associated with it."

With the FBI now reporting planned protests at all 50 state capitols in the days leading up to the inauguration, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, said it is coming from right-leaning groups spreading disinformation about election fraud. 

"What's interesting is they're still calling for some sort of force to overthrow the government, or at least, if not calling for an overthrow of the government, for a change of the current sort of trajectory of policy. So in other words, keeping Trump in place," Grisham said.

Dr. Grisham says he's concerned about the involvement of multiple groups including the Proud Boys, the Boogaloo movement, the Accelerationists and QAnon. 

"My bigger concern is that it only takes one person. We focused on there maybe being surges of violence, but it could be just a handful of really bad actors that could create some really deadly situations," he said.

Read the complete article and see the online video report at “'This isn't the end' | Experts warn Capitol rioters could strike again across country.”

CSUSB center issues advisory on expected violence leading to Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Biden
The Sacramento Bee
Jan. 11, 2021

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSUSB was interviewed for an article about federal and state law enforcement officials hate-crime specialists and social media platforms are warning of the possibility of nationwide attacks at state capitols and in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Levin said his organization had issued a nationwide warning to law enforcement and politicians to immediately beef up security at public buildings, and to focus on their own personal security at their homes and as they travel to their offices.

“We are advising that public officials who do not have enhanced security reassess their security measures,” said Levin. “We also are warning for governors and others like secretaries of state, attorneys general and high-ranking public health officials to supplement and reassess their security.

“This is a nationwide advisory.”

Read the complete article at “FBI, Sacramento-area law enforcement prepare for possible violence at California Capitol.”

Bigger perimeters, security advisories for possible places, people targeted by extremists leading up to Biden inauguration
Los Angeles Times
Jan. 11, 2021

Security is being increased at the California Capitol in Sacramento as the threat of nationwide attacks leading to the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, said state officials would be wise to set up bigger perimeters around their capitols and warn state workers, because there could be “a cascading” of threats down from the federal level as targets like the U.S. Capitol are hardened.

Read the complete article at “‘High alert’ at California Capitol as police brace for any inauguration unrest.”

CSUSB professor discusses federal domestic terrorism bill
Washington Examiner
Jan. 12, 2021

The attack on Capitol Hill by President Trump's supporters has sparked renewed interest in a Democratic-backed bill to increase the ability of the federal government to conduct surveillance on the far right. First introduced by Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act  gained support from Senate Democrats, including Dick Durbin of Illinois, who introduced the bill in the upper chamber, and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

"While not the only threat, it is one that is the most fluid and prominent one and has recently expanded to the targeting to a wider array of public officials that include Republicans and law enforcement," said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, and who has written extensively on domestic political extremists. "Sen. Durbin's bill is a good step in that direction, as we need structural alacrity and good information to respond to this prominent and fluid coalesced insurgency."

The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, first passed by the House in September of last year, would create "dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism," according to the bill's language.

Read the complete article at “New domestic terrorism law gains traction with the left.”

CSUSB professor discusses security steps at probable targets of extremists protesting Biden inauguration
KCSB TV (Los Angeles)
Jan. 12, 2021

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, was interviewed for a segment about the FBI warning that all 50 state capitols could be targeted by extremists in the days leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Levin discussed security steps such as widening the perimeter around areas that could be targeted, as well as increasing security for high-profile politicians and their residences.

Security for high-profile government officials from possible extremist attacks should also be a priority, CSUSB professor says
KNX Radio (Los Angeles)
Jan. 11, 2021

Law enforcement officials nationwide are warning about, and preparing for, the possibility of attacks on state capitols and federal buildings by extremists, especially if President Donald Trump is removed from office prior to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Brian Levin, director of CSUSB’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, said the warning is inline with the targets being mentioned on the web by extremists.

He said that law enforcement officials should also focus on the safety of high-profile federal and state government officials, where they work and where they live.

These news clips and others may be viewed at “In the Headlines.”