National

Nation-wide anti-administration demonstrations - known as the "No Kings" protests - are planned for October 18, 2025. Drawing on the latest data and analysis from BDI and our partners, this advisory provides analysis, recommendations, and resources ahead of the protests.

After the deadly attack in Minnesota, local officials tell BDI that they are experiencing a high level of fear and emotional strain, and that the burdens of public exposure are increasingly affecting their personal lives. Safety concerns are playing a significant part in decisions about remaining in office or seeking higher elected positions, particularly for women and younger officials. To push back, officials continue to call for short-term mitigation support, like improved security at public meetings and personal data protections, as well as long-term efforts to counter the normalization of hostility and hold perpetrators accountable.

Biweekly emerging data trends on demonstrations, actors of concern, and other ongoing trends related to early warning.

BDI's CivicPulse UTH survey reveals that experiences and concerns of local officials around hostility remain widespread and on par with last quarter. Women, younger, and minority officials continue to report significantly more identity-based hostility and negative impacts. Worries about hostility largely continue to cut across party lines. Overall, officials support a wide range of actions to reduce their concerns about hostility and build a sense of security.

Local monitoring is essential for identifying early warning signs. BDI produces regular national situation reports (SitReps) on key risk trends at the national and state level, disseminated to a vetted list of community leaders and organizations.

Threat and harassment incidents against local officials rose from August to September. The latest Threats and Harassment Dataset (THD) update captured 70 new events, including almost 60 for September, bringing the total number of events recorded so far in 2025 to over 400. This spike in incidents was driven primarily by an increase in threats against officials in the aftermath of the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Biweekly emerging monitoring trends on key developments and drivers of political violence.

Threat and harassment incidents against local officials rose from August to September. The latest Threats and Harassment Dataset (THD) update captured 70 new events, including almost 60 for September, bringing the total number of events recorded so far in 2025 to over 400. This spike in incidents was driven primarily by an increase in threats against officials in the aftermath of the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk.

In the past year (October 2024-October 2025), BDI recorded over 150 instances in which anti-LGBTQ+ actors — especially those belonging to known organizations — targeted specific Wisconsin schools and school districts on social media. In this advisory, BDI identifies key actors, tactics, and geographic patterns in anti-LGBTQ+ targeting of Wisconsin schools and provides recommendations to mitigate these incidents.

Local monitoring is essential for identifying early warning signs. BDI produces regular national situation reports (SitReps) on key risk trends at the national and state level, disseminated to a vetted list of community leaders and organizations.