Thank you to everyone who joined us on February 19, 2026, for “Domestic Extremism and Terrorism: A Leadership and Practitioner Approach to Countering the Threat,” featuring presenters from The Hoffman Group. We are also grateful to James (Jimmy) Sheehan from the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) for his support and sponsorship, which helped make this important interfaith event possible.
The event opened with Dr. Bruce Hoffman, a leading expert on terrorism and counterterrorism. He provided a sobering look at the shifting domestic terrorism landscape, highlighting the normalization of political violence and the erosion of social stigma against extremist acts. Dr. Hoffman cited the online glorification of perpetrators such as Luigi Mangione and the presence of Hamas and Hezbollah paraphernalia at protests as examples of how extremist rhetoric can gain attention, justification, and legitimacy, fueling real-world intimidation and attacks, including a rise in incidents targeting Houses of Worship. As he reminded us, “Words matter.”
Next, Dr. Ed Husain, author and counter-extremism expert, offered a historical perspective on Muslim-Jewish relations, highlighting periods of coexistence and respect. He traced the rise of modern Islamic terrorism to the ideological foundations of the Muslim Brotherhood, which ultimately gave rise to groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS. Husain emphasized that countering extremism requires winning the battle of ideas and challenging the narratives extremists use to radicalize.
Finally, Jacob Ware, expert on extremist networks and online radicalization, explored the rise of Nihilistic Violent Extremists who pursue violence for its own sake. He highlighted the role of online networks in amplifying and glorifying acts of mass violence, where subcultures mix misogyny, white supremacy, satanism, and sexual exploitation. Using examples like the 764 Group and Incels, Ware showed how modern terrorism is increasingly younger, decentralized, and ideologically chaotic, exploiting online communities to radicalize vulnerable youth.
The event underscored the importance of awareness, preparedness, interfaith collaboration, and partnerships with local law enforcement. By sharing knowledge and working together with community leaders and police, we can strengthen security, build resilience, and protect congregants, institutions, and public spaces from shared threats. For more information on the important topics discussed in the presentations, please see the following books that provide deeper insight into the issues and trends examined by our presenters:
Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman (3rd edition, Columbia University Press 2017)
God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America by Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (Columbia University Press 2025)
The Islamist: Why I Became an Islamic Fundamentalist, What I Saw Inside, and Why I Left by Ed Husain (Penguin, 2009)
House of Islam: A Global History by Ed Husain (Bloomsbury, 2018)
Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism by Cynthia Idriss-Miller (Princeton University Press, 2025)
We hope these resources will help support your ongoing efforts to strengthen safety, awareness, and resilience within your communities.