Leading the Conversation
NCITE leaders and researchers regularly weigh in on important topics in national, state, and local media.
"What Keeps the Homeland Security Enterprise Up at Night?"
Sept. 11, 2023 | RealClearDefense
On the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Gina Ligon, director of NCITE, describes the quiet sucesses of the counterterrorism community and the impact that budget cuts to counterterrorism could have. "As these quiet government and academic accomplishments recede the palpable threat that we felt after 9/11/2001, so too do the resources and attention that have helped Americans sleep at night," Ligon writes.
"Ukraine's Drone Army Takes Bite Out of Bigger Opponent"
Sept. 11, 2023 | Wall Street Journal
Austin Doctor, head of counterterrorism research initiatives, talks about the unprecedented integration of drones into Ukraine's military strategy. "We’re likely seeing in real time the implementation of a new blueprint for … hostile engagement moving forward, across a variety of conflict types including state-on-state engagement, insurgency and others," Doctor said.
"NEWSLINE: The evolving threat of terrorism"
Sept. 11, 2023 | WCBS-AM
Gina Ligon, director of NCITE, described the often overlooked impact of counterterrorism and the need to balance funding terrorism prevention with other national priorities.
"UNO provides new perspective for community and US Homeland Security with million-dollar investment"
Sept. 8, 2023 | KETV 7
Erin Kearns, head of prevention research initiatives at NCITE, discussed a $1.6 million federal contract to create a handbook for reintegrating formerly imprisoned extremists. The handbook, Kearns said, will be, "designed to help ... the practitioners, the social workers, the probation officers, etc., who are tasked with managing and helping these individuals to reintegrate into society."
"Far-right violence a growing threat and law enforcement's top domestic terrorism concern"
Sept. 5, 2023 | PBS
Seamus Hughes, NCITE senior research faculty and policy associate, spoke about increasing threats to public officials. "I don't think necessarily arrests are going to stop this. It's going to be a larger issue on how to address this, but it's important for us as society to put a finger on the scale and say, this is unacceptable," Hughes said.
"A man was killed after threatening Biden. It's not just him: Threats are on rise across US"
Aug. 21, 2023 | USA Today
Seamus Hughes, NCITE senior research faculty and policy associate, spoke with USA Today about a trend of increasing public threats. He tracked the number of federal charges for threats cases in the first eight months of 2023 – 44. "We're on track to meet, if not surpass, the number of federal arrests when it comes to communicating threats against public officials this year ... Trend lines are going up — violent rhetoric is on the rise, and is unfortunately becoming normalized, and that's concerning.”
"Barron Trump recieved death threats from an Illinois woman, prosecutors say"
Aug. 18, 2023 | Insider
The article cited NCITE research first published by NPR, while describing threats to kill Barron Trump. "Last year, there were 74 federal arrests tied to threats against public officials, up from 38 in 2013, NPR reported, citing research from the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center."
"'We Are Coming to Kill You': Woman Charged in Threat to Judge Chutkan"
Aug. 16, 2023 | Newsweek
While describing threats to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, this article cited NCITE's research on arrests related to threats against public officials. "Experts warn that threats against public officials appear to be steadily rising. According to research conducted by the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) at the University of Nebraska, federal law enforcement issued 38 charges in 2013 for such attacks, while 74 were issued last year."
"Neo-Nazi protests warrant more coverage, extremism experts say"
Aug. 14, 2023 | News Center Maine
NCITE PI Karyn Sporer, associate professor at the University of Maine, discusses the need for news coverage on hate groups after a neo-Nazi group called NSC 131 protested giving aid to migrant families in Maine. "I don't think [the protest] was unusual, we have these organizations mobilizing and this is not a new issue or a new problem... While some express concern increased coverage will fuel recruitment, I think the reality is that increased coverage is one tool among many we have to educate our communities about the very real threat extremism has in Maine."
"Violent threats against public officials are rising. Here's why"
Aug. 12, 2023 | NPR
Seamus Hughes, NCITE senior research faculty and policy associate, talks about threats to public officials. "So, you know, if we have another event like a COVID or another event like an election ... they'll change the targets. You have a subset of people that are angry, that have been told to be angry, and they're focusing their energy on whatever they need to in terms of to show their anger."
"Reports: Neo-Nazi buys Penobscot County land to build 'white supremacist community'"
Aug. 2, 2023 | News Center Maine
NCITE PI Karyn Sporer, associate professor at the University of Maine, commented on Christopher Polhaus, a neo-Nazi with many followers, wanting to build a community of neo-Nazis in Maine. "These spaces provide an escape from the mainstream, where they can spew their rhetoric without being doxed or outed from the community."
"'It's about the little victories': Government closer to paying $125 million it overcharged for court records"
July 18, 2023 | VICE
Seamus Hughes, NCITE senior research faculty, discussed a lawsuit concerning fees paid to use PACER, a U.S. court records system. "It's a good start, puts the judiciary on notice that PACER fees should not just be a black hole slush fund for the courts," he said.
"Google 'lacked manpower' to help FBI investigate 'neo-Nazi murder threat,' feds report
July 18, 2023 | Forbes
Seamus Hughes, NCITE senior research faculty, commented on the ability of large social media companies to police their sites. "Social media companies have assured the public, in particular Congress, for years that they are able to police their own sites and have said they made safety on their platforms a priority over profits. The facts laid out in this search warrant questions that assertion," he said.
"ISIS soldier from Dearborn sentenced in rare terrorism case"
June 15, 2023 | The Detroit News
Seamus Hughes, NCITE PI, described the sentencing of a man who fought with ISIS in Syria. "His trial gave an eye-opening window into the inner workings of ISIS and how it used Americans in its terror group," he said.
"Jan. 6 cases yield courtroom wins but no change in extremist threat"
June 8, 2023 | Washington Post
Gina Ligon, director of NCITE, described the persistent threat of extremist organizations despite blows to their leadership structures as a result of the Jan. 6 prosecutions. “It doesn’t mean they’ll be less organized. It just means they may not be so public about it,” she said.
"UNO Magazine: A Brave New Virtual World"
June 8, 2023 | UNO Magazine
Sam Hunter, head of strategic operations at NCITE, and Austin Doctor, head of counterterrorism research initiatives, were interviewed for UNO's alumni magazine about their research into malevolent uses of the metaverse.
'Neo-Nazi leaders will not face penalties in New Hampshire Attorney General charges'
June 7, 2023 | News Center Maine
NCITE PI Karyn Sporer, associate professor at the University of Maine, added context to this story about authorities dismissing charges against members of NSC-131, a violent extremist organization.
"'The Comm': The Group Linked to a Nationwide Swatting Rampage"
June 6, 2023 | Vice
Seamus Hughes, NCITE researcher and deputy director of the George Washington University Program on Extremism, alerted Vice to an affidavit about the group.
"UAlbany Research Looking for Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities"
June 5, 2023 | Government Technology
Gary Ackerman, NCITE PI and Associate Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany, commented on two new labs exploring social media monitoring, digital forensics, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and geospatial analysis. "These new labs will play integral roles in our college’s growing research ecosystem.”
"UNO team considers how 'Metaverse' tech could be used by terrorists; heads to D.C. to share findings"
May 8, 2023 | KMTV 3
Sam Hunter, head of strategic operations at NCITE, was interviewed about his project exploring malevolent use of the metaverse in advance of a demonstration in Washington, D.C. "I hope that the research that we do stops these things from happening," Hunter said. "Unfortunately, I think there is a sense that this is a matter of 'when,' not 'if.'" Alexis d'Amato, a Ph.D. student working on Hunter's project was also interviewed. "Everyone hears 'The Metaverse' and gets very excited from what they've heard about in the news," d'Amato said. "But we kind of look at it through a different lens."
"Tactics extremist groups use to influence followers"
May 2, 2023 | KMOX – Total Information AM
NCITE resesarchers Matthew Jensen, Shane Connelly, and Shaila Miranda talked about their project exploring radicalization in online microblog platforms. "By reading, internalizing, considering extremist messages, this has an effect in shifting attitudes and shifting, however gradually, the way that we see the world," Jensen said.
"The 500 most influential people shaping policy"
April 27, 2023 | Washingtonian
Seamus Hughes, NCITE researcher and deputy director of the George Washington University Program on Extremism, was recognized by Washingtonian magazine as one of Washington, D.C.'s 500 most influential people shaping policy.
"UNO panel explores future job impact of AI"
April 24, 2023 | WOWT 6 News
Joel Elson, assistant professor at UNO and head of information science and technology research initiatives at NCITE, spoke on a panel at UNO's Future of Work Symposium discussing what job skills are needed as artificial intelligence advances.
"DHS adds $25 million in potential funding for UNO counterterrorism center"
April 21, 2023 | Omaha World-Herald
NCITE signed a new basic ordering agreement (BOA) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase maximum funding to $35 million. “By increasing the limit of NCITE’s award funding, our government stakeholders have communicated that they’ve found real value in the work we’ve done,” Gina Ligon, director of NCITE, said.
"Discord, used by suspect accused of leaking classified docs, has become more popular with extremists"
April 13, 2023 | ABC News
Thomas Holt, professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University and NCITE researcher, was featured in an article about how messaging platforms, particularly Discord, have been under scrutiny for their lack of content moderation. "In these forums you can kind of act as you wish, and it just depends on the moderators of either the subsection or the overall site to take action, and that's highly variable," Holt said.
"Trump's calls to protest fall on weary, wary ears"
April 4, 2023 | New York Times
Jon Lewis, research fellow with George Washington University's Program on Extremism, discussed the conditions necessary for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol to occur and how difficult they would be to replicate. “The further away we get from Jan. 6, the more it is being recognized as a unique perfect storm of events, of actors, of circumstances,” Lewis said.
"Midlands Voices: The terror threat picture in the U.S. is dark, but NCITE is on the case"
April 2, 2023 | Omaha World Herald
Erin Grace, director of strategic communications and external relations, wrote an opinion piece about NCITE's role in understanding and preventing terrorism in the current threat landscape after attending a discussion by Nick Rasmussen, DHS counterterrorism coordinator. “The threat picture in the U.S. is indeed dark, with adversaries, inspired by foreign and domestic violent extremist groups, intent on committing violence and harming innocents. It’s enough to keep anyone awake. But what offers hope is dedicated, knowledgeable public servants like Rasmussen committed to the cause and mission-oriented experts on the case. Right here in Omaha,” Grace writes.
"SDSU has a new home for research into artificial intelligence"
March 29, 2023 | KPBS
Aaron Elkins, director of the James Silerrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence and an NCITE researcher, described the artificial intelligence tools the center is developing and researching. “We work on the kind of problems you can’t get any other way than getting into the environment and capturing those data,” Elkins said.
"UNO researchers make progress on preventing violent acts through chatbots"
March 24, 2023 | WOWT
Joel Elson, NCITE's head of information science and technology research initiatives, and Erin Kearns, head of prevention research initiatives, were interviewed about an ongoing research project which aims to develop a chatbot for suspicious activity reporting. “When it comes to suspicious activity reporting, this can often be sensitive or difficult-to-talk-about material, and in some circumstances, using technology instead of a person helps to facilitate trust,” Elson said.
"Trump warns of 'potential death & destruction' if he's charged in hush-money case"
March 24, 2023 | Washington Post
Pete Simi, NCITE researcher and associate professor at Chapman University, described the violent language used against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg incited by former president Donald Trump: "You take the image of him with the bat and now the next day it’s followed with actual words: violence, destruction. His base of supporters are connecting the dots.”
Steven Windisch, NCITE researcher and assistant professer at Temple University noted: “The fact that (Bragg) is trending is not surprising... What’s surprising is the combination of what’s being searched: his address, his home and his phone, and general contact information. We even saw one spike where it was his family."
"7 Experts on Trump's Call for Protests and Social Media Threat Models"
March 23, 2023 | Just Security
Pete Simi, NCITE researcher and associate professor at Chapman University, discussed the reinstatment of former President Donald Trump being reinstated on social media platforms: "What is clear, however, in terms of the threat landscape is that threats to public officials are at all time highs, and many of those threats are communicated on these very same platforms. The threat environment is not receding as some of the social media officials claim, and most experts that I am aware of have grave concerns about the current threat level and a rapid increase in the threat landscape as we inch closer to the 2024 presidential election."
"ADL: 400+ extremist incidents in Virginia in 2022"
March 20, 2023 | WVTF
Pete Simi, NCITE researcher and associate professor at Chapman University, described the messaging of white nationalist groups are created to recruit. "By defend labor what they really mean is that they are strongly opposed to immigration, in particular what they would call non-white immigration. They claim we have an open border and we are being overtaken by non-white immigrants... So when they say defend labor, they mean defend white labor."
"How Hate Groups Use National Unease to Thrive in NC and Beyond"
March 17, 2023 | Governing
Jon Lewis, NCITE researcher and research fellow at George Washington University's Program on Extremism, described the threat of hate groups' messaging being accepted and spread by people not necessarily involved in them. The story, originally published in the Charlotte Observer, was picked up by several outlets.
"Extemist memes more dangerous because of their viral nature and coded messaging"
March 15, 2023 | Nebraska Examiner
Erin Grace, director of strategic communications and external relations at NCITE, explained how memes can be used to propograte extremist ideology. "Panelists speaking at a livestreamed NCITE event on Feb. 23 referred to memes as 'a gateway drug' and 'open door' to those most vulnerable to extremist messaging – aggrieved, socially isolated individuals who are searching for community and meaning online," she writes.
"UNO counterterrorism expert warns vigilance after Furnas Co. communications tower wrecking"
March 8, 2023 | KETV
Austin Doctor, head of counterterrorism research initiatives, added context to a developing story about a downed communications tower in Furnas County, Nebraska. Authorities are investigating the act as intentional. "Looking and keeping a sharp eye and to remain vigilant to this potential threat in both urban and rural areas will be an important priority moving forward," he said.
"SDSU Launches New Era of Artificial Intelligence Research With Boost From Brown Foundation"
March 7, 2023 | KETV
Aaron Elkins, director of San Diego State University's Artificial Intelligence Lab, and his team showcased students' projects in cybersecurity, mixed reality technologies, and human-robot interactions after a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating a boost in funding for Artificiall Intelligence. "This center is going to provide access to some of the most advanced instruments that we can possibly have at this moment in time for our students," he said.
"Memes tools of terrorism: University of Nebraska-Omaha leads international discussion"
Feb. 23, 2023 | WOWT
Omaha's NBC affiliate WOWT covered the Terrorist Use of Memes panel discussion on Feb. 23. NCITE's Gina Ligon spoke about the the cross-ideological appeal of memes to extremists. “It’s not just ISIS using memes, it’s not just al-Qaeda. There are lots of antisemitic memes that are floating around out there from some of the domestic groups. We saw a huge spike in those over the last year alone," she said.
"'Countless number of persecutions': UNO panel discusses Yazidi genocide and its impact"
Feb. 14, 2023 | KETV
NCITE's Austin Doctor, lead of counterterrorism research initiatives, participated in a panel discussion about the Yazidi genocide. Doctor spoke about efforts to dismantle ISIS ideology and the ongoing fight against violent extremism.
"Omaha For Us maps security plans as it prepares to open LGBTQ+ center"
Feb. 8, 2023 | KETV
NCITE's Erin Kearns, lead of prevention research initiatives, spoke with KETV about the risks facing LGBTQ+ people and spaces. "Looking at the trends, there's been an increase in threats against this community, attacks against this community," she said.
"Michigan man convicted of joining ISIS in Syria, faces 50 years in prison"
Feb. 1, 2023 | USA Today
This story cites data from NCITE partners at the George Washington University Program on Extremism. The man in the story is noted as one of 83 known American adults who traveled to Syria and/or Iraq to join jihadist groups since 2011, according to the Program on Extremism.
"Counterterrorism experts weigh in on Maine teen charged in NYC attack"
Jan. 3, 2023 | WMTW
NCITE Director Gina Ligon and Karyn Sporer, an NCITE principal investigator at the University of Maine, added context to the machete attack on three New York City police officers on New Year's Eve. "Homegrown violent extremists are a pernicious problem in the U.S.," Ligon said.
2022
"Midlands Voices: Violent extremists find vulnerable, high-impact targets in the U.S. power grid"
Dec. 29, 2022 | Omaha World-Herald
NCITE's Austin Doctor and Gina Ligon discuss the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid to physical attack in this Omaha World-Herald editorial. "To extremists, targeting the U.S. power grid offers a lot of return. In most cases, acts that cause widespread harm and disruption can act as a megaphone to extremists’ cause and demands."
"Counterterrorism experts: Threats to election security won’t subside after ballots are cast"
Nov. 8, 2022 | Nebraska Public Media
“Our adversaries, particularly state-sponsored actors – Iran, Russia and China – are ready to go with a message that degrades our trust in the election, no matter what the outcome is,” NCITE Director Gina Ligon told Nebraska Public Media.
"Counterterrorism researchers say Nebraska polling places are safe, secure"
Nov. 7, 2022 | KETV
“I think people in Nebraska need to know how much care our Nebraska election system has taken to make sure we have safe and fair elections. It's just incredible here in our state,” Gina Ligon, NCITE director, told KETV.
"UNO researchers discuss benefits of research grants, funding"
Nov. 4, 2022 | KETV
UNO recently set a record for research grants, drawing in $37.5 million. NCITE's Sam Hunter spoke to KETV about the importance of research funding in attracting top-level talent to the area.
"Why conspiracy theories about Paul Pelosi's assault keep circulating"
Nov. 2, 2022 | NPR
With disinformation swirling about the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, NCITE's Erin Kearns spoke to National Public Radio about false flag conspiracy theories.
"UNO researchers react to Kanye West's comments, say hate speech can lead to dangerous actions"
Oct. 31, 2022 | KETV
"The calls to violence is where it really becomes particularly concerning because you see this from a well known and well respected entertainer for his millions of followers," NCITE's Erin Kearns told KETV about Kanye West's antisemitic remarks.
"Omaha conference explores new U.S. terror threats"
Oct. 28, 2022 | Omaha World-Herald
About 150 experts and students from 13 states plus Washington, D.C., and Great Britain attended ENVISION22. Read this recap from the Omaha World-Herald.
"Nebraska election officials say their job is more stressful, under the spotlight"
Sept. 21, 2022 | Nebraska Examiner
NCITE hosted a virtual panel with three of its researchers on the threat of violence in U.S. elections. The Nebraska Examiner drew on the panel as a resource for its story on how Nebraska election officals are dealing with increased scrutiny on the job.