Luke Baumgartner
Luke Baumgartner is a Research Fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, whose research interests include domestic violent extremism, white supremacist movements, and the role of military veterans in political violence. Luke received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Upon graduation, Luke received his commission into the United States Army, where he served as an active-duty Field Artillery Officer for four years. Following his honorable discharge from active duty service in 2021, Luke enrolled in Georgetown University's Security Studies Program, where he received his Master of Arts in Security Studies.
His analysis and insights have been featured in media outlets and academic publications, including: The Washington Post, WIRED, BBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, Newsweek, USA Today, Military.com, Lawfare, Just Security, Irregular Warfare Initiative, Inkstick, and The Georgetown Security Studies Review.
Publications
"It’s Time to Designate The Base as an FTO", Just Security, August 5, 2025
"AI at the Centre: Violent Extremist Exploitation in Pirkkala," GNET, July 14, 2025
"Killing for Nothing: The Bizarre Logic of the Palm Springs Bomber," Lawfare, June 10, 2025
"How Civil Litigation Can Hold Hate Groups Accountable," Lawfare, April 21, 2025
"Droning On: The Response to Use of Drones by Domestic Violent Extremists," GNET, January 27, 2025
"The 'New Look, Same Racism' of Blood Tribe," Lawfare, December 3, 2024
"How Antisemitic 'White Replacement' Conspiracy Theories Pose a Threat in 2024 and Beyond," Inkstick, January 16, 2024
Where did the white people go? A thematic analysis of terrorist manifestos inspired by replacement theory, Program on Extremism | April 3, 2025
Former U.S. military members, Patriot Front dropout secretly run Nazi publishing houses, DailyDot | March 27, 2025
From Camps to Computers: Inside the Black Hebrew Israelite Extremist Ecosystem on Facebook, Program on Extremism | August 1, 2024
The Fusing of Race and Religion in the Christchurch Terrorist Attacks, Irregular Warfare Initiative | March 15, 2024
An Analysis of Israel's Counter-Hezbollah Strategy, Georgetown Security Studies Review, Vol. 11(1), August 2023
"Trump Designates Antifa a 'Domestic Terrorist Organization'" | The Well News | 9/23/2025
"Unmasking Extremism" | Civic Media | 9/22/2025
"Trump's plan to label antifa a "terrorist organization" likely to face legal hurdles: "You can't prosecute an ideology" | CBS | 9/19/2025
"What is Antifa and why is President Trump targeting it?" | BBC | 9/18/2025
"Stay Tuned Now with Gadi Schwartz" | NBC | 9/15/2025
"Expert warns political violence rises as citizens feel unheard after Kirk's assassination" | WJLA | 9/13/2025
"‘I Couldn’t Care Less’: Trump’s Downplaying of Right-Wing Violence Continues Long Pattern" | Democracy Docket | 9/12/2025
"Stay Tuned Now with Gadi Schwartz" | NBC | 9/12/2025
"In MAGA, Charlie Kirk Was a Moderate. What Comes Next Could Be More Extreme" | Newsweek | 9/11/2025
"Murder of Charlie Kirk is the latest in a string of political violence targeting influential figures" | KARE 11 (NBC Minneapolis) | 9/11/2025
"From Syria to the screen: How is violent extremism hitting Kosovo?" | Reporteri | 9/2/2025
"Mysterious Crime Spree Targeted National Guard Equipment Stashes" | WIRED | 8/7/2025
"BGOV Congress Tracker" | Bloomberg Government | 6/18/2025
"Surge in threats to public officials reflects rising political violence, experts say" | ABC7 (WJLA-TV) | 6/16/ 2025
"Extremist Beliefs Linked to Deadly Attack - A Concerning Profile" | CNN This Morning Weekend | 6/15/2025
"2 Veterans Tied to 'Nazi White Nationalist Efforts' Allegedly Stole Gear from Army Base, Beat Soldier with Hammer" | Military.com | 6/4/2025
"Violent Threats Against US Judges Are Skyrocketing Online" | WIRED | 5/14/2025
"Anti-government group threatens crucial weather radars, NOAA warns" | The Washington Post | 5/7/2025
"Jacksonites scraping white nationalist propaganda off Teton County street signs" | Jackson Hole News & Guide | 4/30/2025
"Plagued by legal woes, alleged Shapiro attacker espoused murky political views" | Pennsylvania Capital-Star | 04/14/2025
"Pentagon's No. 2 Spokesperson Has Long History of Antisemitic, Bigoted Social Media Posts" | Military.com | 03/06/2025
"Trump's clemency for Jan. 6 defendants again shines a light on North Texas extremism" | Kera News | 01/30/2025
"A Capitol Rioter's Son Is Terrified About His Father's Release" | WIRED | 01/22/2025
"Veterans in Oath Keepers, Proud Boys Convicted for Jan. 6 Crimes Have Sentences Commuted by Trump" | Military.com | 01/21/2025
"Trump Issues Sweeping Pardons to More Than 1,500 Jan. 6 Rioters" | NOTUS | 01/20/2025
"Trump’s Promise to Pardon J6ers Comes With Serious Complications — And Danger" | NOTUS | 01/19/2025
"Troop Pardons Set to Complicate Military's Muddled Response to Jan. 6" | Military.com | 01/17/2025
"Extremist groups at a pivot point as Trump returns to Washington" | Atlanta Journal Constitution | 01/16/2025
"Jan. 6 defendants wait for Trump pardons" | Atlanta Journal Constitution | 01/06/2025
"Online radicalization a tough battleground for counterterrorism" | ABC News | 01/03/2025
"Trump pardons for Jan. 6 rioters could reinvigorate America's far-right extremism" | USA Today | 11/13/2024
"Marine Veteran Connected to Neo-Nazi Power Grid Attack Plot Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison" | Military.com | 10/29/2024
"Neo-Nazi Group Led by 2 Ex-Marines Pushed and Cheered Haitian Pet-Eating Claims Gripping Ohio City" | Military.com | 09/17/2024
"Marine Corps Extremist, Gang Activity Must Be Immediately Reported Up the Chain, Service Says" | Military.com | 09/03/2024
"Reliable Sources Newsletter - Radicalizing the Right" | CNN | 02/01/2024
Reporting on Extremism: A Conversation with Legendary Investigative Journalist Phil Williams | June 26, 2025
Sovereign Citizens: A Conversation with Dr. Christine Sarteschi | May 20, 2025
How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism: A Book Talk with Craig Johnson | May 13, 2025
A Book Talk with Leah Sottile | April 23, 2025
Oklahoma City 30 Years Later: Where are we now? | April 17, 2025
Pink-Pilled: Women and the Far-Right–A Book Talk with Lois Shearing | March 18, 2025
How Terrorists Think with Dr. John Horgan | March 13, 2025
Replacement: The Deadliest Conspiracy | February 28, 2025
Violent Extremism in the Pacific Northwest | December 10, 2024
A Book Talk with Jessica Pishko | October 15, 2024
A Book Talk with Elle Reeve | August 15, 2024
Antisemitism in the Black Hebrew Israelite and Christian Identity Movements | August 1, 2024