Mere hours after the President of the United States turned an opportunity to denounce the rise of white supremacist thinking in America into a chance to tell a hate group to stand back and standby, a new look at an upcoming documentary aims to shed some light on the very people most thrilled by the possibility of a white supremacist government: the alt-right. In White Noise, directed and shot by Daniel Lombroso in his directorial debut, viewers will go inside a spreading movement, bolstered by social medias reach and a cadre of outspoken leaders who think nothing of spewing hate to anyone who will listen.

The film is also The Atlantics first feature documentary and is billed as the definitive inside story of the movement that has come to be known as the alt-right. Lombrosos film follows three of the movements biggest stars, including Mike Cernovich, a conspiracy theorist and sex blogger turned media entrepreneur; Lauren Southern, an anti-feminist, anti-immigration YouTube star; and Richard Spencer, a white-power ideologue.

Per the films official synopsis: This film takes the viewer into the terrifying heart of the movement explosive protests, riotous parties, and the rooms where populist and racist ideologies are refined, weaponized, and injected into the mainstream. Just as the alt-right comes to prominence, infighting tears the movement apart. Spencer and Cernovich clash over the role of white nationalism in conservative politics. Southern struggles to reconcile her leadership role with the sexism and misogyny of her peers. Lawsuits mount and internecine fights erupt, but even as the alt-right fractures, its once-marginalized ideas gain a foothold in mainstream discourse; in Republican politics; in the establishment right-wing press, especially Fox News and on the worlds biggest social-media platforms.

In anticipation of the films premiere at AFI Docs this summer, IndieWires Eric Kohn billed the film a troubling and timely look at a trio of far-right nationalists behind its harrowing resurgence around the country. Through online conspiracy theories, fake news, and hate-spewing YouTube followings, these loathsome provocateurs are responsible from some of the most profound issues facing American discourse today as well as its impact on who makes it into public office.

White Noise will be available on demand on Wednesday, October 21. Watch the films first trailer, exclusively on IndieWire, below.

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White Noise Trailer: Urgent Doc Tracks the Rise of Americas White Supremacist Alt-Right - IndieWire

Origin of alt-rightFirst recorded in 200510; associated shortly after with Richard Spencer, U.S. white nationalist (born 1978); shortening of alt(ernative) + right (in the sense political conservatives)historical usage of alt-right

Though the term alt-right was used in certain circles as early as 20052010, it first received mainstream attention in the lead-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. There has been so much confusion and debate around the term that many news organizations have felt compelled to explain in their official style guides how they will use or not use it. Media outlets including the Associated Press , the New York Times , the Guardian , and National Public Radio have all come to the conclusion that the term alt-right should not be used without further qualifying information, from prefacing the term with so-called to clearly stating that the alt-right is a hate group. Several of these guides suggest the use of less euphemistic, more explicit language such as white supremacist , white nationalist , or neo-Nazi in place of the term alt-right . The term alt-right has been seen as an effort to rebrand various hate groups in order to appeal to an internet-savvy generation. The first element, alt-, is a shortening of alternative . It has positive connotations for many younger people, often being paired with music genres to suggest a more hip offshoot of the original: alt-rock , alt-country , alt-folk . Critics of the term alt-right believe that it sanitizes, masks, and normalizes the true nature of the ideologies upon which this movement was formed.

Read this article:

Alt-right | Definition of Alt-right at Dictionary.com

A Lincoln man whose satirical speech decrying boneless chicken wings garnered national notoriety condemned Tuesday the verbatim use of his speech by an alt-right group in Oregon last weekend.

Ander Christensen said he felt physically ill Monday after learning his speech was read at a Proud Boys rally in Portland.

I dont think Ive ever heard someone use my words in a way that made me sick before, said Christensen, calling the use of his speech by that crazy white supremacist abhorrent.

#SaucyNugs Lincoln man says we need one small win

The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Proud Boys a hate group that spouts white nationalist messages and affiliates with known extremist groups, though the Proud Boys group disputes the characterization and insists members stand against political correctness.

Rex Fergus, who identifies himself as the Proud Boys president, tweeted a link to a video of him reading Christensens speech and said Violent Riots are really just Peaceful Protests but you sheep wouldnt know the difference right???

Video of Fergus remarks brought the whole chicken wing rant back to Lincoln City Council chambers Monday night, when Black Lives Matter supporters who have testified throughout the summer about police brutality criticized Christensens speech as making a mockery of their activism and secretly signaling an anti-Black Lives Matter message.

But Christensen disputed that.

There was no coded message, he said. There was no secret language in there.

Watch now: Saucy nugs hero takes the floor again, this time interrupting Scott Frost

He meant the speech to be taken as a joke, one that he initially conceived of in May but held off on delivering because of the number of people this summer who were bringing serious issues before the council, he said.

Christensen, whose father Roy Christensen is a councilman, said he knows many on the council personally and wanted his joke to bring levity to the Aug. 31 meeting, which he thought had a mostly benign agenda.

As for this issue, Ander Christensen contemplated how to react to news of the Proud Boys rally.

If we give too much credence to the people who want to spread hate and want to spread bigotry, they take those things (jokes and laughter) away from us, Christensen said.

Since going viral, Christensen said hes sought to fan the fame flowing from his speech to help put the spotlight back on restaurants, particularly those who make his beloved chicken wings, in a time when theyve struggled during the pandemic.

He has planned a campaign to highlight favored chicken wing joints between Lincoln, Buffalo, New York, and Washington, D.C., where he will be the first chicken wing lobbyist, according to his website.

Though he received negative feedback, Christensen said the vast majority of people saw his speech as the joke he intended, and he hopes that fun will be allowed during this trying year.

Theres sunshine outside, and its not a bad thing to enjoy it, he said.

Photos: Fall showing off in Nebraska

FOX41 YakimaFOX11 TriCities

Read the original here:

Lincoln man condemns use of his viral speech on chicken wings by alt-right group - FOX 11 and FOX 41

The anti-immigrant, all-male organisation was referenced in the presidential debate, with Donald Trump telling them to stand back and stand by

Yesterday (September 29), in a presidential debate described by BBC News as the political equivalent of a food fight, Donald Trump proved, yet again, that not only is he unfit to run a country, hes also a total piece of shit.

Widely perceived as a hot mess and the worst presidential debate in living memory by both the public and global news corporations, the night was overrun with interruptions, false claims, rants, and personal insults largely from Trump. Joe Biden, his Democrat opponent, kept his cool, occasionally interrupting, and frequently laughing at the presidents incoherent heckling.

In one particularly frenzied moment, Biden was being interrupted so much by Trump, he had to urge, Will you shut up, man? Later referencing the presidents inability to STFU, he told moderator Chris Wallace who frequently lost control of the debate that its hard to get any word in with this clown.

The pair did find some time to address actual issues, including the coronavirus pandemic and institutional racism. However, when Trump was given the chance to renounce right-wing violence, he instead told one far-right group, called the Proud Boys, to stand back and stand by. He then pivoted to attack left-wing and anti-facist activists.

Here, following their direct address by the president of the United States, Dazed outlines who the Proud Boys are, what they stand against, and how theyve reacted to their reference on prime time TV. For a more detailed overview of what happened during last nights presidential debate, head to The Guardian or BBC News.

The all-male Proud Boys group has been described as an alt-right, fascist organisation, which was founded ahead of the US election in 2016 by VICE co-founder Gavin McInnes. It was reportedly started as a joke in the far-right Takis Magazine, with its name stemming from the song Proud of Your Boy from the Aladdin musical. McInnes who was pushed out of VICE in 2008 began distancing himself from the group in 2017, saying hes not a part of the alt-right because his focus isnt race, but Western values. OK.

As reported by news podcast The Takeaway in 2018, the groups recruitment process focuses on white men aged between 15 and 30. The Proud Boys say they have an initiation process which, obviously, includes hazing a process where those wanting to join are degraded and humiliated in order to prove their commitment to the group. According to The Daily Beast, one of the hazing rituals includes calling out the names of cereal brands while getting punched in the face.

Equality, basically. The group believes that white men and Western culture are under siege, and therefore engages in misogyny, homophobia, racism, and violence in order to protect the values held dear by the most marginalised people in history: them. The Proud Boys have described themselves as a Western chauvinist group, with McInnes once asserting that women and other marginalised groups have incentive to be a victim. The group is opposed to feminism McInnes has reportedly called it a cancer and is overtly racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, homophobic, and transphobic.

Though the group reportedly rejects white supremacy (it permits non-white male members) it has regularly participated in racist events, and the FBI has labelled it an extremist group with ties to white nationalism (although the agency later backtracked). The Southern Poverty Law Centre lists the Proud Boys as a hate group.

The group glorifies political violence against the left-wing, with McInnes once declaring: I want violence, I want punching in the face. Im disappointed in Trump supporters for not punching enough. In 2018, when the Proud Boys Twitter account was shut down McInnes was also removed the groups profile photo depicted a member punching a counter-protester.

The Proud Boys have an extensive history of street violence against left-wing activists and protesters. In recent months, the group has repeatedly turned up to oppose Black Lives Matter or Antifa demonstrations, with their presence often resulting in violence. Since 2017, the group has engaged in political fights in a number of states across the US, as well as in Canada. One notorious 2018 incident in Manhattan in which anti-fascist activists protesting a talk by McInnes were attacked by the Proud Boys resulted in the arrest of ten men, two of whom were sentenced to four years in prison.

Much to the dismay of Fred Perry, the Proud Boys have adopted the British labels black and yellow polo shirt as its uniform, even going as far as appropriating the brands signature wreath emblem to advertise a recent rally. Fred Perrys signature polos are associated with the skinhead movement, which originally stood against fascism, but became linked to the far-right politics of the British National Front in the 1970s. The brand has since been adopted by various right-wing movements around the world, many of which are dismally still going strong.

On Sunday (September 27), Fred Perry announced that it will stop importing the shirt to North America and Canada, due to the styles associations with the Proud Boys. Fred Perry does not support and is in no way affiliated with the Proud Boys, the label said in a statement, adding that the groups subversion of its clothing and logo is incredibly frustrating. The brand confirmed that its working with lawyers to pursue any unlawful use of our brand.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have all banned the Proud Boys from their platform, but as BBC News reports, the groups chairman, Enrique Tarrio, responded to Trumps shout out on discussion network Parler, writing: Standing by sir I will stand down sir!!! The group also added the phrase Stand Back, Stand By to their logo. Sigh.

Original post:

A brief history of the violent, alt-right group, the Proud Boys - Dazed

Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Chinnapong/iStock/Getty Images Plus.

Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

When I was in college, I became pregnant and put the baby up for adoption. I chose a couple who were educated, lived in a very nice area, and seemed like smart, kind, and good people. They emailed me photos and updates for about a year, until they divorced, and then we lost touch.

The child is 9 now. The mom recently found me on Facebook, and I was shocked to see that she has become a conservative alt-right conspiracy theorist gun nut, anti-vaccination, and anti-mask COVID denier. She posted about home-schooling (not virtual school) the child but also posted about working two jobs, which leads me to think the child is only learning xenophobia. As far as I can tell, the dad has nothing to do with either of them anymore. My question is: Is this a case of I signed away my parental rights and should let them be, or should I be concerned? And if so, what could I do? The child hasnt seen me since she was a baby and may not even know shes adopted.

Not the Mom

Dear NM,

You havent said why you are concerned, and I dont want to assume. Is it because its simply awful that a child, any child, is being raised this way? Or do you have feelings connected to your role as her birth mother? I think its important that you establish that for yourself, and if you find that youre having a hard time processing this emotionally, it may be worth it to speak to a professional who has experience with parents of children placed in adoptive care.

That said, you did sign away your parental rights, but you still have every right to be concernedI am too! I have no connection to this child, but I am concerned anytime I hear of a young person being trained in the ways of the worst among us. We all should feel a sense of responsibility for the children of the world, and it would not be unreasonable at all for you to feel particularly bothered by this set of circumstances.

What was the nature of the moms message to you? Did she want to stay in touch or merely say hello? There is a scenario in which she could introduce you into her daughters life, and perhaps over time, you could serve as a positive influence that is a counterpoint to her own behavior. In terms of taking more drastic action, if you are to become aware that this child is not actually being schooled at all, its possible that a call to local child protective services could be helpful, but please note the emphasis on the word possiblemany of those agencies are more capable of doing harm than good and I would not recommend this if you didnt think they could intervene positively.

Its likely that the best thing you can do for this girl is to pray (if youre the praying sort) and/or send positive energy, and to function in the world as a person who steadfastly opposes the values she is being taught in both word and deed. Also, it is important that you remember that you made a choice based on the information made available to you at the time and that you are not in any way, shape, or form responsible for what has happened here.

Help us keep giving the advice you crave every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now.

Dear Care and Feeding,

I am five months into a pregnancy conceived with donor sperm and I intended to be a single mother. However, I met someone wonderful two months ago who, at least so far, is a great match for me and very interested in what life might be like when the baby comes, including discussions about co-habitation sometime after the birth. The pregnancy, along with quarantine, has made the relationship move somewhat faster than usual, and that means that were both very committed already.

My question concerns meeting his kids, who are 4 and 8. At this point, he hasnt mentioned me to them, but things are getting to the point where we both want that to happen. His kids have a baby sibling, and they love having the baby around; that also means that they are very much aware of what another new baby means for their lives. Im wondering if I should meet his kids before my (our?) baby comes, so I can get to know them without the preoccupations of new motherhood and so they can be prepared for another new baby in their lives, or if it would be better to wait and be introduced along with the baby. Were both concerned about making sure that Im not meeting the kids before were pretty certain about each other, so its not likely to happen immediately, regardless. But it also a pretty big change thats coming, and giving them adjustment time seems wise, too. The timing of everything is just very tight. What do you recommend?

Brisk Blending

Dear BB,

Do you know another word for two months?

Recently. You recently started dating someone three months into your first pregnancy, and have begun pondering whether this child will belong to the both of you in three or four months. This could be the start of a fairy tale, or a cautionary one. But Im pretty sure its gonna be either/or.

You absolutely must meet these children before deciding to move in with their father, and you must see your partner parent before you decide to do what exactly is it that you are planning to do? Are you talking about living together, or entering some sort of formal agreement to long-term partnership and the shared raising of this child? Would your man be Mommys boyfriend? Dad? Stepdad? Uncle Jesse?

Why are you doing this? That is a sincere question, not a spicy one. You were prepared for single motherhood before. How long did you take to come to that decision? Would you, under not-pregnant circumstances, move in with a boyfriend this early in the relationship? How about one who had kids? Are you simply confident that this is the person you want long term, or are you perhaps feeling some anxiety about being a solo mom to an infant?

What about your boyfriend? Is he typically inclined to move at this pace? Is he on good terms with his ex? Also, if the kids have a baby sibling, Im assuming his former partner just had the child? Is it possible that he may be feeling a little emotional, having a bit of baby fever, or missing that sweet stage in parenting before yelling mean words and arguing with one another?

Maybe this is just perfect timing and you guys will be one big happy family.

Either way, I imagine that you have put a lot of thought and effort into becoming pregnant and preparing for motherhood. You should put that same amount of thought and effort into defining what the circumstances around your child would ideally look like to you, which means being absolutely certain that youve gotten to truly know the person you partner with and how you introduce them. Good luck to you.

If you missed Tuesdays Care and Feeding column, read it here.

Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

Dear Care and Feeding,

I have struggled with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia since I was 12. They were especially triggered by fat in my stomach and thighs, and I would have literal nightmares about immense weight gain in those areas. Eventually, I went to therapy as a teenager, and that helped immensely. In order to help pay tuition in college, I modeled for several years, but ended up relapsing and quitting.

Im now married, and my husband and I both want children soon. The thing is, I still struggle with body dysmorphia and the thought of being pregnant terrifies me. Im almost certain I would relapse severely into my eating disorder. My husband is understanding and has said many times that he would love for us to adopt or use a surrogate, but I cant shake the feeling that Im being selfish. I also know that our families would ask about our reasons, and I dont know how to respond to those questions. Am I being selfish or vain? How can I respond to the barrage of questions I know well get? And how would I talk to my future child about this?

Image Issues

Dear II,

You are not being selfish nor vain, and neither of those words should ever be used to refer to making the decision to adopt. Further, its not unusual or rare for someone under your circumstances to choose to use a surrogate. You have a health issue and you may choose to approach motherhood using any of those methods for that reason. The most important thing is that you have a partner who understands and respects your needs, and you dont need to worry about convincing anyone else. All you need to tell anyone is that you made the best choice for your family. Sending you all the best and many good wishes for a happy, healthy journey to motherhood, no matter what you decide.

Dear Care and Feeding,

My family (me, partner, 4-year-old) are really lucky to be relocating closer to the extended family soon. My wonderful mom just retired from teaching first grade and is excited to be a full-time grandma and teacher until its safe to send our kid to preschool. Wed appreciate advice on how to help this go well: particularly, helping our kid separate Playtime Grandma and Teacher Grandma, having parent-teacher conversations with someone whos also my mom, and probably many other things we havent thought about yet.

The Teachers Kid

Dear TTK,

Content Locked for Slate Plus members

It is wonderful that your mom is able to do this for your family! While shell never be able to entirely separate yourself from the beloved role of Grandmother, you all can create a division between how she interacts with your child inside and outside of the classroom.

There should be as many visual distinctions as possible. Hold class in a different space than where play usually takes place, even if its the same room. Teacher Grandma can wear a special hat, type of outfit, or an accessory that distinguishes her from Playtime Grandma. Be truly intentional about creating school habits, schedules, and routinesand sticking to them as a parent. Ensure that the two of them continue to get time together that isnt just about school. Good luck!

Jamilah

When I was young, my parents worked very hard to put their children through college. Now my husband works 70 hours a week as a physician, and I am a part-time nurse. We live in an affluent part of town so our kids can go to the best public schools. My 10-year-old daughter is very intelligent but lazy and unmotivated. She received several Fs on the last report card for not doing her assignments but is not embarrassed at all. When I ask her to do homework or read, she gets angry and stomps off. Her friends have phones and tablets, and my daughter has asked for these items, but I cannot reward laziness. Thus, she is angry. What should I do? Her attitude stinks. I am concerned about her indifference and the effect it will have on her future.

Slate Plus members get more parenting advice every week. They also help support Slates journalism.

The rest is here:

My Childs Adoptive Mother Is an Alt-Right, Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Theorist - Slate

The first presidential debate between Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden was marked more by what it wasnta coherent advocacy of policy differencesthan what it was. Tuesdays showdown was nearly 90 minutes of cross-talk, interruptions, and shouting that both men probably lost, said Nicholas Beauchamp, assistant professor of political science at Northeastern University.

So while it frustrated many viewers, the debate likely wont affect the candidates standings among the voting public, said Beauchamp, who studies political behavior, campaigns, and psychology.

If one candidate is ahead [going into the debate], and one is behind, and its just incoherent shouting for an hour and a half, it doesnt help the person whos behind, he said.

Several polls showed Biden ahead of Trump before the debate.

Nick Beauchamp is assistant professor of political science in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at Northeastern. Photo Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

In this case, whichever side was in the lead going in is still winninginasmuch as they didnt squander their lead, Beauchamp said.

The candidates were so mired in interruptions and off-topic comments (journalist and CNN anchor Jake Tapper described the debate as a hot mess inside of a dumpster fire inside of a train wreck) that it was nearly impossible to distinguish what their policy positions were, Beauchamp said.

One of the challenges with this debate is that with so much shouting, it seems silly to try to parse any of their policies, because Im not even sure that sort of minutiae would have even come through to people watching, he said.

Still, Beauchamp credited moderator Chris Wallace, a journalist and Fox News anchor, for asking Trump and Biden tough questions, then pressing them when they didnt sufficiently answer.

Wallace struggled to maintain control of the debate, but was asking a fairly large number of hard-hitting questions, Beauchamp said. If this had been a normal debate, I think we would have seen Trump and Biden struggle to answer.

Wallace asked Trump to denounce white supremacy, and pressed him for a direct statement when he evaded. He asked Biden about his record on policing and race. And the Democrat found himself trying to thread the needle, Beauchamp said, when Wallace asked Biden whether people should trust scientists for information about COVID-19.

Unfortunately, its just hard to believe that these small details could cut through the hailstorm of this debate, Beauchamp said.

Clear strategies did emerge from both camps, however, Beauchamp said.

What we certainly saw from Trump was a strategy for how to exert dominance, he said, adding that the candidate was likely trying to appeal to his base by interrupting and harassing Biden.

Trump also attempted to drive a wedge between far-left voters and Biden by highlighting the differences between Bidens healthcare plan and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders Medicare for all policy, and by hammering the fact that Biden doesnt support the Green New Deal.

Bidens strategy, meanwhile, was to be the type of person youd vote for if you were tired of Trump but appreciated his toughness, Beauchamp said. His aim was to seem like a reasonable, sane, firm alternative to Trump.

Both of them probably achieved their goals, Beauchamp said, but what exactly that means for Novemberand beyondis anyones guess.

Even if Biden wins, normalcy isnt just coming back, said Beauchamp, who worked as an international election observer for the Carter Center prior to joining Northeastern. The [alt-right group] Proud Boys arent just going to disappear. Issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement [for racial justice] arent going to evaporate.

One of the things I worry about is what happens in the next election, and the one after that, he said.

For media inquiries, please contact Shannon Nargi at s.nargi@northeastern.edu or 617-373-5718.

See the original post here:

Did anyone really win the first presidential debate? - News@Northeastern

When hundreds of far-right activists gathered in Berlin earlier this month, banners and T-shirts bearing US President Donald Trumps face could be clearly seen among the crowd. Many waved the American flag. The demonstrators, who later tried to storm the German parliament, had assembled to protest against the German governments COVID-19 restrictions.

Related:Is there a Nazi emergency in the German city of Dresden?

The US president is a popular figure among far-right groups in Europe.

Patrik Hermansson, a researcher with Hope Not Hate, a British advocacy group that campaigns against racism and fascism, says far-right activists see Trump as an anti-establishment figure, someone who rallies against the elites. Swedish-born Hermansson spent a year undercover in 2017 as a member of alt-right movements in Europe and the US.

Trumps time in office put the wind in the sails of far-right groups and populist parties in Europe, he said.

Just hours after TV networks announced that Trump had won the 2016 US election, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen took to the stage of her party headquarters in Paris and celebrated the result.

Americans have voted,theyve rejected the status quo. What happened last night was not the end of the world, it was the end of a world, Le Pen said.

She wasnt alone in her jubilation. In neighboring Germany, the then-leader of the far-right Alternative forDeutschland (AfD) party, Frauke Petry,tweeted "this night changes the USA, Europe and the world!"

And in Britain, Nigel Farage, former leader of the populist UK Independence Party, compared Trumps win to the passing of Brexit a few months earlier, saying 2016 was a year of political revolutions.

Supporting an American president is highly unusual for far-right politicians in Europe.

Related:Artists in Germany fear backlash after far-right party wins big

Sylvia Taschka, who teaches history at Wayne State University in Detroit, says US presidents usually represent everything European far-right parties oppose: Unrestrained capitalism. In other words, you know, a globalized free-market economy and an interventionist, some would say imperialist foreign policy," she said.

Trump challenged both of those stereotypes, Taschka says, and upended their long-held tradition of anti-Americanism. Taschka, who was born in Nuremberg, Germany, has witnessed the rise of the far-right in Germany with dismay. As a young child growing up in a cityfamed for its enormous Nazi party rallies in the 1920s and '30s and later the Nazi war trials, she was well aware that support for far-right views still existed. But those views were never openly celebrated.

"I was not blind when I lived in Germany. Germany always had a far-right element even when I grew up but they were kept more under the lid.

In the last decade, Taschka says that has changed dramatically. But she doesnt attribute the growing strength of the far-right AfD party to Trump. A changing political landscape and the refugee crisis in 2015 were key driving factors, she says.

Related:With far-right topping Dutch polls, EU elections could see Eurosceptics take the lead

Dutch political scientist Cas Mudde agrees. Mudde, whos a professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia, says far-right parties like the National Front in France or the Freedom Party of Austria dont need to look to Trump for ideological motivation.

They have a much more developed ideological frame than Trump will ever have, he said.

Mudde says President Trump takes little notice of Europes populist politicians but thats not the case for some of his diplomats. The US ambassadors to Germany and the Netherlands have both been guilty of normalizing Europes far-right parties, he says.

One can think of Richard Grenell, in Germany, who was criticized for normalizing the AFD and in the Netherlands, it's even stronger with US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra," Mudde said.

Its alleged that far-right Dutch party leaders met with Hoekstra at the US Embassy to discuss their plans for the future, Mudde says.

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has also been holding court with far-right parties in Europe over the last couple of years. Bannon plans to convert a monastery outside of Rome into a political academy for ultraconservatives and future populist leaders, a move that has met fierce resistance from Italys Culture Ministry. The former White House aide also helped establish a foundation in Brussels aimed at supporting Europes far-right parties. But so far, it has received little attention from the parties themselves.

French political analyst Jean-Yves Camus,a specialist on the French and European radical right, says parties like the National Front in France have little interest in taking advice from an American. They were doing just fine before Bannon came on the scene, he says.

When Steve Bannon tried to present himself as the man who could unite the extreme right in Europe, he forgot a very important thing: The National Front was a very strong party well before Steve Bannon became known in Washington, DC. So, basically, they did not need him.

The policy of "America first" that Trump promotes has been a mantra of the far-right movement in France since the 1970s. Slogans like France for the French or French first have been around for some decades, Camus says.

While the rise of populist parties in Europe might seem like an anti-establishment vote, Hermanssonsays its important to recognize that many grassroots supporters believe violence is the only way to achieve their goals. In his first few months undercover with far-right groups, Hermansson was shocked at how openly they condoned the use of violence.

I think in the beginning, I was quite surprised over how openly supportive of violence they were, or at least how implicitly they gave credence to even mass shootings," Hermansson said.

Hermansson was in Charlottesville the day of the Unite the Right white supremacist rally in August 2017. He was standing just yards away from Heather Heyer when she was killed by James Alex Fields Jr., an alt-right supporter who plowed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters,injuring19 people and killing Heyer.

Hermansson saysthe incident was hugely traumatic and although he never expected someone would get killed that day, he had become increasingly concerned that things would turn violent. After Hermansson revealed his cover, he received threats from far-right groups for months afterward. Today, he says he feels relatively safe.

The alt-right supporters Hermansson met in Europe would most definitely support a second Trump term, he says. In the last year, populist politicians in Europe have also been tweeting their support for another Trump win in November. Political scientist Mudde says their support hinges on the fact that they share a number of common enemies with the US president. They dont believe a Trump victory will boost their standing in the polls, he says, but its better than seeing Biden get into office.

Biden is no friend of the far-right, Mudde says.

More here:

Europes far-right stands behind Trump in US 2020 election - The World

The Proud Boys formed in 2016, along with other alt right groups. A local hate group expert explains who they are and their connection to Portland.

PORTLAND, Oregon You don't have to go back very far to feel the Proud Boys' presence in Portland. Their rally in Delta Park last weekend, billed as an event that would draw thousands, drew only a few hundred.

But in August Proud Boys and others from the alt right mixed it up with antifa and other protesters, in violent confrontations here.

Sociologist Randy Blazak has studied alt right and hate groups for years. He said the Proud Boys formed online in 2016, like other similar groups, with an anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-feminist agenda.

And then with the ascent of Donald Trump it really kind of moved into the streets, said Blazak. "And one of the best ways to kind of characterize them is that they're sort of the modern equivalent of the racist skinheads of the 1980s and 1990s."

Blazak said it's unclear how many Proud Boys there are; its members are spread throughout the country. But some live in this area and others like to visit, thanks to Oregons racist history and Portlands progressive present.

Because Portland has a pretty strong anti-racism community and a progressive community, thats brought the attention of the people on the right that this is where you want to go to have your fights: Portland, Oregon, said Blazak.

The violence has been chilling. Proud boy Alan Swinney was arrested Wednesday for what police say he did in August, including shooting and injuring someone with a paintball gun, spraying someone with mace, and pointing a handgun at a counter protester during an intense confrontation.

Theyre not a traditional white supremacist group, they are a nationalist group that trades on white supremacist themes, said Blazak.

However you classify them, the Proud Boys got a lot more exposure, thanks to the President of the United States. And they're capitalizing on it. Leader Joe Biggs put out the Proud Boys logo on his social media with the "stand back, stand by" slogan added.

But that Trump never denounced white supremacy Tuesday night has Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler of Southwest Washington criticizing Trump, whom shes said shell vote for.

Herrera Beutler Tweeted, Last night's debate was the worst I've ever seen. Since it wasn't made clear last night, let me state unequivocally that all of us must reject white supremacy in all its forms and violence by anyone for any reason. The President needs to clarify his remarks immediately.

The Southern Poverty Law Center designates the Proud Boys as a hate group. Blazak says it is one of several, emboldened to damage our democracy.

Its a very threatening moment because as weve seen these people are also very heavily armed as weve seen and there is certainly reason for concern, I mean this is a fascist movement, he said.

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Proud Boys get international exposure. So who are they? - KGW.com

The debate was an unfortunate and distasteful spectacle, largely because of Trumps bullying and mendacious behavior. But let us resist the cable-tv temptation to focus only on personalities and the horse race to consider some actual policy issues. And the true horror lay in what Trump had to say about them.

1. When pressed by Chris Wallace to denounce white supremacists and the neo-Nazi Proud Boys, Trump called on the Proud Boys to stand back, stand by. Trump never did denounce white supremacy. Thats pretty much the most horrible thing he said. Or his silence was disgusting. Trump knows that the white nationalists, championed by misshapen rags likeBreitbart, are part of his constituency and he cultivates them with his racist rhetoric.

Here is what theSouthern Poverty Law Centersays about the Proud Boys:

Their disavowals of bigotry are belied by their actions: rank-and-file Proud Boys and leaders regularly spout white nationalist memes and maintain affiliations with known extremists. They are known for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric. Proud Boys have appeared alongside other hate groups at extremist gatherings like the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Indeed, former Proud Boys member Jason Kessler helped to organize the event, which brought together Klansmen, antisemites, Southern racists, and militias. Kessler was only expelled from the group after the violence and near-universal condemnation of the Charlottesville rally-goers.

Other hardcore members of the so-called alt-right have argued that the western chauvinist label is just a PR c term McInnes crafted to gain mainstream acceptance. Lets not bullshit, Brian Brathovd, aka Caeralus Rex, told his co-hosts on the antisemitic The Daily Shoah one of the most popular alt-right podcasts. If the Proud Boys were pressed on the issue, I guarantee you that like 90% of them would tell you something along the lines of Hitler was right. Gas the Jews.

The Proud Boys would have popped he cork on their champagne if they had champagne instead of rotgut, celebrating what Trump said about them. Some even made a new logo, Stand back, Stand by alongside the initials PB.

2. Trump would only admit that human burning of gasoline, coal and natural gas is responsible for global heating to an extent. It literally is the only thing that is causing the climate emergency. There was no climate emergency in 1750, and it was cold, when parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were 270 instead of todays 415. Carbon dioxide is a heat-trapping gas. The sun rays hit the earth and then radiate back out to space. The more CO2, methane and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, the more of the suns heat the earth retains. The reason for which there is so much more CO2 in the atmosphere now is that for the past two hundred and seventy years, humans have been intensively burning coal and then petroleum and natural gas, which emit carbon dioxide when burned.

3. Trump alleged that environmental regulations intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions were making energy expensive before he intervened. This is not true. Here is a graph of retail gasoline prices in the US over the transition from Bush to Obama. The prices fell dramatically. Natural gas prices track with petroleum prices.

Moreover, fossil fuels are fossils. Why burn coal, as Biden pointed out, when wind and solar are now cheaper than hydrocarbons?

Author and technologistRemez Naamillustrates the dramatic plummeting of solar energy prices in this graph:

And here is a graph fromStatistashowing falling wind turbine prices:

4. Trump called social distancing decrees to fight the coronavirus almost like being in prison and slammed Democratic governors who implemented them.

Wearing masks, social distancing, and closing down hotspots when cases spike are among the more powerful tools government has to limit cases and deaths. These techniques have been used in other countries with great success. The US has one of the worst coronavirus death and case rates in the world, in part because Trump and his supporters among governors have opposed mask-wearing, social distancing and selective business closings.

The irony is that some of the economic shutdowns would be unnecessary if the US had a national testing and contact-tracing program, which Trump has neglected to implement. South Korea, through these methods plus mask-wearing, has largely avoided major shutdowns.

5. Trump alleged that Antifa is the main source of violence in our streets. The FBI director has said that Antifa is more an attitude than anything else, and is not an organization.

As for the white supremacists and fascists, they are a bigger threat for domestic terrorism in the US than anything else.

The Department of Homeland Securityhas produced a draft report concluding that white supremacy is the most lethal threat to the United States of America.

Geneva Sands at CNN writes,

The earliest available version of the State of the Homeland Threat Assessment 2020 drafts reads: We judge that ideologically-motivated lone offenders and small groups will pose the greatest terrorist threat to the Homeland through 2021, with white supremacist extremists presenting the most lethal threat.

The lead section on terror threats to the homeland is changed in the latter two drafts to replace white supremacist extremists with Domestic Violent Extremists presenting the most persistent and lethal threat.

The reports, however, all contain this language: Among DVEs [Domestic Violent Extremists], we judge that white supremacist extremists (WSEs) will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland through 2021.'

A handful of Antifa activists are not in the same league.

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Top 5 Most Horrible Things Trump Said in His Abnormal Debate - Common Dreams

The time has come to give the devil his due.

President Donald J. Trump, aka President Extremely Stable Genius, aka President Great and Unmatched Wisdom, has attracted a ton of criticism since assuming office almost four years ago and its fair to say he earned every syllable. But theres no denying that our boy has one great and resounding achievement that no one can deny.

Trump has pulled off the greatest con job of all time.

The former reality television host somehow managed to convince enough voters back in 2016 that his business acumen, soon to be proved illusory, established that he was somehow capable of being the leader of the free world. Turns out hes about $400 million in the red, according to a report in the New York Times, which grabbed ahold of some of his federal income tax records, living on the federal dole and lying and cheating to such an extent that he has earned the title of King of the Grifters.

Trump tricked his way to the presidency by following the advice first voiced by W.C. Fields in 1939 You cant cheat an honest man. Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump.

So about 60 million Americans, enough to reap sufficient votes in the Electoral College, ensconced Trump at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue where he has, unsurprisingly, proved to be an unmitigated disaster.

The NKyTribunes Washington columnist Bill Straub served 11 years as the Frankfort Bureau chief for The Kentucky Post. He also is the former White House/political correspondent for Scripps Howard News Service. A member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, he currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, and writes frequently about the federal government and politics. Email him at williamgstraub@gmail.com

Now he is endeavoring to spend another four years in the highest office in the land perhaps more if you heed some of his public and Twitter remarks in what appears to be a rabid attempt to evade the clutches of John Law.

Should he stumble, and the current poll numbers are not particularly promising, favoring his Democratic for, former Vice President Joe Biden on Nov. 3, prosecutors from the Southern District of New York appear poised to slip the handcuffs on him at their first opportunity.

The opportunity cant come quick enough.

Trumps inadequacy for holding down the highest elected position on Gods green earth was never more evident than on Tuesday night during the first of what is scheduled to be three debates with Biden. His crude demeanor was a national disgrace, and his non-stop blustering attempts to bully and intimidate embarrassed the nation that elected him and placed America in a horrible light before the rest of the free world. Only Russia and China could have smiled at that performance.

But his surly, uncouth manner isnt really what should disqualify him with the electorate. Its his answers or non-answers to two simple questions.

Asked by moderator Chris Wallace if he would condemn White supremacists, Trump refrained from directly doing so. When Biden pushed further, challenging him to disparage a racist group known as the Proud Boys a neo-fascist organization that glorifies violence against political opponents and is identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an alt-right fight club Trump instead responded Proud Boys stand back and stand by.

Proud Boys immediately embraced that phrase as a rallying cry.

Trump basically said to go f them up! this makes me so happy, Joe Biggs, a Proud Boys organizer, wrote on Parler.

On Wednesday Trump sought to partially clarify his remarks by telling reporters, I dont know who the Proud Boys are. I can only say they have to stand down. Let law enforcement do their work.

Then of course, he equivocated once again on the issue, insisting that the problem of national unrest doesnt involve neo-fascist groups but those on the left, like antifa, which isnt even recognized as an organization.

Trump dug himself an even deeper hole during the debate by, once again, refusing to commit to accepting the election results. Wallace, noting that final tallies will likely take days to count, asked the two candidates if they would urge their supporters to stay calm during this extended period and pledge to not claim an early victory.

Biden said he would. Then Trump:

Im urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully because thats what has to happen, Trump said, declining to commit. I hope its a fair election. If its a fair election, Im 100 percent on board.But if I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated, I cant go along with that.

Those two answers alone in support of a neo-fascist group and refusing to urge his supporters to stay calm and accept the results should be sufficient to lead any reasonable person to conclude that Donald J. Trump isnt capable of leading the nation in any way, shape or form.

But this historic con game continues and you can bet hell wind up somewhere north of 50 million votes when its all over, perhaps getting another four years rent-free in the White House. And you can bet his GOP pals folks like Senate Republican Leader Mitch Root-n-Branch McConnell, of Louisville, and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-SomewhereorotherLewisCounty will be there to, when given the opportunity, prop him up.

Earlier this week the Democrat-controlled House voted on a resolution urging a peaceful transition in power in wake of the election results as laid out in the U.S. Constitution. The proposal, which passed 397-5, held that the chamberintends that there should be no disruptions by the President of any person in power to overturn the will of the people of the United States.

One of those opposed? Our Wonder Boy, Thomas Massie.

Frankly, the resolution seems pretty cut and dried, brought on by an earlier Trump statement disparaging mail-in ballots popular as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic leading him to raise questions about the ultimate validity of the results despite the lack of any supportive evidence, not unusual for him. Massie stood with the presidents reluctance for a peaceful transition.

This resolution was a disingenuous political statement meant to poke the President in the eye, Massie said in a statement. Isnt it interesting that speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and leader (Kevin) McCarthy didnt have the time or political willpower to take a recorded vote on the $2 trillion bailout package that passed in March, but theyre now happy to vote on this tripe?

What horse manure. Youre either for a peaceful transition in power or youre not, Tommy Boy. Voting against the resolution places the Whiz Kid firmly on the anti-side. If youre a strict constitutionalist, which Massie claims to be, this cant stand. Massie is as much a constitutionalist as Aaron Burr.

Then of course, theres McConnell, who chose to prop up his fellow Republican Trump rather than work to the benefit of the citizens of the United States.

Party before country. Always.

In this instance, McConnell, better than Trump, knows how to read the room, telling reporters he condemns White supremacists in the strongest possible way, although he does so, as usual, without contradicting the Frankenstein monster he helped create.

After more than three years in office, we know what Trump is.

In less than five weeks, well know what the country is.

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Bill Straub: On the way to discovering who we really are and want our country to be, stumble onto Nov. 3 - User-generated content

"As we look ahead to the planned rally by paramilitary and alt-right figures on September 26th in Portland, we are reaching out to ask youthe elected and appointed leaders with the authority and responsibility to keep our community safeto renew your commitment and take additional steps to create lasting change," the letter says. "By using Portland as a place to hone their paramilitary training and garner the media attention they need to promote themselves, alt-right and paramilitary groups are now working to build power around the region, chill democratic practice, threaten community safety, and undermine civil society."

Ahead of Saturday's rally,some observers anticipate that it could erupt in more politicalviolence.

The Proud Boys, the right-wing group holding the rally, said in its application for a city permit that it is demonstrating in support of Aaron J. Danielson, a Trump supporter killed by a Portland anti-fascist, and Kyle Rittenhouse,thesuspectina Kenosha, Wis., double homicide. The group's language suggests it seeks revenge.

"Portland leadership is unwilling to stop the violence," organizer Enrique Tarrio wrote. "They have been blinded by their hatred of our President and will not allow outside help stopping the violence. We the People are going to gather at Delta Park against Antifa Terrorists."

Today'sletter, sent out by the civil rights group Western States Center, which tracks extremism in the Pacific Northwest, was co-signed by 29 local groups including Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, Service Employees International Union Locals 49 and 503, Oregon AFCSME Women's Committee, Oregon Justice Resource Center, andOregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.

The co-signers listed four specific demands for officials: (1)coordination between the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County District Attorney's Office and other law enforcement agencies to protect community safety, (2) a joint statement of solidarity against hate and violence, (3) a commitment from law enforcement to avoid bias in policing and intervene if violence erupts, and (4) a visible display of the community's commitment against hate.

"City leaders must make clear that they will not allow Portland to be used as the battleground for a war by proxy. Portland must be united in saying: Not in our town. Not anywhere," the letter says. "While paramilitary and alt-right actions in Portland are often amplified as a form of spectacle, we know that their track record also includes countless instances of assault and intimidation."

The letter was delivered via email Wednesday to the recipients, who includeGov. Kate Brown, Senate President Peter Courtney, House Speaker Tina Kotek, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, and Portland City Commissioners Amanda Fritz, Chloe Eudaly,Jo Ann Hardesty andDan Ryan.

"While espousing patriotism and a commitment to peaceful protest, some in these groups and many who associate with them have a record of racism, intolerance and hate," Wheeler wrote. "Those are not Portland values, and they are not welcome. Hate has no home in Portland. Violence has no home in Portland. Anyone intending to intimidate, create fear, commit violence, or spread hate is not welcome here."

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Ahead of Saturday's Proud Boys Rally, 30 Local Unions and Civil Rights Groups Call on Oregon Officials to Denounce Hatred - Willamette Week

The fashion brand Fred Perry has pulled one of its famous polo shirt designs after it became associated with a far-right organisation.

The company has halted sales of the black and yellow top in the US and Canada, after it was adopted by the neo-fascist organisation the Proud Boys.

In a statement posted to its website, Fred Perry said it was incredibly frustrating to see the polo shirt and its laurel wreath logo become associated with the group.

The company said that although it sought to represent inclusivity and diversity we have seen that the black/yellow/yellow twin tipped shirt is taking on a new and very different meaning in North America as a result of its association with the Proud Boys. That association is something we must do our best to end.

The statement continued: To be absolutely clear, if you see any Proud Boys material or products featuring our laurel wreath or any black/yellow/yellow related items, they have absolutely nothing to do with us, and we are working with our lawyers to pursue any unlawful use of our brand.

Fred Perry was founded in 1952 by the Wimbledon tennis champion of the same name and has been adopted by various subcultures. In the 60s and 70s its polo shirt became associated with the skinhead movement.

But the brand has repeatedly spoken out against its use by far-right groups. Frankly we cant put our disapproval in better words than our chairman [John Flynn] did when questioned in 2017, the label said in its statement.

Fred was the son of a working-class socialist MP who became a world tennis champion at a time when tennis was an elitist sport. He started a business with a Jewish businessman from eastern Europe. Its a shame we even have to answer questions like this. No, we dont support the ideals or the group that you speak of. It is counter to our beliefs and the people we work with.

The Proud Boys were created by the Vice magazine co-founder Gavin McInnes in 2016 in the lead-up to Donald Trumps election as president. McInnes has since distanced himself from the organisation, which publicly insists it is not alt-right or white nationalist but has a history of glorifying violence and misogyny.

In 2018 the FBI classified the organisation as an extremist group, while the Southern Poverty Law Center lists it as a hate group.

Over the weekend, the Proud Boys organised a pro-Trump rally in Portland. Kate Brown, the Oregon state governor, declared a state of emergency in anticipation of white supremacist groups coming from out of town but far fewer people than anticipated showed up.

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Fred Perry withdraws polo shirt adopted by far-right Proud Boys - The Guardian

In late October 2004, South Park aired one of its most iconic episodesa pre-election installment called Douche and Turd, which crystallized the shows nihilism, political and otherwise. The douche and turd were an on-the-nose symbol for the idea that in any given election, both politicians tend to be equally unappealing.

But on Wednesday night, the long-running animated show defied its central tenetthe one insisting that caring at all is the stupidest position to take in any argument. And it did so in a way that one might imagine could perplex its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, in their younger years. South Park closed its super-sized pandemic special with a simple, (mostly) earnest message: Vote.

The special is, by and large, precisely what one might expect. Sticking with a long-running plot line in which Stans father has become a successful pot farmer, Randy spends most of the special wringing his hands over whether or not Tegridy Farms should release a pandemic specialwhether the world really needs one right now. Eric Cartman loves quarantine and revels in wielding a stick keeping people six feet away from him at all times.

Soon enough, though, the kids are forced back to schooland since their teachers do not feel safe returning to the building, the cops have taken over. And in one of many plot lines adopted for shock and abandoned in the blink of an eye, the police shoot Token, South Park Elementarys one Black student, in the arman act that, shockingly, no one prosecutes.

But mostly, this special is about Randy discovering that he caused the pandemic. At first he thinks it was that bat he fornicated with while partying in China with Mickey Mousebut then he realize its the pangolin he had sex with afterwards. If youve watched enough South Park you can likely guess the cure from here.

The real shock comes near the end of the special. At one point, Stan calls President Garrisonthe shows Trump stand-inhoping hell help fight the virus in South Park. But the president informs Stan that COVID-19 has actually helped him finally fulfill his campaign promise: Getting rid of Mexicans. And at the very end of the episode, a scientist offers a ray of hope, promising that with collaboration scientists could soon find a cureright before Mr. Garrison roasts him with a flamethrower.

Dont forget to get out and vote everyone, Mr. Garrison says, breaking the fourth wall. Big election coming up!

Once known for its election episodes, South Park has struggled to tackle politics in recent years. Donald Trump has proven difficult for Stone and Parker to nail with their trademark apathy, and the show more broadly has been blamed for breeding the kind of detachment and ironic bigotry that fuel the alt-right.

But carnage aside, tonights message feels like a sincere plea for the shows young viewers to get their butts into voting booths. That kind of earnestness would have felt inconceivable in the early aughts; hell, even 2016 wasnt enough to push Stone and Parker past their Douche and Turd metaphor. Maybe these horrible timesand our somehow more horrible presidenthave finally pushed the show to a breaking point.

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'South Park' Breaks the Fourth Wall With a Rare Plea for People to Vote - The Daily Beast