What a lot is happening: A lot of shifts and new work emerging in antifascism, in a time of expanding militarism, imperial war, and Islamophobia; crackdowns on immigrants; escalating authoritarianism in the world of tech and AI; and new fascist directions within the Republican Party as a manipulative branch of white nationalist Republicans tries to rebrand using antiwar claims as a cover for antisemitism and as a tool for pushing the Republican Party in a more formally fascist direction.
No Kings rallies and countless acts of mobilization and grassroots resistance have brought millions of Americans into activism against racism and war in recent weeks.
The fascist use of the chant “Christ is King” as an antisemitic dog whistle, initiated by white nationalist Nick Fuentes and his “groypers,” seems only to be expanding…the subject of an article draft I’ve recently completed and sent off for feedback. I may also be doing a zoom presentation on this soon, and on how Catholics are addressing the attempted appropriation of Catholicism for fascism.
The panel event at Gonzaga on the Christian nationalism book went well. (More on the book: On Christian Nationalism: Critical and Theological Perspectives – 1st ) Co-editor David Gides came in from Montana, and chapter contributor Shane Burley came up from Portland, and local colleagues Lars Stoltzfus and Joseph Flores also spoke on their chapter. We had about eighty people there and some lively discussion, including with students, which was great to see. We also got some coverage from Spokane Faith and Values (Spokane FAVs) and the Gonzaga Bulletin:
- FAVs: Gonzaga Panel Explores Christian Nationalism and Its Threat
- Bulletin: Professors, scholar criticize Christian nationalism at GU panel | News | gonzagabulletin.com (The Gonzaga Bulletin reporter misunderstood what I was trying to say about the “spectrum of sincerity.” I use this term to talk about the varying levels of spiritual sincerity among Christian nationalists. While some are intensely motivated by their theological beliefs, others are using churches as cover for their fascist politics (essentially infiltrating), and there’s a range of sincerity and devotion to the faith in between.)
I’ve recently presented some research on far-right women at two conferences and will submit that as an article soon.
I also recently went on this chill leftist podcast/livestream, The Red Fleet, to talk about Erich Fromm’s critique of fascism. You can listen to us mull things here: The Red Fleet – Erich Fromm & the Psychology of Fascism
Recent articles I’d like to recommend:
- Michael Edison Hayden, formerly of the Southern Poverty Law Center, shares about changes in the SPLC and being driven out of his job for labor organizing and support for Gaza: What Happened to the SPLC—and Me – by Michael Edison Hayden
- Aaron Hedge (RANGE Media and Spokane FAVs) on far-right pastor Matt Shea stoking Islamophobia, war, and McCarthyism: Resurrecting the bogeymen
- 404 Media on the African workers whose intelligence is behind “AI,” organizing to fight back: ‘AI Is African Intelligence’: The Workers Who Train AI Are Fighting Back
Dr. Joan Braune -- News & Updates 