Making Deepfakes Gets Cheaper and Easier Thanks to A.I.

Meme-makers and misinformation peddlers are embracing artificial intelligence tools to create convincing fake videos on the cheap.

#artificial-intelligence, #computers-and-the-internet, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #news-and-news-media, #rumors-and-misinformation, #social-media, #video-recordings-downloads-and-streaming

To Small but Growing Group, This Congressional Backbencher Is a Cult Hero

Republican congressman Thomas Massie could help shape the trajectory of his party, grafting his unusual mixture of political stances into its DNA.

#agriculture-and-farming, #alternative-and-renewable-energy, #carlson-tucker, #conservatism-us-politics, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #global-warming, #house-of-representatives, #kentucky, #libertarianism-us-politics, #regulation-and-deregulation-of-industry, #republican-party, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government, #vance-j-d

G.O.P. States Abandon Group That Helps Fight Voter Fraud

Five red states have severed ties since last year with the Electronic Registration Information Center, a nonprofit that helps maintain accurate voter rolls.

#alabama, #desantis-ron, #elections-secretary-of-state, #electronic-registration-information-center, #florida, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #law-and-legislation, #louisiana, #midterm-elections-2022, #missouri, #ohio, #project-democracy, #republican-party, #rumors-and-misinformation, #states-us, #united-states-politics-and-government, #voter-fraud-election-fraud, #voting-rights-registration-and-requirements, #west-virginia

The MAGA-fication of North Idaho College

G.O.P. activists set out to root out the “deep state” at home. An Idaho community college may never be the same.

#accreditation, #banducci-todd, #coeur-dalene-idaho, #colleges-and-universities, #community-colleges, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #north-idaho-college, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #united-states-politics-and-government

G.O.P. Witnesses, Paid by Trump Ally, Embraced Jan. 6 Conspiracy Theories

Democrats said a trio of witnesses billed as “whistle-blowers” provided no evidence of wrongdoing, espoused false claims about the Capitol riot and were compensated by an ally of former President Donald J. Trump.

#conspiracy-theories, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-select-committee-to-investigate-the-january-6th-attack, #house-select-subcommittee-on-the-weaponization-of-the-federal-government, #jordan-jim-1964, #rumors-and-misinformation, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #united-states-politics-and-government, #whistle-blowers

Donald Trump Is Trapped by His Own Strategy. That Doesn’t Mean It Won’t Work.

And the former president’s “electoral competitors recognize this to be the case.”

#anti-semitism, #carlson-tucker, #conservatism-us-politics, #conspiracy-theories, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #desantis-ron, #fox-news-channel, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-of-representatives, #mccarthy-kevin-1965, #presidential-election-of-2020, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government

Supreme Court to Hear Case That Targets a Legal Shield of Tech Giants

The justices are set to hear a case challenging Section 230, a law that protects Google, Facebook and others from lawsuits over what their users post online.

#computers-and-the-internet, #corporate-social-responsibility, #corporations, #decisions-and-verdicts, #freedom-of-speech-and-expression, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #gonzalez-nohemi-1992-2015, #google-inc, #hate-speech, #mobile-applications, #paris-attacks-november-2015, #rumors-and-misinformation, #social-media, #supreme-court-us, #terrorism, #video-recordings-downloads-and-streaming

Trudeau Was Right to Use Emergency Powers to End Trucker Blockade, Report Says

The judge who wrote the report found the decision “regrettable,” but said that the government was left with no choice to end the protest that paralyzed Canada’s capital.

#demonstrations-protests-and-riots, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #trucks-and-trucking

A Russian Mole in Germany Sows Suspicions at Home, and Beyond

A director at Germany’s spy service was picked up on suspicion of passing intelligence to Russia. German officials and allies worry just how deep the problem goes.

#alternative-for-germany, #central-intelligence-agency, #cold-war-era, #defense-and-military-forces, #espionage-and-intelligence-services, #europe, #federal-intelligence-service-germany, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #international-relations, #kgb, #politics-and-government, #putin-vladimir-v, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #stasi-east-germany, #united-states-international-relations

‘Chernobyl 2.0’? Ohio Train Derailment Spurs Wild Speculation.

For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts.

#air-pollution, #buttigieg-pete-1982, #carlson-tucker, #chemicals, #disasters-and-emergencies, #east-palestine-ohio, #environmental-protection-agency, #fires-and-firefighters, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #hazardous-and-toxic-substances, #news-and-news-media, #newsnation, #railroad-accidents-and-safety, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #rumors-and-misinformation, #smells-and-odors, #social-media, #television, #water, #water-pollution

Italy’s Hard-Right Leader Vexes Europe by Playing Nice, Mostly

Some still fear an authoritarian turn, but Giorgia Meloni has surprised many by showing a pragmatic streak since coming to power. Now Europe is not sure what to do.

#brothers-of-italy-italian-political-party, #draghi-mario, #elections, #europe, #european-union, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #international-relations, #italy, #meloni-giorgia-1977, #orban-viktor, #politics-and-government, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #scholz-olaf-1958, #zelensky-volodymyr

Disinformation Researchers Raise Alarms About A.I. Chatbots

Researchers used ChatGPT to produce clean, convincing text that repeated conspiracy theories and misleading narratives.

#artificial-intelligence, #computers-and-the-internet, #conspiracy-theories, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #microsoft-corp, #news-and-news-media, #openai-labs, #rumors-and-misinformation, #search-engines, #social-media

Pair Charged With Plotting to Attack Baltimore Electrical Grid

The charges came as experts have warned that the energy grid and electrical substations in particular have become popular targets for far-right extremists.

#baltimore-md, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #firearms, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #homeland-security-department, #justice-department, #neo-nazi-groups, #race-and-ethnicity, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right

Pair Is Charged With Plotting to ‘Destroy Baltimore’ by Attacking Electrical Grid

The charges came as experts have warned that the energy grid and electrical substations in particular have become popular targets for far-right extremists.

#baltimore-md, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #firearms, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #homeland-security-department, #justice-department, #neo-nazi-groups, #race-and-ethnicity, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right

Donald Trump Isn’t the Only One to Blame for the Capitol Riot. I’d Know.

Only by understanding how the rioters lost faith in government can we figure out how to protect our democracy from future attacks.

#conspiracy-theories, #domestic-violence, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-select-committee-to-investigate-the-january-6th-attack, #oath-keepers, #presidential-election-of-2020, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #rumors-and-misinformation, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #treason-and-sedition, #trump-donald-j

Can Germany Be a Great Military Power Again?

Leery of Russian aggression, Europe’s economic giant is making a historic attempt to revitalize its armed forces. It has a long way to go.

#cold-war-era, #defense-and-military-forces, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #international-relations, #politics-and-government, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #world-war-ii-1939-45

How Kevin McCarthy Forged a Bond With Marjorie Taylor Greene

The close alliance that has developed between the speaker and the hard-right Georgia Republican explains his rise, how he might govern and the heavy influence of the extremes on the new House G.O.P. majority.

#conspiracy-theories, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #greene-marjorie-taylor-1974, #house-of-representatives, #mccarthy-kevin-1965, #midterm-elections-2022, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #united-states-politics-and-government

Russian Agents Suspected of Directing Far-Right Group to Mail Bombs in Spain

U.S. officials say the operation may be a signal by Russia that the country and its proxies could carry out more terrorist actions in Europe if nations continue supporting Ukraine.

#diplomatic-service-embassies-and-consulates, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #gru-russia, #madrid-spain, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #russia, #russian-imperial-movement, #russian-invasion-of-ukraine-2022, #terrorism, #united-states-international-relations

Solomon Peña Cheered Trump on Jan. 6. Now He’s Accused of Targeting Democrats.

Solomon Peña, who lost his bid to become a New Mexico lawmaker, faces charges in a series of shootings. “He had a belief process that he was cheated,” the Albuquerque police chief said.

#albuquerque-nm, #elections, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #midterm-elections-2022, #pena-solomon, #politics-and-government, #state-legislatures, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #threats-and-threatening-messages

Three Reasons the Republican Party Keeps Coming Apart at the Seams

Remember when it was ‘Democrats fall in love; Republicans fall in line’? Me neither.

#americans-for-prosperity, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #conservatism-us-politics, #democratic-party, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #hemmer-nicole, #mccarthy-kevin-1965, #news-and-news-media, #republican-party, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government

How a Mob Tried to Oust Brazil’s Lula

The storming of Brazil’s capital failed to overthrow the elected government. But an examination of the attack reveals how extremism is threatening Latin America’s largest democracy.

#bolsonaro-jair-1955, #brasilia-brazil, #brazil, #da-silva-luiz-inacio-lula, #democracy-theory-and-philosophy, #demonstrations-protests-and-riots, #elections, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #police, #politics-and-government, #project-democracy, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #social-media

Kevin McCarthy Can’t Give Republican Rebels What They Really Want

The G.O.P. is afraid of demographic and social change. But Kevin McCarthy can’t do anything about that.

#conservatism-us-politics, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-of-representatives, #mccarthy-kevin-1965, #polls-and-public-opinion, #republican-party, #united-states-politics-and-government, #whites

The Chaos Caucus Is Now in Charge

Blame the next wave of House dysfunction on the antimajoritarian, anarchic lot.

#democratic-party, #federal-budget-us, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-committee-on-rules, #house-of-representatives, #law-and-legislation, #mccarthy-kevin-1965, #national-debt-us, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #united-states-politics-and-government

Speaker, Speaker, What Do You See? I See MAGA Looking at Me.

Kevin McCarthy gets his chance to bang the gavel.

#american-jobs-plan-2021, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #border-barriers, #democratic-party, #desantis-ron, #dream-act-development-relief-and-education-for-minors-act, #elections, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #harris-kamala-d, #immigration-and-emigration, #law-and-legislation, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government, #vice-presidents-and-vice-presidency-us

Victor Hugo Statue Takes a Prominent Place in France’s Debate on Race

After a restoration darkened the hue of a statue at the birthplace of the French writer, complaints ensued — then vandalism.

#art, #besancon-france, #black-people, #culture-arts, #discrimination, #france, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #historic-buildings-and-sites, #hugo-victor, #human-rights-and-human-rights-violations, #les-republicains-france, #macron-emmanuel-1977, #monuments-and-memorials-structures, #museums, #politics-and-government, #race-and-ethnicity, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #rodin-auguste, #sculpture, #sow-ousmane, #vandalism, #whites

Former F.B.I. Agents Lodge Accusations of Bias Against Conservatives

Historically, the F.B.I.’s critics have come from the left. But the bureau’s array of inquiries into former President Donald J. Trump has turned the tables.

#conservatism-us-politics, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-of-representatives, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #rumors-and-misinformation, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government, #wray-christopher-a

How Americans Can Stand Against Extremism

Transgender people are under threat from political violence.

#boston-childrens-hospital, #carlson-tucker, #conservatism-us-politics, #demonstrations-protests-and-riots, #desantis-ron, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #homosexuality-and-bisexuality, #proud-boys, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #rubio-marco, #seattle-wash, #transgender-and-transsexuals

America Should Finish the Work the Jan. 6 Committee Started

Accountability is up to the Justice Department and American voters.

#democracy-theory-and-philosophy, #democratic-party, #federal-budget-us, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-of-representatives, #house-select-committee-to-investigate-the-january-6th-attack, #law-and-legislation, #midterm-elections-2022, #presidential-election-of-2020, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #state-legislatures, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #treason-and-sedition, #united-states-politics-and-government

Musk Lifted Bans for Thousands on Twitter. Here’s What They’re Tweeting.

Many reinstated users are tweeting about topics that got them barred in the first place: Covid-19 skepticism, election denialism and QAnon.

#conspiracy-theories, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #elections, #freedom-of-speech-and-expression, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #musk-elon, #rumors-and-misinformation, #social-media, #twitter

The Americanization of Religion

When does a nation of heretics leave it’s a Christian origins behind?

#christians-and-christianity, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #religion-and-belief, #superstitions

In the U.S., His Site Has Been Linked to Massacres. In Japan, He’s a Star.

Hiroyuki Nishimura has become a famous voice for disenchanted young Japanese. What he talks much less about is his ownership of the notorious website 4chan.

#4chan, #computers-and-the-internet, #conspiracy-theories, #freedom-of-speech-and-expression, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #japan, #mass-shootings, #nishimura-hiroyuki-1976, #qanon, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #united-states

New York Republican Gala Draws House Freshmen and Far-Right Extremists

Organizations that track extremism have expressed concern about some of the attendees at a New York Young Republican Club event in Manhattan on Saturday.

#brimelow-peter, #conservatism-us-politics, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #greene-marjorie-taylor-1974, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #santos-george-1988, #united-states-politics-and-government

Video Footage Reveals New Details of Paul Pelosi Attack During SF Hearing

David DePape, the man accused of bludgeoning the husband of Nancy Pelosi, told the police that he also had Gavin Newsom and Tom Hanks on his target list.

#california, #conspiracy-theories, #depape-david, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #murders-attempted-murders-and-homicides, #pacific-heights-san-francisco-calif, #pelosi-nancy, #pelosi-paul, #san-francisco-calif

Prince Heinrich XIII and the Plot to Overthrow Germany’s Government

Prince Heinrich XIII was arrested this week as the suspected ringleader of a plan to overthrow the German government. Nostalgic for an imperial past, he embraced far-right conspiracy theories.

#alternative-for-germany, #anti-semitism, #conspiracy-theories, #coups-detat-and-attempted-coups-detat, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #holocaust-and-the-nazi-era, #neo-nazi-groups, #politics-and-government, #prince-heinrich-xiii, #reichsburger, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #royal-families, #terrorism, #thuringia-germany

America’s Toxic Gun Culture Is Invading Our Politics

Gun-rights extremism and political violence are inextricably linked.

#firearms, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #gun-control, #law-and-legislation, #mass-shootings, #midterm-elections-2022, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #school-shootings-and-armed-attacks, #united-states-politics-and-government, #whites

German Plotters, Long Dismissed as Fringe, Got a Lift From QAnon

Reichsbürger, the movement behind a plan to overthrow Germany’s government, gained momentum from conspiracy theories that grew during the pandemic, turning it into a potent new threat.

#alternative-for-germany, #anti-semitism, #conspiracy-theories, #coronavirus-2019-ncov, #coups-detat-and-attempted-coups-detat, #defense-and-military-forces, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #murders-attempted-murders-and-homicides, #national-socialist-underground-germany, #politics-and-government, #qanon, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #surveillance-of-citizens-by-government, #terrorism

What Do We Know About Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss?

Descended from an ancient aristocratic family, Heinrich now stands accused of being a leader of a far-right plot to overthrow the German government.

#conspiracy-theories, #frankfurt-germany, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #thuringia-germany

Who Is Prince Heinrich XIII, a Man Accused of Trying to Overthrow Germany’s Government?

Descended from an ancient aristocratic family, Heinrich now stands accused of being a leader of a far-right plot to overthrow the German government.

#conspiracy-theories, #frankfurt-germany, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #germany, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #thuringia-germany

Trump Is Unraveling Before Our Eyes, but Will It Matter?

“The Republican Party is in the midst of an identity crisis,” one scholar says.

#democratic-party, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #house-of-representatives, #house-select-committee-to-investigate-the-january-6th-attack, #midterm-elections-2022, #polls-and-public-opinion, #presidential-election-of-2020, #presidential-election-of-2024, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #senate, #third-party-politics-us

Trump Embraces Extremism as He Seeks to Reclaim Presidency

As he gets his presidential campaign underway, Donald J. Trump has aligned himself with forces that used to be outside the mainstream of American politics.

#conspiracy-theories, #desantis-ron, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #fuentes-nicholas-j, #oath-keepers, #presidential-election-of-2024, #rhodes-stewart-1966, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #treason-and-sedition, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government, #west-kanye

Republican-Controlled County in Arizona Holds Up Election Results

Republican local officials are threatening to disrupt the final tally of midterm votes in one more sign of the politicization of elections.

#cochise-county-ariz, #elections-attorneys-general, #elections-governors, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #hobbs-kathleen-m, #lake-kari-a, #midterm-elections-2022, #republican-party, #united-states-politics-and-government, #voting-machines

The Republican Party and the Scourge of Extremist Violence

A fight for the soul of the G.O.P. is underway, and it has consequences for everyone.

#anti-semitism, #assaults, #bannon-stephen-k, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #bloomberg-michael-r, #buffalo-ny-shooting-may-14-2022, #federal-bureau-of-investigation, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #homeland-security-department, #house-of-representatives, #metropolitan-republican-club, #midterm-elections-2022, #proud-boys, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #rumors-and-misinformation, #schumer-charles-e, #senate, #senate-committee-on-homeland-security-and-governmental-affairs, #terrorism, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government, #whites

At Protests, Guns Are Doing the Talking

Armed Americans, often pushing a right-wing agenda, are increasingly using open-carry laws to intimidate opponents and shut down debate.

#demonstrations-protests-and-riots, #firearms, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #gun-control, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #second-amendment-us-constitution

How the Pelosi Attack Suspect Plunged Into Online Hatred

David DePape’s life was unstable when he embraced Gamergate and far-right conspiracy theories. He is now accused of breaking into Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home and assaulting her husband.

#california, #conspiracy-theories, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #pelosi-nancy, #pelosi-paul, #qanon, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #san-francisco-calif, #san-francisco-bay-area-calif, #united-states-politics-and-government

White Supremacists Are a Problem for America, and the World

Right-wing extremist violence in the U.S. is part of a global phenomenon. It should be treated that way.

#4chan, #anti-defamation-league, #atomwaffen-division, #belew-kathleen, #biden-joseph-r-jr, #black-people, #buffalo-ny, #buffalo-ny-shooting-may-14-2022, #camus-renaud, #carlson-tucker, #christchurch-new-zealand-attack-march-2019, #computers-and-the-internet, #discrimination, #firearms, #fox-news-channel, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #gendron-payton-s, #hate-crimes, #immigration-and-emigration, #king-steven-a, #law-and-legislation, #le-pen-marine, #mass-shootings, #orban-viktor, #raspail-jean, #republican-party, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #social-media, #terrorism, #united-states-international-relations, #united-states-politics-and-government, #whites

Donald Trump: The Mystic of Mar-a-Lago

Donald Trump gave people something to coalesce around as a communion of disdain, but it signified nothing at the end of the day.

#black-people, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #liberalism-us-politics, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #southern-states-us, #trump-donald-j, #united-states-politics-and-government

Extreme Candidates and Positions Came Back to Bite in Midterms

In an election that came down to which party turned off voters the least, it was another bad national showing for the G.O.P.

#abortion, #arizona, #davids-sharice, #dixon-tudor, #fetterman-john-1969, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #longwell-sarah, #masters-blake-1986, #midterm-elections-2022, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right

The Threat of Far-Right Extremism in Law Enforcement and the Military

Those who serve and protect are sometimes connected to extremist groups. Here’s what to do about it.

#carrillo-steven, #dellums-ronald-v, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #mcveigh-timothy-james, #police, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #storming-of-the-us-capitol-jan-2021, #trump-donald-j, #underwood-dave-patrick-d-2020, #united-states-defense-and-military-forces, #veterans

Election Officials Say Efforts to Bolster the Voting System Worked

Officials were braced for partisan poll monitors convinced of fraud to disrupt voting in the midterm elections. While there were scattered episodes, the vote went smoothly.

#conspiracy-theories, #fringe-groups-and-movements, #midterm-elections-2022, #right-wing-extremism-and-alt-right, #united-states-politics-and-government, #voter-fraud-election-fraud