Weird Little Guys

The right wing media is buzzing with accusations that the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City is a communist. They're calling for his removal from not only the ballot... but the also the country. This anticommunist panic isn't new. Sources: Drabble, John. “To Ensure Domestic Tranquility: The FBI, Cointelpro-White Hate and Political Discourse, 1964-1971.” Journal of American Studies, vol. 38, no. 2, 2004, pp. 297–328. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27557518 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/27557518]. Horowitz, David Alan. “White Southerners’ Alienation and Civil Rights: The Response to Corporate Liberalism, 1956-1965.” The Journal of Southern History, vol. 54, no. 2, 1988, pp. 173–200. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2209398 [https://doi.org/10.2307/2209398]. Katagiri, Yasuhiro. Black Freedom, White Resistance, and Red Menace: Civil Rights and Anticommunism In the Jim Crow South. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 2014. Lewis, George. The White South and the Red Menace: Segregationists, Anticommunism, and Massive Resistance, 1945-1965. University Press of Florida, 2004. Kovel, Joel. Red Hunting in the Promised Land: Anticommunism and the Making of America. 2nd ed. London: Cassel, 1997. https://politicalresearch.org/2022/01/04/blue-lives-matter-and-us-counter-subversive-tradition [https://politicalresearch.org/2022/01/04/blue-lives-matter-and-us-counter-subversive-tradition] Shanahan, J., & Wall, T. (2021). ‘Fight the reds, support the blue’: Blue Lives Matter and the US counter-subversive tradition. Race & Class, 63(1), 70-90. Brenner, Samuel Lawrence (May 2009). Shouting at the Rain: The Voices and Ideas of Right-Wing Anti-Communist Americanists in the Era of Modern American Conservatism, 1950-1974 (Thesis). Brown University. Schrecker, Ellen. “Immigration and Internal Security: Political Deportations during the McCarthy Era.” Science & Society, vol. 60, no. 4, 1996, pp. 393–426. Schrecker, Ellen. “Archival Sources for the Study of McCarthyism.” The Journal of American History, vol. 75, no. 1, 1988, pp. 197–208 Ornstein, Norman J., et al. The People, the Press & Politics : The Times Mirror Study of the American Electorate. Addison-Wesley, 1988. https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/denaturalization_pa.pdf [https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/denaturalization_pa.pdf] https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fact-Sheet-on-Denaturalization.pdf [https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fact-Sheet-on-Denaturalization.pdf] https://www.npr.org/2025/06/30/nx-s1-5445398/denaturalization-trump-immigration-enforcement [https://www.npr.org/2025/06/30/nx-s1-5445398/denaturalization-trump-immigration-enforcement] https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/01/08/gov-kristi-noem-says-georgia-elected-communists-serve-u-s-senate/6605474002 [https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/01/08/gov-kristi-noem-says-georgia-elected-communists-serve-u-s-senate/6605474002]/ https://www.warscapes.com/conversations/conversation-mahmood-mamdani [https://www.warscapes.com/conversations/conversation-mahmood-mamdani] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1424 [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1424] https://www.congress.gov/103/statute/STATUTE-107/STATUTE-107-Pg2317.pdf [https://www.congress.gov/103/statute/STATUTE-107/STATUTE-107-Pg2317.pdf] https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/department-justice-creates-section-dedicated-denaturalization-cases [https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/department-justice-creates-section-dedicated-denaturalization-cases] https://www.niemoeller-haus-berlin.de/niemoeller-gedicht/ [https://www.niemoeller-haus-berlin.de/niemoeller-gedicht/] https://thelifeofahistorian.com/historiographical-review-woods-lewis-katagiri/ [https://thelifeofahistorian.com/historiographical-review-woods-lewis-katagiri/] https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1404046/dl?inline [https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1404046/dl?inline] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Last week, we talked about one particular incident of vehicular violence on protesters. But where does the tactic come from? Who is doing it? And why? Sources: Miller, Vincent, and Keith J. Hayward. “‘I DID MY BIT’: TERRORISM, TARDE AND THE VEHICLE RAMMING ATTACK AS AN IMITATIVE EVENT.” The British Journal of Criminology, vol. 59, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1–23. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26780645 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/26780645]. Accessed 16 June 2025. Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth, Smashing into Crowds: An Analysis of Vehicle Ramming Attacks. San Jose, CA: Mineta Transportation Institute, 2019 https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/SP-1119-Vehicle-Ramming-Attacks.pdf [https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/SP-1119-Vehicle-Ramming-Attacks.pdf] Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth, Metal Against Marchers. San Jose, CA: Mineta Transportation Institute, 2020 https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/SP1020-Metal-Against-Marchers.pdf [https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/SP1020-Metal-Against-Marchers.pdf] Gabriel Nowacki & Cezary Krysiuk & Damian Szafranek, 2025. "Vehicle Ramming as a Form of Terrorist Attack Threatening Public Safety," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 707-722. Simon Perry, Badi Hasisi & Gali Perry (2018) Who is the Lone Terrorist? A Study of Vehicle-Borne Attackers in Israel and the West Bank, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 41:11, 899-913, DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2017.1348101 Pierce, Kelvin. Sins of My Father, Growing Up with America's Most Dangerous White Supremacist. Independently Published, 2020 https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/Vehicle_Incident_Prevention_and_Mitigation_Security_Guide_508_20240418.pdf [https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/Vehicle_Incident_Prevention_and_Mitigation_Security_Guide_508_20240418.pdf] https://www.al.com/news/2025/06/stand-your-ground-on-steroids-debate-emerges-over-drivers-hitting-protesters-in-alabama.html [https://www.al.com/news/2025/06/stand-your-ground-on-steroids-debate-emerges-over-drivers-hitting-protesters-in-alabama.html] https://local21news.com/news/local/adams-county-community-reacts-to-sheriffs-controversial-facebook-post-about-protestors [https://local21news.com/news/local/adams-county-community-reacts-to-sheriffs-controversial-facebook-post-about-protestors] https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/pedestrians [https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/pedestrians] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2331 [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2331] https://cwa-union.org/news/strike-line-remembering-gerry-horgan [https://cwa-union.org/news/strike-line-remembering-gerry-horgan] https://sfist.com/2025/03/10/truck-seems-to-drive-into-striking-vta-workers-on-picket-line-one-hospitalized/ [https://sfist.com/2025/03/10/truck-seems-to-drive-into-striking-vta-workers-on-picket-line-one-hospitalized/] https://komonews.com/amp/news/local/king-county-detective-on-leave-after-alleged-all-lives-splatter-facebook-post [https://komonews.com/amp/news/local/king-county-detective-on-leave-after-alleged-all-lives-splatter-facebook-post] https://www.abc12.com/news/crime/flint-man-who-hit-striking-uaw-members-pleads-guilty/article_b007099a-bf9a-11ee-9de4-0bfd68db8786.html [https://www.abc12.com/news/crime/flint-man-who-hit-striking-uaw-members-pleads-guilty/article_b007099a-bf9a-11ee-9de4-0bfd68db8786.html] https://www.nytimes.com/1929/06/16/archives/federal-arms-barred-secretary-good-warns-governor-on-use-of.html [https://www.nytimes.com/1929/06/16/archives/federal-arms-barred-secretary-good-warns-governor-on-use-of.html] https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/15/media/daily-caller-fox-news-video-car-crashing-liberal-protesters/index.html [https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/15/media/daily-caller-fox-news-video-car-crashing-liberal-protesters/index.html] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/19/world/europe/uk-van-attack-london-mosque.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/19/world/europe/uk-van-attack-london-mosque.html] https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/alek-minassian-toronto-van-attack-incels-891678/ [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/alek-minassian-toronto-van-attack-incels-891678/] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-17/man-arrested-hit-and-run-no-kings-protester-riverside [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-17/man-arrested-hit-and-run-no-kings-protester-riverside] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14915697/united-states-v-henry/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14915697/united-states-v-henry/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

With vehicular attacks on protests on the rise and elected officials encouraging the tactic, old conspiracy theories about one vehicular attack in particular are circulating once again. This is the story of what actually happened on Fourth Street in downtown Charlottesville on August 12, 2017. Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/08/us/la-immigration-protests-photos-map.html [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/08/us/la-immigration-protests-photos-map.html] https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1641845853-dillon-hopper-deposition-as-played-at-trial.pdf [https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1641845853-dillon-hopper-deposition-as-played-at-trial.pdf] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/us/politics/florida-desantis-protests-warning.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/us/politics/florida-desantis-protests-warning.html] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6168921/sines-v-kessler/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6168921/sines-v-kessler/] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7299259/united-states-v-fields/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7299259/united-states-v-fields/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Last week, five Proud Boys announced a $100 million lawsuit against the government over their treatment during the January 6th prosecutions. Sources: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70474277/tarrio-v-united-states-of-america/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70474277/tarrio-v-united-states-of-america/] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/ex-soldiers-acceptance-trump-pardon-didnt-constitute-confession-guilt-court-2021-09-23/ [https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/ex-soldiers-acceptance-trump-pardon-didnt-constitute-confession-guilt-court-2021-09-23/] https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/proud-boys-leaders-sue-u-s-over-jan-6-prosecutions-90f9f4ce [https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/proud-boys-leaders-sue-u-s-over-jan-6-prosecutions-90f9f4ce] https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/jury-convicts-four-leaders-proud-boys-seditious-conspiracy-related-us-capitol-breach [https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/jury-convicts-four-leaders-proud-boys-seditious-conspiracy-related-us-capitol-breach] https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/05/enrique-tarrio-prison-sentencing-proud-boys-00114104 [https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/05/enrique-tarrio-prison-sentencing-proud-boys-00114104] https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/proud-boys-leaders-sentenced-prison-roles-jan-6-capitol-breach [https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/proud-boys-leaders-sentenced-prison-roles-jan-6-capitol-breach] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y93jgdvqjo [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y93jgdvqjo] https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-prosecutors-decline-to-charge-ex-proud-boys-leader-after-us-capitol-arrest/3872280/ [https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-prosecutors-decline-to-charge-ex-proud-boys-leader-after-us-capitol-arrest/3872280/] https://www.salon.com/2020/12/15/how-did-a-proud-boys-leader-with-a-felony-record-get-into-the-white-house/ [https://www.salon.com/2020/12/15/how-did-a-proud-boys-leader-with-a-felony-record-get-into-the-white-house/] https://apnews.com/article/ashli-babbitt-wrongful-death-settlement-capitol-riot-9f2e60f9dce01237a1e78271cff82f6a [https://apnews.com/article/ashli-babbitt-wrongful-death-settlement-capitol-riot-9f2e60f9dce01237a1e78271cff82f6a] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/us/politics/trump-tarrio-proud-boys-pardon.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/us/politics/trump-tarrio-proud-boys-pardon.html] https://web.archive.org/web/20170423005743/http://officialproudboys.com/news/the-kids-are-alt-knights/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20170423005743/http://officialproudboys.com/news/the-kids-are-alt-knights/] https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/new-fight-club-ready-street-violence/ [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/new-fight-club-ready-street-violence/] https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/fraternal-order-alt-knights-foak/ [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/fraternal-order-alt-knights-foak/] https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/local-rules/rule-204-discipline- [https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/local-rules/rule-204-discipline-] https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2025/05/2025_11-MAY-Chapter-3-RRTFB-5-29-2025.pdf [https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2025/05/2025_11-MAY-Chapter-3-RRTFB-5-29-2025.pdf] https://www.justice.gov/pardon/frequently-asked-questions [https://www.justice.gov/pardon/frequently-asked-questions] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

After losing his job, an ex-Disney employee tried to get his former employer's attention by hacking in and making strange updates to company files. Sources: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69534211/united-states-v-scheuer/ [https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69534211/united-states-v-scheuer/] https://www.eeoc.gov/what-you-can-expect-after-you-file-charge [https://www.eeoc.gov/what-you-can-expect-after-you-file-charge] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/us/disney-worker-prison-hacking.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/us/disney-worker-prison-hacking.html] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.