Posting Through It 040: What the Hell is Antifa? feat. Christopher Mathias
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Sep 29, 2025 Christopher Mathias, a journalist and author focused on far-right movements, joins to explore the origins of the anti-fascist label. He discusses Trump's executive orders targeting Antifa and critiques a controversial study claiming rising left-wing terrorism. Mathias sheds light on how MAGA portrays Antifa as a hidden army and revisits the pivotal Charlottesville incident. He also reflects on the implications of designating Antifa as a terrorist group, emphasizing the dangers of misinformation and political repression. His forthcoming book offers deeper insights into these critical issues.
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Antifa Research Reads Like Spycraft
- Jared Holt recounts anti-fascist research as espionage, with activists infiltrating extremist chats and doxing members.
- That work toppled groups like Identity Europa and exposed members involved in Charlottesville.
Gettysburg 'Piss Patrol' Farce
- Jared Holt describes covering a fake Antifa panic in Gettysburg where neo-Confederates mobilized for a non-existent threat.
- The day ended with a self-inflicted gunshot and exposed how hoaxes mobilize armed right-wing actors.
Small Flyers, Big Moral Panics
- The 'Antifa Civil War' panic of Nov 4, 2017 was built from a niche flyer and amplified by right-wing influencers.
- The episode shows how small provocations can be weaponized into national moral panics.
