Far Right Militias Are Back

Far Right Militias Are Back

Author: WIRED June 20, 2024 Duration: 24:06
Jake Lang was arrested for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. From prison, he has organized an armed militia that now has thousands of members nationwide. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, reporter David Gilbert explains how this new militia came to be and its possible parallels to 2020. Plus, a look into the recent resurgence of far right extremism. Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. David Gilbert is @DaithaiGilbert. Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here. Mentioned this week: A January 6 Rioter Is Leading an Armed National Militia From Prison by David Gilbert Extremist Militias Are Coordinating in More Than 100 Facebook Groups by Tess Owen

Navigating today's political landscape means understanding the forces that shape it online, where the lines between news, conspiracy, and entertainment are increasingly blurred. WIRED Politics Lab is a weekly exploration of this digital arena, hosted by WIRED's own reporters. They don't just recount the headlines; they delve into the mechanics of internet extremism and the spread of disinformation, examining how these phenomena influence real-world politics and policy. Each episode functions as a guided tour through a complex and often chaotic information ecosystem. You'll hear conversations grounded in factual reporting and research, designed to unpack the week's most pressing and puzzling developments. The goal is to provide more than just analysis-it's about equipping you with context and clarity. This podcast offers tools to critically assess the narratives flooding our feeds, helping to distinguish signal from noise. Tune in for a substantive, sometimes surprising look at how politics operates in the age of algorithms and viral campaigns, and leave with a sharper understanding of the digital currents driving our collective future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

WIRED Politics Lab
Podcast Episodes
Laura Loomer: The ‘Free Spirit’ Whispering in Trump’s Ear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:49
From political fundraisers to the presidential debate to a September 11 commemoration, far-right influencer Laura Loomer has become a staple in former president Donald Trump’s political entourage. WIRED’s David Gilbert a…
No Dogs or Cats Were Harmed In the Making of This Post-Debate Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:06
WIRED’s Makena Kelly and Tim Marchman join Leah to discuss the memorable moments, the policies and, of course, the conspiracies that came up in Tuesday’s presidential debate. Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Makena Kelly is @…
The AI Porn Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
A few months ago, everyone seemed worried about how AI would impact the 2024 election. Lately, it seems like some of the panic has dissipated, but political deepfakes — including pornographic images and video — are still…
Influencers Take Over the DNC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:17
The Democratic National Convention organizers really rolled out the blue carpet for influencers this year. Today on the show, WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly joins from Chicago to talk about the Democrats’ strategy of…
Kamala Harris' Brat Summer Is Almost Over. What's Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
Team Trump was winning the internet until the Harris-Walz campaign took over. But Democrats can’t just keep calling Republicans “weird” and celebrating Brat Summer until election day. Today on the show, writer and critic…
The Right is Still Pushing Election Denial — and Pillows [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:16
The election denial movement lives on, thanks in part to the efforts of well-funded and well-organized far-right activists. Today on the show, CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan joins Wired Politics Lab to talk about his…
How QAnon Destroys American Families [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:54
Q hasn’t posted anything since 2022. But a staggering number of Americans still buy into QAnon, the conspiracy movement steeped in claims that Satan-worshiping pedophiles run the US government. Today on the show, journal…
From In the Dark: Season 3, Episode 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:44
Today, we're bringing you a special preview of the new season of the New Yorker investigative podcast In the Dark, hosted by Madeleine Baran. The series examines the killings of twenty-four civilians in Haditha, Iraq, an…
Silicon Valley is Coconuts for Kamala Harris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:54
Today on WIRED Politics Lab, how Democratic megadonors in Silicon Valley are showing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris now that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the race. Plus, why posts from the far-r…