OPINION
— Wee Ginger Dug condemns Elon Musk’s X/Twitter for fostering hate speech and divisive content, highlighting BlueSky instead as a friendlier and more inclusive alternative for online interaction.
Far-Right
Populism
— Populist parties have surged across Europe, fuelled by dissatisfaction, distrust, and economic inequality post-2008 financial and 2015 migration crises. Restoring political trust could counter this trend.
OPINION
— Trump’s election victory has fuelled far-right nationalist gains, threatening minority and migrant rights in the US and intensifying right-wing populism in Scotland. Reform UK’s recent growth in Scotland now signals a potential rise in anti-immigration and climate-sceptic influence at Holyrood.
2024 US Presidential Election
— The Texas fracking billionaire wants to rewrite the U.S. Constitution to advance climate denial and other far-right priorities.
Germany
— Germany's Constitution safeguards democracy amid the AfD’s electoral rise. Despite fragmentation and economic challenges, the Constitution, federalism, and coalition governance limit threats, preventing a return to authoritarianism.
France
— Michel Barnier, former Brexit negotiator, is now France’s prime minister, representing Les Républicains. His appointment follows Macron’s failed election gamble. Barnier faces challenges forming a government amid National Assembly fragmentation.
Far-Right Riots 2024
— The far-right protests in England, triggered by disinformation around the Southport stabbings, have been linked to Russian disinformation. We looked at the digital footprint and spoke to protesters. The deeper issue lies in pervasive anti-migrant sentiments.
Far-Right Riots 2024
— The recent riots in England and Northern Ireland stem from ultra-nationalist beliefs linking male violence to “protecting” children, fuelled by misinformation and extremist gender norms. Countering this requires promoting positive masculinities that resist violence, challenging far-right narratives.
UK Politics
— Misinformation after a Southport stabbing sparked Islamophobic violence, exposing how racial biases and political scapegoating fuel racism and unequal responses to crimes based on the perpetrator’s race.
English Nationalism
— The recent violent unrest in England reflects deep-seated English identity issues linked to post-imperial decline, national confusion, and resentment over devolution. Scotland and Wales, which have adopted more progressive, inclusive narratives, have remained largely unaffected.
Legitimisation of the Far-Right
— The recent riots, triggered by misinformation and targeting Muslims, highlight deep-seated Islamophobia in the UK. Despite clear evidence, politicians avoid labelling it as such, instead calling it far-right thuggery or anti-immigration protests.
Far-Right Riots 2024
— 48 locations face potential far-right mobilisations in the UK this evening, with up to 100 events possible. A Telegram list targeting refugee service providers has spread fear, prompting community counter-protests.
Social Media & Far-Right
— Telegram confirmed it is removing UK channels and posts inciting violence, following the deletion of a 15,000-member extremist group organising protests.
OPINION
— The ongoing far-right violence in England, misrepresented as a British issue, underscores the nation’s struggle with English nationalism and identity. Media and political narratives often avoid this root cause, exacerbating tensions.
Far-Right Riots 2024
— Could electoral reform from the First Past the Post system to Proportional Representation reduce extremism and strengthen democracy by addressing grievances and creating a more representative political system in Britain?
Far-Right Riots 2024
— Middle-aged people, often overlooked in discussions on radicalisation, are increasingly drawn into extremism through online misinformation. This group’s vulnerability, due to limited digital literacy and misinformation exposure, has been highlighted by recent riots.