Carmen Celestini
@philofwrite.bsky.social
Researcher in conspiracy theories, religion, gender, extremism, end times, and hate. Lecturer at the University of Waterloo.
Carmencelestini.com
The Canadian Far Right and Conspiracy Theories available December 2024
https://shorturl.at/j9JtE
Carmencelestini.com
The Canadian Far Right and Conspiracy Theories available December 2024
https://shorturl.at/j9JtE
Pinned
My book God's Angry Men is coming out in early 2026. It follows the Christian nationalism and use of conspiracy the John Birch Society from its beginnings in the 1940s to its members founding of the moral majority, the Council on National Policy, and The Heritage Foundation.
Murder. Only oil spoken of not human beings
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Murder. Only oil spoken of not human beings
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111 years old. https://cnn.it/4psWqNX
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111 years old. https://cnn.it/4psWqNX
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
I have a short window in between classes I teach. Not long enough to work on anything, but long enough to go to my office. I scroll through Bluesky...see the chaos of the world...then wander to class to teach "Evil."
I swear I just want to open social media, scroll. That's class.
I swear I just want to open social media, scroll. That's class.
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I have a short window in between classes I teach. Not long enough to work on anything, but long enough to go to my office. I scroll through Bluesky...see the chaos of the world...then wander to class to teach "Evil."
I swear I just want to open social media, scroll. That's class.
I swear I just want to open social media, scroll. That's class.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
As Charlie notes, so many of America's top assignment editors still rely on Twitter to get and share their ideas. Here's reason # 735879374985783478509 why that is fucking nuts.
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
As Charlie notes, so many of America's top assignment editors still rely on Twitter to get and share their ideas. Here's reason # 735879374985783478509 why that is fucking nuts.
This X location reveal is fascinating. The verification process is beyond simplistic pay to get the check, have a profile pic and a phone number to verify.
As someone who has used/paid for phone numbers in locations to get access to some groups I was checking out, it's pretty damn easy.
As someone who has used/paid for phone numbers in locations to get access to some groups I was checking out, it's pretty damn easy.
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This X location reveal is fascinating. The verification process is beyond simplistic pay to get the check, have a profile pic and a phone number to verify.
As someone who has used/paid for phone numbers in locations to get access to some groups I was checking out, it's pretty damn easy.
As someone who has used/paid for phone numbers in locations to get access to some groups I was checking out, it's pretty damn easy.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
"screenshots and screen recordings claiming the U.S. Department of Homeland Security account (on X) was listed as being based in Israel quickly went viral." www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
X's new location transparency feature unleashes questions about origins of MAGA accounts
The function, which shows that a slew of MAGA-branded accounts are apparently based outside the U.S., also stirred speculative outrage over where the Department of Homeland Security account was create...
www.nbcnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:58 AM
"screenshots and screen recordings claiming the U.S. Department of Homeland Security account (on X) was listed as being based in Israel quickly went viral." www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
Democrats scored big in school board races across Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio — flipping dozens of seats.
The party's candidates pushed issues regarding test scores and bus safety over debates about which bathrooms transgender students use and banning books from school libraries.
The party's candidates pushed issues regarding test scores and bus safety over debates about which bathrooms transgender students use and banning books from school libraries.
In culture war backlash, Democrats sweep school boards
The party recruited and invested in school board races to oust Republicans. It worked.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Democrats scored big in school board races across Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio — flipping dozens of seats.
The party's candidates pushed issues regarding test scores and bus safety over debates about which bathrooms transgender students use and banning books from school libraries.
The party's candidates pushed issues regarding test scores and bus safety over debates about which bathrooms transgender students use and banning books from school libraries.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
Current and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers are growing increasingly concerned that the work they did slashing government programs and eliminating jobs will come back to hau...
www.rawstory.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:36 PM
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
But posting a swastika, noose, or confederate flag is fine.
"Countries with state subsidies for abortion, transgender-friendly policies for children, hate speech laws and affirmative action policies will now be considered to be violating human rights under rules imposed at the [US] State Department..."
www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...
www.forbes.com/sites/maryro...
Abortion And DEI Policies Now Considered Violations Of Human Rights, U.S. Says
The Trump administration has overhauled how the State Department conducts its annual Human Rights Report.
www.forbes.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:14 PM
But posting a swastika, noose, or confederate flag is fine.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
Apparently the dementia handlers supporting Trump haven't told him that Bolsonaro is in a Brazilian jail cell right now.
Trump says he spoke to Bolsonaro last night and plans to meet with him soon
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Apparently the dementia handlers supporting Trump haven't told him that Bolsonaro is in a Brazilian jail cell right now.
Took the puppy on an adventure to Queen's Park for the farmer/ostrich farm protest. The turn out grew to about 50 people and a couple dogs.
My impressions were, even with my abysmal math ability that is a percentage of the GTA population that is way right of the decimal point.
My impressions were, even with my abysmal math ability that is a percentage of the GTA population that is way right of the decimal point.
November 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Took the puppy on an adventure to Queen's Park for the farmer/ostrich farm protest. The turn out grew to about 50 people and a couple dogs.
My impressions were, even with my abysmal math ability that is a percentage of the GTA population that is way right of the decimal point.
My impressions were, even with my abysmal math ability that is a percentage of the GTA population that is way right of the decimal point.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:59 PM
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
Based on a lot of research I have done on white men online...this is one of the most f'ed up (yes, a fully scholarly term) version of the online attempting to mobilize irl.
Also I would like to be rewarded for not saying what I want about Texas.
Also I would like to be rewarded for not saying what I want about Texas.
Gavin and Tanner, planned and trained for nearly a year, legal documents say, in an elaborate attempt to invade a Haitian island, kill its Black men, enslave its Black women and Black children and fulfill their "rape fantasies."
www.fox4news.com/news/haitian...
www.fox4news.com/news/haitian...
NTX men planned to murder men, enslave women on foreign island: Indictment
Two North Texas men have been indicted for an alleged scheme to sail to a foreign island, murder all the men, and enslave the women and children.
www.fox4news.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Based on a lot of research I have done on white men online...this is one of the most f'ed up (yes, a fully scholarly term) version of the online attempting to mobilize irl.
Also I would like to be rewarded for not saying what I want about Texas.
Also I would like to be rewarded for not saying what I want about Texas.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
New data from the Department of Justice found that 97% of the 600+ Chicagoans abducted by ICE had no criminal records.
Trump’s thugs terrorized our city for just a handful of lawbreakers. We need to get ICE under control before they attack other cities as well.
#ice #chicago
Trump’s thugs terrorized our city for just a handful of lawbreakers. We need to get ICE under control before they attack other cities as well.
#ice #chicago
November 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
Today on @indicator.media's (free) Briefing: A twinkle of optimism on the AI slop front as TikTok and Google roll out tools to filter and detect AI content.
I remain bearish about generative AI and info quality. But I’ll celebrate developments that increase user agency and platform transparency.
I remain bearish about generative AI and info quality. But I’ll celebrate developments that increase user agency and platform transparency.
Briefing: Good news on the AI slop front. No, really!
Plus: detecting AI-generated images with SynthID, and advanced archival OSINT
indicator.media
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today on @indicator.media's (free) Briefing: A twinkle of optimism on the AI slop front as TikTok and Google roll out tools to filter and detect AI content.
I remain bearish about generative AI and info quality. But I’ll celebrate developments that increase user agency and platform transparency.
I remain bearish about generative AI and info quality. But I’ll celebrate developments that increase user agency and platform transparency.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
For decades, scholars have argued education’s hidden curriculum is about disciplining and socializing children as future workers, and they just….tweeted it out
The U.S. Education Department is moving management of K-12 and higher education to the Department of Labor
Is Trump dismantling the Education Department? Not yet. But changes are coming.
The U.S. Education Department is moving management of K-12 and higher education to the Department of Labor and parceling out other core job duties to other agencies. It's the most sweeping effort so f...
www.chalkbeat.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
For decades, scholars have argued education’s hidden curriculum is about disciplining and socializing children as future workers, and they just….tweeted it out
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
European and Ukrainian officials have rejected Donald Trump’s latest proposal for a lopsided peace deal that favors Moscow, warning that caving in to Russia will only encourage Vladimir Putin to attack NATO next.
Europe to Trump: Your Ukraine peace plan is no plan at all
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s ceasefire blueprint is a blow to dismayed Europeans who thought Trump finally understood that you can’t trust Putin.
www.politico.eu
November 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM
European and Ukrainian officials have rejected Donald Trump’s latest proposal for a lopsided peace deal that favors Moscow, warning that caving in to Russia will only encourage Vladimir Putin to attack NATO next.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
This is great news!
"bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force made up of 300,000 volunteers"
"The plan calls for a “whole of society” approach ... ranging from low-intensity natural disaster response to high-intensity large scale combat operations.”"
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
"bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force made up of 300,000 volunteers"
"The plan calls for a “whole of society” approach ... ranging from low-intensity natural disaster response to high-intensity large scale combat operations.”"
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
The military plans for a volunteer force to defend Canada
Faced with rising threats from competing states and climate change, the top military minds in the Canadian Armed Forces are drafting a plan to bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force m...
www.ctvnews.ca
November 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This is great news!
"bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force made up of 300,000 volunteers"
"The plan calls for a “whole of society” approach ... ranging from low-intensity natural disaster response to high-intensity large scale combat operations.”"
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
"bolster the nation’s defences by creating a civil force made up of 300,000 volunteers"
"The plan calls for a “whole of society” approach ... ranging from low-intensity natural disaster response to high-intensity large scale combat operations.”"
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
This seems right for this admin. They have worked hard to mainstream hate, so why not accept the symbols.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This seems right for this admin. They have worked hard to mainstream hate, so why not accept the symbols.
When you become the "victim" to the designated other, you can not find commonality. You no longer see them as anything as a threat, validating violence, validating dehumanization, and building anger and hatred for those who see the other as humans capable of emotions
this defies parody. also helps explain why Sec Bessent bizarrely blamed immigrants when confronted with a question about high beef prices
November 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
When you become the "victim" to the designated other, you can not find commonality. You no longer see them as anything as a threat, validating violence, validating dehumanization, and building anger and hatred for those who see the other as humans capable of emotions
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
Just a reminder that one of the January 6ers Trump pardoned was arrested last month for threatening to murder Jeffries. Another was sentenced to life this year for plotting to murder the officials who prosecuted him.
Important: House Dem leaders just said Trump's call for execution of Dems has prompted them to contact US Capitol Police and House Sergeant at Arms to "ensure the safety of these members and their families."
Treat Trump like an unhinged menace. He's weak and in deep political trouble. Don't let up.
Treat Trump like an unhinged menace. He's weak and in deep political trouble. Don't let up.
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Just a reminder that one of the January 6ers Trump pardoned was arrested last month for threatening to murder Jeffries. Another was sentenced to life this year for plotting to murder the officials who prosecuted him.
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
“I don't think this was really a business decision,” she said. “I think it was an ideological decision.” Said Lorian Hardcastle
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta's bid to privatize lab services wasted more than $100M: auditor general | CBC News
Alberta's auditor general has released a report detailing numerous failures in process and lack of due diligence by the province in its attempt to privatize community lab services.
www.cbc.ca
November 20, 2025 at 4:30 PM
“I don't think this was really a business decision,” she said. “I think it was an ideological decision.” Said Lorian Hardcastle
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
This is not a surprise
This tracks: Cornell researchers: xAI's Grokipedia cites neo-Nazi website Stormfront 42 times, Infowars 34 times, and white nationalist website VDare 107 times www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia cites Stormfront — a neo-Nazi forum — dozens of times, study finds
An analysis by researchers at Cornell University is the first comprehensive look at Grokipedia since Musk launched his project last month.
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
This is not a surprise