Carmen Celestini
LightNews LightNews
philofwrite.bsky.social
Carmen Celestini
@philofwrite.bsky.social
3.9K followers 1.9K following 820 posts
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
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
philofwrite.bsky.social
Carmen Celestini @philofwrite.bsky.social · Nov 12
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.
Book cover: the White House, American money, and a cross. Title: God's Angry Men the Political Legacy of the John Birch Society. Author: Carmen Celestini
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
jonseidel.bsky.social
JUST IN from @ilattygeneral.bsky.social: State of Illinois sues Trump administration over its "organized bombardment on the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago."

Full complaint here: illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/News-Room/Cu...
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER ILLEGAL AND RETALIATORY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Trump administration officials over the unlawful and dangerous tactics used by Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Illinois. Illinois is joined by the city of Chicago in the case. “Border Patrol agents and ICE officers have acted as occupiers rather than officers of the law,” Raoul said. “They randomly, and often violently, question residents. Without warrants or probable cause, they brutally detain citizens and non-citizens alike. They use tear gas and other chemical weapons against bystanders, injuring dozens, including children, the elderly and local police officers. I filed this lawsuit to stand up for the safety of the people of Illinois and the sovereignty of our state.” “The Trump administration has repeatedly violated the law and undermined public trust,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “These actions weren’t just unlawful; they were cruel, needlessly inflicting fear and harm on our communities. My administration will forcefully protect our residents’ rights and hold anyone accountable who abuses their power. Nobody is above the law. This lawsuit is about ensuring there is accountability for the lawless actions of the Trump administration and justice for the Chicagoans who have been wronged.” Attorney General Raoul filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Eastern Division. The complaint describes the various ways the Trump administration has attempted to coerce Illinois over policy differences, including by unlawfully withholding federal funds and attempting to deploy the Illinois and Texas National Guards in the state. In September 2025, DHS deployed quasi-military personnel from CBP and ICE to Illinois, initiating… The lawsuit notes that, for decades, federal immigration agents enforced immigration laws in Chicago without significant interruption to public order and safety. Since being deployed to Illinois in September, CPB and ICE agents have killed one Illinois resident, shot another, and conducted a military raid on a Chicago apartment building, detaining all its residents, including children. Agents have arrested hundreds without warrants, randomly questioned hundreds more, and unleashed chemical weapons upon law-abiding, peaceful residents. The lawsuit documents several individual examples of such unlawful tactics being used to terrorize the people of Illinois. As a result of the fear and chaos created by these tactics, local schools have gone into lockdown, social service organizations have had to reduce their services, and courthouse operations have been increasingly hindered, as Illinoisans have been intimidated from accessing courthouses, medical facilities and schools. Illinoisans and tourists alike fear going about their daily lives. Local businesses and economies have suffered, and declining sales have led to losses in tax revenues. Raoul assert that the federal government has attacked Illinois’ ability to carry out its core sovereign functions — to regulate public health, uphold a system of education for Illinois residents, support the state’s economy, provide public safety and administer its judicial system, enforce state statutes, implement state programs, and ensure that Illinois residents receive the full benefits of state and federal law. Raoul argues that this assault on the state’s sovereignty is a violation of the Tenth Amendment and violates the Administrative Procedure Act many times over. Raoul also argues that DHS adopted illegal enforcement policies that harm Illinois residents, including: Rather than utilizing targeted removal policies, using roving patrols of teams of agents to interrogate residents without reasonable suspicion that they are unlawfully present. Deploying biometric scanning to capture and store the photographs and fingerprints of residents who are not entering or exiting the United States. Arresting people without warrants or probable cause. Indiscriminately deploying riot control weapons, including tear gas. Conducting enforcement at sensitive locations, including courthouses, schools, social service organizations and medical facilities without appropriate reasoning. Trespassing onto private property without authority. Concealing and switching vehicle license plates in violation of federal and state law. Raoul is asking the court to order federal agents authorized to enforce immigration law in Illinois to stop using tactics that exceed their statutory authority granted by Congress, including dispersing tear gas and other noxious chemicals without warning against persons who are not resisting, scanning the biometric information of Illinois residents, and entering private property without a warrant or permission of the owner. Raoul is asking the court to require written documentation of the basis for questioning Illinois residents regarding their immigration status and the basis for the conclusion that agents were authorized to make warrantless arrests. Raoul is also requesting a prohibition on enforcement activities in or near courthouses, schools, hospitals and other sensitive locations, except in extenuating circumstances and with safeguards. In addition, Raoul is asking that the court require that all CBP and ICE vehicles have visible, accurate license plates, and only the plates properly assigned and registered to each vehicle. If Raoul’s request for judgment is granted, he is asking that the court monitor the defendants’…
January 12, 2026 at 7:41 PM
philofwrite.bsky.social
I'm teaching religion and the environment and a core aspect is reconnecting to ideals of humanity and nature. Stewardship of nature and each other...and how we can impact policy and gov.

Leave class to find this. I guess we discuss this next class.
January 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM
philofwrite.bsky.social
Completely true! I too had read Left Behind for my phd research.
jeffsharlet.bsky.social Jeff Sharlet @jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 19h
I’ve read Left Behind—professional obligation—and this is true. Cc @petermanseau.bsky.social
sharonk.bsky.social Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 20h
it's incredible how if you put this entire dialog into the Left Behind series, it would basically work, but instead it's just IRL MN
January 12, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
hendov.bsky.social
ppl used to joke that over-generalized 101 history classes were "Plato to NATO"... well the joke's on us, since there will be no more Plato or NATO pretty soon
aaup.org AAUP @aaup.org · 22h
"Censoring Plato is an academic absurdity and a textbook violation of academic freedom. A university that censors Plato—as well as other significant texts—abandons its obligation to truth, free inquiry, and the public trust."

— AAUP President Todd Wolfson
AAUP President Todd Wolfson: An Institution That Censors Plato is Not a Serious Institution of Higher Learning
Censoring Plato is an academic absurdity and a textbook violation of academic freedom. Barring a foundational philosopher who is a cornerstone of Western thought because his work touches on race or ge...
www.aaup.org
January 12, 2026 at 5:38 PM
philofwrite.bsky.social
Interesting that the couple who started this movement insist God spoke to them to start this movement.
youtu.be/RhFXEZVk8_s?...

And God has provided them miracles.

www.westernstandard.news/canadian/chr...
January 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
benlorber8.bsky.social
Yesterday Elon Musk retweeted "white solidarity is the only way to survive". In our numb overwhelmed media environment it barely made headlines that the world's richest man endorsed blood-curdling white nationalism. My brief writeup for @religiondispatches.org

religiondispatches.org/elon-musk-ju...
Elon Musk Just Endorsed Blatant White Nationalism And the Silence is Deafening
On Thursday morning Elon Musk retweeted (with a ‘100%’ endorsement) a post declaring that: If white men become a minority, we will be slaughtered. Remember, if non-Whites openly hate White men while...
religiondispatches.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
apnews.com
Malaysia and Indonesia become the first countries to block Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, after authorities said it was being misused to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images.
Malaysia, Indonesia become first to block Musk’s Grok over AI deepfakes
Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok due to its misuse in generating explicit images.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
deadder.bsky.social
The Globe and Mail
January 12, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
mattpotteruk.bsky.social
This is a wild hill to die on for someone who creates environments for kids.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games (Fortnite/Battle Royale) argues against CP protections on social media/AI platforms, claiming legislators are ‘just censoring political opponents’.

www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney argues banning Twitter over its ability to AI-generate pornographic images of minors is just 'gatekeepers' attempting to 'censor all of their political opponents'
Not the hill I'd die on, but I'm not a billionaire.
www.pcgamer.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:53 PM
philofwrite.bsky.social
Obviously no one in the Trump administration is on cottage cheese tik tok or ig. Protein abd cottage cheese have their own realm of influencers.

Sigh.
anamariecox.bsky.social Ana Marie Cox @anamariecox.bsky.social · 22h
Trump padding out his peace prize resume by ending another non-existent war.
January 12, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
lukelebrun.ca
Do Canadian MPs actually connect with the public on X?

I looked at RTs and views for every tweet* sent by Liberal MPs yesterday

Out of 46 tweets, 21 Liberal MPs racked up a combined 475 retweets

34% had zero RTs. Only 17% got more than 10 RTs

3 tweets accounted for over half of all engagement
Name Retweets Views Iqra Khalid 0 88 Maggie Chi 1 33 Hedy Fry 0 246 Maninder Sidhu 8 906 Maninder Sidhu 2 269 Shafqat Ali 1 72 Shafqat Ali 0 53 Rob Oliphant 1 216 Aslam Rana 0 48 Rob Oliphant 3 215 Taleeb Noormohamed 3 645 Rob Oliphant 2 188 Rob Oliphant 0 119 Eleanor Olzewski 3 221 Eleanor Olzewski 1 124 Randeep Sarai 0 167 Randeep Sarai 0 105 Anita Anand 8 2000 Sima Acan 0 120 Anita Anand 5 1400 Ali Ehasassi 13 2000 Ali Ehasassi 33 15000 Anita Anand 21 8200 Anita Anand 3 963 Maninder Sidhu 131 19000 Maninder Sidhu 2 450 Yasir Naqvi 1 233 Sameer Zuberi 0 141 Randeep Sarai 0 141 Randeep Sarai 0 124 Terry Duguid 0 359 Sameer Zuberi 0 124 Marjorie Michel 0 58 Marjorie Michel 3 93 Sima Acan 0 78 John Zerucelli 2 132 Anita Anand 5 1200 Anita Anand 25 2800 Francois-Philippe Champagne 60 6300 Francois-Philippe Champagne 9 1500 Anita Anand 37 4400 Anita Anand 7 2400 Marianne Dandurand 0 25 Anita Anand 78 10000 Anita Anand 5 1800 Ben Carr 2 205
January 12, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
drdragases.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
politico.eu
The U.K.'s communications watchdog Ofcom said it has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform X over reports that its AI chatbot Grok is producing non-consensual sexualized deepfakes of women and children.
Elon Musk’s X probed by UK watchdog over Grok deepfakes
The investigation will look at whether platform has complied with its duties under the U.K.’s Online Safety Act.
www.politico.eu
January 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
philofwrite.bsky.social
As I doomscroll I see Trump declaring a new presidency, J6 people running for office, Powell, ICE reports...the NFL and Golden Globe updates.

Thank you for reminding me there is stuff happening other than the end of the USA.
January 12, 2026 at 2:11 AM
philofwrite.bsky.social
This seems like the career route for criminals and thugs now, elected official.
January 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
philofwrite.bsky.social
So. Trump posted this on Truth Social Media.

I have no words.
January 12, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
jacobtlevy.bsky.social
How it’s going
January 12, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
federalreserve.gov
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
joelhs.bsky.social
This is just blatant, unabashed white nationalism. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
Trump Says Civil Rights Led to White People Being ‘Very Badly Treated’
www.nytimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
meidastouch.com
BREAKING: ICE agents pepper-spray peaceful demonstrators and journalists and deploy chemical irritants in Minneapolis.

Our partners @statuscoupnews.bsky.social captured the moment live on the ground as it happened.
January 11, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
shawnmicallef.bsky.social
Kinda hard to ever be taken seriously when it comes to child or revenge porn ever again. Everyday there’s some new looking glass to cross thru but this one is particularly gross. Not long ago being in the same space or adjacent to such things was morally unconscionable. Now, officially, “meh”.
January 11, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
sifill.bsky.social
Well this is something.
January 11, 2026 at 7:40 PM
philofwrite.bsky.social
As I scroll through social media, I am finding solace in the thought of making my lecture notes for this week. This is one of the rare times I am teaching about hope and goodness.

There is something to be said about having to focus on goodness in the chaos of so much evil.
January 11, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
brendannyhan.bsky.social
Authoritarian governments accuse their opponents of terrorism and otherwise try to criminalize protest and justify persecution of those who resist them
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d
WELKER: Noem called it an "act of domestic terrorism." What's the evidence?

HOMAN: If they didn't have sanctuary policies--

W: To be clear, is anyone who protests ICE a domestic terrorist?

HOMAN: It's case by case. If you look at the definition of terrorism, it certainly could fall within it
January 11, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Carmen Celestini
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
The message from the White House this morning is that, once again, it falls on ordinary American citizens to remain calm and professional when dealing with the heavily armed agents of the government because they are very emotional and might fly off into a murderous rage at the slightest insult.
January 11, 2026 at 3:19 PM