Spencer Sunshine
@transform6789.bsky.social
independent scholar & political analyst. Author of “Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism: The Origins & Afterlife of James Mason's ‘Siege’. www.patreon.com/spencersunshine
Pinned
The Far Right Is Quietly Building Power Under Trump
Extremist groups are some of the biggest winners of the second Trump administration.
newrepublic.com
My annual wrap-up of the US Far Right is out! I look at the soaring fortunes of the Active Club, Groypers & Blood Tribe; arrests of neo-Nazis and NVE actors for encouraging & committing murder; and the Trump admin's conspiracy theories & fashy graphics.
Please share!
newrepublic.com/article/2049...
Please share!
newrepublic.com/article/2049...
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
smh More blatantly illegal shit. Illegality the likes of which have never been seen before…
Trump: "Starting February 1, we're not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities"
January 13, 2026 at 9:02 PM
smh More blatantly illegal shit. Illegality the likes of which have never been seen before…
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
"The federal government blocked attempts by local law enforcement to investigate the ICE killing of Renee Good but don’t worry: The FBI is looking into Good’s 'possible connections to activist groups.' They wouldn’t want to miss any opportunities to smear her name."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Send It In, Jerome!
The Fed chair finally learns that the only way to deal with Trump is to push back.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:58 PM
"The federal government blocked attempts by local law enforcement to investigate the ICE killing of Renee Good but don’t worry: The FBI is looking into Good’s 'possible connections to activist groups.' They wouldn’t want to miss any opportunities to smear her name."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
Joseph Thompson, a career federal prosecutor who was the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota last year, was among those who resigned as the Justice Department sought to examine the woman’s supposed ties to activist groups.
Joseph Thompson, a career federal prosecutor who was the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota last year, was among those who resigned as the Justice Department sought to examine the woman’s supposed ties to activist groups.
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
Joseph Thompson, a career federal prosecutor who was the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota last year, was among those who resigned as the Justice Department sought to examine the woman’s supposed ties to activist groups.
Joseph Thompson, a career federal prosecutor who was the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota last year, was among those who resigned as the Justice Department sought to examine the woman’s supposed ties to activist groups.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Sharing last night’s @pbsnews.org segment- whether you like what ai have to say or not, I urge everyone to watch the first part, which brilliantly lays out a series of very extreme images, social media posts and statements by the administration & those close to it.
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Trump administration's posts echo rhetoric linked to extremist groups
Just weeks into the new year, the Trump administration has rolled out a campaign across departments that draws on images and ideas borrowed from right-wing and white nationalist circles. Liz Landers r...
www.pbs.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Sharing last night’s @pbsnews.org segment- whether you like what ai have to say or not, I urge everyone to watch the first part, which brilliantly lays out a series of very extreme images, social media posts and statements by the administration & those close to it.
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.
What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.
slate.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:11 PM
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Ihr habt auf dem Schirm, dass der #Bundestag sich übermorgen erneut mit dem #noAfD -Antrag zu einem #Antifa -Verbot beschäftigen muss?
Deutscher Bundestag - Abstimmung über einen Antrag zu einem „Antifa-Verbot“
Der Bundestag befasst sich am Donnerstag, 15. Januar 2026, abschließend mit einem Antrag der AfD-Fraktion mit dem Titel 'Inneren Frieden in Deutschland bewahren – Antifa-Verbote umsetzen...
www.bundestag.de
January 13, 2026 at 6:55 AM
Ihr habt auf dem Schirm, dass der #Bundestag sich übermorgen erneut mit dem #noAfD -Antrag zu einem #Antifa -Verbot beschäftigen muss?
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the integration of Elon Musk's xAI platform, Grok, into military networks as part of a new "AI acceleration strategy" during a visit to SpaceX.
January 13, 2026 at 4:13 AM
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the integration of Elon Musk's xAI platform, Grok, into military networks as part of a new "AI acceleration strategy" during a visit to SpaceX.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Sitting at home, feeling anxious about everything going on, and don't know what to do with yourself?
Go through the Activist Checklist and secure your stuff.
activistchecklist.org
Go through the Activist Checklist and secure your stuff.
activistchecklist.org
Digital Security Checklists for Activists
Plain language steps for digital security, because protecting yourself helps keep your whole community safer. Built by activists, for activists with field-tested, community-verified guides.
activistchecklist.org
January 12, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Sitting at home, feeling anxious about everything going on, and don't know what to do with yourself?
Go through the Activist Checklist and secure your stuff.
activistchecklist.org
Go through the Activist Checklist and secure your stuff.
activistchecklist.org
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
The authoritarian destruction of democracy in action. This is one of many reasons why removing Trump is only part 1 of dismantling American authoritarianism.
January 12, 2026 at 10:06 PM
The authoritarian destruction of democracy in action. This is one of many reasons why removing Trump is only part 1 of dismantling American authoritarianism.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
This is an actual post by Fox News.
They’re now saying “wine moms” are deadly Antifa.
They’re now saying “wine moms” are deadly Antifa.
January 13, 2026 at 2:44 AM
This is an actual post by Fox News.
They’re now saying “wine moms” are deadly Antifa.
They’re now saying “wine moms” are deadly Antifa.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Highlights from this crazy story we just put out-
- One of the incarcerated women has a lawyer who has spent his time misgendering his client to random social media users.
- The government's case relies on an "antifa expert" who recently suggested support for drone striking weed smokers in the US.
- One of the incarcerated women has a lawyer who has spent his time misgendering his client to random social media users.
- The government's case relies on an "antifa expert" who recently suggested support for drone striking weed smokers in the US.
Two trans women have faced torture, bigotry and horrific conditions since arrested as part of the infamous Prairieland crackdown on anti-ICE protest.
They tell TNN about surviving behind bars, as @thefreeradical.org delves into the absurd attack on "antifa" that's just about criminalizing dissent:
They tell TNN about surviving behind bars, as @thefreeradical.org delves into the absurd attack on "antifa" that's just about criminalizing dissent:
Two U.S. Trans Political Prisoners Recount Torture, Misgendering, Human Rights Violations After Texas ICE Protest Crackdown
Two trans women arrested in an absurd “antifa” crackdown face political prosecution for their beliefs. Experts warn it’s a sign of growing authoritarianism in the U.S.
transnews.network
January 13, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Highlights from this crazy story we just put out-
- One of the incarcerated women has a lawyer who has spent his time misgendering his client to random social media users.
- The government's case relies on an "antifa expert" who recently suggested support for drone striking weed smokers in the US.
- One of the incarcerated women has a lawyer who has spent his time misgendering his client to random social media users.
- The government's case relies on an "antifa expert" who recently suggested support for drone striking weed smokers in the US.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
OUT NOW: @kattenbarge.bsky.social and Ashley St. Clair joined us to talk about gendered abuse online, particularly as it concerns Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot.
Available on all the main podcast platforms.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Available on all the main podcast platforms.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
070: Elon Musk’s Grok is Victimizing Women and Children feat. Kat Tenbarge and Ashley St. Clair
Podcast Episode · Posting Through It · 01/12/2026 · 1h 28m
podcasts.apple.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
OUT NOW: @kattenbarge.bsky.social and Ashley St. Clair joined us to talk about gendered abuse online, particularly as it concerns Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot.
Available on all the main podcast platforms.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Available on all the main podcast platforms.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
later this week i'm going to announce a couple online classes i'll be giving in February. the first will be on Nazi-Satanism, and the other on the 1980 & '90s counterculture and James Mason's brand of neo-Nazi terrorism.
January 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
later this week i'm going to announce a couple online classes i'll be giving in February. the first will be on Nazi-Satanism, and the other on the 1980 & '90s counterculture and James Mason's brand of neo-Nazi terrorism.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
In my world, there's a certain reluctance to being merely, or in a knee-jerk way, a resist lib. That's understandable, even commendable. On the other hand, let's be clear: It's a hell of lot better, morally and intellectually and politically, to be a resist lib than a Vichy conservative.
January 11, 2026 at 2:59 PM
In my world, there's a certain reluctance to being merely, or in a knee-jerk way, a resist lib. That's understandable, even commendable. On the other hand, let's be clear: It's a hell of lot better, morally and intellectually and politically, to be a resist lib than a Vichy conservative.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Losing my shit at Ashley St Clair doing a reverse Naomi Wolf.
January 11, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Losing my shit at Ashley St Clair doing a reverse Naomi Wolf.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
von Däniken relied on the JAQ (just asking questions) method to promote racist ideas through pseudoarchaeological narratives. These ideas permeated all of his books, were broadcast to and normalized through enormous audiences over decades, and have even found homes in far-right places.
This is a fun read but it doesn’t really reckon with the fact that these theories are inherently racist, rooted in the idea that ancient non-western civilizations *couldn’t* make these structures. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/o...
Erich von Däniken, Who Claimed Aliens Visited Earth, Dies at 90
www.nytimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:23 PM
von Däniken relied on the JAQ (just asking questions) method to promote racist ideas through pseudoarchaeological narratives. These ideas permeated all of his books, were broadcast to and normalized through enormous audiences over decades, and have even found homes in far-right places.
von Dänike was a big influence on James Mason’s later books
He laid out the m.o. of modern pseudo-archaeology, i.e., repeat false claims and never correct them: " “Chariots of the Gods” was followed by more than two dozen similar books, spawning a literary niche in which fact and fantasy were mixed together against all historical and scientific evidence."
Erich von Däniken, Swiss writer who spawned alien archaeology, dies at 90
Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose books on the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him both fame and scorn, has died at age 90.
www.seattletimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:17 PM
von Dänike was a big influence on James Mason’s later books
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
It is kind of wild that no big media outlet has busted open the story of who is making DHS' posts on X. Whoever that may be is certainly plugged into hardcore white supremacist internet propaganda with a harder edge. "Groyper" would be underselling it. This is Daily Stormer-tier sludge.
January 1, 2026 at 2:01 AM
It is kind of wild that no big media outlet has busted open the story of who is making DHS' posts on X. Whoever that may be is certainly plugged into hardcore white supremacist internet propaganda with a harder edge. "Groyper" would be underselling it. This is Daily Stormer-tier sludge.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
Also, by their own standards, the cops protecting the Capitol on Jan 6 should have opened fire all over.
January 10, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Also, by their own standards, the cops protecting the Capitol on Jan 6 should have opened fire all over.
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
At last night’s candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire announced he had asked the clergy of the diocese to get their affairs in order and to make sure they have their wills written ...,
January 11, 2026 at 12:48 AM
At last night’s candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire announced he had asked the clergy of the diocese to get their affairs in order and to make sure they have their wills written ...,
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
WSJ investigation: In the past 6 months ICE agents have fired at vehicles 13 times, leading to:
* 8 people shot
* 5 of which were U.S. citizens
* 2 died
* no victims drew a weapon
The playbook: Agents box in a vehicle, block attempts to flee, then fire
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
* 8 people shot
* 5 of which were U.S. citizens
* 2 died
* no victims drew a weapon
The playbook: Agents box in a vehicle, block attempts to flee, then fire
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Videos Show How ICE Vehicle Stops Can Escalate to Shootings
A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.
www.wsj.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:44 PM
WSJ investigation: In the past 6 months ICE agents have fired at vehicles 13 times, leading to:
* 8 people shot
* 5 of which were U.S. citizens
* 2 died
* no victims drew a weapon
The playbook: Agents box in a vehicle, block attempts to flee, then fire
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
* 8 people shot
* 5 of which were U.S. citizens
* 2 died
* no victims drew a weapon
The playbook: Agents box in a vehicle, block attempts to flee, then fire
www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
This image is going around with people (correctly) identifying it as Nazi shit.
For context: it is a lyric from an ethno-nationalist anthem most frequently associated with the Proud Boys/their offshoots and ultra-masculine white separatist Männerbundists
For context: it is a lyric from an ethno-nationalist anthem most frequently associated with the Proud Boys/their offshoots and ultra-masculine white separatist Männerbundists
January 10, 2026 at 2:22 PM
This image is going around with people (correctly) identifying it as Nazi shit.
For context: it is a lyric from an ethno-nationalist anthem most frequently associated with the Proud Boys/their offshoots and ultra-masculine white separatist Männerbundists
For context: it is a lyric from an ethno-nationalist anthem most frequently associated with the Proud Boys/their offshoots and ultra-masculine white separatist Männerbundists
Unsurprisingly, the attack on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo comes after more failed talks. It’s sad that this is a bargaining tool.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Closed-door breakdown in Syria-Kurdish talks foreshadowed Aleppo clashes
The collapse of US-brokered Syria-Kurdish talks preceded the Aleppo violence as Ankara continued to press Damascus on the Syrian Democratic Forces' future.
www.al-monitor.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Unsurprisingly, the attack on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo comes after more failed talks. It’s sad that this is a bargaining tool.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Reposted by Spencer Sunshine
A headline to sum up our times:
January 9, 2026 at 11:09 AM
A headline to sum up our times: