Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 1d

Bad news for those tracking the far right: Facebook has made searching public posts significantly harder, at least for some users, myself included

Good news: Telegram rolled out a paid public post search (max 10 queries pd). I tested it and it made me happy (and predictably, also quite nauseous)

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 3d

Oh I see 😐 Thanks for the link!

Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 4d

Am I misreading this or does it come across as surprisingly sloppy for an edited academic volume?

I mean this sincerely, not rhetorically

(from 'Did the Woke Movement Hijack Feminism in Poland?' by Magdalena Grzyb, in Culture Wars in Europe. George Washington University, 2023)

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 4d

Indeed, Babis seems set to come into power unless a miracle happens

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 4d

For following today’s elections and street protests in Georgia, here are reliable local and non-partisan sources:
@ocmedia.bsky.social
@publikage.bsky.social
@64project.bsky.social
@civil.ge

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 4d

Some protest organisers are apparently running a live map of anti-riot units in Tbilisi, and a closed chat for sourcing reports. Fascinating, and if it’s a manipulated decoy (I'm not following events closely), even more chillingly brilliant.

Plenty of tech angles to dig into in terms of security

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 9d

'Anna, who defended Maria’s last wishes after her death, and Oleksandr, who survived his brush with death, echo the common theme throughout their stories: the invisibility of their partners to the law and society, the lack of legal recognition for their relationship, and base prejudice.'

Exclusive: How LGBT soldiers shape Ukraine’s defense and future

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” remains the unspoken rule for LGBT service members in Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Hiding their identity protects them from prejudice and risks within their units. But being unable ...

english.nv.ua

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Reposted by Shota Kincha

Dr. Michael MacKay @michaelmackay.bsky.social · 9d

With 99% of votes counted, the pro-democracy and pro-EU Action and Solidarity Party is projected to win 55 seats out of 101 in Moldova's parliament – a clear majority.

The faction loyal to fascist Russia was defeated, despite a massive effort by Moscow to manipulate the result.

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 15d

'Georgia is not an isolated case. It is part of a global web of anti-gender discourse promoted by conservative NGOs, religious movements, and political actors, from Poland and Hungary to the United States and Latin America.'

The Loop @ecprtheloop.bsky.social · 15d

🌈 #GenderingDemocracy No.29
In 2024, #Georgia adopted a new #FamilyValuesBill that mirrors Russia’s ‘gay #Propaganda’ ban.
⚖️ Alexander Kondakov & Sandro Tabatadze explore how this law blends Russian-inspired #AntiGender policies with homegrown political logic.
➡️ bit.ly/4gKVoKg

🌈 Anti-gender governance technologies in Georgia, and their Russian connection

In 2024, Georgia adopted a new legal framework that mirrors Russia’s ‘gay propaganda’ ban. Alexander Kondakov and Sandro Tabatadze explore how this law blends Russian-inspired anti-gender policies wit...

bit.ly

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 19d

When bisexuals were erased from the Stonewall monument narrative, many, even within some queer and queer-friendly circles that I saw, treated it as a hostile yet somewhat random if not ridiculous move. It was anything but random 👇

Lake Faith @contentking.bsky.social · 20d

For Xtra, I explored how the far right conceives of and discusses bisexuality, and why we need to understand that in order to fight for all queer rights:

xtramagazine.com/power/politi...

Understanding what the far-right thinks of bisexuality will help us fight for all queer rights | Xtra Magazine

In the imagination of the far-right, bisexuality represents everything wrong with the modern world. So they’re trying to erase it

xtramagazine.com

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Reposted by Shota Kincha

Kai Arzheimer @kai-arzheimer.com · 27d

I recently read a BA thesis on the prevalence of "anti-gender" ideology in #farright party manifestos. It was quite good overall, but when it came to choosing a graph style and colour palette, the student did the funniest thing👇

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 27d

The image capturing this year’s iconic moment may turn out to have no author in a traditional sense.

Mediazona English @en.zona.media · 27d

One of the 52 freed Belarusian political prisoners, 69-year-old politician Nikolai Statkevich, is refusing to leave the country. Nasha Niva published a photo of him sitting in the neutral zone at the border with Lithuania

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · 27d

I understand that Rochowanski may be critical of the international non-profit system, and I share some of that criticism, but her testimony here was appallingly poor, and also fundamentally cynical toward victims of political repression in Georgia and elsewhere.

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission @tlhumanrights.bsky.social · 28d

Materials from the hearing “Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications” along with a recording of the hearing, are now available on our website:
humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...

Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications

Hearing NoticePlease join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on foreign NGO laws.

humanrightscommission.house.gov

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Sep 4

Sexual blackmail, alongside the planting of drugs, constitutes a core mechanism of routine police abuse, the two favourite instruments of a so-called ‘law enforcement’ system that weaponises coercion against Georgian citizens.

Not quite your usual Bisexual Visibility Month content, but here we are.

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Sep 4

Luka revealed this in his final statement before being sentenced on Wednesday to 2 years in prison for charges over 'group violence'.

Obviously nothing about it was casual, and picking ‘bisexual’ instead of ‘gay’ was a tactic to break down his defenses easier and fish for blackmail stuff.

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Sep 4

A Georgian police officer casually asked 21-year-old protester Luka Jabua if he was bisexual after he was taken to a police station in December.

When Luka said no, the officer replied that he was, and was just wondering if Luka was too (he's not).

Luka Jabua speaks during his court hearing in Tbilisi on 3 September 2025. He stands among other defendants, wearing a dark T-shirt, while a guard and fellow detainees are visible nearby. Image and details via Publika.

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 31

What’s up with these children of God? Gen Z’s rightward shift put into perspective, with nods to religiosity stats, and digital spirituality and influencer culture.

Also: opens with smartphones and circles back, I loved the structure

Are GenZ Becoming Far Right Extremists?

YouTube video by Uberboyo

www.youtube.com

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 27

It's horrifying to hear something like this from a child

Interviewing a minor who has survived a traumatic incident is deeply problematic, even with all key consents (a guardian, a mental health professional, a minor).

Public-interest angle: Americans needed to hear this (I hope it still matters)

WCCO @wcconews.bsky.social · Aug 27

A child whose friend shielded him during the mass shootings at a Catholic school in South Minneapolis Wednesday told reporters that they practice shooting drills regularly in school, but "never practiced it in the church."

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 27

Repressive regimes exploit counter-terrorism and anti-extremism mechanisms to target critics and diaspora members, a practice that also poses a serious threat to the national security of host states. Important report from @icct.bsky.social‬.

The Use of Transnational Repression in the Name of Security: Implications and Concerns

Transnational repression is no longer a hidden threat but a growing global challenge where authoritarian regimes reach beyond borders to silence critics through intimidation, violence, and digital esp...

icct.nl

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Reposted by Shota Kincha

Global Project Against Hate and Extremism @globalextremism.bsky.social · Aug 25

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán is exporting his far-right agenda to Latin America. Through Madrid-based think tanks, CPAC, and alliances with leaders in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, his regime is promoting anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-gender policies across the region.

Read more:

Hungarian authoritarian Viktor Orbán is setting his sights on Latin America

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is extending his authoritarian playbook into Latin America. Using the Center for Fundamental Rights and Madrid as a hub, Orbán’s regime is forging ties with Vox, ...

globalextremism.org

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 26

'I would have no problem with a political jurisdiction saying you need to be in church every Sunday or whatever the details are under the right circumstances - Rev. David Ramirez

I suppose the whole debate represents the more ‘integrative’ flank of the U.S. Lutheran community

Debate on Christian Nationalism | Dr. Joel Biermann & Rev. David Ramirez

YouTube video by On the Line

www.youtube.com

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 25

True, but just to note: their more mainstream cousins will likely push into academia even more fervently in the decades ahead

(Screengrab from '“Feminist Lies” to “White Replacement”: Digital Anti-Feminist Forumsas Spaces of Collective Radicalization' www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...)

Transcription of the screenshot: 'At first glance, alt-right “knowledge” occupies a structurally similar position to schools of theory dedicated to emancipation and social transformation since Marx. As Geoff Shullenberger writes, “[w]hat is striking about the redpilling experience is that it resembles some of the most influential currents of modern intellectual life. Since the late nineteenth century, a series of new variants of the Platonic and Cartesian model of knowledge have arisen, in which radical suspicion is the first step in grasping counterintuitive truths that overturn the conventional understanding of reality.” Yet, while alt-right subversive “knowledge” may share the liberating telos, and thus, the energizing impetus, of such leftist epistemic projects as Marxism, Gender Studies or Critical Race Theory, unlike scholars in these fields, producers of alt-right “knowledge” believe that knowledge generated at universities categorically serves the interests of the establishment. Since they view traditional locales and channels of producing and disseminating knowledge (the university and the media) as corrupt, purveyors of alt-right subversive “knowledge” feel a particular need for proselytizing and have mastered spreading their ‘knowledge’ via alternative channels such as social media.'

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 25

'As long as I could blame it on you, I enjoyed it' 😀 Fascinating read. Thanks for sharing

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Reposted by Shota Kincha

jonas @jh1791.bsky.social · Aug 21

Hey. Metaphor for the sociology of religion just dropped.

apnews.com/video/sweden...

Sweden moves the historic Kiruna Church before an iron-ore mine swallows it

The Kiruna Church and its belfry are being moved this week along a 5-kilometer (3-mile) route east to a new city center as part of the town’s relocation.

apnews.com

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Shota Kincha @kincha.bsky.social · Aug 20

Framing US-style protections as reliable guardrails ignores how they’ve proven fundamentally unreliable and overstates their ability to contain the very authoritarians they’ve helped empower.

Alexander Hohlfeld @alhohlfeld.bsky.social · Aug 19

"Should the right gain more power on the continent (as it has done in Hungary, with dire consequences for free speech), more centrist European leaders could soon realize the risks of the infrastructure they are building to surveil and punish hate speech" @conor64.bsky.social

Europe’s Free-Speech Problem

Republicans are right to criticize Europe for attacking free expression, even if that makes them hypocritical.

www.theatlantic.com

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