Teddy Wilson, an expert on the US far-right and Moms for Liberty, discusses M4L's aims, methods, and connections. Topics include M4L's links to the Republican Party, their censorship movement in schools, and their ties to the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. Wilson also talks about the interactive visualisation tool he created for tracking M4L and their activities. Fascinating insights into the sinister political pressure group.
Moms for Liberty is a right-wing group focused on parents' rights and has seen rapid growth across the United States.
Moms for Liberty has connections to extremist anti-LGBTQ groups and far-right organizations like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
Moms for Liberty has been involved in efforts to remove books from schools and libraries and has connections to the Republican Party.
Deep dives
Introduction and Background of Teddy Wilson and Radical Reports
Teddy Wilson, a journalist and researcher, shares his background and how he got into journalism, with a focus on the far right. He discusses his transition from reporting on the US Christian right and anti-abortion movement to covering all facets of the far right, including white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and militias. Teddy also mentions the launch of his newsletter, Radical Reports, which provides in-depth coverage of these topics.
Overview of Moms for Liberty
Teddy Wilson provides an overview of Moms for Liberty, a relatively new group that started in Florida in 2021. He describes their similarities to Tea Party groups and their focus on parents' rights issues. Teddy highlights the rapid growth of Moms for Liberty, with nearly 300 county chapters in 45 states. He also mentions their increasing influence in right-wing politics, including prominent Republican speakers at their annual summit.
Connections with Far-Right Groups and Extremists
Teddy Wilson explores the connections between Moms for Liberty and various far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and extremist anti-LGBTQ groups. He highlights the ideological alignments between Moms for Liberty and these groups, particularly regarding anti-LGBTQ activism and attacks on progressive education policies. Teddy discusses the variation in these connections based on geographic location, with different associations and interactions depending on the local political and cultural dynamics.
Moms for Liberty's Focus on Book Removal
Moms for Liberty, a right-wing organization, has been actively involved in efforts to remove books from schools and libraries across the country. While they claim to be focused on removing pornography from schools, their challenges extend to books that discuss topics related to the LGBTQ+ community, racism, and violence. They argue that these books are inappropriate for young students to read. Moms for Liberty's activities are primarily localized, with members attending school board meetings to voice their concerns. However, they also have connections to the Republican Party, with some leaders involved in local chapters holding positions in the party.
Moms for Liberty's Hitler Quote Controversy
Moms for Liberty faced backlash when a chapter of the organization included a Hitler quote in their newsletter, along with the phrase "hate off." While the intent was to highlight the dangers of indoctrination, it raised concerns about the organization's judgment and lack of understanding. The response from Moms for Liberty was met with further criticism, including the promotion of an op-ed defending them by a conservative rabbi, which carried implications of excluding Jewish people as Americans. The controversy surrounding the Hitler quote and their reactions demonstrated the organization's immaturity and insensitivity, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of the threats posed by groups like Moms for Liberty.
In this episode, Jack is honoured to be joined by special guest Teddy Wilson of the excellent substack Radical Reports. (Links below.) Teddy has been closely studying the US far-right, including the sinister political pressure group that calls itself Moms for Liberty, one of the prime movers in the current reactionary cultural counter-revolution going on in America. Teddy tells Jack all about it, going into detail about M4L's aims, methods, and connections. He also tells Jack about the interactive visualisation tool he's created at Radical Reports for tracking M4L, their activities and interactions with other people and groups on the right. Topics covered include M4L's links to the Republican Party including DeSantis in Florida, their ideological censorship movement to expunge school libraries of anything they don't like, their links to the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, etc. Fascinating (if ominous) stuff.
Just Jack this episode, but Daniel is on his way back. Won't be too long now.
Show Notes:
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