Posting Through It 040: What the Hell is Antifa? feat. Christopher Mathias
Sep 29, 2025
Christopher Mathias, a journalist and author focused on far-right movements, joins to explore the origins of the anti-fascist label. He discusses Trump's executive orders targeting Antifa and critiques a controversial study claiming rising left-wing terrorism. Mathias sheds light on how MAGA portrays Antifa as a hidden army and revisits the pivotal Charlottesville incident. He also reflects on the implications of designating Antifa as a terrorist group, emphasizing the dangers of misinformation and political repression. His forthcoming book offers deeper insights into these critical issues.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Executive Order Used As Political Cover
- The Trump administration framed Antifa as an organized nationwide violent campaign to justify legal and financial actions.
- That framing targets left-leaning nonprofits and donors rather than proving centralized Antifa operations.
Questionable Study Drives Misleading Headlines
- A CSIS study claiming a surge in left-wing terrorism has serious methodological flaws that overstate trends.
- The study's narrow terrorism definition and biased coding make its headline claims unreliable.
Antifa Research Reads Like Spycraft
- Jared Holt recounts anti-fascist research as espionage, with activists infiltrating extremist chats and doxing members.
- That work toppled groups like Identity Europa and exposed members involved in Charlottesville.
