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If All Else Fails

If All Else Fails

By: NCPR: North Country Public Radio
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About this listen

 Far-right extremism is thriving in small, rural communities across the country, gaining the support of mainstream voters and local law enforcement. In this podcast from North Country Public Radio, reporters Emily Russell and Zach Hirsch investigate extremist groups and militia movements in northern New York State, why they're drawing support, and what kinds of threats they pose at a pivotal moment for democracy in the United States.℗ & © 2025, NCPR: North Country Public Radio 010329 Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Introducing: 'If All Else Fails'

    Introducing: 'If All Else Fails'
    Jan 3 2024
    (Jan 3, 2024) In 2022 a sheriff posted a photo online that revealed his ties to the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia. That photo led to a months-long investigation into the broader landscape of far-right extremism in Upstate New York.
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    3 mins
  • Episode 1: The Far-Right Landscape

    Episode 1: The Far-Right Landscape
    Jan 15 2024
    (Jan 15, 2024) When we set out to look at far-right extremism in Upstate New York, we had a few basic questions. What do people believe in? What groups and militias have been active? We found that all kinds of extremist groups have tried to recruit people here.
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    26 mins
  • Episode 2: A Sheriff's Oath

    Episode 2: A Sheriff's Oath
    Jan 15 2024
    (Jan 15, 2024) There’s a far-right group that teaches sheriffs around the country that they don’t have to enforce laws they think are unconstitutional. Some sheriffs in rural Upstate New York have embraced that idea, including Mike Carpinelli, who also has ties to the Oath Keepers militia.
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    20 mins
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Most relevant  
WOW! Left me wanting more chapters of the careful work of these two creative and courageous journalists! I have stayed in and travelled through upper state NY (especially often in the Glens Falls area.)

Not in any sense to the depth of this work, but I am a confirming witness to a subtle slump to the right reflected in symbols, lawn signs, flag displays, noticeable changes in street affect toward the “otherness” of the obvious non-native strangers of my travelling companions.

I do believe that a pervasive sense of anxiety, unleashed as if it was another virus by the isolation of the pandemic, was/is a foundational pillar of the rise of politically violent speech, embrace of delusions, distrust of authority and hostile actions,
large (like 1/6/2021) and small.

The secret chamber of Pandora’s lowest drawer in her appalling box of tricks contained also the devils of doubt, hate, ignorance…..flamed by the drug of anonymous “keyboard courage,”the dark side of the rise of social media.

We Americans (rather all good, equitable, peace-loving people in every country!!) must continue to practice vigilance and summon the courage to speak out in our intimate circles as exhorted by the articulate, well-versed and frank woman, heading up NY office of domestic terrorism vigilance. All is NOT bleak, my fellow citizens when inquisitive, intelligent journalists and wise government leaders such as these interviewed are wide-eyed awake and alert. BRAVO!!!👏🏿 👏🏽👏👏🏻☮️

Calm, reasoned fact supported profile of concerning changes in a rural region of my beloved country, or right next door…

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