Militias Next Door, US Stateless Residents, Ghosts of War, and More
The latest at Inkstick.
Hello, everyone.
With Donald Trump back in power, the United States has taken a hard turn to the right. Trump’s first presidency was marked by a meteoric rise in far-right groups and vigilante outfits. Now, militias are in the spotlight once again — and we’ve got two items that are essential to understanding what that means.
In the new episode of the Things That Go Boom podcast, Dr. Amy Cooter breaks down the messy internal politics of the militia movement. In short: not all militias are violent, but those that are, well, they’re growing.
Elsewhere, reporter Tyler Hicks takes a look at recent militia violence — including a plan to kill both Border Patrol agents and migrants — and digs deep into the complicated politics of a movement that is fundamentally anti-government but has pledged its fealty to Trump.
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“The Militias Next Door” by Things That Go Boom (Jan. 20)
Dr. Amy Cooter is one of the foremost experts on these groups. In this episode, she tells us the things we’re still getting wrong about the US militia movement. And explains how, by ignoring the movement’s complexities, we might have missed our window for change.
“Trump’s Return to Power Puts Militias and Border Patrol in Spotlight” by Tyler Hicks (Jan. 21)
Hundreds of heavily armed, civilian-led militias exist across the country, and many of the groups at the southern border are friendly with law enforcement. Some even provide auxiliary support for local sheriffs and Border Patrol, calling local law enforcement when they encounter migrants near the border.
“The Ghosts of War Haunting Beirut’s Gaza Hospital” by Madeline Edwards (Jan. 21)
Lebanon’s civil war began 50 years ago. Among its haunts is a Palestinian-run hospital that bore witness to two massacres. Once a beacon of hope for Palestinian refugees in the country, the hospital is now squatted by hundreds of people who call it home.
“What’s in a Name? Tibet, Xizang, and the Politics of Erasure” by Victoria Jones (Jan. 22)
Museums are guardians of historical narratives and play inherently political roles in shaping perceptions across time and space. Yet, some museums have used the Chinese name Xizang in place of Tibet, a move Tibetan activists have sounded the alarm on.
“Hundreds of Thousands of Stateless US Residents Have Nowhere to Go” by Mathew Schumer (Jan. 23)
The Biden administration did away with many of the hardline immigration policies of the first Trump president. But with Trump back in the White House and reintroducing hardline immigration policies, over 200,000 American residents experiencing statelessness could be caught in a wave of mass deportations.
“To Squash Dissent, Pakistan Adopts China’s ‘Great Firewall’” by Marcus Andreopoulos (Jan. 24)
Throughout the past year, turmoil has plagued relations between China and Pakistan. Deadly political violence has hobbled efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation. Many have specifically targeted Chinese construction projects and workers. Now, Pakistan is turning to imposing internet shutdowns and blackouts to quell unrest.
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.