Strong recommend for @josh-kaplan.bsky.social’s “The Militia & the Mole.” Years ago it used to drive me crazy when magazine bros called a story they liked, usually a yarn about a heist, “bonkers.” That time is past, so it’s safe now: this story is bonkers. 1/ www.propublica.org/article/ap3-... - ThreadSky

jeffsharlet.bsky.social • 50 days ago

Strong recommend for @josh-kaplan.bsky.social’s “The Militia & the Mole.” Years ago it used to drive me crazy when magazine bros called a story they liked, usually a yarn about a heist, “bonkers.” That time is past, so it’s safe now: this story is bonkers. 1/ https://www.propublica.org/article/ap3-oath-keepers-militia-mole?utm_source=blueskythread&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-bsky

Comments

paulrosenberg.bsky.social•50 days ago

📌

thescot.bsky.social•50 days ago

Scary more than bonkers, knowing I walk among them every day but don’t know who they are.

anniep73.bsky.social•49 days ago

I'm about half way through. So interesting

michelleriddle.bsky.social•50 days ago

Amazing read

rprovost.bsky.social•50 days ago

I read the article this morning. It's a very good read. I had no idea the 3 percenters (AP3) had been expanding over the last few years or that their founder was a complete fraud about his military experience.

genjcchristian.bsky.social•50 days ago

📌

vorail.bsky.social•50 days ago

challenge us with a question based on the article that would make us more motivated to read the article, and attach your voice so we can feel your message. that would 10x the impact of your retweet. my voice attached, text & voice pack a more powerful punch than text alone.

librariansteve.bsky.social•49 days ago

📌

highstone53.bsky.social•50 days ago

📌

rpaoli.bsky.social•50 days ago

📌

spitandvinegar.bsky.social•50 days ago

Well this is a scary story.

bccoyne.bsky.social•50 days ago

Read this a little earlier today and I'm absolutely enthralled.

jshirewood.bsky.social•49 days ago

Listening to it now

keunhae.bsky.social•50 days ago

Very skeptical of this single source report published by propublica. Screams Stephen Glass to me. Who else has seen these thousands of files reporter says he’s received.

astrobot101.bsky.social•50 days ago

Thanks, I like journalist and they're a dying breed.

dmeee.bsky.social•50 days ago

I don’t understand why we keep calling them militias when they’re terrorist groups.

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

There's no advantage to any liberationist or leftist movement to reifying the term "terrorist," inherently a reactionary usage even when applied to fascist groups such as these.

dmeee.bsky.social•50 days ago

I should’ve clarified; meaning from a government standpoint.

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

Sure, but we're not the government. I'm not, at least; just a writer.

bigpoison.bsky.social•50 days ago

There's a meaningful leftist movement in the US?

statedeptsocialist.bsky.social•50 days ago

The federal government?

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

The brilliance of @josh-kaplan.bsky.social here begins w/ answering his email. In this case what appears to be crackpot correspondence. I wondered if I’d foolishly ignored this guy, the mole; such email becomes common on this beat. Don’t ignore it! 2/

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

The story is “about” the militia movement, which is important; but it’s good writing because it stays close to the mole, his passion & his paranoia. You may recognize the type; but here we encounter a character. 3/

blueeyedgrass.bsky.social•50 days ago

I had not thought about the storytelling angle but that's right I think. I gobbled Kaplan's piece up this morning-engrossing. And it's because it was a compelling story, well told. You begin to inhabit the character and want to know what happens next.

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

That cuts both ways. This news story is better writing than plenty of literary essays. At the same time, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social’s commitment to his man makes this reporting resonate in a way most militia exposes don’t. 4/

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

Lessons all around: literary essayists: take a risk on the world. Fascism beat reporters: we need you to tell stories, not just reel off outrages. Start with character. 5/

jeffsharlet.bsky.social•50 days ago

One last weird thing. In the story, the mole, a Utahn, encounters an AP3 militia leader named Scot Seddon. Wait—in my book The Undertow I encountered an Utah American Patriot 3 Percenter named Scott Sneddon. Did one of us get it wrong?? No—they both exist. Which means nothing. But it sure is weird.

candidwoods.bsky.social•50 days ago

To fight a fascist, u need an antifascist. Call us legion, for we are Many.

bazbro.bsky.social•49 days ago

That is a weird almost coincidence. I Read the article yesterday, so well written and so brave. I wish Mr Williams well as he goes forward.

1ce2everynation.bsky.social•49 days ago

Josh Kaplan & John Williams' story seems a combo or melding of embedded reporting by Williams who provided raw data & interp (like The Family) rec'd by Kaplan & added to by him from other sources, vouched for (by fact checking), & synthesized as literary essay.

ronikmarci.bsky.social•50 days ago

Agreed!

moxieonabeach.bsky.social•50 days ago

📌

playfulmuse.bsky.social•50 days ago

I read this earlier, and I agree with your assessment.

Reads like a novel. I can't imagine how terrifying it must be for this man.

shaenrooney.bsky.social•50 days ago

I read this while eating lunch today. It was absolutely captivating.

olderspicier.bsky.social•50 days ago

ProPublica is always worth reading.

thesnarkygent.bsky.social•50 days ago

*Unless it's an article regarding Autistic people in any way, as they currently could not give less of a fuck about the wellbeing or perspective of actual Autistic people and will instead go to Autism Speaks for a quote

tc-nyc.bsky.social•50 days ago

Thought of the stories in your book as I read this

loriao.bsky.social•49 days ago

A must-read if you want to understand the scope of domestic extremism. The nexus of militia members and active duty law enforcement shows how easily the line between law enforcement and lawless actors can be breached. They think they're patriots.

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