Joan Braune
@joanbraune.bsky.social
She/her - Lecturer in Philosophy at Gonzaga University. Research and community education countering fascist movements, hate, and Christian nationalism
I also really like rivers and trees
http://joanbraune.com
I also really like rivers and trees
http://joanbraune.com
Pinned
Joan Braune
@joanbraune.bsky.social
· Sep 22
Fighting Fascism with Dr. Joan Braune by Whiplash with Maxwell Kuzma
What if the “insider knowledge” driving today’s far-right movements isn’t Christian at all? Dr. Joan Braune joins us to expose how figures like Steve Bannon twist ancient Roman myths about history int...
creators.spotify.com
Really enjoyed being interviewed by Max and Emma for Whiplash podcast. We talked about the "spectrum of religious sincerity" among Catholic fascists and how adopting "traditional" aesthetics can mean multiple things.
Reposted by Joan Braune
it's kinda crazy how many Dem governors released statements for TDOR while simultaneously having their hands caught deep in the "complicit in the systemic torture and rape of trans women" jar
While Maryland Gov. Moore posted about Trans Day of Rememberance, his state was torturing a trans woman by denying her hormones and housing her with men--according to her lawyer--for 2 months.
All of this for "hate crime" charges from alleged vandalism of a trans symbol near a Catholic school.
All of this for "hate crime" charges from alleged vandalism of a trans symbol near a Catholic school.
November 22, 2025 at 10:31 PM
it's kinda crazy how many Dem governors released statements for TDOR while simultaneously having their hands caught deep in the "complicit in the systemic torture and rape of trans women" jar
Reposted by Joan Braune
Every parent whose career has to do with online safety also bans Roblox.
Every game designer parent I know bans Roblox for their kids
November 22, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Every parent whose career has to do with online safety also bans Roblox.
Anyone know which other three academic research centers are being targeted with this besides GWU?
A powerful US Senate committee has requested that multiple academic research centers focused on political extremism hand over years worth of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to information obtained by WIRED. www.wired.com/story/senato...
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Anyone know which other three academic research centers are being targeted with this besides GWU?
Reposted by Joan Braune
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Reposted by Joan Braune
To my knowledge they haven’t been able to fill their open position for addressing terrorism and violent extremist threats to children on their platform in over a year.
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
To my knowledge they haven’t been able to fill their open position for addressing terrorism and violent extremist threats to children on their platform in over a year.
Reposted by Joan Braune
Love 2 be the premier app for child predators to prey on children (please please please don’t let your children use Roblox)
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Love 2 be the premier app for child predators to prey on children (please please please don’t let your children use Roblox)
Reposted by Joan Braune
My hometown absolutely floored me this past week. FLOORED.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
We'll see if they actually mean it, but this announcement after one week confirms that Charlotte was impeccably well organized for this moment.
www.cbsnews.com/news/charlot...
www.cbsnews.com/news/charlot...
Federal immigration crackdown in Charlotte, North Carolina, has ended, sheriff's office says
A federal immigration crackdown based in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, is now over, a local law enforcement agency said Thursday.
www.cbsnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
My hometown absolutely floored me this past week. FLOORED.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
For safety reasons, I haven’t said much about it. But I’m so damn proud of my family and friends. So proud.
Reposted by Joan Braune
The number of ICE facilities has increased by nearly 100 over the last 12 months.
According to the ICE facilities page, there are currently a total of 221 facilities holding detainees.
By comparison, at this time last year, there were a total of 124 facilities that ICE reported on the list.
According to the ICE facilities page, there are currently a total of 221 facilities holding detainees.
By comparison, at this time last year, there were a total of 124 facilities that ICE reported on the list.
November 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The number of ICE facilities has increased by nearly 100 over the last 12 months.
According to the ICE facilities page, there are currently a total of 221 facilities holding detainees.
By comparison, at this time last year, there were a total of 124 facilities that ICE reported on the list.
According to the ICE facilities page, there are currently a total of 221 facilities holding detainees.
By comparison, at this time last year, there were a total of 124 facilities that ICE reported on the list.
Reposted by Joan Braune
After more than two months with no updates, ICE has finally released new detention statistics.
ICE reports a total of 65,135 detainees as of Nov. 16, 2025.
www.ice.gov/detain/deten...
ICE reports a total of 65,135 detainees as of Nov. 16, 2025.
www.ice.gov/detain/deten...
Detention Management
www.ice.gov
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
After more than two months with no updates, ICE has finally released new detention statistics.
ICE reports a total of 65,135 detainees as of Nov. 16, 2025.
www.ice.gov/detain/deten...
ICE reports a total of 65,135 detainees as of Nov. 16, 2025.
www.ice.gov/detain/deten...
Reposted by Joan Braune
I know people are closely following what's going on the US and the horrors of ICE, but do you know how Canada is quickly and quietly is growing its deportation machinery?
Canada plans to increase deportations by 25 percent over the next two years. 25 PERCENT!!!
Here are 5 other things to know:
Canada plans to increase deportations by 25 percent over the next two years. 25 PERCENT!!!
Here are 5 other things to know:
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I know people are closely following what's going on the US and the horrors of ICE, but do you know how Canada is quickly and quietly is growing its deportation machinery?
Canada plans to increase deportations by 25 percent over the next two years. 25 PERCENT!!!
Here are 5 other things to know:
Canada plans to increase deportations by 25 percent over the next two years. 25 PERCENT!!!
Here are 5 other things to know:
Reposted by Joan Braune
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.
Reposted by Joan Braune
Emma and I co-wrote this piece looking at using the Virgin Mary within protest art for @sojo.net
sojo.net/articles/opi...
sojo.net/articles/opi...
Of Course the Virgin Mary Would Trample ICE
Queer Catholic artist Libby Kercher's recent depiction of Mary trampling a serpent labeled ICE emphasizes Mary's role as the patroness of the oppressed.
sojo.net
November 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Emma and I co-wrote this piece looking at using the Virgin Mary within protest art for @sojo.net
sojo.net/articles/opi...
sojo.net/articles/opi...
Reposted by Joan Braune
The only way to understand this is to realize that they are eugenicists.
To Survive the Next Pandemic, Walk More, the NIH Says
The agency is picking up Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s argument that a healthy immune system can keep even pandemic germs at bay.
www.theatlantic.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The only way to understand this is to realize that they are eugenicists.
I just used this example in Logic class as an appeal to ignorance fallacy before seeing the CDC website 🤦
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 AM
I just used this example in Logic class as an appeal to ignorance fallacy before seeing the CDC website 🤦
Reposted by Joan Braune
I’m at Hoover Elementary where there was some ICE presence earlier. The school is on lockdown and community members are chanting “say it loud say it clear immigrants are welcome here”
No obvious sign of any federal agents in the area now
No obvious sign of any federal agents in the area now
November 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I’m at Hoover Elementary where there was some ICE presence earlier. The school is on lockdown and community members are chanting “say it loud say it clear immigrants are welcome here”
No obvious sign of any federal agents in the area now
No obvious sign of any federal agents in the area now
Reposted by Joan Braune
ChatGPT’s signature writing style is everywhere now, and I hate it. It reminds me of when we tried mixing all the beverages at the soda fountain in middle school. We didn’t actually create the perfect drink, we just made a cloying monstrosity that lost everything good about its constituent parts.
November 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
ChatGPT’s signature writing style is everywhere now, and I hate it. It reminds me of when we tried mixing all the beverages at the soda fountain in middle school. We didn’t actually create the perfect drink, we just made a cloying monstrosity that lost everything good about its constituent parts.
Reposted by Joan Braune
Over 20,000 students stayed home from school Monday in Charlotte amid ICE raids, representing 15% of enrollment
The district is nearly one-third Hispanic, per WBTV
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/18/n...
The district is nearly one-third Hispanic, per WBTV
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/18/n...
Nearly 21,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg students absent from school on Monday, officials say
Officials did not make it clear if the absences were connected to the on-going immigration operation in the city.
www.wbtv.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Over 20,000 students stayed home from school Monday in Charlotte amid ICE raids, representing 15% of enrollment
The district is nearly one-third Hispanic, per WBTV
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/18/n...
The district is nearly one-third Hispanic, per WBTV
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/18/n...
Reposted by Joan Braune
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say.
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say
According to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges, officers started the three-day sting on Nov. 5. They used several methods to find people who were attempting to solicit a 17-year-old girl for sex.
www.cbsnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say.
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
Reposted by Joan Braune
MUST WATCH: Meet the neo-Nazi targeting kids online, teaching them to hate and to prepare to kill www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
Meet the neo-Nazi targeting kids online, teaching them to hate and to prepare to kill
A Phil Williams NC5 Investigates report on a neo-Nazi targeting kids online, telling them to prepare for a 'race war'
www.newschannel5.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
MUST WATCH: Meet the neo-Nazi targeting kids online, teaching them to hate and to prepare to kill www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
Reposted by Joan Braune
The issue was never polarisation
When far-right politics are on the rise and being mainstreamed, opposing them uncompromisingly is the only way forward, not the extreme of a spectrum where the status quo is the reasonable middle ground
When far-right politics are on the rise and being mainstreamed, opposing them uncompromisingly is the only way forward, not the extreme of a spectrum where the status quo is the reasonable middle ground
The ‘polarisation narrative’ simplifies complex issues by constructing a spectrum where good should be found in the middle of diametrically opposed political positions
New preprint article by @juanroch.bsky.social, @daniel-balinhas.bsky.social and I
1/
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
New preprint article by @juanroch.bsky.social, @daniel-balinhas.bsky.social and I
1/
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) A critique of the polarisation narrative: Expanding the limits of democracy, parties and political participation
PDF | To cite: Roch J, Balinhas, D and Mondon A (2025) 'A critique of the polarisation narrative: Expanding the limits of democracy, parties and... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on R...
www.researchgate.net
November 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The issue was never polarisation
When far-right politics are on the rise and being mainstreamed, opposing them uncompromisingly is the only way forward, not the extreme of a spectrum where the status quo is the reasonable middle ground
When far-right politics are on the rise and being mainstreamed, opposing them uncompromisingly is the only way forward, not the extreme of a spectrum where the status quo is the reasonable middle ground
Reposted by Joan Braune
Via @charlotteobserver.com: Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship
Witnesses say one man was detained while doing yard work while his wife and child were inside.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Via @charlotteobserver.com: Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
“Inside the church, women and children sobbed as they wondered whether their loved ones had been taken.” www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Joan Braune
MTG isn't rebranding as a moderate, she's circling the wagons w Massie in the America First / Fuentes fash camp. There's some populist overlap w the left there, which fools some Liberals into misreading the coding. But she hasn't changed.
Her core is protectionist xenophobia & antisemitism.
Her core is protectionist xenophobia & antisemitism.
She’s definitely on a rebrand tour. And she’s rebranding herself as more moderate which tells me she has grand ambitions
Like a canary in a coal mine, this rat knows the ship is sinking and has scurried down the hawser. The other rats will catch on soon,
November 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
MTG isn't rebranding as a moderate, she's circling the wagons w Massie in the America First / Fuentes fash camp. There's some populist overlap w the left there, which fools some Liberals into misreading the coding. But she hasn't changed.
Her core is protectionist xenophobia & antisemitism.
Her core is protectionist xenophobia & antisemitism.
Reposted by Joan Braune
Per the article, he has been in the US since 1952, when he arrived legally with his family. He was five. He seems to have never gotten his citizenship papers in order, but attended his immigration meetings regularly.
He was taken into custody last month and taken to Alligator Alcatraz.
Fuck ICE.
He was taken into custody last month and taken to Alligator Alcatraz.
Fuck ICE.
November 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Per the article, he has been in the US since 1952, when he arrived legally with his family. He was five. He seems to have never gotten his citizenship papers in order, but attended his immigration meetings regularly.
He was taken into custody last month and taken to Alligator Alcatraz.
Fuck ICE.
He was taken into custody last month and taken to Alligator Alcatraz.
Fuck ICE.
Reposted by Joan Braune
A country where so many people will stick their necks out like this to stop an attempted ethnic cleansing is a country worth fighting for.
“Standing for our neighbors, we shall not be moved”
November 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A country where so many people will stick their necks out like this to stop an attempted ethnic cleansing is a country worth fighting for.