Aurelien Mondon
@aurelmondon.bsky.social
Researching the mainstreaming of reactionary/far-right politics
Co-convenor of @reacpolrn.bsky.social
Reactionary Democracy w. @aaronwinter.bsky.social and co-editor of The Ethics of Researching the Far Right
Full profile:
https://shorturl.at/CiYKm
Co-convenor of @reacpolrn.bsky.social
Reactionary Democracy w. @aaronwinter.bsky.social and co-editor of The Ethics of Researching the Far Right
Full profile:
https://shorturl.at/CiYKm
Pinned
Aurelien Mondon
@aurelmondon.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Article: On reactionary politics (Aurelien Mondon) - Reactionary Politics Research Network
This article by Aurelien Mondon explores the meaning of reactionary politics and its use in our current context
reacpol.net
Core to reactionary politics is a cowardly project that aims to protect and restore privilege and hierarchies of oppression
Some thoughts on terminology and the term reactionary @reacpolrn.bsky.social
reacpol.net/on-reactiona...
Some thoughts on terminology and the term reactionary @reacpolrn.bsky.social
reacpol.net/on-reactiona...
We cannot understand the emboldening of racists/fascists on the ground without centring the role of the discourse of mainstream elite
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
We cannot understand the emboldening of racists/fascists on the ground without centring the role of the discourse of mainstream elite
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
Of course, because this is precisely why they were put up and what they’re for.
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust
NHS staff who care for patients in their own homes fear some areas have become “no-go zones” for them because of the presence of St George’s flags, health leaders have said.
Black and Asian staff have been left feeling “deliberately intimidated” as a result of the flags that were put up in many parts of England during the summer, according to the chief executive of one NHS trust in England, who asked to remain anonymous. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Of course, because this is precisely why they were put up and what they’re for.
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
"As someone working in law, it’s heresy to say this, and it might even kill my chances of a career... But as a trans person, and someone fighting for the rights of my community, I refuse to remain silent. To me it just seems obvious: a heavily prejudiced society produces prejudiced institutions."
It’s no surprise that only 31% of trans people trust a legal system built to enforce prejudice, says Jess O’Thomson.
It’s no surprise that only 31% of trans people trust a legal system built to enforce prejudice, says Jess O’Thomson.
goodlawproject.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"As someone working in law, it’s heresy to say this, and it might even kill my chances of a career... But as a trans person, and someone fighting for the rights of my community, I refuse to remain silent. To me it just seems obvious: a heavily prejudiced society produces prejudiced institutions."
It's incredible considering how grim the news are all around that so much of the mainstream media keeps presenting any progressive alternative, no matter how moderate, as a threat equal to that posed by emboldened billionaire reactionaries and their stooges
What a failure of their basic duty
What a failure of their basic duty
November 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
It's incredible considering how grim the news are all around that so much of the mainstream media keeps presenting any progressive alternative, no matter how moderate, as a threat equal to that posed by emboldened billionaire reactionaries and their stooges
What a failure of their basic duty
What a failure of their basic duty
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
www.researchgate.net/profile/Juan...
What a great and necessary paper: "This article contends that this ‘polarisation narrative’ simplifies complex issues through a bad analogy: the construction of a spectrum where good should be found in the middle of diametrically opposed political positions."
What a great and necessary paper: "This article contends that this ‘polarisation narrative’ simplifies complex issues through a bad analogy: the construction of a spectrum where good should be found in the middle of diametrically opposed political positions."
www.researchgate.net
November 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
www.researchgate.net/profile/Juan...
What a great and necessary paper: "This article contends that this ‘polarisation narrative’ simplifies complex issues through a bad analogy: the construction of a spectrum where good should be found in the middle of diametrically opposed political positions."
What a great and necessary paper: "This article contends that this ‘polarisation narrative’ simplifies complex issues through a bad analogy: the construction of a spectrum where good should be found in the middle of diametrically opposed political positions."
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
How the BBC kowtowed to Boris Johnson. Amazing that, even though we now know what a corrupt, mendacious, useless Prime Minister Johnson was, the BBC are kowtowing to him again
🚨 The BBC’s Road to Appeasement
As the BBC comes under growing criticism for its coverage of Reform, we republish @adambienkov.bsky.social and @baghdaddi.bsky.social’s 2024 investigation into how the corporation's leadership became cowed by the right
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/the-bbcs-r...
As the BBC comes under growing criticism for its coverage of Reform, we republish @adambienkov.bsky.social and @baghdaddi.bsky.social’s 2024 investigation into how the corporation's leadership became cowed by the right
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/the-bbcs-r...
The BBC’s Road to Appeasement
As the BBC comes under growing criticism for its coverage of Reform, we republish Adam Bienkov and Patrick Howse's 2024 investigation into how the corporation's leadership became cowed by the right
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:36 PM
How the BBC kowtowed to Boris Johnson. Amazing that, even though we now know what a corrupt, mendacious, useless Prime Minister Johnson was, the BBC are kowtowing to him again
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
After several decades of monitoring their activities, it's still odd, even if explicable, to witness public figures express shock & surprise at the existence of nazis in AUS, & almost invariably only when it's thrust in their/our faces. So too, immediate calls for more laws & more police.
Anyway.
Anyway.
November 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
After several decades of monitoring their activities, it's still odd, even if explicable, to witness public figures express shock & surprise at the existence of nazis in AUS, & almost invariably only when it's thrust in their/our faces. So too, immediate calls for more laws & more police.
Anyway.
Anyway.
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
lol she got his ass and he knows it
November 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
lol she got his ass and he knows it
Excellent read 🔥
“Climate change is increasingly lethal, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Israel is murdering journalists in Gaza at historically unprecedented rates, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Trans people claim to be real, though critics say…”
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
“Climate change is increasingly lethal, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Israel is murdering journalists in Gaza at historically unprecedented rates, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Trans people claim to be real, though critics say…”
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Excellent read 🔥
“Climate change is increasingly lethal, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Israel is murdering journalists in Gaza at historically unprecedented rates, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Trans people claim to be real, though critics say…”
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
“Climate change is increasingly lethal, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Israel is murdering journalists in Gaza at historically unprecedented rates, though critics say… it is not.” Or, “Trans people claim to be real, though critics say…”
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
Who could have predicted that mainstream media and politicians mainstreaming far-right talking points and symbols would embolden fascists (except all the research available on the matter)?
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
Flags and Christian nationalist slogans feature in soaring attacks on UK mosques
Between July and October, 25 buildings were targeted in 27 attacks, according to British Muslim Trust
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Who could have predicted that mainstream media and politicians mainstreaming far-right talking points and symbols would embolden fascists (except all the research available on the matter)?
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Computational Turing Test Reveals Systematic Differences Between Human and AI Language
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in the social sciences to simulate human behavior, based on the assumption that they can generate realistic, human-like text. Yet this assumption rem...
arxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
LLMs are now widely used in social science as stand-ins for humans—assuming they can produce realistic, human-like text
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
But... can they? We don’t actually know.
In our new study, we develop a Computational Turing Test.
And our findings are striking:
LLMs may be far less human-like than we think.🧵
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
The far right, the mainstream and mainstreaming: towards a heuristic framework doi.org/10.1080/1356...
@k8ebrown.bsky.social · @aurelmondon.bsky.social · @aaronwinter.bsky.social
@k8ebrown.bsky.social · @aurelmondon.bsky.social · @aaronwinter.bsky.social
The far right, the mainstream and mainstreaming: towards a heuristic framework
The study of far-right parties and politics is one of the most high-profile research areas in political science and related disciplines. Far-right parties have been the subject of vast amounts of v...
doi.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The far right, the mainstream and mainstreaming: towards a heuristic framework doi.org/10.1080/1356...
@k8ebrown.bsky.social · @aurelmondon.bsky.social · @aaronwinter.bsky.social
@k8ebrown.bsky.social · @aurelmondon.bsky.social · @aaronwinter.bsky.social
Who could have predicted that mainstream media and politicians mainstreaming far-right talking points and symbols would embolden fascists (except all the research available on the matter)?
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
Flags and Christian nationalist slogans feature in soaring attacks on UK mosques
Between July and October, 25 buildings were targeted in 27 attacks, according to British Muslim Trust
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Who could have predicted that mainstream media and politicians mainstreaming far-right talking points and symbols would embolden fascists (except all the research available on the matter)?
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
This story comes out the same day the architect of this monstrous policy gets approval for a near-trillion-dollar payout from his government-subsidized company.
Utterly despicable.
Utterly despicable.
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:35 AM
This story comes out the same day the architect of this monstrous policy gets approval for a near-trillion-dollar payout from his government-subsidized company.
Utterly despicable.
Utterly despicable.
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Wondering why no one likes your posts anymore, even among your friends? It's because @jay.bsky.team and team have decided to hide a huge amount of content from all of our feeds by default.
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Here's how to turn it off.
First go to the hamburger menu in the upper left corner
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
Yes! When nobody is looking, when it wasn't conventional wisdom, when he was still desperate for every vote, he stood by the most vulnerable kids and had their backs. bsky.app/profile/esti...
Zohran at the rally for trans youth on february 8 ❣️ he was polling single digits.
November 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Yes! When nobody is looking, when it wasn't conventional wisdom, when he was still desperate for every vote, he stood by the most vulnerable kids and had their backs. bsky.app/profile/esti...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
They’ll insist this is a
one-off victory — something that can only happen in New York & nowhere else.
They’re wrong.
New York is the world financial capital — home of Wall Street & billionaires from across the globe.
If everyday people can defeat oligarchs here, we can defeat oligarchy anywhere.
one-off victory — something that can only happen in New York & nowhere else.
They’re wrong.
New York is the world financial capital — home of Wall Street & billionaires from across the globe.
If everyday people can defeat oligarchs here, we can defeat oligarchy anywhere.
November 5, 2025 at 2:54 AM
They’ll insist this is a
one-off victory — something that can only happen in New York & nowhere else.
They’re wrong.
New York is the world financial capital — home of Wall Street & billionaires from across the globe.
If everyday people can defeat oligarchs here, we can defeat oligarchy anywhere.
one-off victory — something that can only happen in New York & nowhere else.
They’re wrong.
New York is the world financial capital — home of Wall Street & billionaires from across the globe.
If everyday people can defeat oligarchs here, we can defeat oligarchy anywhere.
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
BHL, reminding us all he’s still full of shit
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
November 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
BHL, reminding us all he’s still full of shit
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
November 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
It's almost like... like maybe the fascism *never* actually arose from working class "economic anxiety"... like maybe the working class *weren't* actually the ones radicalised by bourgeois resentment of "cancel culture" and "wokeness"... like maybe the working class have... more pragmatic priorities
Remarkable: In Virginia and New Jersey, Spanberger and Sherrill erased the GOP edge among working class. Per exit polls, each got 50% of noncollege voters, big gains over previous contests.
Shocker: Anti-Trump politics appeals to working class, too!
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2027...
Shocker: Anti-Trump politics appeals to working class, too!
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2027...
Trump Humiliation Worsens as Fresh Info Reveals Scale of GOP Losses
The results showed that Democrats don’t have to choose between attacking Trump and highlighting the economy. In fact, they are often inseparable.
newrepublic.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
It's almost like... like maybe the fascism *never* actually arose from working class "economic anxiety"... like maybe the working class *weren't* actually the ones radicalised by bourgeois resentment of "cancel culture" and "wokeness"... like maybe the working class have... more pragmatic priorities
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
Remarkable: In Virginia and New Jersey, Spanberger and Sherrill erased the GOP edge among working class. Per exit polls, each got 50% of noncollege voters, big gains over previous contests.
Shocker: Anti-Trump politics appeals to working class, too!
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2027...
Shocker: Anti-Trump politics appeals to working class, too!
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2027...
Trump Humiliation Worsens as Fresh Info Reveals Scale of GOP Losses
The results showed that Democrats don’t have to choose between attacking Trump and highlighting the economy. In fact, they are often inseparable.
newrepublic.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Remarkable: In Virginia and New Jersey, Spanberger and Sherrill erased the GOP edge among working class. Per exit polls, each got 50% of noncollege voters, big gains over previous contests.
Shocker: Anti-Trump politics appeals to working class, too!
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2027...
Shocker: Anti-Trump politics appeals to working class, too!
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2027...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
And note that he never rejected what some sneeringly refer to as "idpol". Never came close to throwing minorities under the bus. On the contrary. The affordability agenda came hand in hand with him actively standing up for those principles. He could never have mobilised his base like this otherwise.
Zohran's campaign was his determination to make New York a city everyone can afford to live in. Huge congratulations!
His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind.
It's time to write that story across England & Wales too.
His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind.
It's time to write that story across England & Wales too.
November 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM
And note that he never rejected what some sneeringly refer to as "idpol". Never came close to throwing minorities under the bus. On the contrary. The affordability agenda came hand in hand with him actively standing up for those principles. He could never have mobilised his base like this otherwise.
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
🔴The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report
The UK's infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could 'politicise' our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:58 AM
🔴The UK Must Urgently Distance Itself From Elon Musk and Space X, Warns Parliamentary Report
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
The UK’s infrastructure has become far too reliant on the far-right billionaire, who could ‘politicise’ our reliance upon his companies, the report warns
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/04/t...
Reposted by Aurelien Mondon
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too