BSU’s Scott Yenor ran Action Idaho, which attacked the university, LGBTQ+ people and Republicans deemed not rightwing enough

Boise State University (BSU) professor and Claremont Institute scholar Scott Yenor was the hidden hand behind Action Idaho, a far-right online media platform that featured inflammatory rightwing commentary on politics in that state, documents obtained by the Guardian reveal.

The documents, obtained through public records requests, also show that Yenor sought and received funding for the initiative from wealthy and influential donors like Claremont Institute board chair, Thomas D Klingenstein.

He also attempted to hire a rising conservative writer, Pedro Gonzalez, to lead the initiative. Gonzalez was later embroiled in a controversy about antisemitic remarks he made in online chats in 2019 and 2020. They also show him tapping a network of expertise that overlaps both with the Claremont Institute and the Society for American Civic Renewal (SACR), a secretive fraternal Christian Nationalist organization the Guardian has reported on extensively.

  • Zombiepirate@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    They also show him tapping a network of expertise that overlaps both with the Claremont Institute and the Society for American Civic Renewal (SACR), a secretive fraternal Christian Nationalist organization the Guardian has reported on extensively.

    I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about the various fascist groups, but I’ve somehow missed these SACR chodes. Looks like I’ve got some research to do.

    The right-wing is a fractal of grift, bullshit, and petty grievance seasoned with self-righteous hypocrisy where you can find fascist tactics at every magnification.

    • catch22
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      3 months ago

      I wonder if the full name is SACRED, with the ED elaborating more on their not so secret mission, maybe something like, and Ending Diversity.

    • ultranaut@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      They are relatively new but well funded and actively expanding. From what I remember its mostly a small network of rich guys connected to the Claremont Institute who dream of overthrowing the government and becoming warlords in a fascist theocracy so now they are trying to start a secret society type boys club so they can recruit more followers.

  • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    If a college professor was caught secretly running “a far-[left] online media platform that featured inflammatory [left]wing commentary on politics” this news story would be on front pages from now until November, but since it was a Republican again this will probably disappear from our collective consciousness before next week

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    A far-right, bigoted website was being run out of Idaho?

    Does anyone have a feather so they can knock me down?