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Odette Yousef Odette Yousef is a National Security correspondent focusing on extremism.
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Odette Yousef

Tuesday

Alabama justice's ties with far-right Christian movement raise concern

Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker speaks on the steps of the state judicial building on April 5, 2006, in Montgomery, Ala. Jamie Martin/AP hide caption

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Jamie Martin/AP

National

Alabama justice's ties with far-right Christian movement raise concern

In the days after Alabama's Supreme Court deemed frozen embryos to be "extrauterine children," the chief justice's ties to a movement that experts call "Christian extremist" have come to light.

Alabama justice's ties with far-right Christian movement raise concern

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Monday

Religion

A look at the Christian Nationalist beliefs of Alabama's Supreme Court chief justice

More has become known about the Alabama chief justice's ties to a far-right Christian Nationalist movement that played a major role in the Jan. 6 riot. The movement aims to assert Christian supremacy.

A look at the Christian Nationalist beliefs of Alabama's Supreme Court chief justice

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Friday

ICYMI: Politics News From The Week

The U.S Capitol in Washington is illuminated on Feb. 9, 2024. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The NPR Politics Podcast

ICYMI: Politics News From The Week

This week, former President Donald Trump got a court date for his first criminal trial, lawmakers take another swing at Ukraine aid and we look at swatting, the growing hoax trend that's hitting America's politicians.

ICYMI: Politics News From The Week

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Friday

The border crisis is helping to mainstream a dangerous conspiracy theory

Participants in the "Take Our Border Back" convoy arrive at a ranch near Quemado, Texas on Feb. 2. Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

The border crisis is helping to mainstream a dangerous conspiracy theory

The recent truck convoy that directed national attention to a surge of migrants at the Southern border featured dangerous, dehumanizing rhetoric that once was limited to extremists.

The border crisis is helping to mainstream a dangerous conspiracy theory

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Thursday

National

Border rhetoric could inspire acts of violence, extremist experts say

Republican officials and far-right influencers have ratcheted up rhetoric describing immigrants. Extremism experts warn it represents a dangerous mainstreaming of white nationalist talking points.

Border rhetoric could inspire acts of violence, extremist experts say

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Friday

National Security

Growing list of public and private people are being targeted by swatting attempts

Recent hoaxes raise concerns that swatting is becoming a growing trend in political violence in the U.S. There are still many questions about who and what motivations lie behind these calls.

Growing list of public and private people are being targeted by swatting attempts

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Friday

Violent online rhetoric heats up after Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

The Colorado Supreme Court in Denver hears arguments on Dec. 6 regarding former President Donald Trump's eligibility for the state's primary ballot. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Politics

Violent online rhetoric heats up after Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

Far-right users online have reacted to a Colorado court ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on that state's primary ballot. They're calling for "civil war."

Violent online rhetoric heats up after Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

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Thursday

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits at the defense table while waiting for proceedings to begin in his civil business fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court on Dec. 7, 2023 in New York City. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

The former president continues to recite his greatest hits on the campaign trail, along with adding some new autocratic language. His words are drawing criticism from many, but on his social media platform, Truth Social, he has the base to support it.

Trump Embraces Autocratic Language

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Tuesday

Politics

Trump's rhetoric draws alarming comparisons to autocratic leaders and dictators

Former President Trump has been using increasingly autocratic language over the campaign season. Many Americans have found this rhetoric to be shocking; but for a portion of his base, it is welcomed.

Trump's rhetoric draws alarming comparisons to autocratic leaders and dictators

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Monday

National

Two states are filing lawsuits to curtail the activities of a neo-Nazi organization

Attorneys general in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are fighting to curtail the increasingly public activities of the neo-Nazi organization NSC-131.

Two states are filing lawsuits to curtail the activities of a neo-Nazi organization

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Tuesday

Religion

Speaker Mike Johnson draws scrutiny for ties to far right Christian movements

House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to keynote an event for lawmakers who promote conservative Christian dominance — the latest connection illustrating his close relationship with Christian extremists.

Speaker Mike Johnson draws scrutiny for ties to far right Christian movements

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Friday

For years, the FBI quietly stopped tracking anti-Arab violence and hate crimes

In a still frame from video law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a shooting late last month in Burlington, Vt. The suspect is accused of shooting three young men of Palestinian descent who were attending a Thanksgiving holiday gathering near the University of Vermont campus. Wayne Savage/AP hide caption

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Wayne Savage/AP

National

For years, the FBI quietly stopped tracking anti-Arab violence and hate crimes

When the FBI developed its program to collect hate crime data, it included a category to track anti-Arab incidents. But this code was dropped, masking the scale of the problem.

For years, the FBI quietly stopped tracking anti-Arab violence and hate crimes

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Wednesday

Race

Why hate crimes against Arab Americans have long been difficult to track

The families of three men of Palestinian descent who were shot in Vermont say it was a hate crime. But investigators aren't sure, and tracking anti-Arab hate crimes is uniquely complicated.

Why hate crimes against Arab Americans have long been difficult to track

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Friday

Analysis

National

Did a letter written by Osama bin Laden really go viral on TikTok this week?

Videos praising a letter written by Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden briefly circulated on TikTok this week. But the reaction exceeded the reach of the videos themselves.

Did a letter written by Osama bin Laden really go viral on TikTok this week?

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Wednesday

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news conference with families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol November 7, 2023 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., has long-held ties to Christian activists and leaders — some of whom are linked to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and the growing Christian nationalism movement. We explore what those views are, and why they matter in today's political landscape.

Speaker Mike Johnson's Ties To The Christian Right

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