Last week, I joined
on for a Substack Live conversation that I hope every parent and pro-democracy organizer takes time to watch. We dug into the mechanics of far-right radicalization: how fascist gangs like Patriot Front are exploiting the loneliness crisis to groom children, how mainstream platforms are failing to protect them, and what it means for the future of democracy.This conversation was a follow-up to my July 4 piece, The U-Haul Nazis Are Grooming Kids, which laid out how Patriot Front is using social media, flash mob marches, and secretive Youth Clubs to indoctrinate boys into violent white supremacy. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend starting there:
Reed and I didn’t just recap the article—we expanded on it. We talked about the institutional failures that have allowed fascist networks to grow, the psychological tactics these groups use to build loyalty in kids, and the ways that communities can organize to interrupt that process.
Watch the full conversation above. See below for highlights and key takeaways.
Highlights & Key Takeaways
1. Why fascists are targeting kids
White nationalist groups believe that controlling the future starts with controlling children. The entire premise of the "14 Words" slogan is about white children. That’s why they target kids as young as 8, often through gaming platforms, YouTube, and TikTok.
2. The male loneliness crisis is fertile ground for radicalization
Disaffected young men—especially white boys—are being pulled into extremist pipelines under the guise of brotherhood, purpose, and mentorship. These groups fill the vacuum left by the collapse of healthy third spaces and social support systems.
3. Platforms are complicit
Meta has taken some steps to shut down grooming accounts. TikTok, where I do most of my outreach, has done almost nothing—even after being handed evidence on a silver platter. Elon Musk has personally intervened to bring infamous Nazi propagandists back onto Twitter, verified their accounts, and allowed them to make money on his personally-owned platform.
4. Veterans are being targeted too
There’s a reason white supremacists, Russia, and even major corporations want to recruit us: we’re adaptable, mission-driven, and team-oriented. But while some fall for the fascist appeal, many of us are choosing to fight back—by organizing, speaking out, and protecting our communities.
5. What we can do
We talked about real-world strategies for countering this threat—from digital monitoring to community organizing to making sure our own kids are getting mentorship and support before a Nazi recruiter slides into their DMs.
Let’s go on offense.
If you found this conversation valuable, share it. Send it to a parent of a young boy you think could be at risk. Share it with your community organizers. The more we understand these threats, the harder they become to ignore. And the better we get at fighting back.
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