Aurélien Mondon | Lightnews

Aurelien Mondon

@aurelmondon.bsky.social

14K followers 660 following 3.5K posts

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 .. more

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Political science 65%

Sociology 14%

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Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · Sep 24

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...

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

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 7h

This always looked like a rather odd Nobel Peace Prize decision

Now feels like the whole prize is so devalued it’s probably worth stopping

Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner presents her medal to Trump www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Machado presented Trump with her Nobel award at White House meeting

The Venezuelan opposition leader said she

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Aurélien Mondon

Amy Ash @lolennui.bsky.social · 7h

breathtakingly embarrassing for absolutely everyone involved lol

World news
María Corina Machado says she presented Trump with her Nobel peace prize medal
The Venezuelan opposition leader did not confirm whether the US president accepted the award

Reposted by Pamela Samuelson, Fabián Muniesa, Aurélien Mondon , and 2 more Pamela Samuelson, Fabián Muniesa, Aurélien Mondon, Mark Rice, Joanna L. Grossman

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 9h

The Trump-Vance administration just used your taxes to pay for an ICE agent to do this to a 21-year-old kid, who was only protesting because another ICE agent killed a mother of three, who was only there because ICE agents are kidnapping your neighbors

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Rebecca Solnit, Nandita Sharma , and 29 more Joanna Bryson, Rebecca Solnit, Nandita Sharma, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Mark D. White, American Library Association, Joseph Schafer, Anders Nilsson, Robert C. Richards, Michelle Dion, Aaron Sojourner, Lesley Bartlett, Christine Kooi, Jason Dittmer, James Goodwin, Erol Akçay, Cailin O’Connor, W Grant, Aurélien Mondon, Mark Rice, Ann Bartow, Nicolas Brisset, Sean P. Corcoran, Melanie O’Brien, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Magda Teter, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Oliver Nachtwey, Kevin Grant, Beth Tellman, David Darmofal

Mr. Dan Zak @mrdanzak.com · 10h

Stunning photos from Minneapolis, including this one by John Locher for the Associated Press. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest on January 11, 2026, in Minneapolis.

Reposted by John R. Hutchinson, Aurélien Mondon, Ian Bruff , and 1 more John R. Hutchinson, Aurélien Mondon, Ian Bruff, Michael Larkin

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 11h

The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.

Jeremy Driver @jdriver89.bsky.social · 21h

This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 12h

Of everything, and there's a lot, Labour could say about Jenrick to condemn him, that he "presided over an open borders experiment" isn't just objectively bollocks, it is also hugely offensive to those people whose lives Jenrick ruined as Immigration Minister. 1/
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

And this is what Keir Starmer’s press secretary has said about Robert Jenrick at the lobby briefing this morning.

Robert Jenrick was the immigration minister in a government that presided over an open borders experiment, a health minister who left people stuck on waiting lists, and a Treasury minister during the worst decline in living standards on record.”

While Reform continues to welcome failed Tory retreads, this Labor government is putting the country back on track.

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 19h

Honestly, are Guardian editors that cut off from real life and society or are they that cynical?

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 19h

Starmer might have betrayed everything his party stood for to appeal to people who will never like him (and hate everything his party is supposed to stand for) but at least he will always have Guardian editorial board to pretend there is something from his utterly appalling leadership to save

Headline

The U-turns keep coming – but Starmer’s allies insist they’re his best hope of revival
Pippa Crerar
Political editor

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

You can read the full article here:

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Client Challenge

link.springer.com

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

"... liberal elites end up narrowing the space for democratic disagreement while leaving intact the conditions in which far-right politics can flourish"

4/

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

"By not acknowledging their responsibility for present material and structural conditions, and by prioritising depoliticisation, moderation, and consensus as responses to polycrisis..."

3/

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

"... and their role in enabling neoliberal “centrist” policies over recent decades that have led to the current context of polycrisis"

2/

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

"Liberal elites often mobilise this ahistorical polarisation narrative because it downplays their involvement in processes of democratic erosion"

@juanroch.bsky.social & @daniel-balinhas.bsky.social discuss our article on polarisation hype on @reacpolrn.bsky.social

1/

reacpol.net/polarisation...

Interview: On polarisation hype (Juan Roch and Daniel Balinhas) - Reactionary Politics Research Network

This interview is based on Juan Roch and Daniel Balinhas’s article, “A critique of the polarisation narrative: expanding the limits of democracy, parties and political participation.” (2025)

reacpol.net

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

Ugh...

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

It may seem irrelevant or tangential considering how bad things are but on the off chance things get better, it will be essential to move away from such consciously damaging discourse as it's played a key part in the situation we find ourselves in

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

One tiny silver lining is that it should make clear the threat with Trump was never "populism" but his far right politics and the elitism and authoritarianism attached to it

Yet I feel some have invested too much in populist hype to recognise it and the role it played in enabling Trump & co

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon, Tarik Abou‐Chadi

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

The so-called party of free speech and small government is happily supporting armed, masked government agents conducting “show me your papers” stops and brutalizing U.S. citizens.

Their real “party values” are terrorizing communities of color and anyone else who speaks out.

Remember this.

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks. I've been struggling with wording it to be honest so that's reassuring!

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon, M Josep

Reactionary Politics Research Network @reacpolrn.bsky.social · 1d

📣New interview📣

'Processes of democratic erosion started decades ago under neoliberalism, well before the current widespread concerns about polarisation.'

@juanroch.bsky.social and @daniel-balinhas.bsky.social critique the polarisation hype.

reacpol.net/polarisation...

Interview: On polarisation hype (Juan Roch and Daniel Balinhas) - Reactionary Politics Research Network

This interview is based on Juan Roch and Daniel Balinhas’s article, “A critique of the polarisation narrative: expanding the limits of democracy, parties and political participation.” (2025)

reacpol.net

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

As always, the problem is not just how emboldened reactionaries are, but how they are covered by the mainstream media

Fascism can be stopped but there is clearly little appetite in editorial board meetings...

Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 13d

I wrote about Grok's CSAM problem and how journalists keep fumbling the story

www.readtpa.com/p/grok-cant-...

Grok Can't Apologize. Grok Isn't Sentient. So Why Do Headlines Keep Saying It Did?

Elon Musk’s chatbot has been “undressing” women and children in public. Journalists are letting xAI off the hook by pretending the bot is responsible.

www.readtpa.com

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

Grok Can't Apologize. Grok Isn't Sentient. So Why Do Headlines Keep Saying It Did?

Elon Musk’s chatbot has been “undressing” women and children in public. Journalists are letting xAI off the hook by pretending the bot is responsible.

www.readtpa.com

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

... at least as it stands and these radical breaks could lead to different paths and horizons of course

However, considering the strength of the reactionary international movement, it's hard to be optimistic that decisions and power will be put in the hands of the people...

I hope to be wrong

2/

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 1d

The situation is so incredibly messed up

Full solidarity must of course be extended to protesters *obviously* and yet it is clear those most likely to topple and replace this abominable regime do not have democracy at heart

Much like Venezuela, there seems to be no real positive alternative...

1/

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Andy Fleming @slackbastard.bsky.social · 1d

All else aside, the news comes

'just one day after white supremacist group the National Socialist Network'

yadda yadda.

What's the convention at the ABC on describing the NSN, and why is it not simply & accurately termed 'neo-Nazi'?

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Sydney prayer hall linked to notorious preacher to close down

A controversial prayer hall in south-west Sydney linked to notorious Islamic preacher Wisam Haddad has announced it will permanently close.

www.abc.net.au

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 2d

😌

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

hannah gais @hannahgais.bsky.social · 2d

Update: Betar, the racist, ultra-Zionist group that encouraged the Trump administration to target pro-Palestine demonstrators, is winding down operations following an investigation by the NY Attorney General. OAG found that Betar's harassment violated state civil rights law ag.ny.gov/press-releas...

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Jeremy Littau @jeremylittau.com · 2d

The way I'm viewing the problem at the start of 2026:

Tech platforms are incentivized to filter things like this out, to appease Trump.

News orgs are so damn cautious about taking a side they aren't surfacing things like this at scale.

So: education about what's happening in MN and beyond is p2p.

Reposted by Stacy D. VanDeveer, Aurélien Mondon, Manisha Sinha

Annika Brockschmidt @ardenthistorian.bsky.social · 2d

Framing a violation of international law in the way of “4 easy steps to optimise your skincare routine” is a new level of ghoulishness.
I don’t even know what to say at this point.

Politico EU: How Trump gets Greenland in 4 easy steps
And worryingly for the Danes, it looks like he's started...

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 1 more Stephan Lewandowsky, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Aurélien Mondon

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 3d

Kemi going to bat for the non-consensual, violent, child porn app formerly known as X.

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.bsky.social · 4d

Seeing what Trump has been doing and how he's supported the far right internationally, it's amazing to still see parts of the mainstream elite give the far right in their country the benefit of the doubt as if playing by "the democratic rules" was ever more than a thin veneer over fascist politics

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