Berlet on the Expanding Far Right of Montana
Posted on 2009-11-16

"The resurgence of these groups involves not only fear surrounding the economic collapse, but also anxiety around changing social and political relationships," Berlet said. “In a situation where you’re asking people to make substantial changes in the way they relate the world – and if you don’t take seriously the resulting anxiety and fear – then conspiracy theories are going to spread."

Rick Warren Won't Denounce Proposed Ugandan Anti-Gay Law
Posted on 2009-11-12

Religion Dispatches covers PRA's call for Rick Warren to denounce a proposed anti-gay law in Uganda.

Understanding the Opposition
Posted on 2009-10-27

Rachel Roth of RH Reality Check, talks about PRA's New activist resource kit Defending Reproductive Justice.

Conspiracy Nation by Chip Berlet
Posted on 2009-09-21

Right-wing demagogues reach out to a supposedly beleagured white middle class, telling them they are being squeezed by parasitic traitors from above and below.

Chip addresses Congressional town hall mayhem on Counterpoint with Scott Harris
Posted on 2009-08-21

Chip talks about extreme right-wing groups’ disruptive protests against health care reform at Congressional town hall meetings.

Chip's research on antisemetic and freemason conspiracy theories referenced ?egg-as-person? article
Posted on 2009-08-21

Wendy Norris of the online forum Reproductive Health Reality Check references Chip in her article about recent trends in fundraising for antichoice groups.  Norris relies on Chip’s knowledge of a particular fundraiser to contextualize its contribution to the “egg-as-person” movement:

“Another fundraising powerhouse is Human Life International, a Virginia-based organization that espouses strict Catholic orthodoxy and an odd blend of anti-Semitic and freemason conspiracy theories, according to Chip Berlet, an investigative reporter with Political Research Associates.”

Fears for Barack Obama's safety as healthcare debate fuels extremism
Posted on 2009-08-21

"This is a very dangerous situation that can spin off 'lone wolf' individuals who decide now is the time to act against people they see as an enemy," said Chip Berlet, author of a book on rightwing extremists.

?Extremism, Conspiracy Theory And Murder? Fresh Air with Terry Gross
Posted on 2009-08-06

?Chip Berlet has studied extremism, conspiracy theories and hate groups for more than 25 years. In a recent report for PublicEye.org, he says that the murders of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller and Holocaust Museum guard Stephen T. Johns exemplify the potential for violence that often lurks within extremist groups.?

?Holocaust Museum Shooting Highlights Growth of Hate Groups? U.S. News
Posted on 2009-08-06

?Experts say von Brunn's essays were mainstream within an extremist community that is split between the peaceful and violent factions. "He wasn't a leader of the movement, and his writings are remarkably unremarkable," says Chip Berlet, a researcher at the Massachusetts-based Political Research Associates, a group that studies extremist movements.?

?Holocaust Museum Shooting, Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories, and the Tools of Fear? Huffington Post
Posted on 2009-08-06

Chip Berlet writes, ?People who believe conspiracist allegations sometimes act on those irrational beliefs, and this has concrete consequences in the real world. The [Holocaust Museum shooting] is a prime example of why it is a mistake to ignore bigoted conspiracy theories. Law enforcement needs to enforce laws against criminal behavior. Vicious bigoted speech, however, is often protected by the First Amendment.?

?Berlet comment re "Manga Messiah" article? Religious Right Watch
Posted on 2009-08-06

?By condensing the crucifixion narrative and combining Biblical quotes from two different places, (and including more problematic later Gospel accounts) the Manga restores the narrative of Jews as the Christ Killers rejected decades ago by most Christian leaders.?

?Chip Berlet on the Tiller Murder, the Media, and the Patriot Movement? Talk Radio
Posted on 2009-08-06

PRA Senior Analyst Chip Berlet speaks with Talk Radio.

?Did Right Wing Pundits Help Pull the Trigger on Tiller?? Huffington Post
Posted on 2009-08-06

Chip Berlet writes, ?Right-wing pundits demonize scapegoated groups and individuals in our society, implying that it is urgent to stop the groups and individuals named by the pundits from wrecking the nation. Some angry people in the audience already believe conspiracy theories in which the same scapegoats are portrayed as subversive, destructive, or evil.?

Chip quoted in "Fringe claim Obama not a US citizen"
Posted on 2009-07-31

Berlet was quoted by Virginie Montet of Agence France-Presse for a story picked up as far away as Australia. Citing the historic record, Berlet explained that the named scapegoats of U.S. conspiracy theories have included Freemasons, Jews, Catholics, the Jesuits, communists, and gay people. Montet wrote:

"In America there is a history of conspiracy thinking that... is part of a tradition of dissent," said Chip Berlet of Political Research Associates, which studies right-wing movements.

He noted that former president Bill Clinton was also the subject of conspiracy theories that claimed he was seeking the help of the United Nations to confiscate all weapons on American soil.

Chip quotes picked up in Blogosphere
Posted on 2009-07-31

Picking up the Agence France-Presse, article quoting Chip, bloggers—both pro and con—have been posting and discussing the story and Chip’s comments.