Why some white supremacists are celebrating the pandemic

While most of us are trying to figure out how to stay connected, stay sane and work from home, there are hidden corners of the internet and in society that are celebrating this time. This is a look behind the curtain into the world of neo-Nazis and white supremacists who view the COVID-19 pandemic as their moment to act out their racist ideologies. We've already seen in cases like Charlottesville and the New Zealand mosque shootings, that white supremacists have the potential to carry out their online writing into real life violence.

Adrian Cheung talks to Ben Makuch, national security reporter for Vice News and host of Motherboard's podcast CYBER. Makuch's reporting has taken him into the back channels and online forums of the white supremacist movement in the U.S and Canada. He explains why "accelerationists" want to use a pandemic to their benefit, but also why anti-terrorism groups and federal police are keeping a close watch and stopping any plans to do the rest of society harm.

Listen here or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Background reading:

The Star: 'It was like Nazis had walked into your living room': Anti-Semitism group's Zoom meeting crashed with hateful messages

Vice: Experts Say Neo-Nazi 'Accelerationists' Discuss Taking Advantage of Coronavirus Crisis