If All Else Fails

Jan 14 2024 7 ep. 17 mins 245
If All Else Fails Podcast artwork

Far-right extremism is thriving in small, rural communities across the country, gaining the support of mainstream voters and local law enforcement. In this podcast from North Country Public Radio, reporters Emily Russell and Zach Hirsch investigate extremist groups and militia movements in northern New York State, why they're drawing support, and what kinds of threats they pose at a pivotal moment for democracy in the United States.

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Introducing: 'If All Else Fails'

Jan 02 2024 3 mins  
In 2022 a sheriff posted a photo online that revealed his ties to the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia. That photo led to a months-long investigation into the broader landscape of far-right extremism in Upstate New York.

Episode 1: The Far-Right Landscape

Jan 14 2024 26 mins  
When we set out to look at far-right extremism in Upstate New York, we had a few basic questions. What do people believe in? What groups and militias have been active? We found that all kinds of extremist groups have tried to recruit people here.

Episode 2: A Sheriff's Oath

Jan 14 2024 19 mins  
There’s a far-right group that teaches sheriffs around the country that they don’t have to enforce laws they think are unconstitutional. Some sheriffs in rural Upstate New York have embraced that idea, including Mike Carpinelli, who also has ties to the Oath Keepers militia.

Episode 3: Recruited, Now Reconsidering

Jan 14 2024 18 mins  
A few years ago, another sheriff in rural New York was invited to a far-right group. Sheriff Rich Giardino says he didn’t know how extreme the group was and joined because he was recruited by someone he knew. Now Giardino says he’s rethinking his membership.

Episode 4: The Jan. 6 Rabbit Hole

Jan 14 2024 26 mins  
James Bonet went through a political transformation over the last few years, from leaning left to diving deep into the far right. He went down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, including about the 2020 presidential election, eventually landing him in federal prison.

Episode 5: What We Learned

Jan 14 2024 12 mins  
A conversation with our editor, David Sommerstein, about how we got into this story, what we found, and what’s next.

Bonus: More from Jackie Bray

Jan 14 2024 12 mins  
New York State is seeing an "incredible rise" in hate-filled violence and intimidation. That's according to Jackie Bray, the commissioner of New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. In this interview, Bray talks about the nature of far-right extremism in New York, which groups are active in the state, and the role New Yorkers have in preventing the spread of