steven 

@stevanzetti@mstdn.social
2.6K Followers
31 Following
101 Posts
special investigative correspondent @TexasObserver, extremism/disinfo/democracy. Publisher of Protean Magazine. Dallas, Texas.
VERIFIED BY PRESSCHECK.ORGhttps://www.presscheck.org/journalists/steven-monacelli
steven Oct 18, 2024
Texas ObserverOct 18, 2024

Out today from @stevanzetti: Hotelier Monty Bennett and Crowds on Demand, a California-based company that offers protesters-for-hire, have seeded an “astroturf” right-wing influence network that has kicked into overdrive to push controversial “Dallas HERO” city charter amendments. https://www.texasobserver.org/dallas-hero-initiative-monty-bennett-crowds-on-demand/

#politics #USpol #Dallas #California #Texas #news #election2024 #corruption #NorthTexas

The GOP Megadonor Behind the Bid to Break Dallas City Government

Conservative hotelier Monty Bennett and a California-based company that offers protesters-for-hire have seeded an “astroturf” right-wing influence network that has kicked into overdrive to push controversial “Dallas HERO” city charter amendments.

The Texas Observer
steven Sep 10, 2024

NEW: Tenet reporter Tayler Hansen claimed YouTube banned him after indictment alleging Tenet is a Russian influence operation—but YouTube confirmed Hansen deleted his own channel in an apparent attempt to hijack victimhood and garner support for his new Rumble channel.

My latest at @dailydot

https://www.dailydot.com/debug/tayler-hansen-tenet-media-youtube/

Tenet Media reporter claimed YouTube banned him after indictment—but he deleted his own channel

They shut down a different channel, which he didn't post to.

The Daily Dot
steven Jul 6, 2024
Texas ObserverJul 2, 2024

“Earlier this month, a bombshell report from a religious watchdog group roiled one of the largest megachurches in Texas. ...”

But some #Texas Republicans, who’ve campaigned on ostensibly protecting children from sexualization, are conspicuously quiet. https://www.texasobserver.org/pastor-texas-gop-christian-nationalism-sex-abuse/ via @stevanzetti

#politics #USpol #abuse #religion #news #Christianity #extremism #Republicans

Pastor’s Admitted Child Sex Abuse Roils Hotbed of Christian Nationalism

But some Texas Republicans, who’ve campaigned on ostensibly protecting children from sexualization, are conspicuously quiet.

The Texas Observer
steven Jul 6, 2024
Texas ObserverJul 3, 2024

Earlier from @stevanzetti: “They can try to pass legislation on this, but it would become a court battle pretty immediately, and I think it would go about as well for them as the drag ban has, which is to say, not well.” https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-gop-trans-nonbinary-teachers-lgbtq/

#news #politics #USpol #nonbinary #LGBTQIA+ #trans #education #schools #homophobia #transphobia #TXlege #GregAbbott

Texas Republicans Put Trans, Nonbinary Teachers in the Crosshairs

Trans educators speak out after the Texas GOP adopted a platform plank to ban them from the classroom.

The Texas Observer
steven May 17, 2024
Texas ObserverMay 13, 2024

Featured: The Remnant Alliance has united several powerful conservative Christian groups under the banner of Christian Nationalism, and they're going to have an even bigger impact on public #education than ever. From Correspondent @stevanzetti ... https://www.texasobserver.org/christian-schoolboards-education-k12/

#news #politics #USpol #Texas #Christianity #religion #extremism

The 'Remnant Alliance' Is Coming for a School Board Near You

A new coalition of Christian nationalist groups is mobilizing congregations to take over Texas school boards.

The Texas Observer
steven May 17, 2024
Texas ObserverMay 17, 2024

“The Board and the Governor have put their politics over justice and made a mockery of our legal system.”

Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott issued a full pardon for Daniel Perry, who killed Garrett Foster, a protester at a Black Lives Matter march in 2020. Special Investigative Correspondent @stevanzetti explains all the context the governor ignored: https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-pardon-daniel-perry-garrett-foster/

#news #politics #USpol #GregAbbott #BlackLivesMatter #protest #GunViolence #Texas

Abbott Pardons Killing by Racist Who Explicitly Texted Apparent Minor

The governor’s pardon proclamation did not address Daniel Perry's racist comments, stated desire to kill protesters, or inappropriate messages to a self-identified 16-year-old.

The Texas Observer
steven May 17, 2024

ABBOTT PARDONS KILLING BY RACIST WHO EXPLICITLY TEXTED APPARENT MINOR: The governor’s pardon proclamation did not address Daniel Perry's racist comments, stated desire to kill protesters, or explicit messages to an apparent minor. My latest for @TexasObserver

https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-pardon-daniel-perry-garrett-foster/

Abbott Pardons Killing by Racist Who Explicitly Texted Apparent Minor

The governor’s pardon proclamation did not address Daniel Perry's racist comments, stated desire to kill protesters, or inappropriate messages to a self-identified 16-year-old.

The Texas Observer
steven Feb 28, 2024
Texas ObserverJan 16, 2024

Top Story: A network of highly paid lobbyists, PACs and consultants is transforming #Texas school boards into politicized battlefields, reports Special Investigative Correspondent @stevanzetti in the second part of our series on the Republican transformation of #education ... https://www.texasobserver.org/school-boards-partisan-consultants-pacs?utm_campaign=mastodon

#politics #USpol #news #democracy #elections #corruption #Republicans #schools #PublicSchools

Partisans Are Politicizing Our Schools

A network of PACs, and political consultants and lobbyists has quietly infiltrated school board elections. From Steven Monacelli.

The Texas Observer
steven Feb 28, 2024
Show threadZhi Zhu 🕸️Feb 15, 2024

@TexasObserver @Bellingcat @stevanzetti

"Rhett Murry Loftis, a 23-year-old resident of #Weatherford, admits he leads the Parker County Active Club.

“I’m a #fascist, there’s no denying that,” Loftis said in a series of direct messages.

Loftis, a former musician, said he first got active in the #WhiteNationalist movement in 2021 after spending several years lurking on online forums."
https://www.texasobserver.org/rhett-murry-loftis-white-nationalist-active-club/

#Racism #Bigotry #Radicalized #Texas #USA #News

Parker County 'White Nationalist Fight Club' Leader Exposed

Rhett Murry Loftis, the Texas Active Club leader, blurred his face but forgot to scrub his socials. From Steven Monacelli.

The Texas Observer
steven Feb 16, 2024
BellingcatFeb 15, 2024
Latest: Bellingcat and Steven Monacelli for the @TexasObserver identify the leader of a white nationalist movement in Texas using image analysis and his old band music. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/02/15/texas-active-club-leader-blurred-his-face-but-forgot-to-scrub-his-socials/?utm_source=mastodon
Texas Active Club Leader Blurred His Face But Forgot to Scrub His Socials - bellingcat

The Texas Observer and Bellingcat have identified the leader of a white nationalist group that distributed antisemitic and racist flyers in Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Eagle Pass, three small Texas cities, over the last year.

bellingcat