Parallels…and Other Pieces

Well, this afternoon, I came across this post on Important Stories and realized there is a parallel to US politics. Specifically, I am talking about the QAnon and MAGA sides of politics. This is, at least on the surface, very similar to our phenomena and should lead to questions:

The Russian ZOV Community is a unique phenomenon in the Russian far-right movement.

What began as a small Covid dissident project has grown into Russia’s largest nationalist organization in two years. The networks of this “community” have come to encompass not only regional assets, but also virtual communities that offer jobs, legal support, and even the services of “people’s movers.”

ℹ️ The man behind this movement is Andrey Tkachuk, a figure whose biography is full of bright ups and loud scandals, from a political career in Omsk to a nationalist community supporting military actions and loyalty to the authorities. Tkachuk, who began his career as a journalist, now claims the role of a leading spokesman for ultra-conservative circles, offering his supporters an “alternative reality” in which virtual assistance and patriotic raids replace real political and social reforms.

In the United States, the MAGA has started to coalesce around the anti-vax and anti-mask movements as well. They see themselves as the ultimate patriots saving the country from…