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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums60 Minutes: Some white nationalists swoop in after natural disasters, trying to soften their image while offering help
May 3, 2026
w/ Lesley Stahl
A surge of tornadoes tore across a large swath of the country in April, carving a path of destruction. Over 200 tornadoes hit over 20 states, closely clustered in the last couple of weeks. And hurricane season is just around the corner.
Our story tonight is about what happens after these natural disasters. A pattern has emerged in recent years in which militias, conspiracists, and white supremacists show up to hard-hit communities as they did last week in Texas offering help. But they've been called disaster tourists who are out to sow doubt in government, soften their own image and gain followers.
September 2024. Hurricane Helene barreled through North Carolina with forces so powerful, it nearly wiped the town of Bat Cave off the map, lifting homes and toppling trees.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/some-white-nationalists-swoop-in-after-natural-disasters-60-minutes-transcript/
Link to tweet
The insidious manipulation is riveting.
sl8
(17,137 posts)13:44 min.
When the volunteer helping after a hurricane is a white nationalist | 60 Minutes
YouTube / 60 Minutes
LeftInTX
(34,756 posts)Then it makes FEMA look even worse.
And they're there for the photo-op with no respect for the organizational process involved with disaster relief.
Sounds like their Aryan Brotherhood leader is on parole.
Passages
(4,423 posts)Deep State Witch
(12,750 posts)Had a run-in with them. They were cosplaying law enforcement officers, and blocking access to her neighborhood by making everyone show IDs. She called the real cops on them, and they disappeared.
underpants
(196,989 posts)Thanks.
Passages
(4,423 posts)Caustic people finding a means to spread hate, this was not an avenue I would have ever imagined.
JBTaurus83
(1,614 posts)These people, have been working to replace our constitutional government, and it just seems like enough people are not paying attention.
Passages
(4,423 posts)We need to educate people who are vulnerable to these tactics.
WhiskeyGrinder
(27,167 posts)JBTaurus83
(1,614 posts)Doctors from Cuba as an example.
Solly Mack
(97,160 posts)It develops good will (for their aims). If you're the ones keeping the lights on or bringing in the food and water, you're more valuable than the government to the immediate needs of the people. Such groups can mobilize faster, and they are making a point to be hands-on and talking with their targeted group of people.
If white supremacist groups aren't collecting government aid through grants yet; they will be soon enough.
You form a group (a legal entity/charity), go into areas hit hard to help, apply for grants to aid your "good" works, funnel money to other projects.
Passages
(4,423 posts)JBTaurus83
(1,614 posts)To counter it.
Passages
(4,423 posts)Much more aggressive and pinpointed in a proactive approach.
Solly Mack
(97,160 posts)And go after hate groups.
Passages
(4,423 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(27,167 posts)Passages
(4,423 posts)We should be prepared for their propaganda; we see how they attach themselves to people who are in vulnerable situations.
WhiskeyGrinder
(27,167 posts)not sure how many here would be interested in providing mutual aid to Trump voters or out-and-out racists, though. The problem with letting leopards eat other peoples faces is that sometimes there will be folks who prevent that from happening and those are folks who get listened to.