Underground Fables

On Fables And Nuanced Charts

Spencer Greenberg & Amber Dawn Ace | Asimov Press | 8th September 2024

Don’t be fooled by charts. While they may be a concise way to show data and tell a story, charts contain hidden assumptions not apparent to a viewer. Often, they convey narratives that are misleading or false. Bad actors use charts to manipulate; sometimes this is unintentional. A chart showing a purported increase in maternal mortality turns out to be caused by a change in how deaths are counted (3,000 words)

Armed And Underground

Joshua Kaplan | ProPublica | 17th August 2024

American Patriots Three Percent is one of the largest militias in the US. Despite expanding hugely since the January 6th riot, AP3 has remained largely under the radar. Its leaders have forged alliances with law enforcement, and attracted a new wave of recruits. Members practise storming buildings together with semi automatic rifles, and debate whether to “engage in mass-scale political violence” (7,600 words)