President Trump designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization last week. 

He followed up with a memo directing the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate individuals and groups engaged in political violence and intimidation.

Trump cited antifa as a reason to mobilize 200 Oregon National Guard troops, which are expected to arrive in Portland within the next week.

The president claimed ICE facilities in the city “were under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”

So what is behind these anti-antifa moves by the White House? And what exactly is antifa? 

Correction: At 15:26, the event Mathias is talking about actually takes place in Forks, the town where Twilight is set. It did not take place in the town in which Twin Peaks was set. Read more about what happened here.

Guest

Christopher Mathias, reporter, author of the upcoming book “To Catch a Fascist”

Related links

Trump's new anti-antifa panic is the start of something much more dangerous — MSNBC

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

President Trump designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization last week.&nbsp;
He followed up with a memo directing the FBI&rsquo;s Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate individuals and groups engaged in political violence and intimidation.
Trump cited antifa as a reason to <a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2025/09/29/oregon-national-guard-deployment-/">mobilize 200 Oregon National Guard troops</a>, which are expected to arrive in Portland within the next week.
The <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/oregon-sues-trump-administration-deployment-national-guard-troops-port-rcna234307">president claimed</a>&nbsp;ICE facilities in the city &ldquo;were under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.&rdquo;
So what is behind these anti-antifa moves by the White House? And what exactly is antifa?&nbsp;
Correction: At 15:26, the event Mathias is talking about actually takes place in Forks, the town where Twilight is set. It did not take place in the town in which Twin Peaks was set. Read more about what happened <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/antifa-social-media-rumor-forks-washington/">here.</a>
Guest
Christopher Mathias, reporter, author of the upcoming book &ldquo;<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/To-Catch-a-Fascist/Christopher-Mathias/9781668034767">To Catch a Fascist</a>&rdquo;
Related links
<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-antifa-executive-order-terrorist-organization-rcna233011">Trump's new anti-antifa panic is the start of something much more dangerous</a> &mdash; MSNBC
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

President Trump says he is designating "Antifa" as a terrorist organization and going after its funders.

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