The Worst Year Ever gives the best look ever at furry antifascists; Furries rally for Bernie

by Patch O'Furr

The 2020 American election year has a high-stakes power struggle. But The Worst Year Ever podcast isn’t just staying in the studio to report about it. They’re going out in real life to visit as many different groups as possible and show solidarity. They even got up close and personal with furries!

This must-hear podcast comes from Robert, Katy, and Cody (who also do Some More News, Behind The Bastards and more, with over 340,000 Twitter followers lumped together.) They make top quality media backed by research, wit, and dedication to truth. That’s how the fandom was introduced here.

Until now, outsiders have seen glimpses of a furry fandom struggle with far-right groups. It ties to happenings around the country. But few have gone all the way down our rabbithole to learn unique background that no mainstream media has covered. I had never heard some of this.

How The Furries Fought The Nazis and Won — by The Worst Year Ever

  • Part 1 — A look at the background of nazifurs and the Midwest Furfest 2014 chemical attack. (47 minutes)
  • Part 2 — Fandom responses, a big shoutout to Dogpatch Press at 4:00, and a visit to MFF 2019. (36 minutes)

It’s more than fluffy cheerful stuff every member knows or the drama of one conflict. It goes deeper into what the fandom means to members and why they’re so protective about it. It shows what “furry politics” even means: a disregarded subculture on the fringes defining how it runs on its own terms. Now many outsiders can say they never knew it before, but they’re allies.

Speaking of mingling politics, outsiders and furries…

The rally was in my neighborhood and that’s my fursuit. KQED is my local public radio (as in, not ad or ratings driven.) The reporter who took the photo was astonished about all the animal-people sharing it. That led to a 90 minute interview a few days later.

Over coffee, we talked about furries and political organizing. Not about “furry political opinions” so much as talking about how furry is a grassroots subculture that makes its own media and organizes without outside investment.

There was a comparison to how the punk or rave scene has power to bring people out, help raise awareness or register them to vote. Punkvoter was active for organizing punk fans during the Bush II years. Rave people have a group called Space Cat Voters, “a loose-knit outfit promoting democratic participation and a progressive slate of candidates and causes on the local and state levels.”

Those help voters get registered. But do furries even do that? And why not? If health issues get attention at cons, this seems like a great opportunity to reach inactive young people. Mere registering can’t be accused of bias.

The story by KQED’s reporter will come out soon, in print for ahead of the March 3 Super Tuesday primaries. Meanwhile, how about fursuit canvassing? Let people get cute photos and tell them about healthcare policy!

Like the article? These take hard work. For more free furry news, please follow on Twitter or support not-for-profit Dogpatch Press on Patreon. Want to get involved? Share news on these subreddits: r/furrydiscuss for anything — or r/waginheaven for the best of the community. Or send guest writing here.