No One’s Left Behind: The Progressive-Left use of the Tactics of the Alt-right
Speaker Series
Brianna Wu
Software engineer, Game developer, Filmmaker
Monday
April 28, 2025
11:00 AM
202/37
The Gamergate harassment campaign wasn't an isolated incident; it was a proving ground for tactics of online toxicity that continue to shape our digital and political landscapes. In this talk, Brianna Wu draws a direct line from her experience as a central target of #GG to the complex dynamics influencing contemporary political discourse, particularly within the American left. She will explore how the patterns of online mobilization, disinformation, and targeted outrage honed during Gamergate have evolved, impacting offline politics and contributing to phenomena like progressive antisemitism and the charged discourse surrounding the State of Israel and Gaza. Join Brianna Wu as she dissects this toxic thread, examining its origins, its mutations, and its profound consequences for society today.
About the Speaker
Brianna Wu is a software engineer, game developer, co-founder of the independent studio Giant Spacekat, and a Filmmaker. She unwillingly became a household name in 2014 as one of the primary targets of the Gamergate online harassment campaign. This firsthand experience with organized digital hate fueled her outspoken advocacy against online toxicity and informed her subsequent run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Massachusetts. A prominent progressive voice, Wu analyzes the often-destructive intersection of technology, culture, and politics, drawing direct lines from past internet conflicts to the complex and often toxic political dynamics shaping the American left today.
Brianna spent years in the progressive movement, but after October 7th, her quiet support for Israel put her at odds with the “Free Palestine” chorus. Now, traveling to Israel, she speaks directly with Israelis to document the side of the story left out of American media.
Bonus: Brianna in conversation with Bari Weiss on Honestly by The Free Press (teaser: "I've hosted hundreds of conversations on Honestly. This is among the best... There’s no one quite like Brianna Wu")