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FBI Cuts Ties with SPLC Over Extremism Claims

10/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The FBI severed ties with Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), calling it a 'partisan smear machine' by FBI Director Kash Patel.
The SPLC's 'Hate Map' lists 1,371 groups, mixing mainstream conservative and Christian groups with extremists.
A congressional investigation found the FBI labeled traditionalist American Catholics as extremists based on SPLC claims. An anti-Catholic memo circulated to 1,000 agents.

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Story summary

The FBI severed ties with Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), calling it a 'partisan smear machine' by FBI Director Kash Patel.
The SPLC's 'Hate Map' lists 1,371 groups, mixing mainstream conservative and Christian groups with extremists.
A congressional investigation found the FBI labeled traditionalist American Catholics as extremists based on SPLC claims. An anti-Catholic memo circulated to 1,000 agents.