A team of investigative journalists at NJ Advance Media spent the last year digging into growing pockets of what they termed “toxic radicalism” that have made their way into the mainstream of New Jersey, ideas that once were considered fringe material only. Even in progressive blue state like New Jersey, the “Project Extreme” series shows how extreme views have spread through the use of hate speech, bigotry, division and disinformation — sometimes with poisonous results.

“We wanted to see if the far right was making inroads in a state like New Jersey, a blue state, but mostly known for its centrist politics,” said Spencer Kent, a lead investigative reporter on the series. And it appears that indeed it is.

According to Kent in an interview with NJ Spotlight News, the spread can range from dangerous influencers “engineering outrage and sowing division” to the “targeting of young people on social media for extremist causes” and even “local politicians and government workers harassed, intimidated and threatened imperiling local democracy.”

Kent described the topics being pushed at local town events and meetings as well. “Schools grooming children, an individual like (Dr.) Stephen Solloway getting up there talking about how immigrants are vermin and slime and don’t value life,” Kent said.

“And standing right there in attendance is Assemblyman Rob Auth,” he said. “So you have this real mix of people there who hold real power and then these grassroots activists who are working hard day and night pushing their messaging.”