Podcast Summary: It Could Happen Here – "The Afterlives of Quentin Deranque" (Part 1)
Episode Date: May 4, 2026
Panel: Mick (Host), James Stout, Molly Conger
Theme/Purpose:
This episode explores the death and legacy of Quentin Deranque, a young French neo-Nazi whose killing during a street altercation has become a flashpoint for far-right organizing and myth-making throughout Europe. The episode delves deeply into Deranque’s background, ideology, and the use of his death as a propaganda tool, connecting the incident to broader trends in European far-right activism, language, and “femationalist” (feminist-nationalist) organizing.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction & Context: France, Far Right, and Identity
- Light banter opens the episode, with personal anecdotes about France, language, and the experience of interacting with identitarian movements.
- James: “I particularly love French identitarianism. So I’m excited.” [00:32]
- Raises the topic: What makes the French far right distinctive?
- Jake shares a low-key story about French attitudes towards Québecois.
2. Quentin Deranque: From Obscure Student to Neo-Nazi Martyr
- Who was Quentin Deranque?
- 23-year-old student at Lyon University, with a focus on mathematics/data science.
- Devout Catholic convert, interested in philosophy and ethics (esp. Aquinas & Augustine).
- Friends and family describe him as “a normal young man who reconnected with his roots, who loved his country, his people, his civilization, his religion...a hero and a martyr.”
– Quoted friend of Quentin [10:40]
- Panel Critique on Sanitizing Bad Politics:
- Molly: “Just because someone said he was a nice boy...you hear that about mass shooters.” [10:52]
- Mick: Expresses the importance of acknowledging tragedy without whitewashing ideology: “As much as his worldview was vile...he was still a son, a friend...That's not coming home.” [08:00]
The Internet Evidence
- Quentin’s tweets showed frequent antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and fascism.
- Openly advocated repeal of French laws banning Holocaust denial.
- Used explicit racist slurs and calls for racist violence (“TND” – “Total N-word Death”) [15:19]
- Mick: “This is not a guy who was just reading Thomas Aquinas.” [15:52]
- His ideology was “more constructed and theoretical” than typical street-fighting fascists; cited obscure, scientific-racist anthropology. [16:29]
3. Far Right Networking: The Trans-European Reaction
- Deranque's death in France triggered a call to action among Dutch far-right circles (Defend Netherlands), despite minimal connection.
- Noted that Dutch far-right groups use English—likely for American audience/influence. [05:23]
The Symbolism
- Imagery of a Celtic cross (white supremacist/fascist use), Italian slogans (“Pertuti camerati caduti presente”—‘For all fallen comrades, present’).
- These groups leverage international symbols to signal pan-European white nationalism.
The Propaganda Cycle
- Deranque’s death instantly became a rallying tool, with competing narratives (innocent bystander vs. violent martyr).
- Mick: “His death has become something that isn’t really about him…it’s about using his death as a political tool.” [09:01]
- His racial background (half Peruvian) also noted, raising questions about inclusion/exclusion in far-right myth-making. [09:19]
4. Quentin’s Radicalization: Groups & Events
- Involved with Active Club France (Nazi fighting group), regular combat training, connections to major European neo-Nazi networks (e.g., L’Oeuvre Française, Academie Christiana).
- Active in organizing, not just passive.
- Participated in neo-Nazi marches and commemorations [21:53]
- Mick: “He was not just going to Catholic church. He was going to a very extreme right-wing, antisemitic identitarian traditionalist subgroup.” [23:43]
5. The Fatal Altercation: What Happened
- February 12: Incident occurred in Lyon around a speech by Palestinian activist Rima Hassan at a political institute.
- Far-right feminist group Nemesis organized a counterprotest, provided "security" by fascist groups (Quentin included).
- Aftermath: Deranque was beaten during post-protest tensions. Despite non-activist bystanders urging him to get medical help, he refused, walking ~1.5 km before collapsing. Died in hospital two days later (Feb 14). [31:13]
- Molly: “If he had not been hit in the head, he would not have died.” [32:18]
- Panel dismisses claims of "defensive" far-right violence—notes the presence of iron bars, organized violence.
- C: “The self defense motive is very indefensible...you see the fascists with iron bars.” [34:10]
6. Media Savvy Far-Right: Nemesis and Femationalism
- Nemesis—an all-female far-right “feminist” group deploys anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim propaganda in feminist spaces.
- Led by Alice Cordier, known for both media stunts (embedding at protests, unveiling racist banners) and overt Nazi signaling (SS hand sign, association with Azov).
- Panel describes as “incredibly media savvy and cunning.” [29:02]
- Their method: infiltrate large progressive/feminist rallies, provoke, get filmed, then gain exposure via far-right media.
- Mick: “Clever strategy, but the media keeps falling for it. Just because they put on a nice outfit.” [37:42]
- Feminationalism: Described as an “arranged marriage of feminism and ethnic nationalism,” focusing only on violence by immigrants and silent about pay, equality, or abortion rights.
- Term originated by sociologist Sara Farris (2017) [41:20]
- Molly: “It’s no feminism at all. It’s just a lie.” [40:55]
- Noted: Their narrative exploits women’s issues to recruit and radicalize. They weaponize real pain/events but direct hatred against marginalized groups.
- Mick: “This is 90% of right-wing politics at the moment.” [38:38]
7. Reflections on Violence & Responsibility
- Panel demystifies far-right myth-making about “martyr” status and victimhood.
- Acknowledgment of tragedy, but clear that violence stemming from fascist organizing is both cyclical and intentional.
- Critiques both police/medical response and ways French/American laws would treat culpability.
- Side notes on American health care (“I personally have not gotten an ambulance when I should have...”) [33:35]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
“His death has become something that isn’t really about him…it’s not about the tragic death of a young man...”
— Mick [09:01]
“Just because someone said he was a nice boy...you hear that about mass shooters.”
— Molly [10:52]
“This is not a guy who was just reading Thomas Aquinas.”
— Mick [15:52]
“He was not just going to Catholic church. He was going to a very extreme right-wing, antisemitic identitarian traditionalist subgroup.”
— Mick [23:43]
“You won’t be surprised they’re awfully silent about equal pay or abortion rights.”
— Mick [41:04]
“If you were trying to invent feminism, but the only text you had is the 14 words, this is what you would get.”
— Mick [42:54]
“This group...ties feminism (air quotes) to their nationalism, but they focus solely on sexual violence—and only if it’s migrants.”
— C [40:46]
“I guarantee you that Alice Cordier has said the 14 words on probably multiple occasions. It’s a garbage group of people, and I hope they have the hiccups the rest of their life.”
— C [43:01]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [04:44] — Introduction of Quentin Deranque, context of his death in far-left vs. far-right street conflicts
- [08:00–10:35] — Complicated feelings about political violence and martyrdom
- [11:06–16:00] — Discussion of Quentin’s Catholic conversion, ideological radicalization, and revealing Twitter history
- [20:41–23:43] — Deep dive into group affiliations; from Active Club France to Academia Christiana
- [24:09–28:12] — The circumstances of the fatal altercation and the roles of various right-wing actors
- [29:02–37:16] — The tactics and symbolism of Nemesis, the far-right “feminist” group; their stunts and media strategy
- [41:20–43:13] — Unpacking femationalism and the exploitation of women’s issues in nationalist politics
Overall Tone
- The tone is sharp, irreverent, and deeply informed, with a balance of dark humor and serious moral analysis.
- The panelists repeatedly underline the importance of honestly facing the consequences of organized hate and the dangers of sanitized mythologies around far-right “victims.”
- There is a critical (sometimes mocking) stance toward both the subjects (far-right actors) and the media’s complicity.
To Be Continued: This episode is part one of a two-parter. The panel will return with further discussions about Quentin Deranque and the evolution of French fascism.
Recommended for listeners interested in:
- Contemporary far-right networks and tactics
- How martyrs are manufactured and mythologized
- The ways feminism is co-opted by nationalist agendas
- The entwinement of political violence, media spectacle, and extremist mobilization in modern Europe
