HN is for anything that's intellectually interesting. That's been the case for the 10+ years that this site has been called Hacker News. Please read the guidelines:

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Did not see that. Guess I need to spend more time on this site. :-/

There is something about hacking that makes it a sort of anti-authority, counter-culture activity. In the event of a fascist coup, in whatever country, or even the entire western neoliberal order, I feel this deeply, that hackers would be at the forefront of the resistance. There’s something about sitting in a room and taking something apart to understand how it works that feels incompatible with fascism. I’m not exactly sure how to articulate it, but it exists.

Tldr: it has EVERYTHING to do with hacking

There are many, many hackers gainfully employed in the deepest, darkest recesses of every government. I think directly saying that it is incompatible with fascism is a bit of a stretch, although I do agree that it is a nice thought.

You’re right. Gotta have ideals at least.

I don't think working for e.g the CIA making gizmos to fool the communists is at all against the hacker spirit. In fact finding new and innovative ways to beat collectivists seems to me exactly the hacker way.

It's an alternate interpretation of a set of commands, to effect an intentional exploit.