Friend,
Episode 125 uploaded September 4: On the occasion of our 125th episode, RefuseFascism.org editorial board members Coco Das and Paul Street share recollections on the mission and analysis of the organization.
Sam Goldman shares commentary on what some are calling Joe Biden’s “1860 speech” and his recent use of the phrase “semi-fascist” to describe the Republican Party.
Saminterviews freelance journalist Laura Jedeed about the recent history of that fascist organization through the lens of CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference). Read Laura’s recent article on CPAC for The New Republic.
>> Listen
>> Listen on Youtube
>> Read transcript
Laura Jedeed:
The MAGA movement is a fascist movement...Trump was trying to actively subvert the electoral process. We're already seeing efforts to overturn election results...Most fascism is we'll take whatever was in the culture they're infecting and then use it. And Christianity is deep in the DNA of America. The Christian strain of conservatism has been rising to the top... Essentially, the movement believes that Trump is a kind of savior figure and he's flawed, you know, but he's a hero, and he's here to fight again in battle against the demonic left.
Sam Goldman
Fascism is not at its roots a threat to American democracy but a threat to humanity. In fact, much of the foundation of American fascism can be found in the history that Biden invoked in his speech, not least of which the founders' "democracy" that not only excluded but rested on the subjugation of Black people. And so incantations of democracy will not be able to defeat the rising fascist threat, one that seeks to shred the governing consensus of the last 150 years. What Biden is posing -- this existential threat -- is giving reason to his followers, in my opinion, to further engage in what truly is posed.
Coco Das
The founding mission of Refuse Fascism was to stop a regime that imperiled all of humanity, a fascist regime at the helm of the most powerful country in the world. Long before Biden was calling Trump's Make America Great Again followers, MAGA extremists or the MAGA program semi-fascism, and weeks before Trump incited his mob to storm the Capitol. We alerted people to the rolling coup that Trump and his minions were carrying out and which, if we're really being honest, never stopped. Trump is still free to hold his fascist rallies, that he is still considered the GOP front runner, that proponents of the Big Lie are winning primaries, that state level GOP fascists are adopting platforms advancing a fully fascist program. And the Big Lie declaring Trump the legitimate winner and the rightful president means that this problem, the fact that this country is full of fascists, will not easily be resolved.
Paul Street
Trump's top apologist in the Senate, the two-faced viper Lindsey Graham, recently said that federal prosecution of Trump will lead to riots in the streets. The statement was not meant to convey horror at the violence of Trump's frothing hordes. It wasn't meant to warn authorities on the need to prepare for right-wing terrorism if Trump is finally and belatedly indicted and prosecuted. No. Graham's comment was meant to send the following message to the Department of Justice and the Fulton County District Attorney: try to impose the rule of law on our demented dear leader and we will act to impose the rule of force on you. It's a flat-out fascist threat. Joe Biden calls MAGA Republicans "like semi-fascist." There's no like, or semi, about it.
From the Refuse Fascism podcast production team:
Thank you for being on this journey with us as we engage dialogue and debate with a broad array of writers, scholars, legal experts, and people from different walks of life on the roots, nature and trajectory of fascism in this country. Together we are working on changing the way people think that prevents them from taking necessary action, helping people to look at uncomfortable truths and act with daring. Together we are forging understanding and relationships aimed at preventing the consolidation of fascism. Thanks to everyone who goes the extra step and rates and reviews on Apple podcasts, shares and comments on social media or YouTube. It helps us reach more listeners and, of course, we read every one.
Add your audio comments/review
>> DONATE to promote the podcast more widely
Refuse Fascism national team
917 407 1286
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Podcast