Air Date 12/5/2020

Today we take a look at what's behind Trump and his autocratic instincts. The enablers, the supporters and the long lineage of authoritarianism.

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Transcript

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: The crisis isn’t Trump. It’s the Republican Party - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 11-11-20

If the past week — and past four years — have proven anything, it’s that we are not as different as we believed. No longer is the question, "Can it happen here?" It’s happening already.

Ch. 2: Is Democracy in Danger? Legal Experts Dahlia Lithwick and Ian Bassin On Trump, Barr and The Abuse of the Criminal Justice System - The Al Franken Podcast - Air Date 2-23-20

Dahlia Lithwick of Slate and Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy discuss Trump's sickening lurch toward autocracy post-impeachment with the cooperation of Bill Barr.

Ch. 3: Trump's Authoritarian Lineage w/ Ruth Ben-Ghiat - The Majority Report - Air Date 11-12-20

Sam speaks with Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat), professor of History and Italian studies at New York University, about her new book "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present."

Ch. 4: Check Your Blindspot 12-4-20

Today's episode of America's favorite political game show!

Ch. 5: From Dictator to Demigod - Power Corrupts - Air Date 8-1-19

We explore the strategic logic of cults of personality with stories that you won’t believe but are all too real.

Ch. 6: Juan González The Media Has It Wrong. Record Latinx Turnout Helped Biden. White Voters Failed Dems Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-5-20

“How come none of the experts are asking why white voters underperformed the Democratic Party?”

Ch. 7: How Trump Hacked the Presidency - Trumpcast - 11-13-20

Why Donald Trump’s violation of norms come with more social or political penalties than legal ones

Ch. 8: The Secret Code of the Proud Boys - Trumpcast - Air Date 10-1-20

Virginia Heffernan talks to historian Nicole Hemmer about the Proud Boys—breaking down their hazing and hyper-masculinity, how to be initiated, conservative cults, and how Trump incites them.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 10: Call to increase existing membership pledges - Josh from Wilmington, DE

Ch. 11: Responding to Rutger Bregman - Linda from Illinois

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 12: Final comments on utopian thinking and criticizing ideas and implementation separately

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):

• Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
• Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
• Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard
• Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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