In an interview recorded on July 29, Greg Olear talks to fascism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” and the “Lucid” Substack, about the nature of coups, lessons from Berlusconi, the rise of Hitler, DeSantis as fascist, the extremist Texas GOP, secessions, the trucker convoy and the fascist threats in Canada, Meloni in Italy, the Vox party in Spain, and the power of nonviolent protest. Plus: Clash of the titan.

How to Wreck a Democracy (with Ruth Ben-Ghiat)

On PREVAIL, a weekly interview podcast, the author and columnist Greg Olear discusses politics, world news, history, national security, foreign affairs, organized crime, dirty money, global corruption, and the fight for democracy with authors, journalists, academics, diplomats, researchers, and other expert guests. Every Friday.

News

Politics

News Commentary

Before launching START ME UP, the political interview podcast, Kimberley Johnson—that’s Kimberley with an “e-y”—wrote several books, including “The Virgin Diaries”; maintained a popular blog; and, for ten years, had a recurring role—as a cop!—on a soap opera. She’s an activist and a champion of women’s rights. Her podcast premiered in 2016.

In this discussion, Greg Olear and Kimberley Johnson discuss her background as an actress and her transition to podcasting; the TikTok ban, the Supreme Court, and the future of the Democratic Party;  concerns about the Supreme Court and the potential impact of abortion rights on the election; the influence of dark money in politics; Trump’s VP pick; Joe Biden's potential legacy, the attacks on Kamala Harris, the importance of voting, and the impact of Trump's criminal trials on the MAGA movement.

Days of Our Lies (with Kimberley Johnson)

Ethan Bearman is a multifaceted talent spanning law, technology, politics, and media. He has his own law firm, he has 25 years of business experience and 10 years of media experience. He had his own radio show, and he’s been on networks like CNN, DW, France24, HLN, i24 News, NewsNation, Fox Business, and Fox News, where he’s sparred with the likes of Jenna Ellis. Ethan is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and is admitted to practice in California and the United States District Court, Central District of California. He is a contributor to California State Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law (Matthew Bender 2018). And most recently, he is the legal expert on Really American.

In this conversation, Greg Olear and Ethan Bearman discuss the potential ban on TikTok, the issue of free speech, defamation, the role of the media, the housing market, and the impact of conservative policies on the middle class. They also touch on antitrust laws, the Supreme Court, and the upcoming election. Finally, they speculate on the potential impact of the upcoming trial on the MAGA movement and the importance of voter registration and engagement. Plus: dirty laundry disco!

“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.” – Anatole France

Candidates, Courts & Cartels (with Ethan Bearman)

Gal Suburban is an open source researcher who has spent the last six years deep-diving on fifth generation warfare, psyops, corrupt creatures of the Florida swamp, and traitors to our democracy.

In this conversation, Greg Olear and Gal Suburban discuss various topics including Gal's focus on understanding anti-democratic influencers, the concept of fifth-generation warfare, and the potential dangers of a second Trump term. They also speculate on potential picks for Trump's vice president and discuss the recent comments made by Kevin McCarthy about Matt Gaetz. The conversation explores the dangers of normalizing and underestimating the threat posed by Gaetz, a charismatic and manipulative politician, and  emphasizes the need to be vigilant and informed about his actions and motives. The discussion also touches on the tactics of narrative warfare and the importance of recognizing and countering them. The article in The Atlantic about Gaetz is criticized for normalizing his behavior and not adequately addressing the potential harm he could cause. The conversation concludes with a reminder to protect democracy and engage in open dialogue to prevent the rise of authoritarianism. Plus: a courtroom lullaby!

Like Hell Matt Gaetz is Winning, and Other Tales of Danger Close (with Gal Suburban)

Robbie Harris is a strategic communications and behavior change subject matter expert with over 25 years’ experience working with local influencers, activists, civil society organizations, journalists, and senior stakeholders in Iraq, Syria, Africa, and Central America. She has designed and implemented successful programs for US DoD, DoS and USAID, and UK FCDO and MoD. She’s the co-founder of a small international business; has worked for USAID-OTI; speaks Arabic, Spanish, and English, and has a M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University.

In the interview with Greg Olear, Harris discusses her background and how she got into her line of work, which involves strategic communications and behavior change. She shares her experiences working in Iraq and countering ISIS propaganda. The conversation also touches on the legacy of colonialism in the Middle East and its impact on the region today, the situation in Kurdistan, the proxy war in Syria, the refugee camp in Northern Syria, the growing stateless population, and the experience of living in Somalia and Niger. Finally, she shares her advice on messaging to US voters and warns about the potential consequences of a collapse of democracy and of civil war.

Active Learning Feedback Loop, or, Democracy Isn’t a Spectator Sport  (with Robbie Harris)

In this discussion with Greg Olear, the historian Manisha Sinha discusses her book “The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920.” The book explores the period between the Civil War and World War I, highlighting the importance of Reconstruction in shaping the country. Sinha explains her motivation for writing the book and the significance of the Second American Republic. She also draws parallels between Andrew Johnson and Donald Trump, emphasizing the consequences of showing mercy to Confederates. Sinha delves into the horrors of the first Ku Klux Klan and the violent opposition to Reconstruction. The conversation explores the end of Reconstruction, the Compromise of 1877, the nadir of American democracy, the conquest of the West, and the legacy of Reconstruction. It also delves into the question of how a society can atone for its national sins. Plus: coup right, with Coup-Vite!

Manisha Sinha is the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut and a leading authority on the history of slavery and abolition and the Civil War and Reconstruction. She was born in India and received her Ph.D from Columbia University where her dissertation was nominated for the Bancroft prize. She is the author of “The Counterrevolution of Slavery: Politics and Ideology in Antebellum South Carolina,” which was named one of the ten best books on slavery in Politico and featured in The New York Times’ 1619 Project. Her multiple award winning second book “The Slave’s Cause: A History of Abolition” was long listed for the National Book Award for Non Fiction. It was named Editor’s Choice in the New York Times Book Review, book of the week by Times Higher Education to coincide with its UK publication, and one of three great History books of 2016 in Bloomberg News.

How to Wreck a Democracy (with Ruth Ben-Ghiat)

Download our free app to listen on your phone