Inform Your Resistance is coming to you this week in between regularly scheduled episodes to introduce you to a new podcast series, Lifting the Curtain on Antisemitism. This collaboration between Political Research Associates and Diaspora Alliance explores how to understand antisemitism and its weaponization and to fight for collective liberation. Amidst rising authoritarianism and Israel’s genocide in Gaza, this series offers a rigorous analysis of how authoritarians uses antisemitism and its weaponization as a tool to repress progressive movements and to dismantle democracy itself.

You can find all six episodes of Lifting the Curtain on Antisemitism on the PRA Presents feed wherever you get your podcasts or on politicalresearch.org.

Our collective freedom is at stake. How do we prevent the most vulnerable from being excluded, targeted, or taken advantage of, while providing values, moral clarity, and the most strategic inputs possible? In this first of a two-part series, we share insights from PRA’s researchers about how to move beyond the work on blocking rising authoritarianism, to the work of building power, vision, and solidarity. Steven Gardiner, Ethan Fauré, and an unnamed PRA researcher in conversation with the Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart describe the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, and how to respond. 

Our panelists provide an overview of the quality makeup and ideologies of the current Trump administration, the interplay between state repression, particularly of the Palestinian Liberation Movement, and Islamophobia and weaponized antisemitism, and the expansion of the deportation machine in direct alignment with the white nationalist anti-immigration movement. They provide deep insights into the White, Judeo-Christian authoritarianism demonstrated in extrajudicial violence, denial of humanity, further power disregard for congressional and judicial power, concentration of executive power, the “power of the purse,” and attacks on public speech, gathering, and due process.

Our panelists offer insights to focus your organizing, stay in community, right size threats to understand them more accurately, create counternarratives, get into the field, enact noncompliance, and identify and grow the fissures between factions of the Right.

Resources

• Trump 2.0’s First 100 Days Authoritarian Gains and Consolidation by Political Research Associates
• The Antidote to Authoritarianism with Jiva Manske by Political Research Associates (podcast)
• What Is Movement Infrastructure? How Movements Sustain Us Amid Rising Authoritarianism by Cloee Cooper
• Q&A: Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence: An interview with Scot Nakagawa and Hardy Merriman by Naomi Washington Leapheart
• Book Review: Commune or Nothing! Lessons for Building Grassroots Power Toward Liberation and Democracy by Hialy Gutierrez
• Book Excerpt: Three Way Fight: Revolutionary Politics and Antifascism by Xtn Alexander and Matthew N. Lyons
• Rising Against Authoritarianism: Amplifying Voices for Immigrant Justice by Cloee Cooper
• Religion Dispatches article: “Authoritarians Must Break Your Will to Resist — So What Can You Do About it?” by Steven Gardiner
• Religion Dispatches article: “Trump’s Cabinet (and Other) Picks Paint Picture of a Christian Nationalist ‘Kakistocracy’” by Annika Brockschmidt and Thomas Lecaque
• Religion Dispatches article: “Leading ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ Org Announces ‘Full Support’ for Trump’s Mass Deportations” by Ethan Fauré

Today’s episode welcomes The 22nd Century Initiative’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, Jiva Manske. Koki and Jiva lay out key ways that the Left can and must build a shared vision of democracy, all while the pro-democracy movement is in a moment of extreme crisis. They talk through the “what is to be done?” about this moment, drawing inspiration from key strategies such as mobilizing, non-compliance, non-violent direct action, and alternative institutions like mutual aid, collective care, and infrastructures of solidarity. In discussing a range of accessible, non-violent actions both historic and current—from the 1930 Salt March across India to the street theater of 1970s Chile to the recent veterans D-Day protest in D.C. in June 2025—Jiva describes why we need to look to our past to build up resilience for our present, and in turn, seed the global democratic future we need and desire.

Jiva Manske is an organizer, strategist, partner, and dad who is connected to people around the world who are dedicated to building powerful, transformational movements. As Director of Strategic Initiatives for the 22nd Century Initiative, his work focuses on building a more resilient, innovative, and aligned pro-democracy field. His approach to change is grounded in a commitment to accountability through collective action, organizing led by those most impacted by injustice, and healing-centered practice. He has facilitated strategy, training, and change with youth, elders, activists, incarcerated people, educators, and government officials in Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, England, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Romania, and throughout the United States.

• The 22nd Century Initiative, www.22ci.org (2025)
• Grace Lee Boggs, Living for Change: An Autobiography By Grace Lee Boggs, Minneapolis: UMN Press (2016)
• Chancie Calliham, ”Calling In Author Q&A with Loretta Ross,” Political Research Associates (2025)
• End Political Violence, endpoliticalviolence.org (2025)
• Freedom Trainers, freedomtrainers.net (2025)
• Jean Hardisty, “The Resurgent Right Why Now?,” Political Research Associates (1995)
• Lauren Jacobs, Worker Power in the Fight Against Authoritarianism, a conversation with PowerSwitch Action's Lauren Jacobs, Inform Your Resistance (podcast) (2023)
• Political Research Associates, “Ground Rules and Tips for Challenging the Right,” Political Research Associates (2016)
• Scot Nakagawa, The Anti-Authoritarian Playbook, antiauthoritarianplaybook.substack.com (2025) 
• Urvashi Vaid, with eds. Jyotsna Vaid and Amy Hoffman. The Dream of a Common Movement Selected Writings of Urvashi Vaid, Durham: Duke University Press (2025)

In this episode of Inform Your Resistance, Koki reads “Gender and Authoritarianism: A Framework for Analysis and Action” by Annie Wilkinson, as part of our ongoing From the Archives series. From the Archives features those must read and, now, must listen to pieces from PRA’s more than 40 years of publishing. This article was published in the Winter/Spring 2025 issue of The Public Eye magazine, and you can read the article here.

In conversation with PRA’s Principal Research Advisor Steven Gardiner, he and Koki discuss the wide-ranging practices, policies, and ideologies underlying the antidemocratic goals of the Neoreactionary Right—and how to resist them. Diving into the foundations of white nationalism and Christian supremacy that prop up the billionaire agenda under Trump, their conversation pieces together the connections in topics ranging from privately owned micro states and the tariff regime intended to re-industrialize a post-industrial United States, to the fascistic, curtailing of opposition and checks on power.

Steven Gardiner is Principal Research Advisor, and formerly Research Director, at Political Research Associates. He has been researching and writing in opposition to the politics of bigotry, violence, and authoritarianism since the early 1990s. In 2004, Gardiner received a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Cornell University; since earning his doctorate, he has taught more than twenty different courses at eight universities in the United States, Pakistan, and the UAE.

Resources:

• Peter Montgomery, “Project 2025: How Trump Loyalists and Right-Wing Leaders Are Paving a Fast Road to Fascism,” Political Research Associates, Feb 14 (2024)
• Erica Verrillo, “The Neo-Reactionary Coup Erica Verrillo,” Medium, Feb 8 (2025) 
• James Pogue, “Inside the New Right, Where Peter Thiel Is Placing His Biggest Bets They’re not MAGA,” Apr 20 (2022)
• Andrew Prokop, “Curtis Yarvin wants American democracy toppled. He has some prominent Republican fans. The New Right blogger has been cited by Blake Masters and J.D. Vance. What exactly is he advocating?,” Vox, Oct 24 (2022) 
• George Michael, “An antidemocratic philosophy called ‘neoreaction’ is creeping into GOP politics,” The Conversation, Jul 27 (2022)
• Jason Wilson, “He’s anti-democracy and pro-Trump: the obscure ‘dark enlightenment’ blogger influencing the next US administration,” The Guardian, Dec 21 (2024) 
• Ben Makuch, “Extremist blogger to debate Harvard professor at unsanctioned campus event,” May 2 (2025)
• Hialy Gutierrez, “Exposing and Resisting the Coordinated Attacks on Higher Education: Q&A with Isaac Kamola on Manufacturing Backlash,” Apr 16 (2025)
• Scot Nakagawa, “Why They're Winning And What We Can Do About It: An Issue of the Anti-Authoritarian Playbook Newsletter,” Apr 9 (2025)
• Alyssa Bowen, “The Education Wars: Author Q&A with Jennifer C. Berkshire,” Political Research Associates, Dec 13 (2024)
• Ben Lorber, “Three Way Fight: Author Q&A with Xtn Alexander and Matthew N. Lyons,” Political Research Associates, Mar 11 (2025)
• Steven Gardiner, “End Times Antisemitism: Christian Zionism, Christian Nationalism, and the Threat to Democracy,” Jul 9 (2020)
• Aidan Orly, “101: Christian Zionism,” Apr 24 (2024)

Keywords: 

Authoritarianism, fascism, Far Right, techoauthoritariansim, NeoReactionary Movement, Neo-Reactionary movement, NRx, Dark Enlightenment, DOGE, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Peter Thiel, technofascism, technostate, White nationalism, Christian nationalism, private military, neoliberalism, Libertarian movement, labor, theocracy, microstates, Christian Zionism, state capture, Project 2025, Trump administration, Donald Trump, anti-immigrant, deportations, resistance, mutual aid, democracy

In this episode, Koki interviews PRA’s former Executive Director Tarso Luís Ramos, who stepped down from his role in December 2024 after nearly two decades at the helm of the organization. With over 30 years of experience working, researching, and leading in the Fight the Right sector, Tarso has had an indelible impact in the social justice Left, informing the ongoing and evolving fight against White, Christian, patriarchal supremacy. In our conversation, he reflects on the fascinating ways that the terrain of contestation between Left and Right has shifted over three decades, what this evolution tells us about the possibilities and imperatives of this moment, and where he looks to for inspiration in an era of growing authoritarianism.

Former PRA Executive Director, Tarso Luís Ramos has been researching and challenging the U.S. Right Wing for nearly 30 years. At PRA, Tarso launched major initiatives on antisemitism, misogyny, authoritarianism, White nationalism, and other threats to democracy. Ramos is a sought-after public speaker and his work has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times, and Time Magazine, among other outlets. 

Before joining PRA in 2006, Ramos served as founding director of Western States Center’s racial justice program, and exposed and challenged corporate anti-environmental campaigns as director of the Wise Use Public Exposure Project.

Resources: 

• Nativist Bedfellows: The Christian Right Embraces Anti-Immigrant Politics by Tarso Luís Ramos and Pam Chamberlain for Political Research Associates
• Listen to “Nativist Bedfellows: The Christian Right Embrace Anti-Immigrant Politics” on Inform Your Resistance Season 3, Episode 2
• One Year In: A Q&A with Tarso Luís Ramos on Trump’s first year in office by Tarso Luís Ramos and Kathryn Joyce for The Public Eye
• Multi-Racial Democracy, or Authoritarianism?: A Webinar Discussion and Excerpt by Tarso Luís Ramos at the 2018 Facing Race conference closing plenary
• Capitol Offenses: January 6th 2021 & The Ongoing Insurrection, PRA State of the Right Report by Steven Gardiner and Tarso Luís Ramos for Political Research Associates
• Press Release: Political Research Associates Welcomes New Executive Director Sylvia Broude

In this episode, Koki speaks with researchers Mariel Cooksey and Amy Mack about the Far Right in Canada today. They discuss the evolution of the Far Right and its disparate movements, the current rise to prominence of the Far Right in provincial politics, and the discordance between a rich history of anti-democratic organizing and a profound global reputation for progressive liberalism. Is Canada as exceptional as it seems?

Mariel Cooksey is the Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for Far Right Studies. Her research background focuses on Christianity and far-right extremism in the United States and Canada, with an emphasis on antisemitic and “Radical traditionalist” Catholic groups. She is currently researching the overlap between Gen Z internet culture, climate collapse, and accelerationism.

Amy Mack is co-director of research at the Canadian Institute for Far-Right Studies. Her research focuses on the resurgence of ethno-nationalist and white supremacist movements in Canada, and their use of social media to build communities and circulate their ideologies. She is currently researching their narratives of white male victimhood, belonging, and entitlement.

Episode resources

• The Canadian Institute for Far Right Studies
• Meet the Radical Right-Wing Group Seizing Power in Canada’s Conservative Heartland by Jeremy Appel for Jacobin
• A Fundamental Difference Between Danielle Smith's Bill of Rights and What's Come Before by Jason Markusoff for CBC
• Meet the Extreme, Far-Right BC Conservative Candidates Who Are Now Legislators Following BC’s Wild Election by Luke LeBrun for PressProgress
• Why Are Gen Z Girls Attracted to the Tradwife Lifestyle? by Mariel Cooksey for Political Research Associates
• Listen to “Why Are Gen Z Girls Attracted to the Tradwife Lifestyle?” on Inform Your Resistance Season 2: Episode 5

In this episode, Naomi Washington Leapheart explores the role of community and solidarity in creating responsive and durable strategies of contestation—of resistance—in our contemporary political moment. As PRA's Strategic Partnerships Director, Naomi presents empowering stories of how we at PRA inform our resistance movements, and as a reverend and community organizer, she breaks down the philosophical concept of community organizing to present a vision and plan for self actualization, collectivized risk, and the possibility of triumph through solidarity.

Naomi Washington Leapheart, PRA Strategic Partnerships Director, is a Black queer daughter of Detroit, and a minister, professor, and movement strategist. She has worked as a faith organizer and director for Power Interfaith, the National LGBTQ Task Force, and the Mayor's Office for Public Engagement in the City of Philadelphia.

Naomi teaches emerging scholars of religion and theology at Villanova University, Arcadia University, and Harvard School for Divinity. Music was and is her first love. In her spare time, she delights in singing with an all volunteer choir whose mission is to bring audible comfort and kindness to the bedsides of people living in hospice care.

Episode resources: 

• To hear Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart on other podcasts, check out this list.
• Q&A: Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence: An interview with Scot Nakagawa and Hardy Merriman by Naomi Washington Leapheart
• Book Review: Commune or Nothing! Lessons for Building Grassroots Power Toward Liberation and Democracy by Hialy Gutierrez
• What Is Movement Infrastructure? How Movements Sustain Us Amid Rising Authoritarianism by Cloee Cooper
• Book Review: Reverberations of October 7: Mobilization Against Genocide Undeterred by Peak Anti-Palestinian Repression by Palestine Legal by Habiba Farh
• Fire Dreams: Making Black Feminist Liberation in the South: A conversation with Deon Haywood, Laura McTighe, and Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson by Kitana Ananda
• Book Excerpt: Three Way Fight: Revolutionary Politics and Antifascism by Xtn Alexander and Matthew N. Lyons
• Rising Against Authoritarianism: Amplifying Voices for Immigrant Justice by Cloee Cooper
• Synagogue Safety Beyond Higher Walls and Militarized Police: An Excerpt from Safety Through Solidarity by Ben Lorber and Shane Burley

In this episode, PRA Principal Research Advisor Steven Gardiner provides astute analysis on what has led us to this moment in history—when Donald Trump and the Republican Party have so decisively won the presidency and both houses of congress. Steven shares likely scenarios that may play out in Trump’s first year back in office, the implications of his chaotic cabinet picks for the implementation of both mundane and reactionary policy, and, most importantly, on the opportunities available to resisting the fascistic capture of the U.S. state. 

Steven Gardiner is Principal Research Advisor, and formerly Research Director, at Political Research Associates. He has been researching and writing in opposition to the politics of bigotry, violence, and authoritarianism since the early 1990s. In 2004, Gardiner received a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Cornell University; since earning his doctorate, he has taught more than twenty different courses at eight universities in the United States, Pakistan, and the UAE.

Episode resources

• PRA Statement on the 2024 National Election
• Religion Dispatches article: “Authoritarians Must Break Your Will to Resist — So What Can You Do About it?” by Steven Gardiner
• Religion Dispatches article: “While Nixon Sought to Secretly ‘Screw’ Political Enemies Trump’s Dictatorial Desires Are Less Modest” by Steven Gardiner
• Religion Dispatches article: “Loyalty and Chaos Play a Role in Trump’s Nominations, But This Schoolyard Tactic May Provide a Better Explanation” by Steven Gardiner
• Religion Dispatches article: “Trump’s Cabinet (and Other) Picks Paint Picture of a Christian Nationalist ‘Kakistocracy’” by Annika Brockschmidt and Thomas Lecaque
• Religion Dispatches article: “Leading ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ Org Announces ‘Full Support’ for Trump’s Mass Deportations” by Ethan Fauré

In this episode of Inform Your Resistance, Koki reads “From Palestine to Atlanta, Outside and Foreign: The Institutional Policing of Dissent” by Habiba Farh, as part of our ongoing From the Archives series. From the Archives features those must read and, now, must listen to pieces from PRA’s more than 40 years of publishing. This article was published in the Spring 2024 issue of The Public Eye magazine, and you can read the article here.