Sam Goldman talks with renowned educator and author of multiple books Henry Giroux about his recent piece on Truthout: Downplaying Trumpism is Dangerous.

Trump is out of power now but clearly there is still a need for people acting together to refuse fascism and demand a more just world. How close did we come to full-blown fascism? What are we faced with now and what is needed? We will continue to explore these questions on this podcast and encourage people to act with us via refusefascism.org. Send your comments and ideas for this show going forward to [email protected] or @SamBGoldman.

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

On Trump's last full day in office, Sam talks with Dr. Jo-Marie Burt, (scholar of political violence, human rights and transitional justice in Latin America; professor at The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and Senior Fellow at The Washington Office on Latin America). What can we learn about recovery from the Trump years and attempted self-coup from other countries?

Follow Dr. Burt at @jomaburt. Sign this statement: Pledge to the People of the World In the Name of Humanity We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

We're sharing a conversation that originally aired on Sunsara Taylor's show, We Only Want the World (WBAI and WPFW; listen to past episodes on wpfwfm.org), featuring Dr. Cornel West, Rev. William H. Lamar IV and Andy Zee. This discussion was recorded and aired the day before fascist assault on the Capitol January 6 but is completely relevant this week as the country faces continued violent threats and other fallout from the coup. 

Sign this statement: Pledge to the People of the World In the Name of Humanity We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America.

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

We're sharing a very timely conversation between actor/comedienne Rosie O'Donnell, Jason Stanley (author of How Fascism Works), Andy Zee (co-initiator of Refuse Fascism, host of The RNL Show) and Sunsara Taylor (co-initiator of Refuse Fascism, host of We Only Want the World). 

In the aftermath of the Trump-led attempted coup, and in the days leading up to the inauguration of Joe Biden, is it right to call Trump, his regime and his MAGA base fascist? Is it too "inflammatory?"  Why are the fascists fighting in the streets and our side so passive? 

Trump needs to be DEFEATED legally & politically. His fascist coup attempt, the whole regime and their followers, & their fascist program with its white supremacy, misogyny & xenophobia resoundingly repudiated. 

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Sign the Pledge to the People of the World here. 

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

Sam Goldman speaks to George Levy Mueller, author of Lucie's Hope, a memoir of his life as a child in Nazi Germany. He and his younger sister Ursula survived life in three concentration camps. 

Plus, a clip from William H. Lamar IV (pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C) speaking at Black Lives Matter plaza yesterday. There were demonstrations in DC, NYC and around the country Saturday demanding Trump's immediate removal. Find coverage and ways you can act now on refusefascism.org. 

We demand Trump’s immediate removal to stop the tremendous harm he can do in the next 11 days. We demand this now as part of building the strength of our side for the fight to decisively defeat this fascism that has been allowed to fester and spew forth. Note well: A failed coup, can lead to a successful coup or a “legitimate” return to power fueled by the same fascist program but with a vengeance.

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

On Wednesday, January 6th, we saw President Trump call forth and unleash fascist mobs to storm the U.S. Capitol.

This was an attempt at a coup. It did not succeed this time, but the danger from even a failed coup is to be taken seriously, setting the stage for them to come back sooner or later to re-seize power – with or without Trump.

RefuseFascism.org hosted a virtual press conference on YouTube, Thursday January 7, presenting a diverse group of people speaking out on the attempted coup, its short and longer term consequences, and what THE PEOPLE must do now. The press conference also announced protests demanding No to a Fascist Coup!
 TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW! In the Name of Humanity, We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America (details here).

Hear from:
 Coco Das, writer, Refuse Fascism Editorial Board; 
Andy Zee, co-initiator of RefuseFascism.org and host of The RNL – Revolution Nothing Less – Show; 
Lilly Wachowski, filmmaker, author of Refuse Fascism, at the Ballot Box and in the Street
; Rosanna Arquette, actress and activist
; Cornel West, author, activist, scholar
; Rev. William H. Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC; 
Arturo O’Farrill, musician
; Ruchira Gupta, Indian journalist and activist; 
Steve Hofstetter, stand-up comedian; 
Jodie Sweetin, actress and activist.

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

Sam Goldman interviews Eric Boehler (Press Run Media) about his recent article Trump plots martial law from White House — the press shrugs.

Then, this week Trump and fellow fascists are attempting to stop the certification of the presidential election results this Wednesday, with 140 Republican congressmen and 12 senators challenging the results and plans for a "wild protest" at the White House that morning.

Trump’s unprecedented attempt to overturn the election is fascist and must be opposed. Find materials and information on how to respond at RefuseFascism.org.

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support: 

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

Sam Goldman chats with a progressive organizer in the north shore suburbs of Chicago who has been organizing Protect the Vote vigils in her area for several months. She wrote this solidarity statement that was read at the Trump: You Lost. Get the Hell Out! rally in front of the White House on December 12.

This week, connect with the movement and support Refuse Fascism on Wednesday, for a virtual rebroadcast of the Musicians Against Fascism concert which originally took place January 19, 2017 (the day before Trump's inauguration). RSVP here and you'll be sent a link to watch on Wednesday December 30 at 8pm EST. 

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support: 

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

A panel discussion presented by Refuse Fascism and The RNL – Revolution, Nothing Less! – Show, originally streamed live Wednesday, December 16.

The Situation:

Some Questions:

Panelists:

RefuseFascism.org is a movement of people coming from diverse perspectives, united in our recognition that the Trump/Pence Regime poses a catastrophic danger to humanity and the planet, and that it is our responsibility to drive them from power through non-violent protests that grow every day until our demand is met.

The RNL -- Revolution, Nothing Less -- Show is a multidimensional YouTube show about making revolution and emancipating humanity. It's about the world and for a radically different world, bringing alive the need for revolution and the new communism developed by the revolutionary leader Bob Avakian.

Previously in this series:

November 24: What Just Happened?

December 8: Why did 74 million people vote for Trump? 

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support: 

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.

Sam Goldman recaps the last few days leading into the Electoral College vote expected to confirm Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. Sam was with Refuse Fascism speaking out at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington on Saturday, when Proud Boys and other fascist Trump supporters left a trail of destruction elsewhere in the city, including burning a BLM flag ripped from a historic Black church. Trump's former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn gave a speech at one of their rallies, stating, "I've been asked—on a scale of one to ten, who will be the next president of the United States, and I say Donald Trump. Ten."

Tune in to the third in a series of three forums this Wednesday: 

COVID: A Case Study With Life And Death Stakes: Science, Epistemology, Conspiracy & Fascism

Featuring:

Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:

Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.