Scarcely a day goes by when it doesn’t seem like the U.S. is sliding further into authoritarianism. At home we see ICE agents killing innocent civilians and terrorizing immigrant communities, unelected corporate titans dismantling public infrastructure, and unprecedented attacks on academic freedom and the press; abroad we see a disastrous tariff policy, saber rattling, and the targeting of Venezuela, Iran, and other countries that pose no danger to the US. Trump has been doing whatever he wants for a year and only today was finally checked by the Supreme Court. For Charles Derber, an acclaimed author and sociologist, there has never been a more urgent time to build a broad leftwing populist movement to repel the authoritarian juggernaut menacing Americans and the world. In his new book, FIGHTING OLIGARCHY: HOW POSITIVE POPULISM CAN RECLAIM AMERICA (Routledge, paperback, January 2026), he lays out a comprehensive plan for building such a movement, offers a compelling history of both right and left populism in the US, and provides a persuasive analysis of how rightwing populism culminated in a second Trump victory. He and Fred sit down to discuss his book, vision, and view on the unfolding events we face and how progressives can fight back. Charles Derber, Professor of Sociology at Boston College, has written 30 books on politics, democracy, fascism, corporations, capitalism, climate change, war, the culture wars, and social change. His most recent books include Who Owns Democracy, Dying for Capitalism, Welcome to the Revolution, Moving Beyond Fear, Sociopathic Society, and Capitalism: Should You Buy It? Find them all online and in your favorite bookseller.
Sponsor
Mack Weldon: Go to MackWeldon.com and get 20% off your first order of $125 or more, with promo code: FRED