Reconsidering Fascism in America

Nov 30, 2018

On this episode, Luke and Pete discuss "Scary Clowns,” an article in the Baffler by Brendan O'Conner. Luke begins with a monologue about his growing fear of extremist right-wing violence. We consider the connections between more mainstream conservative groups and fascist groups like the Proud Boys. We discuss the racial polarization of politics, and how race has crystalized into a political differentiator. Pete doesn't bother to talk Luke off the cliff after he makes the worst-case argument for a neo-fascist wave. Finally, we consider the complicity by silence of the GOP.

1. Brendan O'Conner, "Scary Clowns," The Baffler (Nov. 21, 2018).
2. "Political Violence", Public Sphere (Dec. 17, 2017).
3. Luke Mergner, "Trump," Contrivers' Review (March 2016).
4. Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements (Harper Brothers, 1951; reprinted Harper, 2019).
5. John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck, Identity Politics (Princeton, 2018). Summary at Vox.com by Ezra Klein.
6. National Vanguard group.
7. Turning Point USA

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