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Trotsky on Fascism (and Lessons for us Today)
🕑 Added 2025-03-23 15:57:51 +0000 UTCIn this episode, Alyson and Breht welcome Brendan back on the show for the first time in a few years. Together, we dive deep into Leon Trotsky’s Fascism: What It Is and How to Fight It, a sharp and urgent intervention written in the shadow of the Nazi rise to power. We unpack Trotsky’s class analysis of fascism, the role of the petite bourgeoisie, his searing critiques of both sectarian isolationism and liberal class collaboration, and his insistence on the United Front as the only viable revolutionary response. Alongside historical context, we explore in depth whether Trotsky’s framework still applies to today’s far-right movements, neoliberal authoritarianism, Trump's Oligarchic second term, and a decaying capitalist order teetering on the edge. What does fascism look like in 2025—and what must we do to resist it?
Outro Song: May All The Lower Realms Be Empty by Friends in Real Life
Comments
Roving Canine
When Brendan talks about many fascists having backgrounds of domestic abuse but not being vocal about it or justifying it instead of criticizing it like their democratic counterparts it reminds in a bizarre way of how both tucker and mel gibson during trumps campaign trail and endorsements reiterated at several points almost verbatim said "there has to be a point where daddy comes home" and "daddy is coming home and he is taking off his belt, he is mad" and thats both hilarious and tragic with how spot on it is.
PuebloCO Jenin
There's always more to learn, so I made myself keep listening, even though I don't like Trotsky. Really 😍 your final comments (that poked right at me for almost not listening!!!) about being adults, listening with love in our hearts, and avoiding splintering off in the smaller and smaller narrowminded groups. I also read your reply to Lana, which struck home with me. I really enjoyed the commentary about agreeing with other workers groups where we can to provide that united front, while never giving up our own core beliefs, specifically Brendan's example of left Zionism is just as bad as right Zionism. Then I disagreed with Brandon's analysis of Bernie and really appreciated, Breht, your alternative analysis that Sanders may not see himself as a sheepdog, but that's what he is (I got suckered by him both times, out $6g) I was devastated that they didn't force the healthcare for all vote AND they voted against the striking railroad workers!But it took the genocide for me to swear off Dems for good. I hope you're right and also think that all this energy building up may be how we get the working class united in our freedom struggle! LENIN said we need to create a united front. I listen to a lot of left podcasts which talk about Trosky being a working class traitor, that being the reason Stalin had him killed....
