Commonwealth Club of California Podcast Wajahat Ali: How to Fight Fascism with Humor, Heart ... and Hummus
Jan 31, 2026
Wajahat Ali, acclaimed writer and playwright who turned commentator and memoirist, shares sharp analysis with a disarming sense of humor. He discusses using comedy to undermine strongmen, threats to democracy and institutional complicity, California tech’s dark side, talking to kids about injustice, and building sustained resistance with empathy and multicultural solidarity.
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From Fremont To A Breakthrough Play
- Wajahat Ali described growing up in Fremontistan as a Pakistani kid who didn't learn English at home and found refuge in storytelling and theater.
- His play Domestic Crusaders emerged from that experience and launched his public career after premiering years later in New York.
New Media Upends Old Gatekeepers
- Wajahat Ali explains new media let outsiders bypass mainstream gatekeepers and build influence from scratch.
- He credits Substack, social platforms, and independent publishing for reshaping who gets heard.
Use Humor As A Political Weapon
- Use humor deliberately: it releases endorphins and serves as a weapon to belittle authoritarian strongmen.
- Mockery and satire can reveal a strongman’s insecurity and destabilize their aura of inevitability.
