Behind the Bastards Part One: How The Liberal Media Helped Fascism Win
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Aug 20, 2024 In this engaging conversation, Michael Swain—a historian and best friend of the host—dives into the failures of liberal media during the rise of fascism in the 1920s and 30s. They discuss how media normalization of violence directly contributed to the acceptance of fascist ideologies. The duo also critiques the media's legacy as a defender of democracy, drawing parallels to current events. Swain highlights the ongoing issues of biased reporting and the implications of sensationalism, making it clear that understanding historical media patterns is crucial for today's global challenges.
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Liberal Media Enabled Fascism
- Legacy liberal media failed to effectively oppose fascism during its rise in Italy, Germany, and the U.S. media prioritized economic stability over confronting fascist violence.
- They framed organized labor as the real threat, while normalizing or understanding fascist violence as inevitable or justified.
Workers Took Over Factories
- Italian workers occupied factories in 1920 to defend their rights against employers and fascists.
- Liberal papers mocked these self-defense actions as childish and undermined the labor movement.
Passive Voice Masks Violence
- Modern media often uses passive voice to obscure agency behind violence, minimizing the culpability of fascists and cops.
- This tactic creates a false equivalence and underplays the threat posed by authoritarian groups.