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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Quick takeaways
The liberal media in the 1920s and 30s failed to recognize the existential threat posed by fascism, ultimately enabling its rise.
Historical parallels are drawn to contemporary media's tendency to prioritize consumerism over confronting extremist ideologies in political discourse.
A significant decline in media trust since 2022 reflects the consequences of legacy media's obsession with objectivity amidst rising authoritarianism.
Deep dives
Media and the Rise of Fascism
The discussion centers around how media failed to effectively combat the rise of fascism in the 1930s and 40s, particularly examining the liberal media's passive role during this time. Historical insights highlight how liberal outlets were ineffective witnesses to the horrors of Nazism and often acted as enablers instead of opponents. The hosts compare the media's treatment of the rise of fascism to contemporary issues, particularly pointing out that many of the same families influencing major U.S. media today are repeating past mistakes. This highlights a troubling continuity in how power dynamics influence journalism and public perception.
Decline in Trust in Media
Amidst rising authoritarianism, there has been a significant decline in trust towards the media, evidenced by a Gallup poll indicating that in 2022, more Americans reported no trust at all in media compared to those who had a significant level of trust. This issue is compounded by the failure of legacy media to maintain objectivity without alienating a broad audience. The hosts argue that this obsession with objectivity has coincided with increasing media distrust on a national level, leading to a scenario where Americans no longer view the media as a reliable source of information. This lack of trust suggests that the ongoing focus on objectivity may be damaging rather than helpful.
The Impact of Consumerism on Politics
The episode critiques how liberal media in Weimar Germany adapted its tone and strategy disproportionately in favor of consumerism during the rise of the Nazis. Media outlets urged the public to engage in consumerism as a form of resistance instead of directly addressing the political threats posed by extremist ideologies. This pivot to economic optimism ultimately downplayed the severity of fascism, reflecting a broader trend of investing in consumer values over democratic ideals. The hosts correlate this historical approach with modern media strategies that prioritize economic narratives over confronting political extremists.
The Failure to Report on Violence
Historical examples demonstrate how the media treated the rise of violence from fascist groups as less significant compared to the reactions of leftist organizations, often portraying the co-existence of both violent ideologies. Liberal publications framed their narratives in ways that downplayed fascist aggression, often depicting labor protests and leftist movements as disruptive rather than necessary. This inclination to blame the left for radicalization while absolving fascism depicts a biased, inadequately addressed threat that was actively harming democratic structures. The implication is that the media's failure to properly report on and contextualize violence was detrimental to the preservation of democratic institutions.
Symbolic Responses to Authoritarianism
The podcast highlights both the acknowledgment of threats posed by early fascists and the subsequent symbolic responses by the media that failed to forge actionable defenses against these movements. The liberal press was characterized by a reluctance to take fascism seriously, often depicting extremist organizations as mere nuisances rather than existential threats. This minimization allowed fascism to gain traction while the media focussed on more palatable narratives that avoided confronting stark realities. Thus, the hosts argue that this resulted in a lack of preparedness when faced with authoritarian regimes that ultimately dismantled democratic institutions.
The Relevance of Historical Lessons
The discussion emphasizes the crucial need for contemporary media to learn from the historical mistakes made during the rise of fascism, particularly regarding their failure to act decisively against extremist ideologies. The hosts urge that understanding past media complicity in facilitating authoritarian regimes can shed light on current media dynamics and responsibilities. Recognizing the patterns of negligence toward right-wing extremism in history provides insight into existing media narratives that risk repeating the same failures. This reflection underscores the importance of a vigilant media landscape that actively confronts the challenges posed by rising authoritarianism.
Robert sits down with best pal Michael Swaim to discuss the great liberal media organizations of Italy, Germany and the U.S. in the 1920s and 30s, and how they failed utterly to stop Mussolini and Hitler.
