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Episode 213: The Shallow, Power-Flattering Appeal of High Status #Resistance Historians

Dec 4, 2024
Greg Grandin, a Yale historian focused on US imperialism and Latin America, joins for a sharp critique of mainstream narratives about authoritarianism, particularly regarding figures like Trump and Putin. He discusses how liberal historians simplify complex global issues to fit a tidy narrative, often overlooking America’s own role in oppression. The conversation also challenges the concept of audience flattery in political discussions and emphasizes the need for a more nuanced understanding of history and governance, especially in the context of the upcoming 2024 election.
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INSIGHT

Trump's American Roots

  • The "liberal resistance" framing of Trump as a foreign, authoritarian anomaly is shallow.
  • This framing obscures Trump's roots in U.S. history and absolves domestic political elites.
INSIGHT

Preventing Future Trumps

  • Preventing future Trump-like figures requires understanding his American antecedents, not just foreign comparisons.
  • The 2017 "resistance" wasted time on Russiagate and empowered problematic figures.
ADVICE

Defeating Fascism

  • Don't fight fascism by labeling fascists; provide a robust social democratic alternative.
  • Focus on material conditions, social rights, and universal welfare programs to defeat fascism, not just rhetoric.
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