Laura Flanders and Friends: Historic Perspectives with Forward-Thinking Changemakers From the World's of Politics, Arts, & Activism Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor: Are We Entering “End Times Fascism”? [Episode]
In a chilling conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, the co-authors unpack their Guardian essay on "End Times Fascism," exposing how today’s billionaires and right-wing leaders aren’t just profiting from global crises—they’re actively accelerating them. As they delve into the apocalyptic ambitions behind Trump 2.0’s economic agenda, the discussion asks: can we counter this death-drive with a bold, life-affirming vision for the future?
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FULL DESCRIPTION: Today's billionaires know our planet can't sustain their business models or lifestyles, but they don't care. Find out why, in this chilling conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor, co-authors of a revelatory essay on "End Times Fascism" in the Guardian. “Today’s rightwing leaders and their rich allies are not just taking advantage of catastrophes, shock-doctrine and disaster-capitalism style,” write Klein and Taylor, “but simultaneously provoking, planning and seeking to profit off apocalypse.” These are deeply dangerous times, Taylor and Klein argue: “Trump 2.0's economic project is a Frankenstein's monster of the industries driving all of these threats—fossil fuels, weapons, and resource-ravenous cryptocurrency and AI.” As the Right prepares for the end of life as we know it, can we build a movement to counter their apocalyptic, fascist ideology? What about a vision of love and compassion for people and the planet? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on Elon Musk's recently privately-incorporated Tesla town in Brownsville, TX.
“These people are preparing for the end of the world. They are abandoning this place. They are traitors. And so we respond to them in part by committing to where we are and by being committed to other people. And it sounds very simple, but I think there's something really fundamental and profound about that when you realize the scale to which these folks have decided to embrace this politics of contempt and abandonment.” - Astra Taylor
“Under colonialism, the creation of nation states is pretty arbitrary. Guy with book decides to form country. That's what they see in Israel . . . The idea that you can have a kind of an apartheid state, wealthy, high-tech fortress as a way to weather the storms that you yourself are unleashing. Israel's become a kind of a beacon for both the tech bros and the Theo Bros.” - Naomi Klein
Guests:
• Naomi Klein: Columnist, The Guardian; UBC Professor of Climate Justice; Co-Author, The Rise of End Times Fascism; Journalist & Best-Selling Author, Doppelganger, The Shock Doctrine, No Logo, This Changes Everything & On Fire
• Astra Taylor: Author & Organizer; Co-Author, The Rise of End Times Fascism; Co-Founder, Debt Collective & Author, The Age of Insecurity, Co-author, Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea
Music Credit: “Power” by Don Glori from his forthcoming album Paper Can’t Wrap Fire released on Mr. Bongo Records. "Steppin" by Podington Bear. And original sound production and design by Jeannie Hopper.
Watch the special report released on YouTube May 9th 5pm ET; PBS World Channel May 11th, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast May 14th.
- While our weekly episodes are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, and here as a podcast, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the Full Uncut Conversation also available in this podcast feed.
RESOURCES:
Full Episode Notes are located HERE.
Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:
•. Naomi Klein: Naomi Klein: Tackling the “Doppelganger”, Disinformation & Lies: Watch, Listen: Episode, and Full Conversation
•. Debt, Democracy & Disarray: Astra Taylor on “The Age of Insecurity”: Watch, Listen: Episode, and Full Conversation
•. Masha Gessen & Jason Stanley: Is it Doomsday for U.S. Democracy?: Watch, Listen: Episode, and Full Conversation
Related Articles and Resources:
• Google’s former CEO : AI advances more important than climate conservation, by Chase DiBenedetto, October 7, 2024, Mashable
• Behold the Strange Spectacle of Christians Against Empathy, Opinion by David French, February 13, 2025, New York Times
•. Prospera Promotional Video
•. We Went to The Town Elon Musk Took Hostage, by More Perfect Union, February 19, 2025, Watch
Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Gina Kim, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner.
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