Fresh Air The Growing Power & Influence Of White Supremacy In America
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Jan 7, 2026 
Eric Lichtblau, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, discusses his book 'American Reich,' which explores the rise of white supremacy in America. He reveals how political rhetoric has incited hate and takes us through horrifying real-life events, including a murder linked to neo-Nazis in Orange County. Lichtblau also examines extremist groups like Atomwaffen and the alarming influence of white power music. Film critic Justin Chang reviews 'Marty Supreme,' highlighting Timothée Chalamet's performance and its cultural implications.
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Trump's Rhetoric And A Surge In Hate
- Eric Lichtblau links the decade-long rise in racial violence to Trump's emergence and inflammatory rhetoric starting in 2015.
- He argues white supremacy movements were emboldened nationally, producing record levels of hate crimes across minority groups.
Orange County As A Microcosm
- Orange County shifted from a Republican stronghold to a more diverse, bluer county and that change provoked far-right backlash.
- Lichtblau uses Orange County as a microcosm showing demographic shifts can intensify local white supremacist activity.
Music Scene That Incubated Violence
- White power music scenes in Orange County produced violent actors, including Wade Page who killed worshippers in Wisconsin.
- Lichtblau traces how bands and subcultures can incubate extremist violence over decades.
