The Fascism Barometer

In this episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon welcomes Shelby Chestnut, the Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and the first Native Trans leader to head a national LGBTQ organization. They dive into the current landscape of anti-trans legislation, and how Trans communities are organizing in the face of fascist tactics. Shelby shares how TLC is responding through litigation, safety planning, communications strategy, and sharing resources, while highlighting the strength, resilience, and solidarity at the heart of the fight for Trans liberation. This conversation is both a sobering reality check and a call to collective action.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Shelby ChestnutConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.

While we work on the next episode of The Fascism Barometer (out next week!), we have another outstanding podcast to share with you from our friends over at Convergence. The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast with Scot Nakagawa and Sue Hyde. This episode of The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast features Scot and Sue sitting down with Suzanne Pharr, a Southern queer feminist and anti-racist organizer, strategist, writer, community organizer, and educator. Over her decades of work, she has contributed to the advancement of many social justice movements and worked on historic campaigns against authoritarian attempts to exploit popular prejudice for political and financial gain. With much wisdom and experience, Suzanne paints a clear picture of how we have arrived at this political moment with authoritarians infiltrating our governments and communities, and the direction social justice movements need to move.

Kenyon Farrow a long-term writer and movement strategist joins Ejeris on the Fascism Barometer to discuss the history of fascist and authoritarian politics in the United States.  Kenyon also lays out some ideas on how we can get out of this mess, including what actions individuals, movement organizations, and elected officials should play in the short and long term.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Kenyon FarrowConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.  

As we prepare to roll out season 2 of The Fascism Barometer, we wanted to share a podcast from our friends over at Convergence. The podcast is called Block & Build, hosted by Cayden Mak. This featured episode was originally published on December 13th, 2024, and Cayden graciously invited me to be one of the guests. This episide explores the history of creeping fascist trends in our society and politics and how we all should think about our relationship to state power.Also on this episode is Ju-Hyun Park, a Movement Media colleague at The Real News Network and organizer with Nodutdol about what’s been unfolding in South Korea since the unsuccessful coup attempt by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3. Read Ju-Hyun's full story at People's Dispatch.Support  Block & Build by becoming a member at convergencemag.com/donateWe'll see you very soon for season 2 of The Fascism Barometer!

Author, organizer, and political strategist Alicia Garza joins the Fascism Barometer to discuss the impact of rising fascism on our lives and political strategy.  Alicia and Ejeris discuss what we need to change about movement building and ourselves to push back against fascist advances.   You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.

Che Johnson-Long and Ken Montenegro, two longtime community security and safety practitioners, join Ejeris Dixon on the Fascism Barometer to discuss how to increase our safety in the face of rising fascism.  Ejeris, Che, and Ken discuss safety planning tips for individuals and organizations, including resistance and survival strategies that can be combined to make us safer in the short and long term.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.

Isaac Ontiveros joins the Fascism Barometer to break down the types of organizational collaborations that are needed in the US to defeat fascism.  Isaac and Ejeris discuss coalitions, broad fronts, and united fronts, and what it takes to build and maintain them.  Ejeris and Isaac also discuss strategies folks have used to defeat fascist movements and the unlikely partnerships that can happen.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.

Tarso Ramos, Executive Director of Political Research Associates, offers a deep dive into the MAGA Coalition and its unsettling alliances. He discusses the alarming rise of fascism in the U.S., particularly the scapegoating of marginalized communities. Listeners learn about the strange bedfellows in the coalition, from Christian nationalists to libertarians, all unified in their goals against democracy. The conversation also stresses the importance of grassroots mobilization and community action to combat these authoritarian trends, urging vigilance post-2024 elections.

Join longtime activist Kelly Hayes, who hosts Movement Memos and authored "Let This Radicalize You," as she discusses the ominous rise of fascism in the U.S. with Ejeris. They delve into grassroots organizing and the significance of solidarity among marginalized communities. Hayes emphasizes storytelling as a powerful tool for combating fascism, making the subject accessible through relatable narratives. The conversation urges listeners to engage in collective action and stay informed, highlighting the importance of collaboration in these critical times.

Ash-lee Woodard Henderson, an Afro-Lachian activist and co-executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center, shares her insights on how fascists exploit emergencies to gain power. She discusses Ejeris's Fascist Emergency Playbook and highlights the dangerous manipulation of elections by these movements. The conversation emphasizes the rise of authoritarianism and the importance of fighting for marginalized rights. Henderson calls for grassroots activism, strategic voting, and mutual aid as essential tools to empower communities against impending threats.