The Fascism Barometer

This edition of The Fascism Barometer finds host Ejeris Dixon sitting down with Cristina Jiménez Moreta—bestselling author, MacArthur Genius Fellow, and co-founder of United We Dream—for a timely conversation on how fascism shows up in the everyday lives of immigrant communities. Cristina reflects on her own journey from Ecuador to the U.S. and speaks to the experiences of immigrants who flee authoritarian and fascist regimes, only to be targeted in the United States. Cristina highlights the acts of resistance that everyday people are taking and the opportunities to build bigger, more visionary possibilities that this moment creates. This is not a theoretical conversation—it’s about real people, real histories, and real stakes.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Cristina Jiménez Moreta's critically acclaimed book, Dreaming of HomeConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd 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.

Host Ejeris Dixon is joined by lifelong educator and organizer, Lumumba Bandele to unpack what fascism looks like through the lived experiences of Black communities in the U.S. — and why we must recognize its current and historic manifestations. From front porch conversations in Bed-Stuy to lessons learned from global solidarity movements, Lumumba offers grounded wisdom on the victories that Black communities have won against state repression, the power of storytelling, and how Black resistance has always been both local and global.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Lumumba BandeleConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd 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.

In this urgent episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon sits down with renowned activist and organizer Linda Sarsour for a powerful conversation on fascism, Palestinian liberation, and the meaning of true solidarity. With over two decades of movement work, Sarsour offers a masterclass on what it means to resist fascism, uplift human dignity, and defend communities under siege. Linda shares why the Palestinian liberation struggle is central to the anti-fascist fight—and how ordinary people can step into powerful roles in extraordinary ways.  You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Linda SarsourConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd 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.

In this urgent and clarifying episode, Ejeris Dixon sits down with Shane Burley—journalist, scholar, author of Fascism Today: What it is and How to End It, and co-author of Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism—to unpack what it means for social justice movements when fascists control the government, and what to expect of their next moves.  They also discuss the dangerous manipulation of antisemitism in our current political moment. Together, they explore what the history of anti-fascism can teach us about these times, historical roots of antisemitism, how it's being weaponized to silence dissent—particularly pro-Palestinian voices—and the critical difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism. This conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating the intersection of anti-Fascism, Jewish identity, Palestinian solidarity, and anti-war organizing.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Shane BurleyConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd 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.

In this episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon is joined by renowned activist, narrative strategist, and speaker Malkia Devich-Cyril for a wide-ranging conversation that connects the rise of fascism to collective grief, Black liberation, and the emotional landscape of organizing within repressive times.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Malkia Devich-Cyril and Movement Innovation CollaborativeConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd 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. 

In this powerful episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon welcomes Maurice Mitchell, the National Director of the Working Families Party, for a conversation that dissects rising fascism through a compelling and relatable metaphor: the family cookout. Together, they explore what it means when someone seizes power simply because they can, and how everyday people can push back through collective action.  From the failures of the liberal rulebook to the urgent need for a unified "no" coalition—and ultimately, a shared vision for liberation—this episode dives deep into how strategy, solidarity, and joy can fuel a multiracial working-class movement.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Maurice Mitchell and the Working Families PartyConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd 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.

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!