
Refuse Fascism
The Refuse Fascism podcast is an independent and all-volunteer show that produces weekly episodes that expose, analyze, and oppose the very real danger and threat of fascism coming to power in the United States.
Hosted by Sam Goldman, produced by volunteers with Refuse Fascism.
Latest episodes

Oct 1, 2023 • 50min
Abortion, Birth Control and What’s Next with Roxy Szal + Commentary From Coco Das
Sam talks with Roxy Szal, Austin-based feminist writer and Digital Editor of Ms. Magazine about the state of emergency for abortion access in many parts of the U.S. and much more. For more from Roxy and Ms Magazine visit https://msmagazine.com/ and listen to the On The Issues podcast hosted by Michelle Godwin here. Check out the Fifty Years of Ms. book here.
Plus commentary from Coco Das (@Coco_Das) about GOP front-runner Donald Trump's attacks on the U.S. military, a basis for optimism for the future, and more.
How to help the show? Rate and review wherever you get your podcasts; share with your friends! Get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Sep 24, 2023 • 41min
Fascism in America: Past and Present
Sam talks with Gavriel D. Rosenfeld and Janet Ward, the two editors of a new book titled Fascism in America. Gavriel D. Rosenfeld is President of the Center for Jewish History and Professor of History at Fairfield University. He is the author or editor of eight books on the Nazi era, including The Fourth Reich: The Specter of Nazism since World War II (2019) and Hi Hitler! How the Nazi Past Is Being Normalized in Contemporary Culture
(2014). Janet Ward is an American Council on Education Fellow
at Yale University, and Brammer Presidential Professor of History and Faculty Fellow for Strategic Initiatives (DFCAS) at the University of Oklahoma. Past President of the German Studies Association, she is the author or co-editor of seven books, including Post-Wall Berlin: Borders, Space and Identity (2014) and the forthcoming Sites of Holocaust Memory. Find Dr. Rosenfeld on Twitter at @gavrieldrosenfe. His website is https://www.gavrielrosenfeld.com/
Federico Finchelstein, author of From Fascism to Populism in
History, writes "This book is an essential contribution to debates on the history of fascism in the US and its relationship to the present. It is a must read for all those interested in the issues facing democracy today."
Mentioned in this episode:
Fighting Fascism: A Symposium on Jewish Responses From the Interwar Period to the Present Day
How to help the show? Rate and review wherever you get your podcasts; share with your friends! Get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Sep 17, 2023 • 58min
Stop Cop City
Sam talks with Keyanna Michelle Jones, an organizer with Community Movement Builders. They discuss the ominous and illegitimate RICO indictments "Cop City" opponents face and the fascist assault on the right to protest there. Follow her at @kmichelle_atl and learn more about Community Movement Builders here: https://communitymovementbuilders.org.
Note this episode was recorded on September 12. On Sunday September 17 Stacey Abrams said that she thinks Cop City should be put up for a referendum vote after the mayor put her on the spot, saying that he consulted with her before trying to obstruct the vote.
Mentioned in this episode:
Atlanta Solidarity Fund https://atlsolidarity.org
Block Cop City mass nonviolent direct action Nov 10-13 in Atlanta:
https://blockcopcity.org/
Previous episode about the uprising in Iran: Women, Life, Freedom
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/refuse-fascism/episodes/Women--Life--Freedom-e1pbt30/a-a8mth5u
For more background on this topic:
Atlanta Community Press Collective: Georgia Attorney General brings RICO indictments against 61 activists
https://atlpresscollective.com/2023/09/05/georgia-attorney-general-brings-rico-indictments-against-61-activists/
The Nation: How Georgia Indicted a Movement
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/cop-city-indictment-atlanta/
Revolution: RICO Indictment Against Cop City Protesters:
An Ominous and Illegitimate Fascist Assault on Legitimate and Righteous Protest
https://revcom.us/en/rico-indictment-against-cop-city-protesters-ominous-and-illegitimate-fascist-assault-legitimate-and
How to help the show? Rate and review wherever you get your podcasts; share with your friends! Get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Sep 10, 2023 • 53min
Fascists In the U.S. Military with Will Carless
Sam talks with Will Carless, national correspondent for USA Today on extremism, about his recent investigation: The military ordered big steps to stop extremism. Two years later, it shows no results. Follow him on Twitter @WillCarless and read his work at USA Today.
Mentioned in the episode:
Georgia Attorney General brings RICO indictments against 61 activists
RICO indictments for 61 people alleged to be part of the Stop Cop City Movement
Proud Boys Didn't Just Crash An Election. They Upended The Next One Too.Trump plans to become a dictator — denial will not save you
Related Episodes:
Proud Boys and a New Era of American Fascism
The Flag and the Cross and the Little Blue Bird
Fascist Violence Accelerated
How to help the show? Rate and review wherever you get your podcasts; share with your friends! Get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Sep 3, 2023 • 36min
Teach Truth Not Lies with Dr. Marvin Dunn
Sam talks with Dr. Marvin Dunn, historian and activist with The Miami Center for Racial Justice about their educational tours of Florida covering sites of lynchings and other oppression (prime example: Rosewood) — the knowledge of which is being suppressed by the Desantis fascist offensive against public education. Learn more, get involved and support Teach the Truth projects at https://miamicenterforracialjustice.org/. Follow Dr. Dunn on the site formerly known as Twitter @MarvinDunn4.
Mentioned in this episode:
Educational Intimidation
It's Not Just Florida: Four New 'Don't Say Gay' Laws Passed in 2023
Check out this call to protest!
Oppose the lynch-mob celebrating Jason Aldean concert in Tinley Park, IL (suburb of Chicago) on Saturday Sept 9. Learn more from Revolution Club Chicago (revclub.chi on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cwni9h_J1WZ/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Related Episodes:
The GOP Embrace of Fascist "Moms for Liberty"
The Fascist State of Florida and Student Resistance
Foundation 451: Defying DeSantis' Book Bans
The Nazification of American Education
Refuse Fascism is more than a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Aug 27, 2023 • 44min
Centuries-Old Conspiracy Theories That Fuel Fascism Today
Sam talks with Mike Rothschild, author of the forthcoming book Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories (preorder now!).
From Terry Matalas:
"Like Mike Rothschild’s incredible deconstruction of QAnon in The Storm Is Upon Us, Jewish Space Lasers takes a thoroughly engrossing deep dive into the absurd conspiracy theories surrounding Judaism’s ‘royal family.’ It unpacks that age-old stereotype ‘the Jews control everything’ and brilliantly examines the mysterious dynasty credited for being at the center of it all. It’s a globe-trotting breakdown of antisemitism throughout history to the very chilling moment we are in now. Absorbing, entertaining, and exhaustively researched—a must-read.”
Find out more about the book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/733925/jewish-space-lasers-by-mike-rothschild/
Follow Mike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rothschildmd
Plus: commentary on the fascist murders that took place this month from coast to coast, the GOP debate, Trump’s arraignment in the Georgia case & more!
Mentioned in this episode:
Beyond Wishful Thinking and Wrong Conviction by Paul Street
https://paulstreet.substack.com/p/beyond-wishful-thinking-and-wrong
Related episodes:
Mia Bloom: Inside the Mind of Qanon
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zY6UO57M6CtU6hIOVYACg
Fascist Lies with Federico Finchelstein
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ELkgDtqzhqzbyagTtjKKw
Teddy Wilson: Fascist Violence Accelerated
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2BjVPdGlluT7zeBuHwLsQG
Carol Anderson: White Supremacy & the Second Amendment
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4YFYpNanTHgCwPQS9Bpx6p
Refuse Fascism is more than a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads and Mastodon.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Aug 13, 2023 • 40min
The Court is Wrong; Color-Blindness Serving White Supremacy
Sam talks with attorney and writer Madiba Dennie about the SCOTUS ruling from this June which eliminated race conscious education admissions. Follow her work at madibadennie.com and @AudreLawdAMercy.
Plus more commentary on the brewing crisis escalated by the most recent indictments of Trump.
Refuse Fascism is more than a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads and Mastodon.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Aug 7, 2023 • 43min
Fascist "Operation Lone Star" + Trump Indictment
Sam talks with Faisal Al-Juburi from RAICES Texas about the continuing brutal mistreatment of immigrants and asylum seekers in Texas, which has now placed razor wire barriers in the Rio Grande. RAICES first came to national attention during the family separation crisis under the Trump regime but has been providing services and advocacy for immigrants for decades. Follow and support their work at raicestexas.org.
Plus: commentary on the latest batch of Trump indictments which finally point out his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Read the statement from the RefuseFascism.org Editorial Board: Trump Indicted for Attempting to Overturn Results of 2020 Election: A Time for Truth, Not Delusion; For Struggle, Not Complacency
Mentioned in this episode:
Reading the Indictment of Donald Trump (WNYC)
The Trump Jan. 6 Indictment, Annotated (NYT)
Texas DPS separates families at border in apparent policy shift (Houston Chronicle)
Refuse Fascism is more than a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads and Mastodon.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Jul 31, 2023 • 39min
We Must Name It, In Order to Deal with It
Sam talks with Dale Anderson, an organizer with Choose Democracy Now about what’s happening at the ground level in Sarasota, Florida as a case study of the spreading fascism in the US. Find out more about their work at choosedemocracynow.org.
Plus commentary from C. Clark Kissinger excerpted from the recent Q&A discussion with hosts of the show and Refuse Fascism patrons.
Mentioned in this episode:
Trump’s Attacks on the Legal System Are a Preview of How He Plans to Govern by Sasha Abramsky
The Center Cannot Hold by Paul Street
People Aren’t Facing Up to the Horrors a New Trump Term Would Bring by Brynn Tannehill
Refuse Fascism is more than a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads and Mastodon.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Jul 16, 2023 • 59min
Voices from Abortion Rights Frontlines in Iowa
Sam talks to women in Iowa, where a new abortion ban was just signed into law, making essentially all abortion services unobtainable.
Lyz Lenz ia a journalist based in Iowa and author of several books including Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant Women. Find her on Twitter https://twitter.com/lyzl or her website https://lyzlenz.com/.
Allison Simpson founded We Won’t Go Back - Dubuque Area and Bridgett Kearney is active with the group (which you can join if you are nearby, details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2868970886743644/)
*No new episode next week but we are hosting a discussion for Patrons with editors of RefuseFascism.org Coco Das, Paul Street and Sam Goldman on Sunday July 23 at 4pm ET. Details / sign up for $5/month to join at https://www.patreon.com/refusefascism
Refuse Fascism is more than a podcast! You can get involved at RefuseFascism.org. We're still on Twitter (@RefuseFascism) and other social platforms including Threads and Mastodon.
Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or @SamBGoldman. Record a voice message for the show here. Connect with the movement at RefuseFascism.org and support:
· paypal.me/refusefascism
· donate.refusefascism.org
· patreon.com/refusefascism
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown