Refuse Fascism

Visit RefuseFascism.org [https://refusefascism.org/2025/04/27/academics-speak-out-against-fascism/] for additional resources and links relevant to this episode. It was great to see many listeners of the pod in the streets last week, including in Washington DC where the demand Trump Must Go NOW was brought to the gates of the White House. The fascist Trump regime has universities in their sights and are moving against students and the institutions themselves. Sam talks with Emily Van Duyne, one of the authors of the open letter issued by academics at Stockton University on April 2, "Silence is Collaboration: Academics Must Speak Out Against Fascism [https://lithub.com/silence-is-collaboration-academics-must-speak-out-against-fascism/]" which reads in part, "there is no appeasing an openly fascist Trump administration, for we know that no one is safe under fascism. When we keep our heads down and stay the course, the fascists continue to lie, extort like the mobsters they are, and humiliate and attack whoever they add to their list of enemies." Then, Sam talks with Heather Squire, who recently announced she's leaving her doctoral program at the University of Buffalo, issuing an open letter challenging the complicity of her institution in this time of crisis. Join us in the streets around the country on May 1 raising the single unifying demand: Trump Must Go NOW! Then, save the date: May 17, join protests around the country demanding Trump Must Go NOW (not eventually, not after the midterms, but NOW). We are on TikTok officially now! Follow ⁠⁠@refusefashism⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@refusefashism] (that spelling is intentional to get around TikTok censors). Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or find Refuse Fascism on all the socials, usually spelled correctly. Connect with the movement at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RefuseFascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://refusefascism.org/] and support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/refusefascism] Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Shout out to everyone in the streets yesterday saying Trump Must Go NOW! After a short recap from Sam of the terrifying events of the past week (Trump is directly flaunting the Supreme Court ruling that Kilmar Abrego Garcia must be brought home, and threatening to send “homegrown” people to the torture prison / death camp in El Salvador that he’s been disappeared to), we share an interview with Rachel Cohen. Rachel was a lawyer with “Big Law” firm Skadden who publicly resigned over her firm’s collaboration with the regime. Find links to her open letter and ways to follow her on refusefascism.org. Next weekend: Refuse Fascism Emergency Assemblies Sunday April 27 in NYC, Chicago and LA [https://refusefascism.org/2025/04/12/refuse-fascism-emergency-assemblies-sunday-april-27/] We are on TikTok officially now! Follow ⁠@refusefashism⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@refusefashism] (that spelling is intentional to get around TikTok censors). Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or find Refuse Fascism on all the socials, usually spelled correctly. Connect with the movement at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RefuseFascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://refusefascism.org/] and support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/refusefascism] Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

This week Sam discusses: deporting students for their ideas, Trump locking away hundreds in a torture prison in El Salvador, SCOTUS rubber-stamping use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans, installing concentration camps along the U.S/Mexico border; you know, fascism. Then she interviews artists who are using their talents in the fight against fascism. First you'll hear from political cartoonist Dwayne Booth, aka Mr. Fish, and then print and billboard artist Karen Fiorito. To connect and see work from Mr. Fish, visit clowncrack.com [https://clowncrack.com/] or @mrfishcartoons on Instagram. To connect and see Karen Fiorito's work, follow her at karenfiorito.me [https://www.karenfiorito.me/] or @karenfiorito on Instagram. Find links to specific works discussed on refusefascism.org. Save the Date: Refuse Fascism Emergency Assemblies Sunday April 27 in NYC, Chicago and LA [https://refusefascism.org/2025/04/12/refuse-fascism-emergency-assemblies-sunday-april-27/] Add your name to the Call to Conscience / Call to Act: RefuseFascism.org/act [http://refusefascism.org/act] Resources & Merch: refusefascism.org/resources [https://refusefascism.org/resources/] refusefascism.bigcartel.com/products [https://refusefascism.bigcartel.com/products?page=1] More resources mentioned on We are on TikTok officially now! Follow @refusefashism [https://www.tiktok.com/@refusefashism] (that spelling is intentional to get around TikTok censors). Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or find Refuse Fascism on all the socials, usually spelled correctly. Connect with the movement at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RefuseFascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://refusefascism.org/] and support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/refusefascism] Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Listen to reports and excerpts from the protests demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil and against the the broader fascist repression of the student movement to free Palestine. Sam and Mark discuss the moment we're in and the critical need to mobilize intensely for the upcoming protest on April 5 in DC (with additional gatherings in cities around the country). Then, Sam talks with David Smith, the Guardian's Washington DC bureau chief. Read The Trump administration is descending into authoritarianism: From media to culture and the arts to the refusal to abide by court orders, we’re nearing ‘Defcon 1 for our democracy’, experts say [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/mar/22/trump-administration-authoritarianism] and his latest: ‘It reminds you of a fascist state’: Smithsonian Institution braces for Trump rewrite of US history [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/30/smithsonian-institution-trump-executive-order] and follow his work at theguardian.com [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/davidsmith]. Act: Join the Refuse Fascism Contingent in D.C. on Saturday April 5 at the HANDS OFF Protest [https://actionnetwork.org/forms/volunteer-with-refusefascism-contingent-hands-off-april-5-washington-dc] Read, Sign, Spread A Call to Conscience...A Call to Act [https://actionnetwork.org/forms/a-call-to-conscience-a-call-to-act?source=rfpodcast] Visit RefuseFascism.org for all links mentioned in this episode. We are on TikTok officially now! Follow @refusefashism [https://www.tiktok.com/@refusefashism] (that spelling is intentional to get around TikTok censors). Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or find Refuse Fascism on all the socials, usually spelled correctly. Connect with the movement at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RefuseFascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://refusefascism.org/] and support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/refusefascism] Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Sam discusses how the Trump regime is taking the attacks on the rule of a law to a whole new level and the alarming leaps towards fascist consolidation from this past week,  emphasizing the urgent need for mass resistance to defeat Trump/MAGA fascism. Then she interviews Craig Johnson, author of How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism  [https://www.routledge.com/How-to-Talk-to-Your-Son-about-Fascism/Johnson/p/book/9781032472539]and host of the 15 Minutes of Fascism Podcast [https://soundcloud.com/user-627234964]. Follow Craig @cajohnson-craig.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/cajohnson-craig.bsky.social]. Mentioned in this episode: * Statement from Elias Law Group Chair Marc Elias [⁠https://elias.law/newsroom/press-releases/statement-from-elias-law-group-chair-marc-elias⁠] * Legal community shaken by a powerful law firm's decision to give in to Trump's demands [⁠https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/legal-community-shaken-powerful-law-firm-paul-weiss-trump-rcna197490⁠] * With Orders, Investigations and Innuendo, Trump and G.O.P. Aim to Cripple the Left [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/us/politics/trump-republicans-attack-democrats-actblue.html] * ‘Speak up, speak out, be bold’: Fmr. Gov. Inslee urges action from civil society leaders [⁠https://www.msnbc.com/ali-velshi/watch/-speak-up-speak-out-be-bold-fmr-gov-inslee-urges-action-from-civil-society-leaders-234539077784⁠] * “We Live in a Fascist Dictatorship”: Elie Mystal on Trump’s Lawlessness, Attacks on the Judiciary [https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/19/elie_mystal_trump_constitutional_crisis] Take Action: Thursday March 27 Protests Demanding FREE Mahmoud Khalil NOW! (LA, NYC, DC and more) [https://refusefascism.org/2025/03/21/thursday-march-27-protests-demanding-free-mahmoud-khalil-now/] Read, sign, spread: A Call to Conscience...A Call to Action [https://actionnetwork.org/forms/a-call-to-conscience-a-call-to-act] Join Comedian Cliff Cash at the Mass Media March Sunday March 30 (multiple cities) [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHinXndAeQF/] Volunteer with Refuse Fascism [https://refusefascism.org/volunteer2025/] Save the date: join Refuse Fascism contingent at HANDS OFF! Protest Saturday April 5th in Washington D.C.  Merch: ⁠https://refusefascism.bigcartel.com/products⁠ [https://refusefascism.bigcartel.com/products] Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @SamBGoldman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/SamBGoldman] and find her on TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@samgoldmanrf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@samgoldmanrf/video/7292933142212562206]. Connect with the movement at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RefuseFascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://refusefascism.org/] and support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/refusefascism] Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown