Refuse Fascism

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

Sam and Coco talk about the ominous significance of the kidnapping, ICE detention and plans for deportation of Columbia graduate and activist Mahmoud Khalil (not to mention, green card holder married to a US citizen) and the need to quickly and dramatically step up resistance to the whole Trump MAGA fascist program. "NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE MUST RISE UP AND ACT TO STOP THE CONSOLIDATION OF TRUMP MAGA FASCISM.  For the lives of people here and around the world we must refuse unlawful and inhumane orders… we must fill the streets and town squares in rising numbers — not stopping until we become millions — not relenting until this regime is no longer able to implement its program." - from A Call to Conscience... A Call to Act from Refuse Fascism [https://actionnetwork.org/forms/a-call-to-conscience-a-call-to-act] Mentioned in this episode: * Mahmoud Khalil Must Be FREED NOW! [https://refusefascism.org/2025/03/15/mahmoud-khalil-must-be-freed-now/] * "This statement needs to be spread to every corner of society" [https://refusefascism.org/2025/03/12/this-statement-needs-to-be-spread-to-every-corner-of-society/] * 'B [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/trump-immigration-family-detention-children]aby jails’ and first steps behind bars: Trump’s immigration agenda embraces family detention again [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/trump-immigration-family-detention-children] * We Are Asking the Wrong Questions About Mahmoud Khalil’s Arrest [https://www.thenation.com/article/society/mahmoud-khalil-arrest-illegal-fascism/] * Jewish Voice for Peace takes over Trump Tower protesting for Mahmoud Khalil [https://www.instagram.com/jewishvoiceforpeace/p/DHJWluoAV1v/?img_index=1] * Je suis Khalil (FT) [https://www.ft.com/content/bcd39cd0-9995-4409-b525-853cdcdb98bf] Read, sign, share: https://refusefascism.org/act/ [https://refusefascism.org/act/] 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