Eric and Eliot discuss a new play about President Dwight Eisenhower, Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground. They discuss the changing evaluation of Ike's presidency by historians and the pluses and minuses of his 8 years in office.
Bemoaning the present day absence of journalists with an understanding of history is surprising considering that Anne Applbaum has been on this podcast more than once.
Great but mis-titled podcast, and judging by your comments and those of your listeners it would have been useful for a more thorough discussion of Trump and Trumpism as it relates to fascism.
Absolutely agree. Trump checks every fascist characteristic, though it probably isn’t necessary to label him as such as he is unprincipled, amoral, autocrat with militaristic, ethno-nationalist xenophobic, racist, sexist beliefs. And, he admires right (Hitler, Putin) and left (Xi) autocrats.
"I don't think he (Trump) will go that far (fascism)." -Elliott Cohen
Words that echo nine years of milquetoast denialism by yet one more public voice trying to keep us calm, as we were walked toward the most deadly voter choice in our nationa's history.
As a European, I have to point to the clerical, reactionary fascism of Austria, Portugal and Spain - maybe even Hungary. There were different flavors, similar to the evangelical fascism that also powers part of the GOP today.
If trump doesn't meet the exact definition of a fascist, then a good portion of his most ardent supporters do, including many in very close proximity to him.
For me, it wasn't so much that he gave the tests to Putin, but that he did that while simultaneously downplaying the virus and even expressing outright hostility to more testing here in the US.
I appreciated your observations on the changes in the study of history. I also grew up reading American Heritage magazine and it sparked my interest in our history. The field is richer for the expanded study of neglected areas, but we also need to know the chronology. Both are connected.
Certainly, “fascist” can be used too quickly to describe a certain type of politician. But in Trump’s case, you have to, by now, believe your own eyes and ears when he calls opponents vermin, talks about using the military to defeat “the enemy within,” wishes for the kind of deference from “from his people” that Kim Jong Un gets, sends a mob to the Capitol to disrupt a Constitutional process, lies incessantly, etc., etc., etc.
I like Tom Nichols’ take on using “fascist” to describe Trump (link below). It took him a while, but he got there. This is from November 2023, so it doesn’t even take into account Trump’s most recent remarks.
I see a lot of echoes of "Jade Helm 15" and "FEMA camps" conspiracies during the Obama and Bush terms at play in NC today. Since the post-9/11 reorganizing of DHS there has been wild conspiracies about FEMA and the federal government on the conspiracy theory right. It's getting worse.
If he quotes and paraphrases Hitler and Mussolini, he is a fascist. Even if he conflates socialist, Marxist, communist and fascist in his rally speeches.
Bemoaning the present day absence of journalists with an understanding of history is surprising considering that Anne Applbaum has been on this podcast more than once.
Great but mis-titled podcast, and judging by your comments and those of your listeners it would have been useful for a more thorough discussion of Trump and Trumpism as it relates to fascism.
Absolutely agree. Trump checks every fascist characteristic, though it probably isn’t necessary to label him as such as he is unprincipled, amoral, autocrat with militaristic, ethno-nationalist xenophobic, racist, sexist beliefs. And, he admires right (Hitler, Putin) and left (Xi) autocrats.
"I don't think he (Trump) will go that far (fascism)." -Elliott Cohen
Words that echo nine years of milquetoast denialism by yet one more public voice trying to keep us calm, as we were walked toward the most deadly voter choice in our nationa's history.
As a European, I have to point to the clerical, reactionary fascism of Austria, Portugal and Spain - maybe even Hungary. There were different flavors, similar to the evangelical fascism that also powers part of the GOP today.
I appreciate this podcast. Thank you.
If trump doesn't meet the exact definition of a fascist, then a good portion of his most ardent supporters do, including many in very close proximity to him.
For me, it wasn't so much that he gave the tests to Putin, but that he did that while simultaneously downplaying the virus and even expressing outright hostility to more testing here in the US.
I appreciated your observations on the changes in the study of history. I also grew up reading American Heritage magazine and it sparked my interest in our history. The field is richer for the expanded study of neglected areas, but we also need to know the chronology. Both are connected.
Certainly, “fascist” can be used too quickly to describe a certain type of politician. But in Trump’s case, you have to, by now, believe your own eyes and ears when he calls opponents vermin, talks about using the military to defeat “the enemy within,” wishes for the kind of deference from “from his people” that Kim Jong Un gets, sends a mob to the Capitol to disrupt a Constitutional process, lies incessantly, etc., etc., etc.
I like Tom Nichols’ take on using “fascist” to describe Trump (link below). It took him a while, but he got there. This is from November 2023, so it doesn’t even take into account Trump’s most recent remarks.
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/11/trump-crosses-a-crucial-line/676031/
I see a lot of echoes of "Jade Helm 15" and "FEMA camps" conspiracies during the Obama and Bush terms at play in NC today. Since the post-9/11 reorganizing of DHS there has been wild conspiracies about FEMA and the federal government on the conspiracy theory right. It's getting worse.
Google traits of fascism and try really hard to find a single one that doesn't apply to Trump.
Fascist? Yeah you betcha. Skipping this podcast.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck…
If he quotes and paraphrases Hitler and Mussolini, he is a fascist. Even if he conflates socialist, Marxist, communist and fascist in his rally speeches.
You mean, "If it goose steps like a duck..." ?
(My sincere appologies to all the great patriotic freedom loving drakes and hens of our great nation. You truly represet the best in us.)
We can call it, "ReichStarter"