Stay ConnectedThe 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.
Copyright: © Refuse Fascism
This week's episode is the recording of the webinar on October 25 with Robert Held (President of the Chicago Council of Lawyers), Will Potter (investigative journalist), Sergio Alcubilla (Director of Community Engagement at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi), and Drew Harmon (Minnesota 50501):
From NSPM-7 to political prosecutions and the threat of lengthy prison sentences, the Trump Regime is expanding its machinery of repression, equating anti-fascism with “domestic terrorism” and targeting political beliefs, associations, organizing and protest.
The threat extends far beyond those directly targeted: to intimidate millions into silence at precisely the moment mass opposition is urgently needed. We’ll examine this escalating repression, what it will take to defend those under attack, and drive this regime from power.
Register here for reminders to join the final session of this fall's webinar series (Nov. 1).
Join us live on YouTube and Substack—and subscribe so you’re alerted whenever we go live.
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
In the early months of 2026, thousands of people around Minnesota gathered together to protect their neighbors from ICE's campaign of terror. Months later, the Trump administration indicted 15 of those people on federal charges for their involvement in rapid response, mutual aid, and protest.
Sam talks to Isaac Sant, one of the Minnesota 15. While the agents who murdered Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti still haven’t been charged, the Minnesota 15 face felony charges of "conspiracy to injure or impede federal officers."
Follow the cases and support at minnesota15.org.
Learn more about the NSPM-7 Defendants Union.
Register here for reminders to join this fall's webinar series (Oct. 25, Nov. 1).
Join us live on YouTube and Substack—and subscribe so you’re alerted whenever we go live.
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Sam talks to Dr. Bradley Onishi about his new book, American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy.
"Bradley Onishi has issued an alarming and urgent warning for the future of democracy. American Caesar reveals how a movement of white Christian nationalists, Silicon Valley plutocrats, postliberal philosophers, and reactionary monarchist theologians are hiding in plain sight with a carefully orchestrated plan to disassemble democratic freedoms in favor of a theocratic state ruled by a Christian prince."
—Walter Earl Fluker, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Ethical Leadership, Boston University
Follow Bradley Onishi's work by listening to his podcast Straight White American Jesus.
Register here for reminders to join this fall's webinar series (Oct. 18, Oct. 25, Nov. 1).
Join us live on YouTube and Substack—and subscribe so you’re alerted whenever we go live.
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Relying on the midterms to stop fascism? They’re already moving to steal them.
Leaders of Refuse Fascism break down the many-sided rolling coup already underway—from voter suppression and election subversion to the weaponization of federal power—and confront the urgent question: What will it take to stop it?
The Trump fascist regime is moving to lock fascism into place—including through a rolling coup to suppress and subvert the midterm elections. Relying on the midterms to stop Trump fascism is a dangerous illusion.
A step too far by the regime—including an attempt to steal the elections—could awaken a sleeping giant, with millions pouring into the streets in sustained, determined, nonviolent resistance.
If that moment comes, will there be a force demanding—and settling for nothing less than—the removal of the Trump Fascist Regime?
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, join Refuse Fascism for a series of urgent conversations about what we are up against, what we are fighting for, how we stand together against fascist repression, and how we prepare now for the tumultuous days ahead.
Come to one, come to them all—just join us.
Register here for more information and reminders.
Join us live on YouTube and Substack—and subscribe so you’re alerted whenever we go live.
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Sam and Mark discuss the Trump regime's escalating fascist project—from moves to subvert the elections and ICE withholding detainees' locations to the normalization of Trump on the world stage.
Mark provides commentary on two drastically different ways of understanding Trump and MAGA, why telling the truth about the fascist nature of what we face matters, and how those different understandings lead to very different conclusions about what it will take to defeat it.
Sam also shares a conversation with sociologist Marty Oppenheimer about how the "new," shiny, postwar reunified Germany came to simultaneously suppress opposition to genocide while accepting the second rise of fascism in the AfD.
Mentioned in this Episode:
This Week in Fascism: Week of September 20
AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders
The Supporters Urging Trump to Declare Martial Law for the Midterms - The Atlantic
Trump allies could use midterms 'counting window' to disrupt results, experts warn
US government foots bill for television advertisement featuring Trump's midterm messaging
Defending the Vote—and Defeating Fascism
Stealing Elections, American Style
Join Refuse Fascism for the first session of our TRUMP MUST GO NOW Fall Webinar Series: The Rolling Coup to Lock Fascism Into Place: How Do We Stop It? October 4 at 4 PM ET — LIVE on Substack and YouTube. Learn more and RSVP here.
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Sam talks with Father David Gierlach about white Christian nationalism, Trump MAGA fascism and what it means to recognize fascism as a moral reality demanding action.
How can moral outrage become organized resistance? What does this moment demand of people of conscience—religious or not? And what would it mean to act on the principle: In the name of humanity, we refuse to accept a fascist America?
Follow Father Gierlach on YouTube, Substack, and read his book Christian Transformation.
Get Trump Must Go Now lawn signs, Refuse Fascism palm cards, connect and donate.
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown.
The warnings are becoming more extraordinary, while the response remains remarkably ordinary.
As the Trump Regime makes increasingly overt moves around the midterms, Sam talks with historian, author and Refuse Fascism leader Paul Street about where we are now: how far fascist consolidation has advanced, how extraordinary acts become normalized even as more people recognize the danger, and why recognition alone doesn’t necessarily lead to resistance.
What accounts for the gap between widespread opposition and sustained action? And what turns recognition of the danger into people acting to stop it?
Paul Street is a historian, author, longtime contributor to CounterPunch and a leader of Refuse Fascism. Read his writing at The Paul Street Report on Substack.
*This conversation was recorded prior to the AfD victory.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Latest in the Trump Fascist Assault on Mail-in Ballots
Week of August 30: Atrocities at a Dizzying Pace
It’s the Power, Stupid: Dancing in the Dark, Part 4 by Mark Medish & Joel McCleary
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
As the Trump regime moves to subvert the midterms, thousands marched on Washington this week to defend voting rights. What will it take to defend those rights—and to stop the fascist regime attacking them?
Sam talks with fellow Refuse Fascism leader Coco Das about the escalating assault on the elections, where the power to stop fascism actually lies, and what history can teach us about moments when ordinary political channels are under attack.
They dig into the dangers of relying on the midterms to stop fascism, the potential for millions to break out of waiting and accommodation, and what needs to be built now to transform widespread outrage into sustained, nonviolent mass resistance.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Rolling Coup: Trump Must Go Now!
This Week in Fascism: Week of August 24 by Paul Street
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Newly revealed government documents expose Operation Puppet Master, an expansive DHS surveillance and infiltration operation targeting people and organizations opposing ICE in Minnesota.
This week, we dig into what was exposed and the escalating criminalization of dissent under the Trump fascist regime, drawing on conversations with Stop Cop City organizer Keyanna Jones, legal scholar Dr. Mary Anne Franks, and investigative journalist Adam Federman.
What Operation Puppet Master exposes should set off alarm bells for everyone who cares about the right to protest, organize and oppose this regime.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Trump’s Secret Police Spying on Americans? It’s Darker than We Knew.
From Prairieland to All of Us: Unite to Defeat Fascist Political Repression
Trump DOJ readies 1,000 election monitors for midterms
USPS pushes final rule on restricting mail voting forward
US airman arrested at Capitol after calling for Trump’s impeachment is detained again
AG Todd Blanche says ‘of course’ he’ll listen to Trump’s opinion on prosecutions: Full interview
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Sam talks with David F. Walbert, renowned constitutional lawyer and author of the book, Stealing Elections, American Style, coming out this September. Walbert writes, "Applying Trump’s playbook from 2020 leads to a grim path in November. " Pre-order the book here. Follow his work at davidfwalbert.com.
Mentioned in this episode:
I’ve spent decades fighting for fair elections. Trump is setting the stage for a grim November
US conducted ‘mass spying campaign’ against leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters, records reveal
How Democrats Planned for Doomsday
Text REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or sign up online, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.
Support:
Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
