End Times Fascism (w/ Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor)
Summary
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor discuss their new book, End Times Fascism and the Fight for the Living World, arguing that modern fascism is defined by an apocalyptic streak driven by intersecting planetary crises. The hosts and guests analyze the "end times fascist alliance," a coalition of religious fundamentalists, tech billionaires, and ethno-nationalists who profit from permanent chaos and climate destruction. They explore how Silicon Valley’s push for AI and surveillance aligns with authoritarian goals, creating a "wealth rapture" for the elite while abandoning the masses to disaster. Th…
Topics discussed
Intro, birthday gifts, and book recommendations
Praise for 'End Times Fascism' and guest introductions
Sponsors, upcoming events, and production credits
Welcome to Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
Defining 'End Times Fascism' and modern existential threats
The three pillars: religious, ethno-nationalist, and tech factions
Global nature of fascism and resource extraction
Historical roots: Columbus, Reagan, and apocalyptic narratives
Fascism as capitalism's worst mood and systemic crisis
Permanent crisis, AI, and the tech sector's role
Radicalization via COVID, climate, and global unease
The alliance between tech billionaires and the right
Techno-libertarianism and the need for a strongman
AI as a tool for control and wealth concentration
The shift from UBI promises to state protection of wealth
Israel as a laboratory for the security state and shock doctrine
Spiritual dimensions, betrayal, and the rhetoric of the book
Openings for the left: humility and the value of the present
Case studies: Momdani, Minneapolis, and Memphis data centers
Reinchanting the world and the spirit of resistance
Tensions in the narrative: Walter Benjamin and John Ames
Practical organizing: building durable organizations against oligarchs
Fractures in the fascist alliance and closing remarks
Listen ad-free on Castria