In Conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
Summary
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor discuss their book *End Times Fascism*, arguing that modern authoritarianism is a coalition of religious fundamentalists, tech accelerationists, and ethno-nationalists reacting to planetary crises. They analyze figures like Elon Musk as embodiments of this "end times" ideology, which seeks to bunker down or escape via AI and space colonization. The conversation highlights emerging counter-movements, such as Zohran Mamdani’s politics in New York and local resistance to AI data centers, as a "pro-life" fight for interdependence. Klein and Taylor call for a new dis…
Topics discussed
Introduction and book overview
Defining end-times fascism and planetary crises
Secular, tech, and ethno-nationalist apocalyptic visions
Elon Musk as a symbol of the end-times coalition
Wealth concentration and the call for disarmament
Positive feedback loops and the rise of counter-movements
Why letting billionaires escape is not a solution
Pro-life politics and the anti-AI realignment
Balancing doom with optimism and building coalitions
The importance of collective action and community
Gender, misogyny, and ecofeminist resistance
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