rant · moment 13 of 14
Trump, Putin, and the Fascist Fatherland Fantasy
from Not A Legal Expert · #106
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
9 minRay goes on an extended rant about why Trump supporters admire strongman leaders like Putin, unpacking the psychology of fascism, the myth of American rugged individualism (citing John Wayne and the book White Trash), and arguing Trump has abandoned even the pretense of the rule of law that Obama and Bush maintained.
- 47:58Tim on Trump supporters' attraction to macho authoritarianism despite his weakness toward Putin.
- 48:29Complaining to Putin about the FBI makes you look weak to a man who murders rivals and invades countries.
- 49:12Trump's remaining supporters are people who want a certain level of fascism.
- 49:35Fascism appeals because it promises strength modeled on militarism, culture, and myth.
- 50:21Most people hear fascism and dismiss it as evil without understanding why supporters actually embrace it.
- 50:47Tim puzzles over the contradiction of wanting to be a tough guy while needing a father state.
- 51:25Germany calls their country the fatherland, not motherland, despite people coming out of women.
- 52:00American strength used to come from being left alone, not from patriarchal state control.
- 52:44Reading White Trash: America has always been a dumping ground for Europe's undesirables.
- 53:31The myth of John Wayne—tough, doesn't start fights but finishes them—represented what America pretended to be.
- 54:02Trump is objectively worse than Obama, who at least maintained the appearance of rule of law.
- 54:42The real problem is that Trump doesn't even keep up the appearance of rule of law or accountability.
- 55:48Trump is like giving up on a diet entirely instead of at least pretending you care about getting in shape.
John WayneVladimir PutinDonald TrumpBarack ObamafascismJordan PetersonGeorge W. Bush