Are Republicans fascist and what happened to the alt-right?
The David Pakman Show - April 14, 2023
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Is the Republican Party actually "fascist?"
The question of whether the Republican Party is fascist has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with many on the left claiming that the right has long been going down this road. Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy. While the Republican Party used to be known for its conservative values, support for small government, and promoting free-market capitalism, it has shifted more towards nationalism and populism in recent years. Donald Trump's influence on the party has been a major factor in this shift, and the party is significantly different than what it was just ten years ago. While the Republican Party may not fit all the characteristics of fascist ideology, there are certainly elements of authoritarianism, nationalism, and populism present. Maybe one day they will get all the way to being fascistic, but at the current moment, authoritarian is probably a more accurate description.
Did MAGA Trumpism destroy the "alt-right?"
The alt-right was a movement that gained prominence during the 2016 presidential election but has since largely faded from the public eye due to backlash from the media and the exposure of its extremist views. It was a loosely defined group of individuals who rejected mainstream conservatism and embraced white nationalism, anti-Semitism, and other far-right ideologies. In its place, a new political movement has emerged called “MAGA Trumpism,” characterized by a fervent loyalty to former President Trump and an embrace of populist and nationalist rhetoric. The key difference between the alt-right and MAGA Trumpism is that the latter has gained much broader support and appeal and has been embraced by a significant portion of the Republican Party and conservative voters. While the alt-right may have faded, its legacy can still be felt in the rise of MAGA Trumpism which has adopted many of its key tenets.
From yesterday’s show:
Melania FURIOUS over the Stormy Daniels hush money payment
Former First Lady Melania Trump has released a statement attacking the media for their reporting on her alleged indifference towards her husband's legal problems. But importantly, Melaina didn’t actually deny the allegations being made against Donald in the statement. She said, “We ask readers to exercise caution and good judgment when determining whether or not stories concerning the former First Lady are accurate, particularly when they fail to cite Mrs. Trump as a source of information.” Melania seemingly wants nothing to do with her husband's legal problems. She did not attend his speech after his indictment and arraignment, and it’s known they don’t share living quarters at Mar-a-Lago. Based on visual evidence, she is not happy with her husband, at least in public, and that’s why probably she’s growing more and more distant from his political endeavors.
From yesterday’s show:
Media sue to get Tucker Carlson’s January 6th footage
Media companies are suing to get access to the 44,000 hours of footage from the January 6th Capitol riots that was given to Fox News host Tucker Carlson by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Associated Press, CNN, CBS, and other news organizations, have filed a motion in federal court to obtain this footage from the federal government. The organizations have filled out all the necessary paperwork and submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to the FBI and DOJ to obtain this footage, which is already publicly available through Tucker's show. The purpose of this lawsuit is to compel the government to turn over the footage so that more media outlets can show the public what really happened on that day. This lawsuit may lead to more prosecutions and arrests in the future, as the full footage could reveal the extent of the damage caused during the insurrection.
More on the show:
-- Caller asks if there's any evidence for Donald Trump's claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election
-- Caller wonders what's next for the Republican Party after Trumpism
-- Caller points out why Republicans may be opposed to ranked-choice voting and the popular vote
-- Caller asks if Donald Trump or Ron DeSantis is a bigger threat to democracy.
-- Caller compares left-wing and right-wing media
-- Caller wonders if Donald Trump could run for president while in prison
-- Caller discusses why Joe Biden isn't talking about Donald Trump's arrest
-- Caller talks about discussing politics with Trump supporters
-- Caller asks about the effect of Trump's arrest on the 2024 election
-- The Friday Feedback segment
-- On the Bonus Show: Right-wingers disagree about whether Mario movie is "woke," DeSantis signs 6-week abortion bill, and much more...
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