Freedom, Fascism, and Donald Trump

Harry talks with Professor Tim Snyder, Levin Professor of History at Yale, who is both one of our leading political scientists and one of the most trenchant critics of Trump’s moves in the everyday.  Snyder first discusses some of the organizing ideas in his scholarly work, especially the recent “On Freedom.”  He explains his particular notion of freedom and how it differs from the common conception held by most people in the United States.  They then talk about fascism and the degree to which the political program it employs depends on a radical devaluing of the idea of truth and fact. The two then move to the current American landscape, and the degree to which Trump’s return to power, viewed especially in the light of history, represents a genuine threat of an irreversible decline in democratic, constitutional rule.  Professor Snyder closes with some bases for optimism and a constructive agenda moving forward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices