In the second half of this vital conversation, host Ejeris Dixon and movement strategist Tarso Ramos go beyond diagnosing the rise of fascism—they map out what we must do to resist it. From learning lessons of South Africa’s Freedom Charter and United Democratic Front to organizing a “bigger we” capable of defeating fascism and authoritarianism, Ramos shares both cautionary tales and hopeful strategies. This episode insists that there is no going back, and that the only path forward is through collective creativity, broad coalitions, and a relentless commitment to building power.
In part one of this wide-ranging two-part episode, Ejeris Dixon welcomes Tarso Ramos back to The Fascism Barometer. Ramos, a seasoned researcher of fascist, authoritarian, and supremacist movements, shares how his family’s escape from Brazil’s military dictatorship shaped his lifelong fight against fascism. He draws chilling parallels between past regimes and today’s U.S. political landscape, breaking down the accelerating pace of authoritarian consolidation and the critical 12–18 month window to resist it. This episode is both a warning and a blueprint for action.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil Surkis
In this profound episode, Ejeris Dixon sits down with healing justice visionary Erica Woodland to explore how fascism is impacting our mental health and our capacity to organize. With a background in psychotherapy and decades of movement work, Erica discusses the emotional toll of surviving and resisting while fascism rises overwhelmingly. Ejeris and Erica grapple with what it really means to fight fascism without abandoning ourselves or each other.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Erica WoodlandConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil Surkis
What does the expansion of policing, imprisonment, and surveillance reveal about the rise of fascism? Host Ejeris Dixon sits down with long-time organizer, activist, and author Rachel Herzing to unpack the interlocking systems of state violence known as the prison industrial complex. Herzing, director of the Yarrow Institute and co-author of How to Abolish Prisons, connects the dots between rising fascist power, the racism and violence of the prison and policing system, the erosion of public dissent, and the work of preventing a police state.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
This edition of The Fascism Barometer finds host Ejeris Dixon sitting down with Cristina Jiménez Moreta—bestselling author, MacArthur Genius Fellow, and co-founder of United We Dream—for a timely conversation on how fascism shows up in the everyday lives of immigrant communities. Cristina reflects on her own journey from Ecuador to the U.S. and speaks to the experiences of immigrants who flee authoritarian and fascist regimes, only to be targeted in the United States. Cristina highlights the acts of resistance that everyday people are taking and the opportunities to build bigger, more visionary possibilities that this moment creates. This is not a theoretical conversation—it’s about real people, real histories, and real stakes.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Cristina Jiménez Moreta's critically acclaimed book, Dreaming of HomeConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
Host Ejeris Dixon is joined by lifelong educator and organizer, Lumumba Bandele to unpack what fascism looks like through the lived experiences of Black communities in the U.S. — and why we must recognize its current and historic manifestations. From front porch conversations in Bed-Stuy to lessons learned from global solidarity movements, Lumumba offers grounded wisdom on the victories that Black communities have won against state repression, the power of storytelling, and how Black resistance has always been both local and global.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Lumumba BandeleConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
In this urgent episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon sits down with renowned activist and organizer Linda Sarsour for a powerful conversation on fascism, Palestinian liberation, and the meaning of true solidarity. With over two decades of movement work, Sarsour offers a masterclass on what it means to resist fascism, uplift human dignity, and defend communities under siege. Linda shares why the Palestinian liberation struggle is central to the anti-fascist fight—and how ordinary people can step into powerful roles in extraordinary ways. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Linda SarsourConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
In this urgent and clarifying episode, Ejeris Dixon sits down with Shane Burley—journalist, scholar, author of Fascism Today: What it is and How to End It, and co-author of Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism—to unpack what it means for social justice movements when fascists control the government, and what to expect of their next moves. They also discuss the dangerous manipulation of antisemitism in our current political moment. Together, they explore what the history of anti-fascism can teach us about these times, historical roots of antisemitism, how it's being weaponized to silence dissent—particularly pro-Palestinian voices—and the critical difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism. This conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating the intersection of anti-Fascism, Jewish identity, Palestinian solidarity, and anti-war organizing.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Shane BurleyConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
In this episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon is joined by renowned activist, narrative strategist, and speaker Malkia Devich-Cyril for a wide-ranging conversation that connects the rise of fascism to collective grief, Black liberation, and the emotional landscape of organizing within repressive times.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Malkia Devich-Cyril and Movement Innovation CollaborativeConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
In this powerful episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon welcomes Maurice Mitchell, the National Director of the Working Families Party, for a conversation that dissects rising fascism through a compelling and relatable metaphor: the family cookout. Together, they explore what it means when someone seizes power simply because they can, and how everyday people can push back through collective action. From the failures of the liberal rulebook to the urgent need for a unified "no" coalition—and ultimately, a shared vision for liberation—this episode dives deep into how strategy, solidarity, and joy can fuel a multiracial working-class movement.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Maurice Mitchell and the Working Families PartyConnect with Ejeris DixonDonate to the Fascism Barometer, and help us create more episodes and resourcesAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
In this episode of The Fascism Barometer, host Ejeris Dixon welcomes Shelby Chestnut, the Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and the first Native Trans leader to head a national LGBTQ organization. They dive into the current landscape of anti-trans legislation, and how Trans communities are organizing in the face of fascist tactics. Shelby shares how TLC is responding through litigation, safety planning, communications strategy, and sharing resources, while highlighting the strength, resilience, and solidarity at the heart of the fight for Trans liberation. This conversation is both a sobering reality check and a call to collective action.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Shelby ChestnutConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
While we work on the next episode of The Fascism Barometer (out next week!), we have another outstanding podcast to share with you from our friends over at Convergence. The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast with Scot Nakagawa and Sue Hyde. This episode of The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast features Scot and Sue sitting down with Suzanne Pharr, a Southern queer feminist and anti-racist organizer, strategist, writer, community organizer, and educator. Over her decades of work, she has contributed to the advancement of many social justice movements and worked on historic campaigns against authoritarian attempts to exploit popular prejudice for political and financial gain. With much wisdom and experience, Suzanne paints a clear picture of how we have arrived at this political moment with authoritarians infiltrating our governments and communities, and the direction social justice movements need to move.
Kenyon Farrow a long-term writer and movement strategist joins Ejeris on the Fascism Barometer to discuss the history of fascist and authoritarian politics in the United States. Kenyon also lays out some ideas on how we can get out of this mess, including what actions individuals, movement organizations, and elected officials should play in the short and long term.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Kenyon FarrowConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
As we prepare to roll out season 2 of The Fascism Barometer, we wanted to share a podcast from our friends over at Convergence. The podcast is called Block & Build, hosted by Cayden Mak. This featured episode was originally published on December 13th, 2024, and Cayden graciously invited me to be one of the guests. This episide explores the history of creeping fascist trends in our society and politics and how we all should think about our relationship to state power.Also on this episode is Ju-Hyun Park, a Movement Media colleague at The Real News Network and organizer with Nodutdol about what’s been unfolding in South Korea since the unsuccessful coup attempt by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3. Read Ju-Hyun's full story at People's Dispatch.Support Block & Build by becoming a member at convergencemag.com/donateWe'll see you very soon for season 2 of The Fascism Barometer!
Author, organizer, and political strategist Alicia Garza joins the Fascism Barometer to discuss the impact of rising fascism on our lives and political strategy. Alicia and Ejeris discuss what we need to change about movement building and ourselves to push back against fascist advances. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
Che Johnson-Long and Ken Montenegro, two longtime community security and safety practitioners, join Ejeris Dixon on the Fascism Barometer to discuss how to increase our safety in the face of rising fascism. Ejeris, Che, and Ken discuss safety planning tips for individuals and organizations, including resistance and survival strategies that can be combined to make us safer in the short and long term.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
Isaac Ontiveros joins the Fascism Barometer to break down the types of organizational collaborations that are needed in the US to defeat fascism. Isaac and Ejeris discuss coalitions, broad fronts, and united fronts, and what it takes to build and maintain them. Ejeris and Isaac also discuss strategies folks have used to defeat fascist movements and the unlikely partnerships that can happen.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
Ejeris discusses the Make America Great Again (MAGA) Coalition with Tarso Ramos, long-time researcher and activist challenging the right wing. Tarso gives us a breakdown of various members of the coalition and the uneasy alliances that it includes. Ejeris reviews the latest news and political terrain post-election and talks about what it means to continue to monitor the Fascism Barometer after the 2024 US election and what's needed from all of us.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Tarso Luís RamosConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
Ejeris talks with Kelly Hayes, longtime activist, organizer, writer, and host of the podcast Movement Memos, to examine how the growth of fascist movements impacts organizers, activists, and the communities most likely to be targeted. Kelly and Ejeris discuss how to engage more people in anti-fascist activism and what actions we all can take.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Kelly HayesConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.
In this inaugural episode of the Fascism Barometer, the incredible Ash-lee Woodard Henderson joins Ejeris to discuss how fascists manipulate emergencies and use them to make large jumps in power. They discuss Ejeris's Fascist Emergency Playbook and think through how it connects today. Ash-lee discusses how she's used the framework, what emergencies and power grabs could be on the horizon, how fascists use elections as power grabs, and what we can do to stop them.You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub.Connect with Ash-lee Woodard HendersonConnect with Ejeris DixonAnd when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.orgPodcast production by Phil SurkisIntro Music by Meklit HaderoThe Fascism Barometer Podcast is an Ejerie Labs Project. Thank you for joining the movement.