The Signal

The History of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in America, with Bill Mullen and Christopher Vials

2025-10-02

On this week's episode of The Signal I welcome two guests: Bill V. Mullen, Professor of English and American Studies at Purdue University and Christopher Vials, an Associate Professor of English at the University of Connecticut, where he also serves as Director of American Studies. Together they co-edited the book The U.S. Anti-Fascism Reader. Today we talk about their book, the history of fascism and anti-fascism in America, and lessons we can learn to help us navigate through this moment where President Trump has just designated anti-fascism as domestic terrorism and on Tuesday told top military generals and admirals that...

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READ:

The U.S. Anti-Fascism Reader, by Bill Mullen and Christopher Vials
Haunted by Hitler: Liberals, the Left, and the Fight against Fascism in the United States, by Christopher Vials
How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, by Jason Stanley
The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, by Jeff Sharlet
Trump Tells Military Brass ‘We’re Under Invasion From Within’ and US Cities Should Be ‘Training Grounds for Our Military’
‘Rubber Glue Fascism’: A Close Reading of Trump’s ‘Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence’ Memo
Why Journalists Are Reluctant to Call Trump an Authoritarian – and Why That Matters for Democracy

ALSO LISTEN TO:

Journalist Jordan Green on Why the Neo-Nazi Movement Is an Escalating Threat to US Democracy
From Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Bucks County’s Fred Harran: Why ICE 287(g) Partnerships Are So Dangerous, with Jessica Pishko
How Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement Will Legalize and Deploy Vigilantes to Push Their Agenda, with David Noll
Former FBI Agent Who Once Infiltrated Neo-Nazi Groups and Militias Explains Why Law Enforcement Fails to Take Far-Right Extremism Seriously

Music by Maf é Tulà and Cartas a Felice, "La Loca." Panela Music.