The BS Filter

#137 – What is Fascism? Part 1

In this first instalment of a new series on fascism, Cameron and Ray dig into what the word really means beyond the marching boots and fiery rallies of 20th-century Europe. They explore the difficulty of defining fascism, how it manifests differently across time and place, and why the term is often misused today. Drawing on historians like Robert Paxton, Jason Stanley, and Michael Mann, as well as political thinkers from Trotsky to Hannah Arendt, the discussion asks whether the United States is sliding toward fascism, and what makes Trump’s brand of politics similar or distinct from Mussolini or Hitler. Along the way, the hosts look at epistemology and heuristics—how we know what’s true and whose voices we trust—as a framework for analysing complex social movements. This episode sets the stage for a deeper historical exploration in future parts of the series. The post #137 – What is Fascism? Part 1 appeared first on The BS Filter.

#136 – 20 Years of Napoleon and Friendship

Sort of a “half bullshit filter” episode. Cameron reconnects with historian and longtime friend J. David Markham on the eve of his 80th birthday. They reflect on two decades of working together on the Napoleon podcast, swap family updates, and dive into Markham’s latest projects—including his forthcoming book _Simply Caesar_ and several Napoleonic works in progress. The discussion turns to the reception of Ridley Scott’s _Napoleon_ film, the importance of history for understanding today’s politics, and the challenges of civility in an increasingly polarized age. Markham also shares stories from Napoleonic society gatherings, his vast personal collection, and his perspective on America’s political trajectory. It’s a rich blend of personal reflection, Napoleonic passion, and political commentary. The post #136 – 20 Years of Napoleon and Friendship appeared first on The BS Filter.

#135 – Unprovoked or Preemptive? Iran, the Media & Manufactured Consent

In this fiery and no-holds-barred episode, Cam and Ray dive into the geopolitics of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, calling out the hypocrisy and propagandistic media coverage that frames these attacks as “preemptive” rather than “unprovoked” — a word the media reserved exclusively for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They draw sharp historical parallels, from the 1953 CIA-led coup in Iran to the weaponised narrative-building of Western governments and media. The episode also takes a tour through Iran’s actual military record (spoiler: mostly defensive or retaliatory), the ever-reliable military-industrial complex, and Trump’s sudden missile diplomacy. Plus, there’s a heartfelt tribute to Michael Madsen, a scathing takedown of media groupthink, and a sobering reminder that the real winners of war are the profiteers. As always, it’s a punchy mix of gallows humour, truth bombs, and righteous exasperation. The post #135 – Unprovoked or Preemptive? Iran, the Media & Manufactured Consent appeared first on The BS Filter.

#134: Section 70302: The Quiet Coup

Cameron and Ray crack open the popcorn for a free-wheeling hour on the sudden Musk-Trump bromance breakup and the “one big beautiful bill” (HR 1).  They riff on Roman triumvirates, oligarch knife-fights, and the sneaky Section 70302 that could neuter America’s courts overnight.  Along the way they detour through the Byrd Rule, unleash dystopian what-ifs about AI, and ask whether the U.S. can out-collapse ancient Rome for speed.  It’s equal parts history lesson, constitutional autopsy, and late-night pub rant—served with extra swearing and zero deference.  The post #134: Section 70302: The Quiet Coup appeared first on The BS Filter.

BS 129 – It’s The Stupid, Stupid

As I’ve been saying for years – Trump isn’t the problem. He’s just a symptom of the problem. The actual problem is stupid people. And they are justifiably angry. But to think billionaires are going to solve the problem is just stupid. It’s billionaires and the politicians they control that got the U.S. into this situation in the first place. Welcome to late stage capitalism. The post BS 129 – It’s The Stupid, Stupid appeared first on The BS Filter.