The Fascism Barometer

In this "Midnight Musing", Ejeris argues that opposing fascism can’t mean simply defending a status quo that is already failing so many people. It also requires looking inward at who progressive movements haven’t reached, who they’ve pushed away. Ejeris imagines movements that listen as well as they speak, welcome people without requiring fluency in political language, create tangible change in people’s lives, and offer something more compelling than opposition alone. Because defeating fascism isn’t only about building a powerful “no.” It’s also about creating a “yes”. It's about creating a clear, welcoming, liberatory vision of what we want to build together. Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris sits down with organizer, strategist, and Mijente co-founder Marisa Franco for a layered conversation about Latino communities, rising fascism and authoritarianism, and the political failures that brought us to this moment. Marisa breaks down why the debate over whether to call this fascism may matter less than whether movements can organize people around their needs, real consequences, and the futures they want to fight for. Together, Ejeris and Marisa explore why MAGA and Trump’s “Mar-a-Lago politic” are resonating for some Latinos, the credibility crisis facing the Democratic Party, and shifts in Latino voting patterns. This conversation asks how we resist fascism without pretending “normal” was ever enough, and how we organize toward something people can actually believe in. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris sits down with organizer, sociologist, and United Vision for Idaho Executive Director Adrienne Evans for a powerful conversation about belonging, authoritarianism, and what it really takes to build a movement that can stop rising fascism. Drawing from more than 107,000 conversations across rural communities, Adrienne challenges the idea that people in rural and conservative areas are fixed, unreachable, or already lost. Instead, she makes the case that many people have been waiting for an invitation, for someone to ask what they think and feel, and for movements to stop ceding whole communities to the far right. Together, Ejeris and Adrienne explore why belonging can be the strongest political force and how deep listening can open up transformation. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In this bonus episode of Midnight Musings , Ejeris Dixon reflects on the emotional toll of living through escalating war, increasing violence, attacks on immigrant and Trans communities, and the growing repression of activists and organizers. Fear, exhaustion, anxiety, and despair are not merely side effects of fascism. They are part of its strategy. A society that feels hopeless is less likely to resist, more likely to turn inward, and more vulnerable to the promise that one powerful leader can fix everything. But despair does not have to be the end of the story. Ejeris argues that caring for ourselves and one another is essential to sustaining collective resistance. As instability grows, we must preserve the emotional and spiritual energy needed to organize, build power, and continue believing that fascism can be defeated. Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris welcomes back researcher, strategist, and longtime movement advisor Tarso Ramos for a sobering and clarifying conversation about authoritarian consolidation, democratic renewal, and what it means to stay in the fight. Tarso and Ejeris explore why the barometer reads differently depending on the community you belong to and the dangers you face. Together, they examine the warning signs of rising fascism and an increasingly consolidated authoritarian state, the escalating attacks on targeted communities and social justice organizations, and the urgent need to shift from protest to challenge. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris Dixon sits down with organizer, strategist, and Carolina Federation co-director Sendolo Diaminah for a powerful conversation about what it takes to build a political home strong enough to confront the Far Right. Sendolo shares the story of how workplace organizing and a clear-eyed assessment of power led him to help build one of North Carolina’s most significant independent political organizations. Together, Ejeris and Sendolo explore voter suppression, the criminalization of mass participation, and why the fight against fascism requires movements that can organize and overwhelm systems designed to keep people from power. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In this episode of Midnight Musings, Ejeris Dixon pulls back the curtain on the years long journey that led to The Fascism Barometer . Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2016 election, Ejeris shares how studying fascism, organizing communities, and translating complex ideas into accessible tools became a deeply personal mission to protect the people they love. This intimate reflection is a reminder that courageous risks taken in service of our communities, are how people-powered movements are built. Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In this season three premiere of The Fascism Barometer, Ejeris Dixon sits down with legendary activist, writer, and strategist Linda Burnham for a clear-eyed conversation about what it will take to fight fascism in this moment and for the long haul. Drawing on more than six decades of movement work, Linda names the dangers of fascist targeting, the need to broaden anti-fascist alliances, and the importance of building real power across elections, culture, economics, and the streets. Together, Ejeris and Linda explore why movements must learn to collaborate beyond political comfort zones, think generationally, and bring each person’s unique gifts into the anti-fascist fight. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In this episode of Midnight Musings, Ejeris Dixon unpacks a new White House memo that expands the definition of terrorism to target anti-fascists, Trans communities, Muslim communities, and resistance movements. This episode explores why solidarity, collective action, and refusing to “obey in advance” are essential as the Fascism Barometer keeps rising. Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris Dixon reflects on how fascism advances not all at once, but in deliberate “steps and stages.” Drawing from the words of Toni Morrison, Ejeris explores how the erosion of rights, from attacks on TPS protections and birthright citizenship to the weakening of the Voting Rights Act, creates the conditions for escalating violence and authoritarianism. Ejeris reminds us that resisting fascism requires collective action across communities, local organizing, and the belief that people power can still win.

In this episode of Midnight Musings , Ejeris Dixon cuts through the noise with a clear and urgent message: we are overcomplicating how to fight fascism. At a moment when political analysis is everywhere, competing for attention and authority, Ejeris offers a different approach. Not a new framework. Not a multi-point plan. Just a reminder of what matters most. We have one job. Build a bigger, more powerful, more connected movement capable of defeating fascism. Ejeris reminds us that movement building is not abstract, and not reserved for experts. It happens in everyday interactions, in conversations, in invitations, and in the choices we make about how we show up. Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In this episode of Midnight Musings, Ejeris connects the dots between fascism and war, naming a pattern that has repeated across history and is unfolding again in real time. What begins as internal hierarchy and scapegoating often escalates into global violence. And the consequences are measured in human lives. Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

The Fascism Barometer team presents a new series of bonus “mini-sodes” that we’re calling Midnight Musings . Ejeris Dixon invites us into a more unfiltered space at the intersection of newfound parenthood and political reflection. As fascism intensifies around the world and at home, Ejeris shares what it means to stay present to both care work and movement work at the same time. These “movement appetizers” will be a regular thing, and might even continue after the launch of season three of The Fascism Barometer this June! Because even in the middle of the night, the barometer is still rising. And so is our responsibility to respond. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In our season finale, host Ejeris Dixon welcomes organizer, author, and strategist Alicia Garza back to finish the conversation on power, and what it takes to beat fascist politics. Alicia lays out a practical “ recipe for liberation ”: from deepening political education, to building community while rooting the work in love. She argues that while a small amount of people may be unmoved, the vast majority is persuadable. Also, Ejeris reflects on Season 2 of The Fascism Barometer, reminding us about what we've learned, and reviewing concrete action steps we can take to resist fascism and build a powerful resistance. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

In this incredibly timely episode, host Ejeris Dixon sits down with Darakshan Raja, founding Executive Director of Muslims for Just Futures . Raja talks about how post-9/11 policies laid the groundwork for today’s increasing fascism. She also explains how the framework of terrorism expanded government power, targeted organizations and communities, and justified the expansion of prisons, policing, and the military, from the use of Guantánamo to campus protest crackdowns. Importantly, Dixon and Raja focus on what to do now to refuse the legitimacy of “terror” frames, and strengthen support across communities and movements. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris Dixon welcomes back author and strategist Alicia Garza for a clear-eyed read of the moment. Garza breaks down how fascism weaponizes white supremacy and emergency politics to manufacture enemies, demand a strongman, and win consent, while reminding us that resistance is a long tradition in Black, immigrant, and trans communities. Stay tuned for part two of this vital conversation, as Dixon and Garza will discuss concrete power-building moves to "keep the barometer at bay". You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Alicia Garza's book, The Purpose of Power Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Full Transcript is available at fascismbarometer.org . Podcast production by Phil Surkis

Ejeris Dixon welcomes abolitionist safety practitioner Che Johnson-Long and technologist-lawyer Ken Montenegro back to The Fascism Barometer for a grounded, practical guide to resisting in a fast-shifting landscape. They unpack how fascism feeds on panic and isolation—and how all of us can respond when we examine risk, create shared tools, and take care of each other. Homework includes: broaden trusted information sources, join an organization, and start an actual risk plan. You can find the tools you need to fight fascism at our Resource Hub . Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis

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 Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast 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 Woodland Connect with Ejeris Dixon Donate to the Fascism Barometer , and help us create more episodes and resources And when you feel the pressure, share this pod, and visit fascismbarometer.org Podcast production by Phil Surkis