Yesterday, I posted about the importance of using accurate language, arguing that the media’s penchant for failing to distinguish between far-right ideologues and genuine conservatives blurs reality and distorts public understanding of where America finds itself.
Today, I want to address another issue of labelling: the common complaint that calling MAGA folks fascist or fascist-adjacent is an unfair aspect of the name-calling that Trump has made a prominent feature of our politics–that use of that label is no different from the claims of those so-called “conservatives” that advocates for national health care are all communists.
Yesterday, I compared the actions and rhetoric of Trump and MAGA to the definition of conservative, and found an obvious mismatch. Today, I want to compare them to the definition of fascist, in order to determine whether that label really is an example of uncivil exaggeration and misdirection, or whether it’s an accurate description of what we are seeing.
I’m not the first to engage in that comparison; The Bulwark recently provided an excellent overview of the similarities that justify the label. (Interestingly, The Bulwark is published by “never Trump” conservatives–actual conservatives who know the difference between conservative philosophy and far-Right radicalism.) The essay began by quoting John F. Kelly, a now-retired Marine Corps general who, for a year and a half during Trump’s first term, was the White House chief of staff.
Shortly before the 2024 election, in a New York Times interview, Kelly was asked whether he thought Trump was a fascist. Kelly began his response by reading a definition of fascism.
Well, looking at the definition of fascism: It’s a far-right authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy.
Kelly then ticked off the ways in which Trump met that definition, concluding that he “certainly falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure. . . . He certainly prefers the dictator approach to government.”
It’s one thing to recognize that Trump himself is a fascist–that’s hard to deny, especially given his ramped-up megalomania since returning to the Oval Office. But what about his base? What about the MAGA movement? The Bulwark article cited a 1995 observation by Italian novelist and critic Umberto Eco, who defined the fascism he saw emerging as “a fuzzy totalitarianism” that he dubbed Ur-fascism. Eco proceeded to outline a list of its characteristics:
The most prominent feature of Ur-fascism, according to Eco, is the cult of tradition and the rejection of the modern world. In the irrational worldview of the Ur-fascist, disagreement is treason. Other prominent features of fascism that Eco detailed included the following:
“Ur-Fascism grows up and seeks for consensus by exploiting and exacerbating the natural fear of difference. The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders.”
“Ur-Fascism derives from individual or social frustration.”
“At the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged. The easiest way to solve the plot is the appeal to xenophobia.”
“The Ur-Fascist transfers his will to power to sexual matters. This is the origin of machismo. . . . Since even sex is a difficult game to play, the Ur-Fascist hero tends to play with weapons—doing so becomes an ersatz phallic exercise.”
The Bulwark article ended with a plea to MAGA folks to recognize these similarities and leave the movement. I’m afraid that such a plea is hopelessly naive. Hard-core MAGA folks are all-in on their ahistorical devotion to “tradition” and their hatred of those “Others” who populate modern societies. They have perfected the informational bubble they inhabit, and far from being appalled by the inhumanity of ICE raids or the anti-Americanism of Trump’s Executive Orders or the damage being done to America’s global stature, they applaud Trump’s increasingly autocratic (and arguably insane) behaviors.
Calling this administration and its supporters fascists is neither an exaggeration nor an inappropriate epithet. It is a word–a label– that accurately describes both Trump and a significant percentage of his MAGA supporters. The rest of us need to acknowledge that, and the fact that most of those supporters are irretrievably lost to the American Idea.
It is up to the rest of us–to the majority of sane Americans– to reject the fascist project and save the Republic. The situation really is that dire.
Indeed, the situation is dire. No matter what you call this … this “right-wing” extremist takeover, it is destroying our democracy and shredding the Constitution. I’m struck by visuals like seeing the grinning monkey Voght getting ready to furlough Federal employees. Then there are the six drooling and corrupt “Justices” sitting and waiting for their next chance to suck up to Trump and MAGA.
But Trump isn’t going to live much longer and the horrible Vance will become the navigator of Project 2025. Why do you think they’re moving so rapidly with their agenda? They know Trump’s purpose is about over, but those f***ing oligarchs who are ram-rodding P-2025 through want to get their agenda imposed and codified. The Republican Congress is a spineless, totally corrupt collection of idiots, so the money people will have their way.
As is so often said and feared on this blog, there WILL be some sort of fiction that allows the orange monster or his successor to declare martial law and suspend the 2026 election. They know that if the election goes the correct way for our democracy, they’re going to jail or the unemployment line.
Desperate men in desperate times do crazy things.
The USA’s political right wing (Trump/MAGA, the tech oligarchs, non-tech big business oligarchs, and the right-wing media) exhibit 3 distinct but overlapping political views: Reactionism, Regressivism, and Fascism (in its broader, more general, non-institutional sense).
I asked ChatGPT to assess the relative proportions of these 3 views exhibited by each right-wing component.
I think it’s response is both informative and enlightening
⸻
1. Donald Trump / the MAGA movement
Proportion estimate:
• Reactionism: ~ 30%
• Regressivism: ~ 30%
• Fascism (or proto-fascist/palingenetic elements): ~ 40%
How each shows up:
• Reactionism: Trump and his MAGA base often hark back to an idealised “great” America of the past: more manufacturing jobs, less immigration, stronger borders, more cultural homogeneity. For example, the slogan “Make America Great Again” explicitly invokes a lost past.
• Regressivism: There is active desire to roll back elements of modernity: e.g., undoing certain civil-rights or immigration expansions, undoing regulatory regimes, undoing elite institutions (deep-state, media). For example, MAGA narratives include claims of election fraud, an anti-“elite”/anti-institution stance.
• Fascist/palingenetic elements: The “rebirth” theme is strong: the idea that America has been decaying and must be remade, mobilised under a strong leader, vilifying enemies (globalists, “elites,” immigration, “fake news”), elevating a charismatic figure. Scholars of fascism emphasise the “palingenetic myth” (nation’s rebirth) and leader cult; many critics apply that label to Trump/MAGA.
• Why the mix: Trump is not simply nostalgic for a bygone era — he often promises a new greatness, a breakthrough — which pushes into the “fascist” zone. But his rhetoric also includes restoration of past norms and rollback of modern changes.
⸻
2. Tech Oligarchs (e.g., big-tech / Silicon Valley elites aligned with right-wing politics)
Proportion estimate:
• Reactionism: ~ 20%
• Regressivism: ~ 10%
• Fascism/tech-futurist authoritarianism: ~ 70%
How each shows up:
• Reactionism: Some tech elites romanticise a past of entrepreneurial freedom, decentralised innovation, early Internet libertarianism; a “simpler” prior era of tech.
• Regressivism: Less dominant — they are not so much trying to roll back social progress (though some support rollback of some regulation or diversity/inclusion efforts) as they are trying to leap forward.
• Fascism/Palingenetic Vision: Very strong. Many right-leaning tech billionaires articulate visions of radical transformation (AI, colonising Mars, “breakdown” of current institutions and replacement with new ones) rather than restoration. For example, one commentary:
“Tech oligarchs are gambling our future on a fantasy … These visions of the future have always contained a political element aligned with dreams of total autocratic control.”
Also research points out that some of these tech elites draw on “neo-reactionary” (NRx) ideas: anti-democratic, hierarchical, feudalised visions of society.
• Why the high fascism score: Because the emphasis is less on going back and more on creating a radically different future, often via concentration of power and bypassing traditional democratic moderation. This aligns with the “palingenetic” model (the rebirth of the community/nation in a new form) more than mere restoration.
⸻
3. Non-tech Big Business Oligarchs / Corporate Right-Wing Capital
Proportion estimate:
• Reactionism: ~ 40%
• Regressivism: ~ 40%
• Fascism: ~ 20%
How each shows up:
• Reactionism: Many large business interests on the right appeal to a return to older business-friendly norms: weaker regulation, lower taxes, less labour power, perhaps a return to “traditional” capitalist order.
• Regressivism: Strong: rolling back regulatory gains, rolling back labour protections, undoing aspects of the modern social welfare or regulatory state, rolling back egalitarian measures.
• Fascism: Less dominant. While some corporate actors like strong state power, mass mobilisation etc., mainstream big business generally favours stability, rule of law, markets — which is more conservative than fascist. They may tolerate authoritarian-leaning regimes if it benefits them, but they are less likely to champion mass mobilisation, violent upheaval, or charismatic leader cults.
• Why this mix: Corporate right-wing is anchored in business interests: they benefit from restoring older norms (reactionism) and undoing recent reforms (regressivism) and only occasionally intersect with palingenetic/fascist visions.
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4. Right-Wing Media (talk radio, cable news, online conservative outlets)
Proportion estimate:
• Reactionism: ~ 35%
• Regressivism: ~ 45%
• Fascism: ~ 20%
How each shows up:
• Reactionism: Many outlets invoke nostalgic narratives (e.g., “1960s values,” “traditional America,” “pre-woke era”) and depict the present as degeneration from a golden age.
• Regressivism: Quite strong: frequent advocacy for undoing certain social reforms (immigration, multiculturalism, diversity efforts), pushing for reversal of rights expansions or institutional changes. Many media pieces say “we’ve gone too far” and call to roll back.
• Fascism: Some elements: a cult of personality (e.g., around Trump), demonisation of opponents (“enemy within,” “deep state”), calls for strong leadership, exceptionalism—but less consistent than in the MAGA core.
• Why this mix: Media often both reflect and amplify the inclinations of their base: nostalgia + resentment + mobilisation rhetoric. But media as institutional actors are less directly organising mass mobilisation than a political movement, so the “fascist” element is less dominating.
Why this matters
• Understanding which orientation dominates helps predict the style of policies, rhetoric, and institutional impact.
• A movement strong on reactionism might emphasise restoration of values, culture wars, defence of tradition.
• One strong on regressivism might focus on rolling back rights, dismantling regulatory frameworks, reducing oversight.
• One strong on fascism/palingenetic might emphasise mass mobilisation, leader-cult, radical transformation of institutions, suppression of dissent, rewriting norms.
• In the U.S. right wing, all three impulses are present — but the balance differs by actor and moment. For example, during the 2020-2025 period, the MAGA core seems to lean more heavily into the palingenetic/fascist side (rebirth of America) than a simple nostalgic restoration.
the n word is defined as, not of race if the common use is used. but is transfred by racists to define a race and make them dirty. . so actully, i could call the magats ,,the n word,not race related.
here in noDak its become the norm to not, talk about trump. if you do, your judged immediatly who the magats , want you to be. mmm im using the word magat… any relation to todays topic? seems trump wants to rename no kings day something related to us being the facists. this red state NoDak passed a law this summer,no masks in public. wonder if ill get iced if i do… seems we need a new short word that also means facist goons.. or getting iced.. being raised on the street always gave me/us a difinitive view in short slangs. though not proper in some circles>< i hope you understand.
I believe Marx accurately projected the end stages of capitalism, presenting two options: fascism or socialism. What’s interesting is that the fascists now call the left-wing communists. The racist fascists also point to blacks as all being communists who are coming to steal from those with money.
I don’t worry about democracy disappearing because it’s already gone. It’s been an oligarchy for a very long time. The oligarchy opposed British rule. The closest we came to a democracy was FDR, and look how popular he was as POTUS. It scared the shit out of the oligarchy because they almost lost the goose that lays the golden eggs.
The one element of MAGA that I’ve not seen in fascism is the religious angle. How could “religious folks” get involved with Trump and his cabal? These people are the antithesis of religious or spiritual. It takes just three minutes of listening to Stephen Miller to know he’s Satan incarnate.
Meanwhile, Peter Thiel is presenting a four-part series (invitation only) on the anti-Christ. I’ve been reading about his presentation, and he is cuckoo. He is describing himself, Trump, or Stephen Miller, but he’s pointing at Greta Thunberg. LOL He’s used some weird numerology to determine that the antichrist is “33 years old.”
And, just a reminder, Thiel is the mentor (and financial backer) of JD Vance, and they both share the philosophical views of Curtis Yarvin. Yarvin believes in the disintegration of government, which isn’t far off from what Koch’s dark network aims to achieve via P2025. Yarvin has already declared Trump a failure in achieving his aspirations because he “wasn’t aggressive enough” in eliminating the federal government. As a result, Yarvin thinks he may be in danger and is considering fleeing from the West Coast of the USA. 🙂
#FascistLoonies
Greg:
thanks, i dont touch AI. or expose as little as possible to it. finding whos programing the input and out put of Ais wiki. since the data centers and big bubble AI is now investment,?. i wont app anything and seek the diffrence in what others collect and find using apps. like mail, social and buisness inputs. asking chatAI to define the topics you submitted gave me some hope, were not going to be totally gamed by the present admin. but, id watch those answers in the near future for changes..not percentage, the answers overall.
best wishes.
Qatar is building an air force base on U.S. soil in Idaho. I’m unaware of this country ever allowing that in the past. Sec’y of Defense Hegseth announced on 10/10/25: “Today we’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatar Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho.” (Filip Timotija, “Hegseth says US will host Qatari air force facility in Idaho,” The Hill, 10/10/25) A foreign power builds a military base on the soil of another country to use that base militarily, something the United States has done frequently. To build a base is different from having planes from another country use one of our bases, such as “Singapore’s air force F-15SG fighter jets” as a different Idaho base. (Id.) This needs to be stopped. These are moves in an end game of a coup. As was demonstrated this week, our country still has a semblance of rule of law, as the National Guard deployment was brought to a halt in Illinois. That’s tough to do if the military forces are from another country. trump can say: “I can’t order them around.” And then there’s the “problem” of any free speech at that base. Qatar’s a dictatorship. They won’t take kindly to picket signs. This is a military force for use against us: it must be stopped NOW.
Footnotes:
FN1. p TiFilimotija, “Hegseth says US will host Qatari air force facility in Idaho,” The Hill, 10/10/25, accessed 10/11/25.
FN2. Id. 5/5
Trump is not pining away for some fantasy past, he is simply using the idea to manipulate. Manipulating is his strongest suit! Period!
He may have fallen into the ridiculous error of believing some of his multiple BS points, but I do not think that any of us can accurately judge that.
I also do not know that I agree that the bulk of his followers are fascists, expect that they are just so afraid of loosing their perceived prominence in the society that they may, literally, follow their Dear Leader wherever he chooses to lead.
On the other hand, the Christian Nationalists may, indeed, be true fascists, believing that they are “Doing God’s work.”
Chat/GPT is more thorough than my ability to add to it.
There is an explanation for that analysis, which is how it all came about.
We are immersed in entertainment media for the financial gain of others. For many decades, it has given us a choice between two worlds and allowed us to pick which one we wish to be our reality.
To maintain viewership, those who profited by offering media started by providing a somewhat divided, though reasonable, explanation of the news. Gradually, they had to up their game to maximize profits.
Today, the world offered by MAGAmedia is starkly contrasted to the world provided by liberal media.
The cost of their ongoing profits is the burden that broke American society into two completely different, extreme, and competing worldviews.
It’s time to call a spade a spade. Trump is a Fascist, but he is also a megalomaniac. His followers are a cult of personality. That’s what allows them to mentally dismiss facts about him as soon as they are confronted with any negative information.
IMHO the tech bros and the business giants are in the same boat. They are all scared of Orange Jesus, just like the Senate and the Congress. Why? Remember Henry II and Thomas Becket!? “Won’t someone rid me of this turbulent priest?” It’s the preferred method of control for our President. Cross him and get doxed Then you need to worry about your and your family’s safety, but he never said kill anyone.
Qatar air force personnel will be housed and trained in buildings (which they will pay for constructing) at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Along with Qatar military trainees, the base currently houses Singapore training facilities. German pilots have been housed and trained in New Mexico and now Texas for years. Saudi trainees have been in a Florida base for years. Supposedly, these arrangements are done to insure allies have the equipment and personnel to protect our national security interests.
In this instance, my guess this is a payoff that will financially benefit dump and his oligarchs. They will benefit financially in some way or another.
I remember years ago, when the Shah was in power in Iraq, that Iraqi military were at Fort Ben for some sort of training. My neighbors actually hosted dinner for a Iraq colonel on a few occasions. At the time. Iraq was considered an ally.
Nothing this administration does is for the public good, unless by accident. It is always about the money.
Will we see another Harding-like episode in this administration? It has too many similar characteristics to ignore. A scandal ridden administration with an inept President who died in office? Unfortunately, if events play out in a similar fashion there won’t be a less corrupted man to succeed to the office.
Homan is coming to Indianapolis in Tuesday, ostensibly to discuss detention facilities. Will he be pressing Braun to call up Indiana NG to deploy to another state? We are in perilous times.
October 18, No Kings Day, is being characterized by dump as an antifa, terrorist led protest day by people who hate America. I am an anti-fascist and will be participating in honor of several family members who fought fascism.
RESIST.
JD – I appreciate the info in your reply. When I read the first reports, that the Singapore air force is training people & has fighter aircraft at a facility in Idaho was noted. When dictatorships furchase fighters & other aircraft here, we provide training. When Sen Lugar spoke at IU School of Law-Indy, in 1987 (as I recall I was in 2nd year), I asked if he could morally justify our providing intell & materiel to both sides of a war between nations at the top of oil producing countries (Iran & Iraq), thus ensuring oil prices would stay low & our economy would benefit. He smiled and said, “No.” He then qualified his answer, adding things about “policy.” When Hegseth’s announcement was released, the crux was that Qatar would build an air force base. I find that extremely objectionable, for the reasons I’ve stated. We also should re-consider (i.e., stop) sales of weapons to dictatorships. Our support of dictatorships has been counter-productive in the long-term. As I recall, 17 of the 23 hijackers on 9/11/01 were Saudi nationals. They could not protest in “the kingdom” on pain of execution. That left them to engage in an act of terrorism against the main supplier military stuff to “the kingdom.” They were not justified in the attack on 9/11, but most of our citizenry are unfamiliar with history. I shall protest on No Kings Day, if such things still are allowed. It could also be good practice. When the Wall fell, people were ready to take to the streets in Berlin. And about Harding: not one of the great intellects to occupy the Oval Office. Oh, and one more thing: I bought a kangaroo outfit. I’m hoping to fit in with the folks at SCOTUS. The Roberts Court: sluts have fun, whores get paid. (This platform requires a URL for “website” & just http://www.civildiscousenow.com no longer works. Copying & pasting headers from my blog does work. Living now in a blue State, that’s a minor inconvenience.)
Qatar gave Trump a free airplane, which he will most likely take with him if he survives his term. It may not even be retrofitted by 2028. I suspect that we’ll discover that Qatar has signed an agreement to buy from our MIC, so Hegseth was told to invite them to Idaho.
A few people are speculating about why the stock market turned downward. Many are predicting a tech bubble similar to the Dot-Com bubble. The Magnificent 7 represents over 35% of the total capitalization value of the entire market.
Also, China has initiated export controls on rare earths and other minerals used in the production of microchips. Not just those in China, but any country that uses their rare earths in the production process. This goes into effect on November 8th, or after President Trump visits China. I suppose that Xi Jinping wanted to reciprocate what Trump did, so they could negotiate.
What was our dumbass POTUS’s response?
Slap more tariffs on China and threaten to cancel his trip to China. Is there anyone in his administration who could stop him from surfing up his rectum and advise him when he is entirely wrong?
If China’s export controls are enforced, the AI bubble will burst, and thus the entire economy will implode.
Well stated, Sheila. People have been too reticent to use the correct term.