From Southern Strategy to Ruling Power: Chip Berlet on Trumpism & the far-Right in 2020

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Chip Berlet is our guest on this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, and is a long time author, journalist, and activist who has just published their new book, Trumping Democracy: From Reagan to the Alt-Right. For decades, Berlet has written about and tracked the far-Right, conspiracy theories, and racist groups, reporting on them in the media and writing a wide variety of books, all aimed at the general public and those involved in social movements.

This is a great article about the recent round of #endthelockdown far-Right protests that maps out the entryism of some on the far-Right and white nationalists and the connection to conservative groups with deep pockets. https://t.co/dgl0wjEbX9

— It's Going Down (@IGD_News) April 17, 2020

On today’s episode, we discuss the historical origins of Trumpism, both as a by-product of the campaigns of Barry Goldwater and George Wallace, but also out of the same interests which backed the Tea Party explosion in the late 2000s. Berlet argues that this current represented the creation of a New Right, which was equals part grassroots movement, elite think-tank, and the creation of wealthy donors.

The Proud Boys turned out for it. I saw one account that said the group blocked an intersection by a hospital and the doctors had to beg them to let ambulances in, but I didn't find anything else to confirm it. If you've got that confirmation, let me know https://t.co/TFG6f5yxOm

— Left Coast Right Watch (@LCRWnews) April 16, 2020

Next, we discuss where both the Trump administration is at in 2020, along with its connection to far-Right movements. We discuss how both could possibly move within the current coronavirus crisis and what a possible electoral success or failure might means for the hard-Right post-2020.

With far-Right groups on the streets pushing for a return to “business as usual” in the middle of the pandemic and organizing large rallies, it’s important for us to once again analyze and understand these movements as we build alternatives and resistance to them.

More Info: Collection of Chip Berlet essays, IGD interview with Leonard Zeskind, documentary on George Wallace, How the Southern Strategy Made Trump Possible.