Best Refuse Fascism Podcasts (2025)

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Trump’s DC Takeover - Straight Out of the Fascist Playbook 46:23

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1d ago46:23

46:23

Sam recaps the latest ways that fascism is ratcheting forward including Trump's latest threats to sic the military on other cities besides LA and DC. Then she speaks to Dr. Moustafa Bayoumi, author of ⁠Trump’s Washington DC takeover is straight out of a fascist playbook⁠ (The Guardian). Follow his work at ⁠moustafabayoumi.com⁠. What do we need to d…

1
Young people can't find jobs. Is Canada's economy in trouble? 21:25

9h ago21:25

21:25

The unemployment rate for Canadians between 15 and 24 is at 15 percent, the highest it's been since 2010, not including the pandemic. Why can't young people find a job? And how do these numbers fit into the wider health of our economy at the moment? Economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers Armine Yalnizyan is on the show to talk about…

1
Israel defies global outcry over Gaza City, West Bank 25:40

21h ago25:40

25:40

Airstrikes and tanks continued pounding the outskirts of Gaza City over the weekend, as Israel’s plans to seize the strip’s largest urban centre continued. A much bigger operation, widely condemned by the international community, could begin within days or weeks. This is all happening as the world’s leading authority on food crises is saying that G…

1
Escape, immortality, AI: Silicon Valley's blueprint for the future 33:35

4d ago33:35

33:35

Elon Musk wants a million people living on Mars within 20 years. Jeff Bezos imagines a trillion humans in space, living in a constellation of space stations the size of major cities within a few generations. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is preparing for a future where rogue AI could destroy civilization, and is stockpiling land, gas masks, and gold i…

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How Christian Zionism became a key force in U.S. politics 38:59

5d ago38:59

38:59

Christian Zionism — the belief that the modern state of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy — has existed as a theological concept for well over a century. But in the past couple decades its political power and influence in the United States has surged, with many of Donald Trump's closest political allies among its adherents. Today we're taking a loo…

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Are Canadian summers as we knew them over? 30:59

6d ago30:59

30:59

This summer is on track to being the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history. It started earlier than usual with emergencies declared in the spring in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and is hitting locales that aren't typically fire-prone like Vancouver Island and Atlantic Canada. Meanwhile, fires from neighbouring provinces gave parts of southe…

1
Is Trump any closer to ending the war in Ukraine? 24:51

7d ago24:51

24:51

Over the last few days, US President Donald Trump has hosted a series of high-stakes talks to further the effort to end the war in Ukraine. First, on Friday, there was the summit in Alaska — Russian president Vladimir Putin’s first time in the US in nearly 20 years. Then on Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House f…

1
What the Air Canada strike is really about 27:02

8d ago27:02

27:02

It was a chaotic weekend for anyone flying with Air Canada. The airline canceled hundreds of flights after 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job. Less than 12 hours later, federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu had ordered them back to work — but the union took the unusual step of defying that order and continuing the strike. The main sticking poi…

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Time For the Fall of the Trump Regime 1:05:22

8d ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Yesterday Refuse Fascism led marchers to the White House demanding Trump Must Go NOW, as Trump took federal control of the DC police and deployed national guard and other federal agencies onto the streets of the city to terrorize residents. Visit refusefascism.org for videos and coverage. We share Sam's speech from the kickoff rally at Dupont Circl…

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Can Carney move fast enough on affordable housing? 27:42

11d ago27:42

27:42

This week, Canada's housing department released a document with more details on the Liberal government's plans to scale up affordable housing in the country. It's now seeking feedback from the public about it. Back in March, Prime Minister Carney vowed that his government would double the number of homes built annually in Canada to nearly half a mi…

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The killing of Gaza’s journalists 34:31

12d ago34:31

34:31

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has become the deadliest conflict for journalists in recent history. Among those killed was Anas Al-Sharif — one of the last remaining reporters in Northern Gaza, and one of the most recognizable media voices in the strip. In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists said that the public smear campaign against hi…

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Why has Trump taken over D.C.? 26:13

13d ago26:13

26:13

National Guard troops descended on Washington D.C. after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to take back the nation's capital and clear the streets of what he calls "crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor". It comes after the President spent the better part of the last week taking aim at D.C.'s leadership, homeless population and how crime t…

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Cannabis megastores stoke tensions in Oka Crisis First Nation 29:15

14d ago29:15

29:15

35 years ago, the Kanien'kehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke squared off with the Canadian army to defend their territory, culminating an armed standoff now known as the Oka Crisis, or the Siege of Kanehsatà:ke. Now, some community members worry that same territory is being threatened by an out-of-control boom of unregulated cannabis megastores with alleged co…

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The Canadian army's long history of extremism 30:59

15d ago30:59

30:59

Last month, RCMP charged four people for their alleged involvement in a plot to forcibly take land north of Quebec city in what Mounties called an incident of "ideologically motivated violent extremism". Three of the men were denied bail last week. The accused, they charged, had planned to create an anti-government militia, but even more startling:…

1
Can the Bad Bunny effect save Puerto Rico? 29:00

18d ago29:00

29:00

Bad Bunny, one of the most-streamed artists on the planet, is in the middle of his 30-concert residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico titled No me Querio Ir de Aqui, or "I don't want to leave here". Much like his latest album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, it is both a celebration of Puerto Rican culture and heritage but also a statement against the political an…

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Politics! Poilievre's crucial byelection, Carney's tariff tightrope 27:15

19d ago27:15

27:15

Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot is about as safe a riding as Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre could hope for as a place to regain a seat in the House of Commons in a byelection later this month. But he's facing pushback from some locals who feel they're being used as a means to an end by someone who won't represent their interests in Ottawa. Th…

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Inside OpenAI’s zealous pursuit of AI dominance 32:42

20d ago32:42

32:42

Later this month, OpenAI is expected to release the latest version of ChatGPT – the groundbreaking AI chatbot that became the fastest growing app in history when it was launched in 2022. When Sam Altman first pitched an ambitious plan to develop artificial intelligence, he likened it to another world changing, potentially world destroying endeavor:…

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Why some young Israelis refuse to fight in Gaza 22:22

21d ago22:22

22:22

Since Oct. 7, according to Gaza’s health ministry, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign against Hamas. Recently, the ministry also began reporting a new kind of toll: deaths by starvation. 180 people, including 93 children, are now reported to have died from hunger. This comes after months of Israeli restrictions …

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Cold calls from one of the most horrific serial killers in Canadian history 32:43

22d ago32:43

32:43

What does a reporter do when they receive a cold call from one of the most horrific serial killers in Canadian history? The killer: Clifford Olson, who murdered at least eleven children in the 1980s. The reporter: Arlene Bynon, who recorded her jailhouse calls with Olson for years. Alongside legendary journalist Peter Worthington, Arlene spent hund…

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Will Canada recognize Palestinian statehood? 27:48

25d ago27:48

27:48

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to officially recognize Palestinian statehood in September — if certain criteria are met — marking a radical departure on Canada’s position in the region. Evan Dyer is a reporter with the CBC’s parliamentary bureau. He joins the show for a discussion about this landmark moment in Canadian fore…

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Can the UK child-proof the internet? 24:49

26d ago24:49

24:49

Late last week, the UK government implemented a new set of rules from its Online Safety Act to keep children away from quote, “harmful and age-inappropriate content”. Companies ranging from pornography websites, social media platforms, and large search engines will need to comply by building guardrails that would prevent children from accessing por…

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From Texas to South Sudan: ICE’s deportation pipeline 27:50

27d ago27:50

27:50

The U.S. federal immigration law enforcement agency — ICE — is offshoring migrants incarcerated in the U.S. to detention camps in Africa. In at least one of these cases, migrants were told they would be transported to a domestic detention facility and instead were taken to a prison located nearly 10,000 KM away from the U.S. This decision to deport…

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Can RFK Jr. save B.C.'s death row ostriches? 32:03

28d ago32:03

32:03

A New York City billionaire and conservative talk radio host. Two of the most vocally antivax members of Donald Trump's administration. Protesters associated with the "Freedom Convoy" that occupied downtown Ottawa in 2022. What do they have in common? They all want to save a herd of more than 400 ostriches on a small farm in rural B.C. Earlier this…

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Why Trump can't shake the Epstein files 28:27

29d ago28:27

28:27

When the Trump administration announced earlier this month that it was dropping its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and would not be releasing any further "Epstein files," it was already an unpopular decision among the MAGA faithful — many of whom Donald Trump won over by leaning into conspiracy theories about pedophilic political elites. In the…

1
Shut Down ICE, Shut Down the Trump Regime 1:29:18

29d ago1:29:18

1:29:18

Sam explains why the time to refuse fascism isn’t someday—it’s now: from ICE terror and mass disappearances to Trump’s executive order targeting unhoused people, to blatant defiance of the courts and violent threats against political opponents. Refuse Fascism is calling on people in every sector—healthcare, tech, education, government, culture—to j…

1
Breaking down the not guilty Hockey Canada decision 23:30

1M ago23:30

23:30

A trial that was seven years in the making came to its conclusion with all five former Hockey Canada players found not guilty of sexual assault. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote were acquitted in a London, Ontario courtroom by Justice Maria Carroccia. McLeod was also found not guilty of being a party to a sexua…

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Inside Indigenous backlash to fast-tracking mega projects 22:53

1M ago22:53

22:53

Many First Nations leaders across Canada are furious about two laws just passed by both the federal government and Ontario's provincial government. The Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act and the federal Building Canada Act, better known as Bill 5 and Bill C5, are meant to fast-track large development projects and have faced similar cr…

1
Fascist fight clubs are growing across Canada 28:17

1M ago28:17

28:17

Groups known as "active clubs" are growing across Canada. They often meet in public parks or martial arts clubs, and say they are building community and fitness while standing up for Canada's European history. But they're part of a decentralized network with deep ties to white nationalist, neo-Nazi, and other far-right groups — and they're spreadin…

1
Plan for Gaza decried as ‘concentration camp’ 33:53

1M ago33:53

33:53

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, told journalists earlier this month that he has instructed the military to draw up plans for a camp in southern Gaza, which would eventually house the entire population of the strip. According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, Katz said residents would not be allowed to leave once they entered — although he and …

1
The week X's Grok AI went Nazi 27:01

1M ago27:01

27:01

In the rapidly growing world of generative AI chatbots, Grok stands out. Created by Elon Musk's xAI and touted as a "politically incorrect," "anti-woke" alternative to models like ChatGPT, Grok has become a pervasive presence on Musk's social media platform X. So a lot of people took notice earlier this month when Grok started spouting anti-Semitic…

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No More Business As Usual 57:20

1M ago57:20

57:20

After a recap on this past week, we share Sam's interview with Anna O. Law, the Herbert Kurz Chair in Constitutional Rights at CUNY Brooklyn College. Her forthcoming book The Origins of American Citizenship and Migration—African Americans, Native Americans, and Immigrants will be out from Oxford University Press in the spring of 2026. Read her late…

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Trump’s crypto bills: what does he stand to gain? 25:21

1M ago25:21

25:21

U.S. President Donald Trump promised to make America the cryptocurrency capital of the world and he’s been working to make good on that. This week, in what House Republicans dubbed “Crypto Week”, he pushed Congress to pass three major pieces of legislation championed by the industry. Trump hasn’t always been a fan of crypto but after his sons caugh…

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David Suzuki warns Carney of pipeline and growth 'madness' 29:42

1M ago29:42

29:42

After more than four decades of activism and advocacy, David Suzuki is one of the most renowned and respected voices in the environmental movement. So when he says it's too late to stop climate change, people take notice. And that's now exactly what he's saying. He's delivering this message as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government focuses on fast…

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Zohran Mamdani vs. the Democratic establishment 26:45

1M ago26:45

26:45

Zohran Mamdani’s win in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York is one of the most stunning upsets in the city’s political history. The 33-year-old assemblyman led a campaign focused on affordability, with a platform that included a rent freeze, free public transportation and free child care. Zohran’s win garnered international attention. It a…

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What Trump’s new tariff threats could mean for Canada 27:04

1M ago27:04

27:04

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote letters to over two dozen trading partners last week, threatening a fresh set of tariffs. Canada was among them and is now facing the possibility of 35% tariffs on all Canadian goods that don’t comply with CUSMA, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, if a deal isn’t reached by August 1st. Where do our negotiations with…

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Politics! Carney calls for big cuts, army members' terrorism charges 25:31

1M ago25:31

25:31

To kick off the week, we tackle a few big stories in two realms of Canadian politics: the military, and the federal public service. First, the Ottawa Citizen's David Pugliese tells us about the investigation into a Facebook group where military members of one regiment regularly share misogynistic, racist and derogatory content. He also shares his t…

1
A Breathtaking Disregard for Human Rights With Michele Goodwin 52:36

1M ago52:36

52:36

Sam recaps some of the events from the past week including both the escalating ICE raids and the righteous resistance that shows people are not bowing down to this terror. Then, we share the speech from Reverend William H Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC during the week of protest against Trump J…

1
Case closed on the 'Epstein list'? 29:33

2M ago29:33

29:33

Following years of speculation, this week U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi dismissed the existence of a long-rumored "Epstein client list," and reaffirmed that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide. This comes after months of hopes — in some quarters — that Trump would make good on his promise to reveal more details about the case and those involved in a …

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Will a 'Free Tibet' die with the Dalai Lama? 27:05

2M ago27:05

27:05

The Dalai Lama has spent almost his entire adult life as a refugee from his homeland of Tibet. Fleeing Chinese persecution in the 1950s, he has built a nation in exile, striving to preserve Tibetan culture as not just the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, but as a global ambassador for his people's cause. But he knows a transition is coming. On…

1
Did the Texas floods have to be this deadly? 25:26

2M ago25:26

25:26

Search efforts continue in central Texas after extraordinary flash flooding killed more than 100 people. As the death toll rises, questions are growing about whether local, state and federal authorities should have done more to warn residents, and help them get to safety. The disaster is also placing fresh scrutiny on the Trump administration's eno…

1
Netanyahu in Washington, and a Gaza ceasefire? 29:25

2M ago29:25

29:25

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington this week, meeting with Donald Trump and senior members of the Trump administration, in a trip that could end in a Gaza ceasefire agreement expected to last 60 days. The critical questions revolve around Hamas’ attitude toward the repatriation of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages in their c…

1
Medicaid cuts and RFK Jr’s MAHA mission 31:09

2M ago31:09

31:09

The passing of Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill last week came with over a trillion dollars of cuts to Medicaid, kicking an estimated 12 million Americans off health insurance coverage by 2034. And it was passed with the blessing of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Widespread upheaval of the American healthcare sys…

1
Gerrymandering the Law for the GOP + Declaring Independence from Trump’s Fascist America 49:47

2M ago49:47

49:47

Shout out to everyone who was in the streets on July 4! Read the recap from around the country here and the report from DC here. We are sharing an interview with Leah Litman, one of the hosts of the Strict Scrutiny podcast and author of the best-selling book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vi…

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How the Diddy case fell apart 28:34

2M ago28:34

28:34

After a long and very public trial, producer and music mogul Sean Diddy Combs has been found not guilty of the most severe charges against him. On Wednesday he was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking, but found guilty on lesser charges - two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. This was widely considered as a huge victory f…

1
Politics! Carney so far, Poilievre’s second chance 27:38

2M ago27:38

27:38

Prime Minister Mark Carney made big promises to transform the Canadian economy, fast track national building projects and secure a trade deal with U.S. He also set Canada Day this year as a deadline for some key goals. How has he done so far and what are we learning about what he’s willing to do to make things happen? Plus, where do trade talks sta…

1
The end of birthright citizenship? 30:08

2M ago30:08

30:08

For at least the last decade U.S. President Doanld Trump has discussed his desire to end the practice of birthright citizenship. On his first day back in office Trump passed an executive order looking to exclude the children of undocumented people from birthright citizenship completely: an action that was immediately challenged in lower courts acro…

1
The repo man of the seas 50:19

2M ago50:19

50:19

The Outlaw Ocean is an anthology podcast that plunges you into the vast and often lawless world of the open seas. Today we're featuring an investigation from S2 called The repo man of the seas. In this episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Urbina joins Max Hardberger. Depending on who you ask, Max is either a seagoing James Bond or a swash…

1
Encore: ex-Raptors President Masai Ujiri 29:41

2M ago29:41

29:41

After a transformative 13 years, it was announced that the Toronto Raptors and longtime President Masai Ujiri would be parting ways. Across his time with the Raptors Ujiri became a figure central to Canadian and international sport — capping his time with the Raptors’ lone NBA championship in 2019. The years since then have been slower and gave way…

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All Out for July 4 to Declare Independence from Trump Fascism 17:34

2M ago17:34

17:34

On the heels of the major SCOTUS ruling that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson calls “an existential threat to the rule of law,” we are busy mobilizing for a week of protest in DC culminating in a march on the White House demanding Trump Must Go Now: Meet Friday July 4 at 2pm at Logan Circle Sunsara Taylor recaps and analyzes the stakes of this ruling,…

1
Canada’s energy minister on pipelines, Bill C-5 controversy 29:11

2M ago29:11

29:11

Canada’s energy and natural resources minister Tim Hodgson is in charge of an extremely important file for the federal government. That’s because Prime Minister Carney campaigned on getting big energy and resources projects done, boosting Canada’s economy and extracting us from our close relationship with the U.S. The stakes are pretty high for Min…