Behind the Bastards
Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 179
Release Date: April 26, 2025

Overview

In this riveting episode of It Could Happen Here Weekly 179, host Garrison Davis delves deep into the unsettling parallels between fictional revolutions and real-world political upheavals. Through an insightful conversation with Mike Duncan of the Revolutions podcast, the discussion navigates the uncanny resemblance between Duncan's fictional Martian Revolution and recent political events in the United States. The episode explores themes of authoritarianism, elitism, and the role of uninformed leadership in precipitating societal collapse.

Discussion with Mike Duncan: The Martian Revolution and Real-World Parallels

[03:30 - 24:00]
Garrison Davis welcomes Mike Duncan to discuss his latest project, the Martian Revolution podcast. Duncan expresses astonishment at how closely his fictional narrative has mirrored actual political developments in the U.S., emphasizing his intent to critique modern technocracy and unchecked corporate power.

Mike Duncan: "I did not expect that at all. Not at all. What has been happening to me has been one of the most surreal six months of my life... I'm just watching exactly what I wrote down in the show come to life. It is horrifying, and I hate it."
[04:05]

Authoritarian Leadership and Centralization of Power

Duncan draws parallels between his character Timothy Werner—a tech mogul attempting to centralize control over Martian society—and real-life figures like Elon Musk. He critiques the dangerous assumption that expertise in one domain confers the ability to govern effectively across all sectors.

Mike Duncan: "This is about people I run into on Twitter all the time. This phenomenon of people being good in one area and then becoming sort of all-purpose general knowledge experts... And that is a phenomena. That's a generalizable phenomenon."
[09:27]

Historical Context and Elite Defections in Revolutions

The conversation shifts to the role of elite defections in successful revolutions, referencing historical events like the Russian Revolution and the Bourbon Reforms in Spanish America. Duncan emphasizes that without internal resistance from within the ruling class, revolutions are less likely to succeed.

Mike Duncan: "Philippe Galate, like the Duke de Orleans, funding a bunch of these sort of revolutionary groups that eventually get out of his control... that's what she's doing."
[19:27]

Nihilist Violent Extremism: Redefining Terrorism

[57:00 - 160:00]
The episode takes a darker turn as Davis and guest Michael Burns explore the FBI's new classification of "nihilist violent extremists." They dissect a federal criminal complaint involving a young extremist named Nikita Kassap, highlighting the conflation of philosophical nihilism with violent extremism.

Garrison Davis: "The FBI has coined a new term for this type of individual. Nihilist violent extremists. This makes me so happy because it indicates that law enforcement are listening to researchers on the ground..."
[117:04]

Misuse of Philosophical Terms and Policy Implications

Burns criticizes the FBI's broad and ambiguous definition, arguing that it dilutes the specificity needed to address different forms of extremism effectively. He warns that this reclassification may lead to unjust targeting of various groups under a nebulous umbrella.

Michael Burns: "These 764 guys are also Nazis and a lot of Nazis are also pedophiles... it's a matter of time until we start seeing more individuals being misclassified under this new term."
[120:18]

Government Overreach and Civil Liberties

The discussion extends to the potential abuse of this new classification, drawing connections to historical instances where broad definitions of terrorism were used to suppress dissent and marginalize communities.

Robert Evans: "The idea that this is going to both let some of the worst folks off the hook or at least make it harder to classify them with the groups they should be classified with... that's quite bad."
[147:04]

Tariffs, Trade Wars, and Economic Collapse

[160:00 - 242:20]
Davis and guests analyze the Trump administration's tariff policies, particularly the suspension and reinstatement of tariffs on China. They argue that these actions, driven by internal power struggles and ideological rigidity, are exacerbating economic instability and setting the stage for potential societal collapse.

Garrison Davis: "Secretary Treasurer Scott Bessett and Commerce Secretary Howard Letnick basically cornered Trump and were like, 'You got to roll these tariffs, you got to do this pause on the tariffs.'"
[225:25]

Supply Chain Disruptions and Global Implications

The episode examines how abrupt tariff changes are disrupting global supply chains, likening the current economic turmoil to the detrimental effects experienced during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The hosts predict that continued mismanagement will lead to severe shortages and economic downturns.

Garrison Davis: "The supply chain disruptions that we are going to see from this as this sort of escalates and as this continues... are catastrophic."
[226:50]

Conclusion: Signs of an Approaching Storm

In wrapping up, Davis draws on historical analogies to forecast a "hot summer" filled with protests, governmental crackdowns, and increasing polarization. He underscores the urgency of recognizing and addressing the underlying issues to prevent a descent into authoritarianism.

Garrison Davis: "We're approaching the age of weird terror... It's going to be unbelievably bad."
[240:43]

Key Takeaways

• Fiction Reflects Reality: Duncan's fictional revolution mirrors real-world authoritarian tendencies, highlighting the dangers of centralized power and uninformed leadership.

• Redefining Extremism: The FBI's new classification of "nihilist violent extremists" may obscure the true nature of various extremist threats, leading to potential misclassifications and policy missteps.

• Economic Mismanagement: The Trump administration's inconsistent tariff policies are destabilizing the economy, with significant implications for global trade and domestic prosperity.

• Historical Parallels: Understanding past revolutions and authoritarian shifts provides critical insights into current political dynamics and potential future outcomes.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Duncan: "It is something that happens all the time. Because people don't learn from history as a rule."
  [04:33]

• Garrison Davis: "The collapse into total carnage is not inevitable. Nor is a future that offers us nothing but a boot upon our neighborhood."
  [155:50]

• Robert Evans: "The battle to just see people as humans with inherent value... is the greatest calamity of the 21st century."
  [51:32]

• Mike Duncan: "There is no such thing as a human wandering alone. That's not a thing."
  [37:36]

Final Thoughts

It Could Happen Here Weekly 179 serves as a sobering reminder of the thin line between fiction and reality. By dissecting both created narratives and actual political maneuvers, the episode urges listeners to remain vigilant and informed to safeguard democratic principles and prevent the erosion of civil liberties.