Podcast Summary: Next Comes What

Episode: How to Spook a Fascist

Host: Andrea Pitzer
Date: October 16, 2025

Overview

This episode, titled “How to Spook a Fascist,” explores the power and necessity of nonviolent protest in combating authoritarianism, particularly under the current Trump administration. Host Andrea Pitzer, together with several commentators and experts, draws lessons from global and historical struggles against strongmen, focusing on the U.S. context. The episode offers practical guidance for activism, highlights risks and strategies, and emphasizes building joyful, visible movements capable of defending democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Scale and Urgency of Protest (00:47 - 02:31)

• The current wave of protest (“No Kings” rally) may become the largest single-day demonstration in U.S. history, with over 2,500 events planned.
• Pitzer likens the present moment to past movements such as the Silent Sentinels, underscoring the value of sustained, public dissent.
• Main point: Protest is a crucial response to growing authoritarianism in the U.S.

Quote:
“We're now expecting about 2,500 events… literally four times as many [as the Families Belong Together rallies] and places all over, really red, really rural, all over the map at this key moment.”
— Andrea Pitzer (01:00)

2. Rise of Authoritarian Tactics (02:31 - 05:10)

• The Trump administration attacks institutions (universities, media, government agencies) to destabilize democracy.
• Guest commentators argue this is a deliberate strategy to consolidate power and silence dissent.
• Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, is highlighted as a victim of targeted threats after Trump branded antifa a terrorist entity.

Quote:
“It's not an organization. It's more of a politics or a movement… More of a verb. It's a thing you do.”
— Guest Commentator (03:55)

3. Protest as a Mechanism of Resistance (04:26 - 05:46)

• Pitzer frames protests and demonstrations as public resistance asserting the people’s right to self-government.
• Discussion connects the Trump administration's strategy to historical fascism and the Red Scare.

Quote:
“The Trump administration is hoping to speed run an authoritarian clampdown that makes dissent invisible. Or impossible.”
— Andrea Pitzer (05:03)

4. Targeting of Minorities and “Divide and Rule” (09:36 - 10:36)

• Autocratic tactics include targeting minority and dissenting groups (e.g., denaturalizing citizens, threatening deportation) while ordinary Americans' daily lives persist undisturbed.
• Historical parallels to Putin’s Russia, Hungary under Orban, Cuba, and Venezuela.
• Emphasis on the goal: punish a few publicly to induce widespread self-censorship.

Quote:
“The goal is to punish a few people in a big picture spectacle and call self censorship of others.”
— Guest Commentator (10:16)

5. The 3.5% Rule & Solidarity in Dissent (11:26 - 12:07)

• Movements succeed when at least 3.5% of the population mobilizes in sustained, nonviolent protest (about 12 million people in the U.S.).
• Public demonstration boosts momentum, signals resistance, and frames the narrative.

Quote:
“Every single nonviolent political movement that hits at least that 3 1/2% threshold of the country's population being engaged… has succeeded.”
— Guest Commentator (11:26)

6. Community Building & Psychological Impact (12:17 - 14:36)

• Solidarity, community, and the joy of gathering are vital to sustaining resistance.
• Media often downplays protest, but vivid, communal acts can subvert dominant narratives and empower individuals.

Quote:
“Forming communities through dissent is a nurturing and sustaining force for individuals and the country alike.”
— Andrea Pitzer (13:20)

7. Limits of Protest & Pathways to Change (14:39 - 15:13)

• Big rallies can rattle those in power and help build movements but rarely change policy directly.
• Focused local action—supporting affected communities, pressuring city councils—yields concrete results.

Quote:
“Big protests like this weekend's aren't the end point of anything, but they can be the beginning.”
— Andrea Pitzer (15:13)

8. The Challenge of Post-Authoritarian Recovery (16:46 - 17:56)

• Recovering from authoritarianism is difficult; even victorious opposition movements may retain undemocratic tendencies.
• Ongoing vigilance and public dissent are needed even after winning back power.

Quote:
“An opposition victory is at best a prelude to democratic recovery, but it is not a synonym. Absent powerful counterweights, new leaders often find themselves constrained by the very political logics that empowered their predecessors.”
— Andrea Pitzer (16:46)

9. Practical Advice for Protesters (18:57 - 20:56)

• Isabella Solomon Massimento, attorney and former ACLU staff, outlines rights and safety strategies:
  • Always protest with a buddy.
  • Write emergency contacts on your body.
  • Disable biometric phone access.
  • Know your rights and take advantage of protest safety trainings.

Quote:
“If you are in a public peace, provided that things remain peaceful, you have a protected first Amendment right to lift your voice and use your voice to go out and protest.”
— Isabella Solomon Massimento (19:13)

10. Other Forms of Dissent & Building Resilient Movements (21:35 - 22:26)

• Participation doesn’t have to mean marching: others create educational materials or memorials, or contribute creative protest strategies (costumes, music).
• Goofiness and spectacle are powerful; they challenge propagandistic narratives and can attract more attention.

Quote:
“Goofiness matters. The role of costumes, music and dance and demonstrations is part of a long lineage of both ridicule and joy as powerful tools against oppression.”
— Andrea Pitzer (23:05)

11. Shaping the Narrative & Reclaiming Patriotism (24:30 - 25:19)

• Whimsical and joyful demonstrations confound authoritarian expectations and galvanize larger, broader participation.
• The variety and creativity in protest underscore democratic, not authoritarian, values.

Quote:
“We can show up in our magnificent, florid variety to reveal that the answer is not to constrict our liberties, but to celebrate our freedom. And the more joy we can bring to that, the more people will want to be part of this movement and the more it will become clear that we can win.”
— Andrea Pitzer (25:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Showing up is a great way to frighten them more.” — Andrea Pitzer (06:44)
• “This administration is taking a page from put or they have a law. If you criticize the war in Russia, you lose your citizenship... It is a tool of autocrats.” — Guest Commentator (10:16)
• “Saying no Kings is saying yes to a republic. It's saying yes to democracy. It's saying yes to freedom.” — Guest Commentator (21:19)
• “What could be more Portland than a naked bike ride protest?” — Guest Commentator (23:03)
• “We're in the silliest timeline, so I thought, like, why not be silly with it?” — Guest Commentator (24:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Largest Planned Protest Numbers | 01:00 | | Antifa, Fascism, & Authoritarianism | 03:55-05:10 | | Denaturalization & Targeting Minorities | 09:36-10:36 | | The 3.5% Rule for Movements | 11:26 | | Community & Solidarity | 12:17-13:20 | | Post-Authoritarian Pitfalls | 16:46-17:56 | | Protest Safety Advice | 18:57-20:56 | | Creativity in Protest (Goofiness, Costumes) | 23:03-24:30 | | Joyful, Patriotic Resistance | 25:00-25:19 |

Conclusion

How to Spook a Fascist is a call to action for those concerned about American democracy. It mixes historical perspective, practical protest tactics, and creative inspiration, underscoring the vital role of public dissent—both serious and silly—in curbing authoritarianism and reclaiming political agency. The strength of resistance lies not only in numbers, but in joy, solidarity, vigilance, and resilience, whether on the streets, in creative acts, or myriad other forms of collective non-cooperation.

For more information on upcoming demonstrations and resources, visit nokings.org.