Podcast Summary: The Chris Hedges Report – "When Religious Mafia & Rightwing Extremists Take Over" (w/ Rallo Romig)
Release Date: August 14, 2025

Host: Chris Hedges
Guest: Rallo Romig, Manager of the Solutions Insights Lab at Solutions Journalism Network
Book Discussed: I Am on the Hit List: A Journalist's Murder and the Rise of Autocracy in India by Rallo Romig

1. Introduction and Context

Chris Hedges opens the episode by highlighting the perilous climate for journalists in authoritarian regimes, emphasizing the assassination of Gauri Lancash, a courageous editor and publisher from Bangalore. This sets the stage for a deep dive into the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and its parallels with emergent authoritarianism elsewhere.

Quote:
"India is one of the world's most dangerous countries to be a reporter. Two to three journalists a year are killed." [00:10]

2. The Assassination of Gauri Lancash

Rallo Romig details Gauri Lancash's life, her steadfast commitment to pluralism, and her ultimate sacrifice in standing against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party.

Gauri's Courage and Role
Gauri Lancash was not just a journalist but an activist who shifted her focus to defending India's pluralistic nature. Writing in Kannada, she directly engaged with her local audience, making her a significant target despite her publication's limited reach.

Quote:
"She increasingly saw her journalism as in service to her activism, primarily on a number of issues, but especially, as you note, this idea of defending a pluralist India." [04:24]

Government Persecution of Journalists
Under Modi’s rule, journalists face severe repression through violence, legal harassment, and smear campaigns. Social media, television channels, and newspapers are frequently shut down, particularly in volatile regions like Kashmir.

Quote:
"Journalists are smeared in well-orchestrated campaigns of character assassination by state-controlled media as traitors and enemies of Hinduism." [00:10]

3. The Rise of Hindu Nationalism and BJP

Rallo discusses how the BJP, allied with around 30 far-right Hindu groups, perpetuates a brand of Hindu nationalism that endorses violence and systemic oppression of Muslims and other minorities.

Quote:
"The ruling BJP has allied with some 30 far-right Hindu groups who subscribe to a virulent brand of Hindu nationalism." [00:10]

BJP's Control over National Media
While the BJP dominates national media, it cannot suppress local dissent due to India's vast diversity. Local journalists, writing in regional languages, maintain their influence and continue to challenge the regime.

Quote:
"They have enormous control over the national media... But they can't control everyone. It's too big. It's too diverse." [08:42]

4. Local vs. National Media Dynamics

Rallo emphasizes the critical role of local journalism in resisting authoritarianism. Local journalists engage directly with their communities, making their work more impactful and dangerous under oppressive regimes.

Quote:
"The local journalists have a lot more of an ability to effect change, actually, in an immediate way." [08:18]

Challenges Faced by Local Journalists
Local reporters face constant harassment, including phone tapping, denial of services, and death threats. Gauri’s assassination sparked widespread protests, showcasing the deep connections she had across diverse communities.

Quote:
"Reporters' phones are tapped. They are harassed in big and small ways, including being denied hotel rooms, hit with lawsuits and receiving constant death threats." [00:10]

5. Transformation from Traditional Mafia to Religious Extremism

The discussion shifts to how traditional criminal elements in India have merged with religious extremism, transforming into violent, ideologically driven groups akin to historical fascist militias.

Quote:
"The traditional Mafia became religious, which is what you're describing and what we are experiencing here." [15:10]

Role of Cult Leaders and Extremist Training
Rallo explains that members of extremist groups are indoctrinated through cult-like environments, often lacking genuine religious knowledge but being manipulated by charismatic leaders to justify violence.

Quote:
"They were strongly encouraged to distance themselves from their families... They were only supposed to read the guru's interpretations of the scriptures." [17:00]

6. Social Media and Online Harassment

The BJP employs a sophisticated "IT cell" to conduct online harassment and smear campaigns against critics, particularly targeting women journalists with extreme tactics like deepfake pornography and threats.

Quote:
"They have a troll army employed by the government. They euphemistically refer to it as the IT cell." [23:49]

Impact on Journalists
Gauri Lancash was a target of relentless social media attacks, yet she remained undeterred, believing in dialogue and responding to trolls with invitations for coffee, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to free speech.

Quote:
"She was still a true believer in that just dialogue could get through to people. So she would actually respond to her trolls and invite them out for coffee." [23:16]

7. Broader Implications and Parallels with the United States

Rallo draws parallels between the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and the authoritarian tendencies observed in the United States under Trump. Both movements utilize fringe groups to push oppressive agendas while maintaining a facade of mainstream acceptability.

Quote:
"There's an extremely direct lineage with this stuff, and there's a playbook with this stuff. And, you know, Modi and Trump are taking cues from each other." [31:07]

Authoritarian Appeal
Both Modi and Trump leverage charismatic leadership and exploit societal frustrations to build strongman personas, drawing in supporters who yearn for decisive, albeit authoritarian, governance.

Quote:
"The appeal that authoritarianism has to a lot of people... People who want the strong man who claims that he can fix everything." [35:28]

8. Impact on Indian Democracy and Future Outlook

Rallo warns of the systematic erosion of democratic institutions in India, highlighting the manipulation of the judicial system, the criminalization of dissent, and the chilling effects on free speech and press integrity.

Quote:
"The dysfunction and capture of India's entire judicial system from policing to trial." [31:07]

Chilling Effects on Free Speech
The assassination of Gauri Lancash serves as a grim reminder of the lengths to which the BJP and allied extremist groups will go to silence opposition, instilling fear among other journalists and activists.

Quote:
"These assassinations... are designed to send a message... to send messages to journalists and say, what happened to Gauri Lancash is going to happen to you." [42:02]

9. Conclusion

Chris Hedges and Rallo Romig conclude by underscoring the urgent need to recognize and counteract the authoritarian playbook being executed in India, which mirrors alarming trends globally. The episode serves as a call to action to support brave journalists and uphold democratic values against rising extremism.

Final Thoughts:
Rallo stresses the importance of anticipating and defending against authoritarian strategies by studying historical and contemporary examples, ensuring that societies remain resilient against the encroachment of oppressive regimes.

Quote:
"We have to study these playbooks and how they've been pulled out because they're going through these things point by point." [47:33]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "India is one of the world's most dangerous countries to be a reporter. Two to three journalists a year are killed." [00:10]
• "She increasingly saw her journalism as in service to her activism, primarily on a number of issues, but especially, as you note, this idea of defending a pluralist India." [04:24]
• "They have a troll army employed by the government. They euphemistically refer to it as the IT cell." [23:49]
• "The dysfunction and capture of India's entire judicial system from policing to trial." [31:07]
• "We have to study these playbooks and how they've been pulled out because they're going through these things point by point." [47:33]

Takeaways:

• Journalistic Peril: Authoritarian regimes violently suppress dissenting voices, endangering journalists who advocate for truth and pluralism.
• Hindu Nationalism: The BJP, backed by far-right Hindu groups, aggressively promotes a homogenized Hindu nation, marginalizing minorities.
• Local Resilience: Despite national oppression, local journalists remain pivotal in resisting authoritarianism through direct community engagement.
• Cult-like Extremism: Extremist groups adopt cult-like indoctrination to justify violence, often influenced by charismatic, yet unscrupulous leaders.
• Digital Repression: Government-coordinated online harassment campaigns effectively silence and intimidate critics and marginalized voices.
• Global Parallels: The authoritarian strategies in India reflect broader global trends, particularly resembling movements seen in the United States.
• Urgent Defense of Democracy: Recognizing and countering authoritarian tactics is essential to preserve democratic institutions and free speech.

For More Information:

• Chris Hedges: chrishedges.substack.com
• Solutions Journalism Network: SolutionsJournalism.org

Produced by: Diego, Sophia, Max, and Thomas