Undercurrents of American fascism

On January 6, 2021, a mob incited by outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump, stormed the U.S. capital in an attempt to halt the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Within the mob, as the scholar Gabriel Rockhill points out, were many current members of the military and police. Some of the leaders of the organizations involved, such as Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio and Joseph Biggs, had direct ties to U.S. intelligence agencies, having served as FBI informants. Only one fifth of Capitol Police were on duty that day, and they were unprepared and under-equipped, even though the U.S. national security state had advance knowledge of the plot. Capitol Police were seen opening barricades and fraternizing with the mob.

The assault raises questions about how deeply fascist undercurrents run within the ruling elites and organs of state security. How much of the ruling capitalist class backed the organizations behind the assault on the Capitol? To what extent are proto-fascist groups such as the Proud Boys “astroturfed” by them (meaning discretely funded to create the illusion of a grassroots movement from below)? What was the exact ratio and relationship between state agents and the para-state—i.e. vigilante—actors? Was this solely an organic conflict between the Trump and Biden camps, or was something more at play? And what does all this portend for the future, especially given the staggering levels of social inequality, deep financial wounds cause by the pandemic and decision by the Biden administration to walk back from its tepid campaign promises, including raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour. Is this a moment of rising fascism in American society? And is prefigured by the attempt by the ruling elites in the 1930s to carry out a fascist coup with the breakdown of capitalism? Is this where we are headed?

Gabriel Rockhill is professor of philosophy at Villanova University.

https://liberationschool.org/fascist-plots-in-the-u-s-contemporary-lessons-from-the-1934-business-plot/#

Watch Full Episode and More on Portable.TV
https://www.portable.tv/series/oncontact


#QuestionMore #RTAmerica #OnContact #ChrisHedges

Get exclusive content and watch full episodes now by downloading the Portable.TV app: https://bit.ly/DownloadPortable

Telegram: https://t.me/RTAmerica

Check out our other shows!

NO show does it like this. It’s TIME TO DO NEWS AGAIN with Rick Sanchez
News with Rick Sanchez: https://bit.ly/NRSSHOW

It’s her take on all things political and she presents ALL the angles: News.Views.Hughes with Scottie Nell Hughes, NVH: https://bit.ly/NVHSHOW

What’s your NEWS IQ? Give us 30 minutes, and we’ll take you across the globe! In Question with Manila Chan, IQ: https://bit.ly/IQ_SHOW

Steve Malzberg sinks his teeth into the slander, hypocrisy, bias and lies of MSM. MMM…Delicious! Eat The Press: http://bit.ly/EatThePress

Candid conversations with the most outspoken guy in Hollywood! Dennis Miller + One!
Dennis Miller Plus One: http://bit.ly/DennisMillerPlusOne

Let our TV time-machine bring you the week’s highlights and a closer look at the BIGGEST stories, Just Press Play: http://bit.ly/JustPressPlayShow


Author and social critic Chris Hedges conducts fascinating in-depth interviews with the fiercest critics of the establishment. Watch all episodes at https://bit.ly/2QIkQZg

Yep, it’s Gov. Jesse Ventura and you’re living in his WORLD! Come along for the ride.
The World According To Jesse: http://bit.ly/WATJSHOW

They’re watching you. Are you watching them? Are you WATCHING THE HAWKS?
Watching The Hawks: http://bit.ly/WTHSHOW

Follow the twists and turns of the global economy with Boom Bust, the one business show you can’t afford to miss. Boom Bust: http://bit.ly/BoomBustShow

Do you keep missing the forest for the trees? Let Holland Cooke show you the Big Picture, The Big Picture: http://bit.ly/TheBigPictureShow