You are reading the first in a series of seven posts on the fascism of America. If you’ve ever wondered why the economy is terrible compared to that of other countries; why the Democrats never seem to really fix said economy, make real safety nets or social services, and never stop or slow the “out” fascists; why all our politicians seem to lie, whether about big or small things; and what about our history (were we fascist then?)…

then this series is for you.

It’s dedicated to my dad, who planted in his six kids the intellectual seed of wanting accurate, worker-centric history and analysis, but was led, as if by piper, into the land of Trump. It’s a shame he never got to read my writing from 2025 and 2026. I’m glad you can.

In solidarity,

Brandon

(1563 words, part 1 of 7)

My friends. If you are reading this, you are likely scared that America is descending into fascism. But take heart! We have been in fascism for a long time. The people have forced it partially into the shadows before and we can do it again. There are road maps for doing so. But we need to know how to think about things, so we can tell explain it to our friends and family. That’s what this series is about. I hope you find it as important to read as I did to write.

Adolf Hitler said publicly that his inspiration for what he did was America: our genocide of our natives; our enslavement of people of color; our eugenics movement; and our brutal racial segregation—a society-wide apartheid. Hitler said he loved these things about us. Without question, the man’s bad ideas started here. While being tried at Nuremberg, his staff would often cite our SCOTUS ruling (1927, Buck v. Bell) as justification for what they did. The ruling has never been overturned. Keep reading and you be the judge as to whether U.S. fascism persists.

It’s wild that our inward-facing propaganda has been able to solidify Adolf Hitler as the singular biggest evil in the history of mankind, and then declare it over because he is over. As if we weren’t right up there with him: with our lynchings, forced sterilization, internment (concentration) camps, sun down towns, and more recently, concentration camps along our southern border for 15+ years. We have known fascism firsthand. As you now know, we effectively birthed it. But in the last 40 years? Both parties, more or less all presidents, have not just allowed fascism but buttressed it.

“The U.S. is not descending into fascism: it is the architecture, product, and project of fascism. You cannot descend into what you inherently are,” posted Fatima Mohammed. “Don’t get deceived by the theatrics of empire.”

What is fascism, and why has it been allowed? Some say fascism is when colonialism turns inward. There’s truth to that, as Hitler’s real sin internationally was doing what he did *to white people.* Others say that fascism is capitalism re-asserting itself when it begins to falter. Truth again, and insightful to bring capital into the equation. The reason we haven’t dismantled fascism is because it serves capital in capital’s time of need, and capital owns both major parties. In other words, the parties—like fascism—serve capital.

No government will ever announce it has become a fascist police state. They just have more prison beds than hospital beds. More riot gear than PPE. And more legal protection for cops than for civilians. This is the current situation in the United States.

A functional society does not have a shortage of teachers and nurses and an overabundance of police. Of the 235 years of the U.S.’ existence, it has been at war for 214 of those years. The reason we don’t have universal healthcare, child care, and free public college is *because* we maintain 800+ military bases around the world, and other useless expenses of fascist empire. Over 75% of Trump’s proposed budget is for military and police.

“If you obey the police, they won’t shoot you,” some may retort. Interesting. Then you agree that there is a group of people who demand obedience from you under threat of death, and that we do not, in fact, live in a free society? The cops are equipped like an occupying military force because that’s exactly what they are.

Milton Mayer said this about Nazi Germany: “Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for the one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow… But of course this isn’t the way it happens. In between come all the hundreds of little steps, some of them imperceptible, each of them preparing you not to be shocked by the next.”

The mayor of Newark, New Jersey was arrested in early May, allegedly for protesting at an ICE facility in his jurisdiction when he had the legal right to inspect a facility illegal under New Jersey law. This summer the DOJ charged U.S. Rep LaMonica McIver for attempting to do the same. A federal grand jury in Wisconsin indicted Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstructing justice and concealing an individual from arrest.

Has our world sapped your imagination for how things could be different? In the two years that a quarter mile of Route 1—the fabled Pacific Coast Highway—has been impassable due to a landslide, China has built almost 4,000 miles of high speed rail.

How do you know when you live in a fascist state? In this series on modern American fascism, we’ll cover many ways you can know. One good indicator is when both major political parties ensure you get a longer sentence for protesting war crimes than for committing war crimes.

Should you have doubts we’re actually into fascism, Trump’s staffer Stephen Miller is “looking into” suspending habeas corpus, which protects people from unlawful detentions. If this happens, it would be the end of the line before fascism takes permanent hold, with political purges, potentially even massacres, as Trump has said he wants “military people to deal with” protesters.

“I cannot emphasize enough how serious this situation is for our nation,” human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid posted to social accounts. “Continue to loudly speak up against this fascist regime while we still can.”

Many of you are despondent at what you can do, which is why this column is first in the series. Our standard for heroes is way too high. We don’t need one, or even ten, stakes-are-huge, risking-everything heroes like we see in popular media. That’s not enough. What is more than enough is ten thousand stakes-are-smaller, risking-some-or-much heroes. Each of them is a hero nonetheless. And you can be one of them; civil society is counting on you to be one of them. (No pressure.)

The forces of intolerance are counting on us feeling unable to aspire to heroism. How can you be little-H heroic? I’m glad you asked. First things first: don’t give the intolerant the time of day. I’ll explain.

The “paradox of tolerance” says that, if tolerance is to survive—and clearly we want it to survive—then a very limited *intolerance* must be observed: specifically against those who are intolerant of anyone or any group. (Setting aside the limited intolerance described in the previous sentence.) In other words, we *must* be intolerant of the intolerant—and of them alone. Otherwise, intolerance will spread uncontrollably. This is the theoretical basis of resistance to fascism.

And to be clear: if you are against fascism, you are an “anti-fascist.” There is no organization called “the anti-fascists.” It’s just a bunch of people, you and me, doing little things as we’re able, gumming up the gears and saying, “Not on my watch.”

This includes all modern-day fascists. It’s easy to identify the Proud Boys as fascist. ICE employees and their sympathizers. But also, those who support a zionist takeover, or starvation, of Gaza. Those propping up the Trump regime, whether with suits & ties; batons & plastic shields; red hats & lawn signs. Those who work in the weapons industry, which treats humans like things. Or, perhaps more applicable to some regions, those who claim the mantle of liberalism but throw little roadblocks in the way of antifascist action. If by extension you are helping fascism along (like Biden giving record funding to ICE every year in office), then you should be opposed with every means, as if you’re a fascist. Because your stated intentions matter zilch. If you’re acting like a fascist, for example voting to arm a genocide, then you’re a fascist.

What matters in any political process is not what side you say you’re on, which is essentially just an aesthetic choice. Neither does procedural esoterica matter. All that matters is outcome: what the process ends up doing. The famous quote is, “The purpose of a system is what it does.” Think about it. Those who stop antifascism must be stopped, no matter their party, their other views, or who their friends are.

The IDF soldier who commanded his unit to fill five-year-old Hind Rajab with bullets, Beni Aharon, has been making techno music, after apparently departing the military. He deserves a trial at The Hague, and a life sentence. Just like all those in our own government who sent weapons there once it became clear what was happening. At the very least, people like Aharon should never see the inside of another restaurant or theater; should never play intramural sport. Record of service with a military that knowingly kills children en masse—as a majority of people in Gaza are/were—should frankly prohibit you from accessing non-essential government services like parks & recreational programs. And even supporting such a holocaust should make you a social pariah.

So don’t give anyone in these categories the time of day. They should not be allowed in polite company—which is to say, your company—nor polite society. It should not be socially acceptable to have any fascist position. If we don’t make it dangerous to be a Nazi, the modern-day Nazis will make it dangerous not to be.

Brandon Smith has been an elected town official and the youngest winner of the only award for independent journalism. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and In These Times.