What do we actually mean when we say “fascism,” and who gets to decide?

In this episode, Michael Moynihan is joined by Professor Roger Griffin of Oxford Brookes University, one of the world’s foremost scholars of fascism, for a careful and unsparing look at a claim now ricocheting through American media and politics: that Donald Trump represents a fascist turn in U.S. history.

The conversation engages directly with Jonathan Rauch’s recent Atlantic essay, “Yes, It’s Fascism,” and uses it as a jumping-off point to interrogate the term itself. What distinguishes fascism from authoritarianism, populism, or demagoguery? How do historians and political theorists define it? And when those definitions are applied rigorously, does Trump qualify?

This is not a debate by slogan or vibe. It is an attempt to slow the moment down, clarify the language, and examine the charge with scholarly precision rather than panic or partisanship.

Atlantic essay referenced:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/america-fascism-trump-maga-ice/685751/

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In this episode of The Moynihan Report, Moynihan tackles the latest New York Times/Siena poll regarding Donald Trump’s approval ratings and the American economy. Moynihan breaks down the disparity between Trump’s overall numbers and his low approval on specific issues like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Epstein files. The conversation then pivots to a critical look at the economic impact of tariffs, citing recent data from the Wall Street Journal on who actually foots the bill for trade wars.

Listeners join the show to discuss heavy-hitting historical and political topics. The discussion covers the definition of fascism versus authoritarianism (and whether modern labels fit Trump), the forgotten contributions of Danish soldiers in the War on Terror, and a deep dive into historical revisionism with Brendan Simms’ biography of Hitler. The episode concludes with a nostalgic look at intellectual combat, featuring William F. Buckley, Norman Mailer, and the classic documentary Town Bloody Hall.

Key Questions Answered in This Episode:

1. What does the latest NYT/Siena poll say about Trump’s approval?

2. Who really pays for tariffs: China or the American consumer?

3. Is buying gold and silver a solution to the U.S. National Debt?

4. What is the difference between Fascism and Authoritarianism?

5. What is Brendan Simms’ theory about Hitler’s motivation?

6. Did Denmark fight in the War on Terror?

7. Who won the debate between Norman Mailer and Feminists in Town Bloody Hall?

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This episode of The Moynihan Report features Swedish author Johan Norberg, who joins Moynihan to discuss the shifting global economic and political landscape in 2026. The conversation begins with a critical look at U.S. trade policy, where Norberg argues that recent tariffs act as a "stupid consumption tax" that harms American manufacturing by raising the cost of input materials. Contrary to the America First narrative, he contends that these costs are absorbed by consumers and businesses rather than foreign exporters, fueling inflation that remains higher in the U.S. than in Europe. While the world has avoided a 1930s-style trade collapse so far by not retaliating, Norberg warns that new threats of tariffs on European nations could trigger a more damaging trade war.

Transitioning to his home country, Norberg dispels the myth of Sweden as a socialist paradise, explaining that its wealth was actually built on a century of ruthless free market capitalism before the stagnation caused by 1970s socialist experiments. He notes that while Sweden is a large welfare state, its tax system is less progressive than America's, relying heavily on taxing the middle class and consumption rather than "soaking the rich." The discussion also touches on the geopolitical fallout of U.S. aggression toward Greenland, which Norberg suggests marks the end of the American world order. This instability is driving European nations to rearm and even consider nuclear deterrents, while global markets begin diversifying away from the U.S. dollar due to perceived political risk.

Finally, they address the paradox of capitalism's declining popularity among young people despite creating unprecedented abundance, which Norberg attributes to a deep-seated human bias toward viewing wealth as a zero-sum game.

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