Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 15 hours ago
Matthew MacWilliams is an expert on Authoritarianism
and Author of On Fascism; 12 Lessons for American History
He is a long-time political professional, establishing MacWilliams Sanders Communications — a campaign- and issues-driven media strategy firm — more than 20 years ago. He is also working with other countries, internationally, to identify authoritarianism and fascism and fight it.
His website is matthewmacwilliams.com
What’s your goal for this book?
Define Authoritarianism? Who is an authoritarian? What are the population statistics?
18% hard core authoritarian and 23% authoritarian susceptible with encouragement
Differences and similarities between fascism and authoritarianism.
Four questions to identify Authoritarians
They choose authority, obedience, uniformity, respect for elders, Parenting questions.
Are some groups inferior to others?
Fear activates authoritarianism.
Eric Fromm wrote Escape From Freedom
In a sense, this book, exploring the history of authoritarian and fascist actions, policies and events in the US shows us how dangerous Authoritarian Fascism can be and has been. And the fact is, those examples of what the US has done are monstrosities.
Examples of fascism and authoritarianism in history:
Lincoln vs. Douglas are blacks equal?
Toxic media: Father Coughlin
Hurting/ attacking the media: Sedition act, created by Federalists, Amy Coney Barrett is a Federalist
Violating the constitution: Stonewall Jackson, the Cherokee treaty
Trump hung Jackson’s painting in the Oval Office.
The United States of Lyncherdom; Using Fear and violence to control and subordinate others. “Lynching is state-sponsored terrorism.” Former slave Ida B. Wells documented lynchings. There were over 4000 between 1880 and 1968. Still no legislation against it.
Fear As a Path to Power. Progressive fascists-- the Palmer raids Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer hired J. Edgar Hoover
What Palmer did, besides violating the law Fighting Fascism:
Populists vs fascists Populists want more democracy. Authoritarians are willing to give up democracy. Book How Democracies Die.
Questions used to identify populists?
Silence of the Law—Japanese internment— Based on lies, including Supreme Court Korematsu decision
Scalia said it could happen again during time of war.
Pogo was wrong an Ten Steps to Strengthen America Establish political equality among all Equality of Opportunity, economic equality, prohibition of special deals for powerful special interests Make one party a check on the other, so far as the existence of parties cannot be prevented
6- Americans should stop othering each other—stop fearmongering and name-calling
7-confront and make peace with our history
8 confront and understand the challenges our fellow citizens face.
9 Base decisions on basic facts
10- Remember that we are all in this together.
Matthew MacWilliams is an expert on Authoritarianism
and Author of On Fascism; 12 Lessons for American History
He is a long-time political professional, establishing MacWilliams Sanders Communications — a campaign- and issues-driven media strategy firm — more than 20 years ago. He is also working with other countries, internationally, to identify authoritarianism and fascism and fight it.
His website is matthewmacwilliams.com
What’s your goal for this book?
Define Authoritarianism? Who is an authoritarian? What are the population statistics?
18% hard core authoritarian and 23% authoritarian susceptible with encouragement
Differences and similarities between fascism and authoritarianism.
Four questions to identify Authoritarians
They choose authority, obedience, uniformity, respect for elders, Parenting questions.
Are some groups inferior to others?
Fear activates authoritarianism.
Eric Fromm wrote Escape From Freedom
In a sense, this book, exploring the history of authoritarian and fascist actions, policies and events in the US shows us how dangerous Authoritarian Fascism can be and has been. And the fact is, those examples of what the US has done are monstrosities.
Examples of fascism and authoritarianism in history:
Lincoln vs. Douglas are blacks equal?
Toxic media: Father Coughlin
Hurting/ attacking the media: Sedition act, created by Federalists, Amy Coney Barrett is a Federalist
Violating the constitution: Stonewall Jackson, the Cherokee treaty
Trump hung Jackson’s painting in the Oval Office.
The United States of Lyncherdom; Using Fear and violence to control and subordinate others. “Lynching is state-sponsored terrorism.” Former slave Ida B. Wells documented lynchings. There were over 4000 between 1880 and 1968. Still no legislation against it.
Fear As a Path to Power. Progressive fascists-- the Palmer raids Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer hired J. Edgar Hoover
What Palmer did, besides violating the law Fighting Fascism:
Populists vs fascists Populists want more democracy. Authoritarians are willing to give up democracy. Book How Democracies Die.
Questions used to identify populists?
Silence of the Law—Japanese internment— Based on lies, including Supreme Court Korematsu decision
Scalia said it could happen again during time of war.
Pogo was wrong an Ten Steps to Strengthen America Establish political equality among all Equality of Opportunity, economic equality, prohibition of special deals for powerful special interests Make one party a check on the other, so far as the existence of parties cannot be prevented
6- Americans should stop othering each other—stop fearmongering and name-calling
7-confront and make peace with our history
8 confront and understand the challenges our fellow citizens face.
9 Base decisions on basic facts
10- Remember that we are all in this together.
