Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"We probably have between 12 and 18 months at the most to forestall authoritarian consolidations . . ."
Tarso Ramos is a longtime researcher on the far Right, and says we are in the "breakthrough" stage of authoritarian acceleration. The U.S. can reverse course, but the window of opportunity is shrinking. Catch the full conversation on public television and radio, YouTube and podcast platforms: bit.ly/40EdLJN
#Authoritarianism #Democracy #FarRight
"We probably have between 12 and 18 months at the most to forestall authoritarian consolidations . . ."
Tarso Ramos is a longtime researcher on the far Right, and says we are in the "breakthrough" stage of authoritarian acceleration. The U.S. can reverse course, but the window of opportunity is shrinking. Catch the full conversation on public television and radio, YouTube and podcast platforms: bit.ly/40EdLJN
#Authoritarianism #Democracy #FarRight
![If its not safe, were not gonna go: Flight Attendant Union Leader Sara Nelson [EXCERPT]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bblXcnZqhgw/mqdefault.jpg "If its not safe, were not gonna go: Flight Attendant Union Leader Sara Nelson [EXCERPT]
This conversation with flight attendant union leader Sara Nelson is an excerpt from our episode AFA-CWA Union Leader Sara Nelson on Labor Solidarity: If One Group Is Under Attack, Were Next. Watch the full report here: https://youtu.be/uxFSYJQY70A. This episode was recorded July 2025.
Sara Nelson knows how to leverage worker power — and so do the 55,000 flight attendants she represents. A union member since 1996, she’s been the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO since 2014. You may remember her integral role in threatening a strike, which helped pressure the Trump administration to end the 2019 government shutdown. But under the second Trump term, the administration plans to gut many government agencies and has canceled one million contracts for federal workers so far. “We have to understand that if one group is under attack, were next,” she tells Laura Flanders in this exclusive interview. “So we have to rush to each others sides.” In this episode, Nelson and Flanders explore labor movement tactics and strategies, wins and losses, and why general strikes and cross-industry worker solidarity are critical in this moment. What is her message and her mission for 2025? All that, plus a commentary from Laura on floods and profits.
“We have to understand that if one group is under attack, were next. So we have to rush to each others sides. But we can also turn this around and not just be on defense. . . We are in a crisis. Yeah. Our world is burning. We can actually set the agenda and make things better.”
GUEST:
Sara Nelson: International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (representing 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines)
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🎧 PODCAST: Listen to this weeks episode on major podcast platforms: https://lauraflanders.simplecast.com. Subscribe today and receive the full, uncut conversation from this weeks show: https://lauraflanders.simplecast.com/episodes/afa-cwa-union-leader-sara-nelson-on-labor-solidarity-if-one-group-is-under-attack-were-next-uncut-conversation
✏️SHOW NOTES: Visit our Patreon for Show Notes and learn more about this weeks episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/134358931
Laura Flanders & Friends is non-commercial independent media that relies on the contributions of viewers and listeners.
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CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Producer: Jeremiah Cothren
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Video Editor: Veronica Delgado
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez")
![Why authoritarians dont understand mirth [EXCERPT]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cmOsEKoLH5s/mqdefault.jpg "Why authoritarians dont understand mirth [EXCERPT]
This conversation with Indivisible’s Ezra Levin & László Upor of the University of Theatre and Film Arts is an excerpt from our episode Fighting Fascism from Hungary to No Kings: Ezra Levin & László Upor on Trump & Orbán. Watch the full report here: https://youtu.be/bgAjZWpsPe4. This episode first aired December 2025.
If you care about resisting autocracy and building democracy, the U.S. has much to learn from Hungary. While Donald Trump rails against Europe, he and Hungary’s strongman leader, Viktor Orbán, have praised each other for years. Anti-democratic, anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-queer — Orbán and Trump came to power on parallel tracks with similar values. In their first interview together, Ezra Levin, the co-founder of Indivisible (the group behind No Kings!) and László Upor, a leader in one of Hungary’s most creative and visible resistance efforts, share their experiences of resisting authoritarianism. Upor is former Vice Rector and Acting Rector of the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest — the one university that fought back when the Orbán administration began taking control of Hungary’s universities. Levin is the co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, the grassroots movement behind such protests as the historic Hands Off and No Kings rallies. From the principles of their organizing to frog suits and caution tape, today’s episode is a masterclass in creative resistance. Plus a commentary from Laura on the leaked memo from the DOJ that charges the IRS with going after the funders of nonprofit organizations.
“Our enemy in this isnt Trump, its not the Republicans. Its not the broader regime. Our enemy is this sense of cynicism or fatalism or nihilism . . . I do think a core principle in our communication philosophy is convincing people, you have power, you just gotta use it. The best way to use it is in concert with a lot of other people in your community.” - Ezra Levin
“You have to laugh at them, not be afraid of them . . . They dont understand mirth. They dont understand the derision. They think they are invincible. And when we dont give in, they dont understand whats going on.” - László Upor
Guests:
Ezra Levin: Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director, Indivisible
László Upor: Former Vice Rector & Acting Rector, University of Theatre and Film Arts (SzFE), Budapest, Hungary
Stay informed and engaged! Dont miss out on our captivating weekly episodes that dive deep into the heart of our economy, culture, and politics. SUBSCRIBE HERE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lg?sub_confirmation=1
🎧 PODCAST: Listen to this weeks episode on major podcast platforms: https://lauraflanders.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-cut-fighting-fascism-from-hungary-to-no-kings-ezra-levin-laszlo-upor-on-trump-orban Podcast subscribers also receive the full, uncut conversation from this weeks show: https://lauraflanders.simplecast.com/episodes/fighting-fascism-from-hungary-to-no-kings-ezra-levin-laszlo-upor-on-trump-orban
✏️SHOW NOTES: Visit our Patreon for Show Notes and learn more about this weeks episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/145711844
📚 Check out our Book of the Week on BOOKSHOP*
“We Are Indivisible: A Blueprint for Democracy After Trump” by Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin: https://bookshop.org/a/22992/9781668027462
(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. LF&F is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)
Laura Flanders & Friends is non-commercial independent media that relies on the contributions of viewers and listeners.
📩Newsletter: For more in-depth analysis, including a weekly newsletter and commentaries by Laura Flanders, subscribe on Substack: https://lauraflanders.substack.com/
Follow the show and Laura Flanders on Bluesky!
https://bsky.app/profile/lauraflanders.org
https://bsky.app/profile/gritlaura.bsky.social
DONATE TODAY at https://lauraflanders.org/donate or consider becoming a PATREON partner at https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriends
🔔Subscribe to get weekly episodes that prompt you to think critically about the world around you. If you enjoyed this episode, dont forget to hit the Like button and share it with your network.
CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Producer: Jeremiah Cothren
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Video Editor: Veronica Delgado
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez")
