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Trumpism Abroad—With American Prestige

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison join us at Fighting Fascism for a wide-ranging crossover on Trumpism, fascism, Iran, Israel, USAID, and the future of Democratic foreign policy.

Matt DaSilvaAaron Regunberg and Jonathan Smucker

June 16, 2026

President Donald Trump gestures next to first lady Melania Trump during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House.(Evan Vucci – Pool / Getty Images)

The Nation Podcasts

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Trumpism Abroad w/ American Prestige / Fighting Fascism
byThe Nation Magazine

That’s right, friends… it’s another crossover episode! We were joined by Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison from American Prestige, a podcast that offers a left analysis on international affairs. Which… we got to eventually (Iran, Israel, USAID, what Democrats’ foreign policy should look like, all the hits)… but only after Daniel and Aaron ended once and for all the age-old debate of: Is Trumpism fascism? All this and more on this banger of a crossover!

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That’s right, friends… it’s another crossover episode! We were joined by Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison from American Prestige, a podcast that offers a left analysis on international affairs. Which… we got to eventually (Iran, Israel, USAID, what Democrats’ foreign policy should look like, all the hits)… but only after Daniel and Aaron ended once and for all the age-old debate of: Is Trumpism fascism? All this and more on this banger of a crossover!

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Overcoming the Left’s Politics of Powerlessness w/ Yotam Marom / Fighting Fascism
byThe Nation Magazine

Yotam Marom has been helping build movements—and many of the most important movement organizations—for the last 20 years. His new book, For Louder Days: Reaching Beyond a Politics of Powerlessness, is an essential read for everyone on the left who wants to win a better world.

Yotam, who became an organizing leader in Occupy Wall Street alongside Jonathan approximately a million years ago, joined us to talk about the left's conflicted relationship to power, leadership, identity, and strategy. We discuss how and why movements too often get in our own way, turn on each other, and play small, and talk through the big shifts we need to make if we hope to win the big battles ahead.

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Matt DaSilvaMatt DaSilva is a co-host of the Fighting Fascism podcast.


Aaron RegunbergTwitterAaron Regunberg is a climate lawyer, a contributing editor at The New Republic, and a former Rhode Island state representative.


Jonathan SmuckerTwitterJonathan Smucker is cofounder and executive director of Popular Comms, a cofounder of Pennsylvania Stands Up, and the author of Hegemony How-To: A Roadmap for Radicals. He has worked for over 25 years as a political organizer, campaigner, and strategist, and has trained thousands of organizers and social movement participants.


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