Dec 28, 2022
The
1930s are back! But this time, we're fighting dictators, wannabe
dictators, and their propagandists on cable TV and social media
platforms. Since the 1930s have returned, super-charged with new
tech weapons, we should bring some of the heroes of the 1930s back,
too. Enter historian
Deborah
Cohen, the author
of
Last Call at the Hotel
Imperial, a riveting
look at the generation of leading journalists who risked everything
to rage against the machine.
Some
of the journalists she highlights in her book are sadly not as
remembered as they should be today given that they helped win the
war against the Nazis on American soil. One of the journalists in
particular is Dorothy Thompson, a one-woman crusade against Hitler
who she originally laughed off in her 1931 interview. Hitler never
forgot it and suspended her Twitter account, we mean, kicked her
out of Germany, once he took over. Thompson went on to confront the
Republican isolationist Congress, Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford,
and the rest of the America First KKKlown Kar with her fierce
independent journalism and moral clarity, even getting kicked out
of the Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden. We bring back these
heroes to see what inspiration and other lessons we need for
today.
In
our very special bonus episode, we let loose on what TV shows and
films we're watching to self-care and why. Television is something
that we both take seriously, for different reasons, as we share in
this discussion which covers a lot of ground on the importance and
impact of culture in a time of encroaching autocracy. Let us know
what shows you're watching and why in the comments section. To make
sure you never miss an episode of Gaslit Nation, subscribe at the
Truth-teller level or higher. And to submit questions to our
regular Q&As and get access to exclusive events and more,
subscribe at the Democracy Defender level or higher. Discounted
annual memberships are available. Thank you to everyone who
supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without
you!
We'll
be back with an all new episode and Q&A next week. Until then,
we wish you and your family a Happy New Year!
***
You're invited to a live taping of Gaslit Nation
January 24 12pm EST followed by a live audience Q&A. Tickets
can be purchased by subscribing at the Democracy Defender level or
higher -- look out for the Zoom link which will be sent out thirty
minutes or so before the event. Thank you to everyone who supports
the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without
you!