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In this episode, independent journalist Antony Loewenstein breaks down the surge of far-right politics in Australia and across the West and explains why calling it “fringe” is pure delusion. Using the latest polling on One Nation, Australia’s third biggest political party, global parallels from Europe and the US, and the failures of both major political parties in the West, he lays out how economic anxiety, racism, and media complacency have created the perfect environment for extremist politics to thrive.

He explains why Australia isn’t immune, why the mainstream press keeps downplaying the risk, and how the same patterns taking hold in France, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the US are already visible in Australia.

He also explores what modern fascism actually looks like (hint: it’s already happening), why “cruelty is the point,” and what meaningful resistance requires beyond hand-wringing and hopeful thinking.

A blunt, timely warning about a political shift too many Westerners are still pretending not to see.

Credits:

Produced by Lem Zakharia

References:

Footage used in the intro/outro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNPgQ7GDu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyu7jFnj9Nw&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSd9nmPM7Vg&t=397s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsfMPTiIuvY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3iV_EeeYKk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQHUro6u6Kc&t=730s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbchYijjZZI&t=25s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kTNIYsFnQ&t=28s

Footage within the episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDZ70S8e3Qg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdNp46gNENY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64it4eAQjnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGutNlGdy6o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb88Yy0n4jc&t=52s&pp=0gcJCSIKAYcqIYzv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZWFcIEToKk