Commonwealth Club of California Podcast Wajahat Ali: How to Fight Fascism with Humor, Heart ... and Hummus
Jan 31, 2026
Wajahat Ali, acclaimed writer and playwright who turned commentator and memoirist, shares sharp analysis with a disarming sense of humor. He discusses using comedy to undermine strongmen, threats to democracy and institutional complicity, California tech’s dark side, talking to kids about injustice, and building sustained resistance with empathy and multicultural solidarity.
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Project 2025 Signals Rapid Consolidation
- Project 2025 shocked him because it compressed a multi-year authoritarian blueprint into immediate action.
- He interprets that haste as a sign of urgent consolidation by leaders who fear losing time.
Model Courage And Empathy At Home
- Talk with children honestly and model the values you want them to adopt, because kids grasp cruelty and empathy more than adults assume.
- Lead by example at home and in your neighborhood to inoculate the next generation against authoritarianism.
Back Independent Watchdogs And Organizers
- Support and amplify independent journalists, historians, teachers, and grassroots groups who warn about authoritarian threats.
- Give money, visibility, and practical backing to those doing frontline work like documenting abuses and organizing local resistance.
