The Rest Is Politics 518. Is Trump a Fascist and is His War on Iran Unwinnable?
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Apr 7, 2026 
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Why Dominic Sandbrook Stops Short Of Fascist
- Dominic Sandbrook argues Trump is authoritarian and contemptuous of norms, but not a historical fascist because he lacks a coherent ideology or project to remake society.
- He contrasts Trump’s narcissism with Hitler and Mussolini’s pseudo-intellectual obsession with creating a new order.
Why Alastair Campbell Thinks Trump Now Fits
- Alastair Campbell says Trump now fits most warning signs of fascism through ICE, militarized politics, expansionist rhetoric, and a movement that has hardened into ideology.
- He cites a simple definition built around authoritarian nationalism, centralized power, military strength, and suppression of opposition.
How Tech Platforms Create A Fertile Ground
- Dominic Sandbrook says the deeper danger is not Trump alone but a digital ecosystem that weakens democratic gatekeepers and rewards hyper-partisan politics.
- He points to the collapse of mass institutions and the shift from broadcasters to X and TikTok as conditions where modernized fascism could thrive.