It Could Happen Here
Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future. Every day Robert Evans, Garrison Davis, Mia Wong, and James Stout take you on a jaunty walk through the burning ruins of the old world and towards a better one that lays just on the horizon.
Episodes
Mentioned books
19 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 31min
Why Fascists Have Adopted A Suicidal Penguin as a Mascot
A deep dive into how an isolated penguin clip was turned into a violent political meme. The conversation traces the meme's origins, viral edits, and how government and right-wing accounts repurposed it. It explores the penguin as a symbol of suicidal, nihilistic rebellion and connects that imagery to broader theories of fascism, militarization, and social collapse.
Feb 8, 2026 • 42min
CZM Book Club: Mutual Aid by Dean Spade, Part Two
Readings explore definitions and core traits of mutual aid. They flag pitfalls like deservingness hierarchies, saviorism, and co-optation. Practical topics include consensus decision-making, inclusive meeting tools, and preventing burnout. The discussion covers leadership without status, intentional group culture, role transitions, and mutual aid’s transformative stakes.
Feb 7, 2026 • 3h 21min
It Could Happen Here Weekly 218
Andrew Sage, reporter/producer who guides a multi-part history comparison, explores U.S. intervention from Panama 1989 to Venezuela 2026. He traces canal-era ambitions, the 1989 invasion’s civilian toll, and parallels with contemporary motives and tactics. Short, sharp historical storytelling that connects past interventions to modern geopolitical maneuvers.
18 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 50min
Executive Disorder: ICE Body Cams, Fulton Election Raid, Portland Protest
They debate aggressive ICE tactics in Portland, including mass tear-gassing and health risks. They cover DHS plans for body-worn cameras and limits in oversight. They unpack the FBI raid on Fulton County election records and political fallout. They discuss an unsealed memo about a visa revocation and developments in Minneapolis and Syria.
21 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 39min
What Must Be Done? The Battle Against Fascism
Anne Burroughs, human rights and social justice leader and president/CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, introduces a keynote on resisting authoritarianism. The conversation covers policing and ICE violence, grassroots community defense, debates over armed self-defense, the strategy of general strikes, and the moral risks people face when confronting oppressive power.
Feb 4, 2026 • 32min
Panama 1989 to Venezuela 2026: What History Can Teach Us Pt. 2
A dive into US involvement in Panama from the 1968 coup through the 1989 invasion. Exploration of Omar Torrijos' reforms and Manuel Noriega's ties to US intelligence. Examination of sanctions, nationalist rhetoric, and the invasion’s human cost. A comparison of historical narratives and motives with current events in Venezuela.
9 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 39min
Panama 1989 to Venezuela 2026: What History Can Teach Us feat. Andrew
A lively discussion comparing U.S. actions in Venezuela to the 1989 Panama intervention. They trace Panama’s strategic canal importance and U.S. influence from the 19th century onward. The conversation covers brutal canal construction, racial labor systems, military interventions, and how Panama became a testing ground for U.S. imperial tactics.
Feb 2, 2026 • 41min
CZM Rewind: Dogwhistle Politics and Nazi Code Hunting
They dissect claims of coded Nazi signals in government posts and why numerology can mislead. They unpack the paranoid style and how QAnon habits reshaped political attention. They critique chasing secret symbols instead of confronting explicit ethno‑nationalist policies and deportation tactics. They argue against gamified anti‑fascism and push toward collective action rather than spectatorship.
Feb 1, 2026 • 37min
CZM Book Club: Mutual Aid by Dean Spade, Part One
Short readings explore mutual aid’s role in crisis response and Minneapolis rapid-response efforts. Stories include Hong Kong protesters mixing direct action with care and historic examples like the Black Panthers and Indigenous traditions. Discussion covers how mutual aid recruits people, builds skills, creates resilient local infrastructure, and previews practical organizing tools to come.
Jan 31, 2026 • 4h 3min
It Could Happen Here Weekly 217
Christopher Mathias, journalist and author of To Catch a Fascist, digs into doxxing, anti-fascist investigations, and exposing radical right actors. He recounts infiltrations, leaked metadata, and how public naming creates consequences. Short scenes cover historical unmasking, online vs in-person spying, and what motivates people to infiltrate extremist groups.
