Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor have launched a new weekly podcast, Radical Thinking, premiering on Saturday 10 October 2026 at 02:45 EDT. In the first instalment, the pair argue that the world is entering a dangerous new phase where crises in Gaza, the climate emergency, artificial intelligence and the resurgence of a Trump‑style administration intersect to form what they describe as “end times fascism.” The programme, presented by Aditya Chakrabortty and produced by Frankie Tobi and Luke Smith, is part of the Guardian’s Politics Weekly UK feed and is already generating debate across the political spectrum.
A ‘moral tear’ in the global order
Opening the conversation, Klein invokes a stark image: “Gaza is a moral tear in the universe.” She expands on how the devastation in the region symbolises a broader breakdown of international norms, echoing concerns that humanitarian law is being eroded. Taylor adds that this moral fissure is compounded by the climate crisis, warning that extreme weather events are no longer distant threats but immediate realities reshaping migration patterns and food security. Their analysis is not purely alarmist; they point to mounting scientific evidence and growing civil‑society mobilisation as signs that a collective response may yet avert the worst outcomes.
The interview also touches on the role of media in framing these crises. Chakrabortty asks whether the term “fascism” has lost its potency in contemporary discourse. Both Klein and Taylor acknowledge the semantic challenges but insist that the current political trajectory—characterised by authoritarian leanings, suppression of dissent and the weaponisation of technology—merits the label. They argue that the convergence of these forces creates a feedback loop that accelerates democratic backsliding.
Tech power and the Trump legacy
The podcast moves on to examine the political landscape of the United States under a potential second Trump term. The discussion highlights Elon Musk’s growing influence, noting that his financial backing of Donald Trump is reciprocated by unprecedented access to governmental decision‑making. Listeners are reminded of recent reporting by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, contained in their book Regime Change, which outlines how tech moguls are embedding themselves within policy circles.
Klein and Taylor contrast this with analyses from economist Branko Milanović, whose Substack commentary offers a different take on whether Trump 2.0 qualifies as fascist. They also reference Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff’s long‑read for the Guardian and their subsequent work, *Muskism: a Guide for the Perplexed*, which dissects the ideological underpinnings of the new tech‑political alliance. The conversation underscores a bipartisan concern: regardless of party affiliation, the fusion of corporate power and political authority poses a systemic risk to democratic institutions.
Bipartisan concerns over AI and corporate control
The series does not limit its critique to the US. It draws attention to the global rise of AI‑driven governance models, citing Cecilia Rikap’s The Rulers as a key text on how artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era of total corporate control. Taylor points out that the same technologies touted as solutions to climate change are being repurposed to monitor and regulate populations, a trend that resonates with warnings from both left‑ and right‑leaning think‑tanks.
Listeners are encouraged to explore a range of recommended reading that spans disciplines. Klein and Taylor frequently reference Karen Hao’s Empire of AI and Gil Durán’s newly released The Nerd Reich. For those interested in economic dimensions, Yanis Varoufakis’s Technofeudalism is highlighted as a lucid dissection of how digital platforms are reshaping power structures. The podcast also mentions Paul Heideman’s Rogue Elephant, which offers a lucid analysis of how the business class has learned to embrace chaos as a strategic tool.
The final segment of the episode ties together the disparate threads, suggesting that the fight against “end times fascism” requires a cross‑partisan coalition. Klein emphasises that progressive and conservative movements must find common ground in defending free speech, limiting unchecked corporate influence, and reinstating robust environmental safeguards. Taylor concludes by urging listeners to engage locally, support independent media, and participate in democratic processes, stressing that hope remains if citizens act collectively.
Why it Matters
The launch of Radical Thinking marks a pivotal moment in public discourse, bringing together two of the most incisive cultural critics of our era to dissect a convergence of crises that transcend traditional political boundaries. Their warning that we are not merely lurching from one emergency to the next, but entering a structurally new and perilous phase, compels readers, policymakers and civil society to confront uncomfortable truths about the state of democracy, the role of technology and the moral imperatives of the climate and humanitarian emergencies. As the podcast continues weekly, its bipartisan framing and rigorous analysis promise to shape the narrative around how societies can resist authoritarian drift and rebuild resilient, equitable institutions for the challenges of the 2030s and beyond.
