On this episode of Broke-ish, the discussion centers on the signs and implications of fascism and authoritarianism in the U.S., particularly its impact on Black people. Amber and Erika explore the cultural shifts towards nationalism, the politicization of institutions, and the removal of neutral bureaucrats. They highlight the recent death of Assata Shakur, the controversial speech by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and the introduction of legislation targeting political dissidents. The conversation emphasizes the historical and contemporary manifestations of fascism, the role of patriarchy, and the need for vigilance and resistance against these trends. Press play and join the conversation!

Homework: Watch this clip “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth’s speech and identify how many of the markers of authoritarianism and facism you identify. Hop in the comments and tell us what you notice:

C-SPAN on Instagram: "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday gathered the nation’s top military leaders to give a speech on restoring a “warrior ethos” in the armed forces, calling it a “moment of urgency.” “The military has been forced by foolish and reckless politicians to focus on the wrong things,” he said at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. “In many ways, this speech is about fixing decades of decay, some of it obvious, some of it hidden.” The Pentagon leader declared that the only mission of the “newly restored Department of War” will be “warfighting.” “Preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war. No one here wants war. But it’s because we love peace,” he said. The secretary called for high fitness standards, merit-based promotions and a focus on lethality, casting aside what he considers “woke” initiatives. “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions. No more debris,” he said. “As I’ve said before and will say again, we are done with that shit.” He said every member of the military, from the bottom to the top, must adhere to strict fitness and grooming standards — and that every combat job must return to the “highest male standard.” “It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country, in the world. It’s a bad look,” he said. Watch more by tapping the link in our bio. #petehegseth #usmilitary #cspan"

This payday, Amber and Erika are joined by their guest, Pastor Kristian A. Smith, a pastor and public theologian, to discuss the rise of radical American religiopolitics and the insidious racism that fuels it. Malcolm X once said, “The greatest single reason for the Christian church’s failure . . . is its failure to combat racism.” This episode explores the racist roots of the most prominent American denominations and their long complicity with racism. Pastor Kristian helps us identify the ways that White Evangelicals have weaponized the Bible to advance a political agenda filled with xenophobia, homophobia, patriarchy, antagonism towards the poor, and anti-Blackness. He shows us how theology can be used for both good and bad and why we must all be willing to constantly interrogate what we believe and whether it serves our highest good. Tune in to get the scoop!

This payday, Erika and her guest, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, discuss political violence and the political theory of Malcolm X. We use the death of Ch@rlie K1rk as a springboard to interrogate the role liberals and Black leaders play in stifling political organization and outrage to ultimately act as tools of counterinsurgency. We grapple with what it means to be political and who qualifies. Because Kehinde literally wrote a book on Malcolm X, we dive into what Brother Malcolm said on the topic of political violence and intuit what he might have thought about this political moment. Tune in to see what we have to say!

Guest: Dr. Kehinde Andrews
Guest socials: @kehindeandrews