10 Signs of Fascism
1. Over-the-Top Nationalism
Flags Everywhere
You step outside, and it looks like a flag factory exploded. Flags on trucks. Flags on porches. Giant banners on every inch of public space.
When patriotism gets this loud, it's often a sign that a strongman is in charge.
Suddenly there are American flags everywhere. In front of every home and business. On bumper stickers, T-shirts, and baseball caps. You've even seen flags tattooed on the faces of extremely patriotic men who say "’ Merica!"
Love of country turns into a loyalty test. Fly the flag, wear the hat, or people start asking whose side you're on. Questioning the government starts to feel like treason.
Now picture something even worse. Picture our flag, the red, white, and blue stars and stripes, swapped out for a flag with the president's name or face on it.
Hard to imagine, right? That would be way too extreme. 🙄
Knock knock.
Who's there?
Reality.
You don't need to imagine a flag like that. It's real. People carried it into the U.S. Capitol.
Constant Patriotic Propaganda
As if the flags weren't enough, imagine flipping through TV channels and finding nothing but round-the-clock patriotism. The slogans never stop: "Make America Great Again," "Make America Healthy Again," "Make America Affordable Again."
Every news channel is a Fox News host praising the President and blaming everything on people who are Black or brown, homeless, poor, LGBTQ+, on the Left, or immigrants.
There are only a few "news" anchors left, so we're stuck watching Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, or what's-her-face… Laura Ingraham.
There's a reality show hosted by Pete Hegseth called The Warrior Ethos. There's also a channel called ICETV that streams ICE agents chasing people through Home Depot parking lots, 24/7.
OK, ICETV isn't real. (Yet.) But here's something that is. The Department of Homeland Security spent $220 million on an ad campaign that starred Kristi Noem, the DHS secretary at the time. Even Republican senators grilled her about it. Then Trump fired her.
For America's 250th birthday this year, we also got taxpayer-funded "Freedom Trucks" touring the country. Nothing says "land of the free" like propaganda on wheels that you paid for.
And ICE is now the President's own militarized police force.
Patriotic Products
If you've ever listened to conservative radio, you've heard ads for "Patriot Mobile," "Patriot Supply," or "Freedom Water."
The most-advertised products almost always have a nationalist word in the name: patriot, liberty, or freedom.
Nothing says "I love my country" like overpriced water that promises not to be woke.
