Podcast appearances and mentions of matthew dallek

Journalist David Graham looks at how parts of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 document is being implemented by the Trump administration. He's interviewed by author and George Washington University professor Matthew Dallek.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist David Graham looks at how parts of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 document is being implemented by the Trump administration. He's interviewed by author and George Washington University professor Matthew Dallek.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During this bonus episode, taped live at the Angelika Film Center in downtown Manhattan in a send-up to the Hollywood Ten, writer and critic Julie Salamon returns to The Wreckage to host New York Times editor/reporter and historian Clay Risen and AJHS executive director Gemma R. Birnbaum. Risen's new book, Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America, provided an excellent framework for the discussion. Our deep appreciation to Rebecca Naomi Jones, who has once again brought life to the archives this season, and with her immense talent and empathetic storytelling, took our listeners on a riveting journey through one of the most tumultuous times in US history.  Additional thanks to Matthew Dallek, Thomas Doherty, Martin J. Siegel, Larry Tye, Jelani Cobb, Clay Risen, and Julie Salamon for being part of our season. The Wreckage is made possible by funding from the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided through the American Jewish Education Program, generously supported by Sid and Ruth Lapidus.  

Tuesday marks the end of the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency. Since Franklin Roosevelt’s first term, it’s been a traditional time to take stock of a new administration. Matthew Dallek, a political historian and professor at George Washington University, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Tuesday marks the end of the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency. Since Franklin Roosevelt’s first term, it’s been a traditional time to take stock of a new administration. Matthew Dallek, a political historian and professor at George Washington University, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Give to help Chris make Truce Robert Welch was a candy magnate who invented the Sugar Daddy and sold favorites like Junior Mints and Milk Duds. He was also very anti-communist. His dubious research led him to found the John Birch Society, a group whose mission was to spread conspiracy theories worldwide. They had major support from wealthy men like Fred Koch, father of the Koch brothers (who financed opposition to Obamacare and climate change legislation). Some of their most notable campaigns were those against Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Earl Warren and President Dwight Eisenhower. They claimed that these men were communist sympathizers working behind the scenes to put the communist agenda. Bogus stuff, but they gained thousands of followers across the country. They also fought the income tax, said that black people would not have wanted equality if the communists hadn't taught them to, and argued that the US is a republic and not a democratic republic. Phyllis Schlafly, RJ Rushdoony, Tim LaHaye, and many others had ties to the birchers. This group had a huge influence on the Religious Right! Not to mention shifting the GOP to accept extremists. Our special guest for this episode is Dr. Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University. His book is Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right. Sources: Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right by Matthew Dallek Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein Divided We Stand by Marjorie Spruill Helpful Guardian article about the Koch brothers and Americans for Prosperity Christian Reconstruction: RJ Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism by Michael McVicar NY Times article about J. Howard Pew's connections to Robert Welch Dark Money by Jane Mayer Discussion Questions What is the John Birch Society? Was communism a threat to the country in the mid-1900s? What would have been the proper way to respond to communism? What is the impact of conspiracy theories on American Christianity? There are real conspiracies in the US, like those by Donald Trump and his allies to steal the 2020 election. But a lot of Christians don't believe these real conspiracies. How has an abundance of false conspiracies numbed our ability to recognize reality? Are you surprised Tim LaHaye, Phyllis Schlafly, and RJ Rushdoony were affiliated with the JBS? How can believers maintain their faith even when evangelical culture has been corrupted? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1938, as fascism continued to spread across Europe and Asia, the Dies Committee was formed to investigate “subversive activities” within the United States. The committee, headed by Texas Democrat Martin Dies, was tasked with targeting Nazi sympathizers, but soon shifted its primary focus to rooting out those they believed to have communist ties, and paved the way for a second American red scare. Narrated by Rebecca Naomi Jones and featuring Matthew Dallek, author of Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right. Episode Image: American Nazi Party marches in support of HUAC. From the Abraham Shoenfeld Papers at AJHS, P-884 The Wreckage is part of the American Jewish Education Program, generously supported by Sid and Ruth Lapidus.

Lies that immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio have inspired dozens of threats against the town, and toward Haitian-Americans across the nation. On this week's On the Media, hear how public acceptance of political violence has grown. Plus, how January 6 became a recruiting tool for one of the country's largest militias.[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Macollvie Neel, special projects editor at The Haitian Times, to talk about the recent wave of rhetoric and threats aimed at the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, and why Neel and other reporters saw it coming. [13:29] Host Brooke Gladstone interviews Lilliana Mason, Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University, about the growing acceptance of political violence in America, and the reasons behind it. [27:14]  Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Matthew Dallek, a historian and professor of political management at George Washington University, to look at the history of political violence and presidential assassinations. [37:32] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Joshua Kaplan, reporter at ProPublica, about how one powerful, but largely unseen militia avoided scrutiny after January 6th. And why a day that led many members to quit, turned into a call to arms. Further reading:“Haitians in Springfield: A tale of Black immigration in ‘Anytown USA,'” by Macollvie J. Neel“How to Prevent a Spiral of Political Violence in America,” by Lilliana Mason“Radical American Partisanship,” by Nathan Kalmoe and Lilliana Mason“The Fading Line Between Rhetorical Extremism and Political Violence,” by Matthew Dallek“Political Violence May Be Un-American, but It Is Not Uncommon,” by Matthew Dallek and Robert Dallek“Armed and Underground: Inside the Turbulent, Secret World of an American Militia,” by Joshua Kaplan On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

The 2025 Project and the rise of extreme right-wing politics in America means that it's a good time to listen to our show about one of the 20th century's most extreme right-wing groups, The John Birch Society. It has strongly influenced libertarian and Republican politics since its founding in 1958. Dr. Matthew Dallek tells us the story of the Society's founding, growth, and impact on American life. We discuss his new book, “Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right.” Brutal history, but essential to know. Encore Episode.

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 500-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ At the height of the John Birch Society's activity in the 1960s, critics dismissed its members as a paranoid fringe. After all, “Birchers” believed that a vast communist conspiracy existed in America and posed an existential threat to Christianity, capitalism, and freedom. But as historian Matthew Dallek reveals, the Birch Society's extremism remade American conservatism. Most Birchers were white professionals who were radicalized as growing calls for racial and gender equality appeared to upend American life. Conservative leaders recognized that these affluent voters were needed to win elections, and for decades the GOP courted Birchers and their extremist successors. The far right steadily gained power, finally toppling the Republican establishment and electing Donald Trump. Buy Birchers here: https://bookshop.org/lists/swaj-books-for-2024 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://www.amazon.com/Preparing-War-Extremist-Christian-Nationalism/dp/1506482163 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Veterans Day Trump Channels Adolf Hitler | Why Does the Mainstream Media Treat Trump With the Equal and Opposite Convention of So-Called Balance? | Should the US Prepare For a Post-Putin Russian Nuclear Meltdown? backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the drama around the election of the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·      Until this week, the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was little known beyond Louisiana and ultraconservative circles. Natalia referenced this CNN piece about Johnson's homophobic comments, and historian Matthew Dallek's article for TIME. Neil referred to Niki's latest CNN column.   In our regular closing feature, What's Making History: ·      Natalia discussed Ksenia Svetlova's New Republic piece, “Why We On the Israeli Left Feel Hit on Both Sides.” ·      Neil recommended historian Lauren Lassabe Shepherd's Daily Beast article, “Could Mississippi Actually Elect a Democratic Governor?” ·      Niki shared about the Radiotopia podcast, “The Unmarked Graveyard: Stories from Hart Island.”

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of historic preservation.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·      Historic preservation is almost as old as U.S. history. Natalia drew on this Discourse magazine article, and Niki discussed this New Yorker essay. Neil referenced this New York Times opinion essay.   In our regular closing feature, What's Making History: ·      Natalia discussed Matthew Schmitz' Compact article, “Millennial Socialists Embrace Atrocities.” ·      Neil shared Paige Williams' New Yorker essay, “Among the Cabin Fanatics of Mississippi's Giant Houseparty.” ·      Niki recommended Matthew Dallek's new book, Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right.

In the late 1960s, as college campuses became hotbeds of liberal protest, conservative college groups, like the Intercollegiate Society of Individualists (ISI), the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), and College Republicans, backed by powerful conservative elders and their deep pockets, fought back, staging counter protests, publishing conservative newspapers, taking over student governments, and suing colleges to remain open. Joining me in this episode to discuss the campus right in more detail is Dr. Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, author of Resistance from the Right: Conservatives and the Campus Wars in Modern America. Our theme song is Frogs Legs Rag, composed by James Scott and performed by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under Creative Commons. The mid-episode music is “Row Your Boat,” by The Goldwaters, Sing Folk Songs to Make the Liberals Mad, 1964. The episode image is "Ban SDS sign,” Columbia University Student Strike, April 1968, Office of Public Affairs Protest & Activism Photograph Collection, Collection number: UA#109, University Archives, Columbia University, accessed October 9, 2023. Additional Sources: “The Attack on Yale,” by McGeorge Bundy, The Atlantic, November 1951. “Debunking a Longstanding Myth About William F. Buckley,” by Matthew Dallek, POlitico, March 31, 2023. “About Us,” Young America's Foundation. “Young Americans for Freedom,” Civil Rights Digital History Project, University of Georgia. "Young Americans for Freedom and the Anti-War Movement: Pro-War Encounters with the New Left at the Height of the Vietnam War," by Ethan Swift, Kaplan Senior Essay Prize for Use of Library Special Collections. 2019. “About Us,” Intercollegiate Studies Institute. “1968: Columbia in Crisis,” Columbia University Libraries. “How Columbia's Student Uprising of 1968 Was Sparked by a Segregated Gym,” by Erin Blakemore, History.com, Originally published April 20, 2018, and updated July 7, 2020. “‘The Whole World Is Watching': An Oral History of the 1968 Columbia Uprising,” by Clara Bingham, Vanity Fair, March 26, 2018. “The Right Uses College Campuses as Its Training Grounds,” by Scott W. Stern, Jacobin, August 2023. “Critical race theory is just the new buzzword in conservatives' war on campuses,” by Lauren Lassabe, The Washington Post, July 7, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book tickets for our event: skeptic.com/event At the height of the John Birch Society's activity in the 1960s, critics dismissed its members as a paranoid fringe. After all, “Birchers” believed that a vast communist conspiracy existed in America and posed an existential threat to Christianity, capitalism, and freedom. But as historian Matthew Dallek reveals, the Birch Society's extremism remade American conservatism. Most Birchers were white professionals who were radicalized as growing calls for racial and gender equality appeared to upend American life. Conservative leaders recognized that these affluent voters were needed to win elections, and for decades the GOP courted Birchers and their extremist successors. Shermer and Dallek discuss: the origin of the John Birch Society • the “right,” “conservatism,” “liberalism” • “mainstream” vs. “fringe” • Cold War context for the rise of the radical right • the link between the John Birch Society and figures like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Glenn Beck, Alex Jones, Ron Paul, Rand Paul, and Donald Trump • America First nationalism, school board wars, QAnon plots, allegations of electoral cheating • and the future of the Republic (if we can keep it). Matthew Dallek is a political historian whose intellectual interests include the intersection of social crises and political transformation, the evolution of the modern conservative movement, and liberalism and its critics. Dallek has authored four books which appeared on the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune's annual best-of lists. His latest is Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right.

How did we get here politically? It's a question we've asked a lot lately. Author and professor Matthew Dallek has a theory on the origins of our current political moment. His new book, "Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right," traces how a group in the 1960s laid the foundation for 21st century conservatism and may have paved the way for Donald Trump's political ascension. We're at Ris in DC's West End...join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew Dallek's 2023 book entitled "Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right" gets the Biased History stress test in a book review of this important work.

This is not America's first manipulative fascist rodeo. Our grand experiment has been peppered with religious and MAGA type freaks throughout its 247 years. When a large group of independent thinkers, adventurers, natives, freedom seekers, religious zealots, and young, scrappy and hungry individuals come together in one pot and create a beautiful stew of a nation there are bound to be some interesting concoctions and even a few stinkers. The John Birch Society was a powerful machine fueled by hate, white privilege, manipulation, and good old fashioned religion as a weapon, along with a slew of “deep state” conspiracy theories like Jewish bankers were controlling the world and Dwight D. Eisenhower was a dedicated Communist agent LOL. Sound familiar? We see you Moms for “Liberty”.Author, GW professor and historian Matthew Dallek has written a new book called “Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right” which expertly shows how the GOP allowed a small, but organized band of conspiracy theorists, racists, anti-semites and paranoiacs to lay the groundwork for the party of Lincoln to become the party of MAGA and Trump. In this wide ranging conversation, Matthew Dallek joins Dirty Moderate to spill the sad, but important hiThanks for helping us save democracy one episode at a time!Join the Dirty Moderate Nation on Substack! Tell us what you think on Twitter! Or, if you are fed up with Elon's bullshit, hit us up on Threads! There are always shenanigans over on TikTok too…Are you registered to VOTE?

At the height of the John Birch Society's activity in the 1960s, critics dismissed its members as a paranoid fringe. “Birchers” believed that a vast communist conspiracy existed in America and posed an existential threat to Christianity, capitalism, and freedom. But as historian Matthew Dallek reveals, the Birch Society's extremism remade American conservatism. Most Birchers were white professionals who were radicalized as growing calls for racial and gender equality appeared to upend American life. Conservative leaders recognized that these affluent voters were needed to win elections, and for decades the GOP courted Birchers and their extremist successors. Join us when Matthew Dallek discuss how the far right steadily gained power, finally toppling the Republican establishment and electing Donald Trump, on this installment of Leonard Lopate at Large.

Decades before Moms for Liberty launched a crusade to liberate schools from “indoctrination,” the John Birch Society introduced similar rhetoric and tactics. Have You Heard is joined by historian Matthew Dallek, author of Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right. The ‘Birchers,' he argues, sought to impose their vision of morality, Christianity and patriotism on public schools. And while the group would fade into obscurity, the Birchers' vision and tactics inform the activism of today's school culture warriors. The financial support of listeners like you keeps this podcast going. Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HaveYouHeardPodcast or donate on PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/haveyouheardpodcast

Debt limit deal passed in the Senate now awaits Biden's signature. Another DC drama fest comes to a close. Losers in the deal are the poor, student debt holders, the IRS, and our planet. Winners include the uber-rich, Big Oil, and business-as-usual.  Part of the debt limit deal ensures students will start paying their loans again at the end of the summer. And, Manchin will get his pipeline.  In a separate attack on student debt holders, the U.S. Senate voted to block Biden's student loan relief package. Biden says he'll veto.  The U.S. economy adds 339,000 jobs in May, way beyond economists' expectations.  Hundreds of Gannet newspaper journalists are set to walk off the job in protest of the company's leadership and deep job cuts.  A new report shows that the world's wheat supply may be vulnerable to crisis due to climate change.  Demonstrating once again that our justice system is built for the rich, the Sacklers will not face any personal liability for the billions they made fanning the flames of the opioid crisis.  Eugene DePasquale announces he will run for Attorney General.  New Jersey closes sections of the NJ Turnpike due to wild fires. And Philadelphia was covered in haze this week for the worst wildfires in Nova Scotia's history.  Mike Gambone has a great review in the Bucks County Beacon of a new book on the John Birch Society by Matthew Dallek. And teens in Fort Wayne, IN point the way. After their play, “Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood” was canceled by their school, the teens raised money and put it on anyway. “Marian” is a “gender-bending take on Sherwood Forest's beloved bandit,” .was canceled because of its LGBTQ content.  If we want a progressive future, we need progressive media. Support pull-no-punches, homegrown progressive media today by becoming a patron of Raging Chicken for as little as $5/month. Simply go to Patreon.com/RCPress. We're here for the fight and we need you. Become a patron for the price of a good beer once a month. Help keep the media in the movement and the movement in the media. Become a patron for as little as $5/month by going to Patreon.com/RCPress. Not ready to become a patron? Drop us a one time donation at PayPal.me/rcpress.  Don't Let Paul Martino, Moms for Liberty & Their Oligarch Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community rooted PAC to invest in organizing, supporting local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmasking the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We're putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money.  You can get more information and drop your donation at  https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.  

It's another EmMajority Report Thursday! She talks to Matthew Dallek, historian and professor of political management at George Washington University, to discuss his recent book Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right. Then, she speaks to independent reporter Moira Lavelle to discuss her recent reporting in Jacobin on the Greek elections. First, Emma runs through updates on the House passing the debt ceiling deal, reported statements by Trump on his classified document debacle, DeSantis' continued kowtowing to Trump, fascism in Tennessee and Turkey, Florida's business strike, and Project Veritas turning against James O'Keefe, also parsing through Georgia's fascist crackdown on anti-Cop City activists, and the active lies coming out of Brian Kemp's office. Matthew Dallek then dives right into the history of the John Birch Society's shaping of the American Right, diving into their birth as a domestic Cold War anti-communist organization intent on following the blueprint of Senator McCarthy and exposing and expelling all communists from US politics. Next, Professor Dallek walks through their tactics that are deeply reflected in the GOP of today, including spreading conspiracy theories, establishing martyrs, and dabbling in anti-democratic and anti-Semitic messaging, before exploring the quintessential “Birchers” in US politics throughout the last half-century, from Pat Buchanan to Rand Paul, and looking at the importance of the Birch Society's emphasis on local organizing. Moira Lavelle then parses through the recent non-conclusive Greek elections, with no party establishing a majority via election or coalition, first taking on the myriad factors in Greece's current political disillusionment and desire for stability, before stepping back to analyze the floundering trust for Syriza, the left-wing party most recently elected in 2015, and why their right-wing opponents, New Democracy, are successfully capitalizing on this moment. Wrapping up, Lavelle discusses the likelihood of a New Democracy victory in the coming round of elections, and what that means for a future of continuing austerity and instability in the country. And in the Fun Half: Emma is joined by Matt Binder as they discuss the ongoing Daily Wire-Elon Musk beef over Twitter's decision to cancel their premier of Matt Walsh's transphobic documentary on the app, and the recent despicable backlash to a recent CUNY Law graduate from the NY political and legal establishment. Luke from Florida calls in to discuss why MR doesn't want to take his guns, Shane from Vancouver dives into the secret second shooter behind Kid Rock's Bud Light video, and Omar from Austin dives into Kirsten Gillibrand's recent work on exposing UFOs. The MR Crew also covers the Supreme Court's recent shocking decision to side with a company suing a union for striking, and the complete rhetorical domination of Ron DeSantis by Donald Trump, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out Matthew's book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/matthew-dallek/birchers/9781668622339/?lens=basic-books Check out Moira's piece here: https://jacobin.com/2023/05/greece-general-election-austerity-new-democracy-syriza-mera25-voters/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

Dr. Matthew Dallek is a political historian whose intellectual interests include the intersection of social crises and political transformation, the evolution of the modern conservative movement, and liberalism and its critics. Dr. Dallek has authored or co-authored four books including, most recently, Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right, and Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security which won the Henry Adams prize from the Society for History in the Federal Government. For more content, articles, videos and merch visit us at http://theworkingexperience.com This podcast is sponsored by One Circle Media, a content creation agency for brands, networks, and studios.  Visit http://onecirclemedia.com/ for more information.

In the past few years, the Republican politics of crime and racial scapegoating have given way to the outright glorification of vigilante killers like Kyle Rittenhouse, Eddie Gallagher, and most recently, Daniel Penny. Last week, Penny choked a Black street artist to death for the crime of being mentally ill on a New York subway. In response, Ron DeSantis called him a “Good Samaritan” and said America has his back. Why has this trend taken hold? Is it new? And, most importantly, to what end? Host Brian Beutler welcomes Matthew Dallek, a professor at George Washington University and author of the new book Birchers, which details the founding of the far-right John Birch Society and its attempt to take over the GOP. Brian and Matt discuss the ever-shrinking line between violent right-wing extremists and mainstream Republican politicians, why the GOP is turning racist vigilantes into folk heroes, and how the groundwork for MAGA to take over the Republican Party was laid 50 years ago by a group of wealthy, extremist bigots.

Matthew Dallek says the John Birch Society, which was active from the late '50s through the early '70s, propelled today's extremist takeover of the American right. His new book is Birchers.John Powers reviews the award-winning French crime drama The Night of the 12th.

Matthew Dallek says the John Birch Society, which was active from the late '50s through the early '70s, propelled today's extremist takeover of the American right. His new book is Birchers.John Powers reviews the award-winning French crime drama The Night of the 12th.

Matthew Dallek, Professor at George Washington University joins The Great Battlefield podcast to discuss his book "Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right".

Matthew Dallek is a historian and professor of political management at George Washington University's College of Professional Studies. He is the author of: The Right Moment: Ronald Reagan's First Victory and the Decisive Turning Point in American Politics; Defenseless Under the Night: The Franklin Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security; and, most recently, Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right. Dallek's writings frequently appear in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Politico, and other publications.

In October 1958, Robert Welch, a wealthy retired businessman with extreme anti-communist beliefs, held a secret meeting in Indianapolis with eleven like-minded men to found the John Birch Society, named after a young American missionary and intelligence officer killed by Mao's Communist troops in 1945. Welch and his confederates detested not only liberals but also mainstream conservatives. They held particular animus toward President Dwight D. Eisenhower; although Ike was a moderate Republican, Welch believed him to be a “dedicated, conscious agent of the communist conspiracy.” At its peak in the 1960s, the Birch Society consisted of some 60,000 to 100,000 members organized in secret cells around the country.  Although much of the country dismissed the Birchers as a lunatic fringe, historian Matthew Dallek, in his new book Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right, argues that the group exercised an outsized influence on the conservative movement and the Republican Party. Blending violent and apocalyptic conspiracy theories with grassroots activism, business skills, and the power of alternative media, the Birch Society proved, in Dallek's words, “that the supercharged activism of thousands of diehards could outmatch the votes of millions of citizens and over time transform the GOP.” In this podcast discussion, Dallek describes the history of the Birch Society as well as dynamics that made it a significant political force and an enduring influence on the contemporary American right. He points out that much of the responsibility for the continuing vitality of Birch-style extremism lies with Republican leaders who thought they could harness the activism of the Birchers without allowing their paranoia and hatred to define the party.  Instead, according to Dallek, “The GOP establishment's efforts to court this fringe and keep it in the coalition allowed it to gain a foothold and eventually cannibalize the entire party.”

Xi Fails to Deliver a Viable Peace Plan Leaving Putin to Pursue His War While Appearing to be Open to Peace Talks | The Fed Raises Interest Rates for the Ninth Time to Just Under 5% | The Roots of the Radical Right's Capture of the Republican Party backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia facebook.com/ianmastersmedia

The John Birch Society is one of the most extreme right-wing groups in American history. It has strongly influenced libertarian and Republican politics since its founding in 1958. Dr. Matthew Dallek tells us the story of the Society's founding, growth, and impact on American life. We discuss his new book, “Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right.” Brutal history, but essential to know. Episode 502.

Lee Drutman argued that the two-party system is damaging America’s democracy. He’s interviewed by George Washington University professor and author Matthew Dallek. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron and Heather talk with Annie Karni, POLITICO's White House Reporter, and Matthew Dallek, Professor at George Washington University, about the roles of Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and the history of nepotism and the presidency.

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America’s first federal office of homeland security created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia as director and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as assistant director. While La Guardia focused on preparing the country against foreign attack and militarizing the citizenry, Eleanor Roosevelt believed that the OCD should concentrate instead on establishing a wartime New Deal and a focus on “social defense.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America's first federal office of homeland security created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia as director and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as assistant director. While La Guardia focused on preparing the country against foreign attack and militarizing the citizenry, Eleanor Roosevelt believed that the OCD should concentrate instead on establishing a wartime New Deal and a focus on “social defense.”

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America’s first federal office of homeland security created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia as director and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as assistant director. While La Guardia focused on preparing the country against foreign attack and militarizing the citizenry, Eleanor Roosevelt believed that the OCD should concentrate instead on establishing a wartime New Deal and a focus on “social defense.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America’s first federal office... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America’s first federal office of homeland security created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia as director and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as assistant director. While La Guardia focused on preparing the country against foreign attack and militarizing the citizenry, Eleanor Roosevelt believed that the OCD should concentrate instead on establishing a wartime New Deal and a focus on “social defense.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America’s first federal office of homeland security created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia as director and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as assistant director. While La Guardia focused on preparing the country against foreign attack and militarizing the citizenry, Eleanor Roosevelt believed that the OCD should concentrate instead on establishing a wartime New Deal and a focus on “social defense.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Dallek is the author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security (Oxford University Press, 2016). Dallek is associate professor of political management at The George Washington University. In Defenseless Under the Night, Dallek tells the fascinating history behind America’s first federal office of homeland security created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia as director and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as assistant director. While La Guardia focused on preparing the country against foreign attack and militarizing the citizenry, Eleanor Roosevelt believed that the OCD should concentrate instead on establishing a wartime New Deal and a focus on “social defense.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices