As the country teeters on the brink of authoritarianism, a new wave of worker organizers is emerging to challenge the status quo and fight for a more just society. Description: In this urgent and thought-provoking conversation, Laura Flanders speaks with Tarso Ramos and Alex Han about the rising threat of authoritarianism in the U.S. Ramos warns that the country is in the “breakthrough” phase of authoritarian consolidation, with two overlapping but distinct power grabs underway—one from the MAGA-aligned far right and another from tech oligarchs seeking corporate rule. Han highlights the resurgence of grassroots resistance, seen in recent protests, and stresses the need for bold, coordinated action. Together, they call for a reimagined national movement capable of confronting these intersecting threats and defending democracy. And they offer some advise on how to avoid becoming numb or demoralized in the face of persistent authoritarianism and Trumpism. GUESTS: • Alex Han: Legacy union organizer and union officer; Executive Director- In These Times Magazine, longtime magazine of social movements, and economic justice based in Chicago. • Tarso Ramos: Former Executive Director of Political Research Associates. Senior Advisor to Future Currents, a strategic hub for social and economic justice leaders. Note: The following is a bonus interview from our episode on the Labor Movement Against Facism conference in New York City, that features worker organizers and labor educators on the frontlines of the struggle for democracy and justice. The conference was organized by City University of New York's School of Labor and Urban Studies.
In a candid discussion with Laura, veteran union organizer Alex Han and U.S. Right Wing expert Tarso Ramos explore how workers are uniting against rising authoritarianism.
Description: America is moving towards authoritarianism faster than ever before, signaling a “turning point” in our history. But what will it actually take to reverse course? What could improve the chances of a winning multiracial democracy? The answer is worker organizers, and joining Laura to discuss grassroots resistance are Tarso Ramos and Alex Han. Han is a legacy union organizer and the Executive Director of In These Times, the long-running Chicago-based magazine dedicated to social movements and economic justice. Ramos is a leading expert on the U.S. Right Wing and former Executive Director of Political Research Associates. He now serves as Senior Advisor to Future Currents, a strategic planning group of social and economic justice leaders. In this exclusive interview, recorded at a conference held at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) in New York City, the trio discuss the challenges before us, and the potential opportunities to mobilize working people. In the wake of Trump’s mass layoffs and the abduction of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a union member who was wrongfully exported to El Savador, can enough workers and their allies band together for bold, coordinated action?
Watch our full report on the conference, convened by the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies with the Cornell Worker Institute. Check this podcast feed for the special report to be released June 4th, 2025.
GUESTS:
• Alex Han is the Executive Director of In These Times, the long-running Chicago-based magazine dedicated to social movements and economic justice. A legacy union organizer and former union officer, Alex has spent decades at the forefront of the labor movement, advocating for workers' rights and building power from the ground up.
• Tarso Ramos is a leading expert on the U.S. Right Wing, with nearly 30 years of experience researching and confronting its impact on democracy. As the former Executive Director of Political Research Associates (PRA), he spearheaded major initiatives addressing antisemitism, misogyny, authoritarianism, white nationalism, and other anti-democratic forces. Tarso now serves as Senior Advisor to Future Currents, a strategic planning group of social and economic justice leaders.
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RELATED LINKS:
In These Times magazine
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