Today we have guest Scotty B to pick apart America’s slow-motion slide into fascism – the Precariat Trap – and why the 99% can’t afford to pick up a pitchfork even when they probably should.If you would like to listen to the full episode, sign up and become a supporter of the show! It’s less than the cost of a single coffee a week.The post The Precariat Trap: Why America Can’t Rise Up – BS Filter #147 appeared first on The BS Filter.

Today we cut through the spin on why people actually support Trump – nine real grievances, zero good excuses for picking the worst possible guy to fix them. If you would like to listen to the full episode, sign up and become a supporter of the show! It’s less than the cost of a single coffee a week. The post Nine Grievances, One Con Man – BS Filter #146 appeared first on The BS Filter.

Today we dig deep into the US-Israel attack on Iran - Operation Epic Fury - and what's actually going on beneath the spin.

In this episode of *The Bullshit Filter*, Cameron and Ray dissect a world seemingly gone mad under the pressure of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” foreign policy. The duo explores the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Cuba, where a modern fuel blockade has pushed the island’s socialist experiment to the brink of collapse and triggered a “mini Bay of Pigs” skirmish. Beyond the Caribbean, they analyze the “Board of Peace”—a privatized, multibillion-dollar alternative to the UN Security Council run by Trump and a circle of luxury real estate developers. Finally, the conversation shifts to the global stage as the BRICS nations and the EU accelerate their “de-dollarization” efforts, launching digital payment systems like Wero to escape the reach of American financial weaponization. It’s a deep dive into an era defined by “grifts within grifts” and the slow-motion collapse of the post-WWII global order. The post Sharks with Laser Beams – BS Filter 144 appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this episode of *The Bullshit Filter*, Cameron and Ray navigate a global landscape defined by “ruptures” rather than transitions. The duo begins with a sobering look at Australia’s first mass shooting in 30 years and the subsequent rapid-fire passage of controversial anti-hate and migration legislation. The conversation then shifts to the world stage, dissecting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s viral Davos speech that declared the “rules-based international order” a useful fiction that has finally reached its breaking point. From the shifting power dynamics of American hegemony to the “American ISIS” and the complexities of foreign-backed protests in Iran, Cameron and Ray peel back the layers of propaganda and political theater. They explore how historical baggage, corporate-funded think tanks, and advanced jamming technology are reshaping modern conflict, ultimately questioning whether any government—foreign or domestic—is truly equipped to handle the brewing “Wild West” of 2026. The post The Rupture – BS Filter 143 appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this final instalment of the Fascism miniseries, Cameron and Ray trace how fascism didn’t die after 1945 but simply changed its wardrobe. Once openly discredited, fascist ideology went underground, hiding behind anti-communism, Catholic conservatism, Cold War geopolitics, and the language of “law and order.” The pair outline how the same structural anxieties that fuelled Mussolini and Hitler found new hosts in post-war regimes like Franco’s Spain and Salazar’s Portugal, apartheid South Africa, Cold War dictatorships in Latin America, and today’s far-right populists in Europe and the United States. They explore how neoliberalism, manufactured fear of socialism, weaponised Christianity, resentful middle-class voters, and billionaire backing continue to make fascism useful to the powerful. The conversation ends by drawing uncomfortable parallels between classical fascism and modern MAGA politics, arguing that America is not on the verge of fascism — it is living through it in a new, suited, media-savvy form. The post #142 – Fascism Goes Corporate appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this episode of The Bullshit Filter, Cameron and Ray continue their deep dive into the history of fascism — tracing its emergence from the ashes of World War I to Mussolini’s rise in Italy. They unpack how the trauma of the war radicalised millions, creating fertile ground for authoritarian movements that promised strength, unity, and a return to national glory. Through sharp wit and historical insight, they explore the socioeconomic chaos of postwar Italy — labour strikes, land seizures, and political paralysis — that allowed fascism to masquerade as a stabilising force. Cameron and Ray discuss how Mussolini, once a socialist firebrand, transformed into the prototype fascist leader by weaponising propaganda, street violence, and elite fear of socialism. The episode draws unnerving parallels between Mussolini’s Italy and modern political movements, showing how democracy often erodes not with explosions, but applause. The post #139 – Make Italy Great Again: The Birth of Fascism (Fascism #3) appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this second episode of our fascism series, Cameron and Ray trace the roots of fascism from the French Revolution through the 19th century and into the early 20th century. They explore how nationalism, the Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment, industrial upheaval, social Darwinism, Nietzsche’s philosophy, Bismarck’s realpolitik, futurism, and mass psychology all fed into the eventual rise of fascism. Along the way, they compare past anxieties about modernity with today’s fears of AI and technology, dig into the religious devotion of MAGA Trumpism, and unpack the Italian Fascist Manifesto of 1919. By the end, the groundwork is set for how Mussolini and others fused these cultural, philosophical, and political threads into a movement that would reshape the 20th century. The post #138 – Fascism: The Remix of History’s Worst Ideas (Fascism part 2) appeared first on The BS Filter.

In this first instalment of a new series on fascism, Cameron and Ray dig into what the word really means beyond the marching boots and fiery rallies of 20th-century Europe. They explore the difficulty of defining fascism, how it manifests differently across time and place, and why the term is often misused today. Drawing on historians like Robert Paxton, Jason Stanley, and Michael Mann, as well as political thinkers from Trotsky to Hannah Arendt, the discussion asks whether the United States is sliding toward fascism, and what makes Trump’s brand of politics similar or distinct from Mussolini or Hitler. Along the way, the hosts look at epistemology and heuristics—how we know what’s true and whose voices we trust—as a framework for analysing complex social movements. This episode sets the stage for a deeper historical exploration in future parts of the series. The post #137 – What is Fascism? Part 1 appeared first on The BS Filter.

Sort of a “half bullshit filter” episode. Cameron reconnects with historian and longtime friend J. David Markham on the eve of his 80th birthday. They reflect on two decades of working together on the Napoleon podcast, swap family updates, and dive into Markham’s latest projects—including his forthcoming book _Simply Caesar_ and several Napoleonic works in progress. The discussion turns to the reception of Ridley Scott’s _Napoleon_ film, the importance of history for understanding today’s politics, and the challenges of civility in an increasingly polarized age. Markham also shares stories from Napoleonic society gatherings, his vast personal collection, and his perspective on America’s political trajectory. It’s a rich blend of personal reflection, Napoleonic passion, and political commentary. The post #136 – 20 Years of Napoleon and Friendship appeared first on The BS Filter.