Andrew and James build on yesterday’s episode, dig deeper into Bob Altemeyer’s work, and discuss what the psychological characteristics of an authoritarian leader are. 

Andrew and James build on yesterday’s episode, dig deeper into Bob Altemeyer’s work, and discuss what the psychological characteristics of an authoritarian leader are.

It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future. Every day Robert Evans, Garrison Davis, Mia Wong, and James Stout take you on a jaunty walk through the burning ruins of the old world and towards a better one that lays just on the horizon.

It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future. Every day Robert Evans, Garrison Davis, Mia Wong, and James Stout take you on a jaunty walk through the burning ruins of the old world and towards a better one that lays just on the horizon.

It Could Happen Here

Andrew on Authoritarian Leaders

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8cbdd9db-57ed-4268-955e-b16a018805d5/transcript

The gang discuss arson in Mississippi, events in Syria, threats to federal reserve independence and attempts to impeach judges.

Sources:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/madison-man-arrested-arson-beth-israel-and-goldringwoldenberg-institute-southern


https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-synagogue-arson-jewish-south-0e489adc986bfaddd55662075bdb6443


https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Indictment-Stephen-Spencer-Pittman.pdf


https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26378204-tilf-complaint-signed-redacted/

https://www.foxla.com/news/2-turtle-island-liberation-front-members-plead-not-guilty-new-years-eve-socal-bombing-plot

https://www.syriahr.com/en/376284/ 

https://www.syriahr.com/en/376282/ 

https://www.syriahr.com/en/376266/ 

https://x.com/deborahlipstadt/status/2010387174651490769?s=20 

https://rote-hilfe.de/meldungen/kontokuendigung-wegen-antifa-banken-vollstrecken-us-politik-deutschland 

https://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/dokumentenarchiv/Dokument/MMD17-5076.pdf 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-01-13/socal-protester-permanently-blinded-by-dhs-agent-family-says

https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/senator-schmitt-calls-for-the-impeachment-senate-trial-of-judge-boasberg-during-judiciary-hearing/ 

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.229.1.pdf

https://georgetown.app.box.com/v/AO-CaseAssignments-061825 

https://georgetown.app.box.com/v/AO-NDOs-120125 

https://x.com/StateDept/status/2011478657680757214?s=20 

https://x.com/StateDept/status/2010740549469557010?s=20

https://www.wired.com/story/trump-warned-of-a-tren-de-aragua-invasion-us-intel-told-a-different-story/

https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2009427948541993323

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/09/dhs-provides-update-us-border-patrol-portland-who-attempted-arrest-tren-de-aragua

https://newrepublic.com/post/205284/trump-administration-targets-senator-elissa-slotkin-illegal-orders-jeanine-pirro-doj

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/12/congress/mark-kelly-pete-hegseth-lawsuit-00722382

https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm

https://apnews.com/article/trump-powell-federal-reserve-d87eedf1e35195957f903f9963aeaf99

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260113~ec4630b9fa.en.html

The gang discuss arson in Mississippi, events in Syria, threats to federal reserve independence and attempts to impeach judges.
Sources:
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/madison-man-arrested-arson-beth-israel-and-goldringwoldenberg-institute-southern">https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/pr/madison-man-arrested-arson-beth-israel-and-goldringwoldenberg-institute-southern </a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-synagogue-arson-jewish-south-0e489adc986bfaddd55662075bdb6443">https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-synagogue-arson-jewish-south-0e489adc986bfaddd55662075bdb6443 </a>
<a href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Indictment-Stephen-Spencer-Pittman.pdf">https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Indictment-Stephen-Spencer-Pittman.pdf </a>
<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26378204-tilf-complaint-signed-redacted/">https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26378204-tilf-complaint-signed-redacted/</a>
<a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/2-turtle-island-liberation-front-members-plead-not-guilty-new-years-eve-socal-bombing-plot">https://www.foxla.com/news/2-turtle-island-liberation-front-members-plead-not-guilty-new-years-eve-socal-bombing-plot</a>
<a href="https://www.syriahr.com/en/376284/">https://www.syriahr.com/en/376284/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.syriahr.com/en/376282/">https://www.syriahr.com/en/376282/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.syriahr.com/en/376266/">https://www.syriahr.com/en/376266/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/deborahlipstadt/status/2010387174651490769?s=20">https://x.com/deborahlipstadt/status/2010387174651490769?s=20</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://rote-hilfe.de/meldungen/kontokuendigung-wegen-antifa-banken-vollstrecken-us-politik-deutschland">https://rote-hilfe.de/meldungen/kontokuendigung-wegen-antifa-banken-vollstrecken-us-politik-deutschland</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/dokumentenarchiv/Dokument/MMD17-5076.pdf">https://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/dokumentenarchiv/Dokument/MMD17-5076.pdf</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-01-13/socal-protester-permanently-blinded-by-dhs-agent-family-says">https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-01-13/socal-protester-permanently-blinded-by-dhs-agent-family-says</a>
<a href="https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/senator-schmitt-calls-for-the-impeachment-senate-trial-of-judge-boasberg-during-judiciary-hearing/">https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/senator-schmitt-calls-for-the-impeachment-senate-trial-of-judge-boasberg-during-judiciary-hearing/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.229.1.pdf">https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.229.1.pdf</a>
<a href="https://georgetown.app.box.com/v/AO-CaseAssignments-061825">https://georgetown.app.box.com/v/AO-CaseAssignments-061825</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://georgetown.app.box.com/v/AO-NDOs-120125">https://georgetown.app.box.com/v/AO-NDOs-120125</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/StateDept/status/2011478657680757214?s=20">https://x.com/StateDept/status/2011478657680757214?s=20</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://x.com/StateDept/status/2010740549469557010?s=20">https://x.com/StateDept/status/2010740549469557010?s=20</a>
<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/trump-warned-of-a-tren-de-aragua-invasion-us-intel-told-a-different-story/">https://www.wired.com/story/trump-warned-of-a-tren-de-aragua-invasion-us-intel-told-a-different-story/</a>
<a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2009427948541993323">https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2009427948541993323</a>
<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/09/dhs-provides-update-us-border-patrol-portland-who-attempted-arrest-tren-de-aragua">https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/09/dhs-provides-update-us-border-patrol-portland-who-attempted-arrest-tren-de-aragua</a>
<a href="https://newrepublic.com/post/205284/trump-administration-targets-senator-elissa-slotkin-illegal-orders-jeanine-pirro-doj">https://newrepublic.com/post/205284/trump-administration-targets-senator-elissa-slotkin-illegal-orders-jeanine-pirro-doj</a>
<a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/12/congress/mark-kelly-pete-hegseth-lawsuit-00722382">https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/12/congress/mark-kelly-pete-hegseth-lawsuit-00722382</a>
<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm">https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm</a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-powell-federal-reserve-d87eedf1e35195957f903f9963aeaf99">https://apnews.com/article/trump-powell-federal-reserve-d87eedf1e35195957f903f9963aeaf99</a>
<a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260113~ec4630b9fa.en.html">https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260113~ec4630b9fa.en.html</a>

Executive Disorder: Portland Shooting, the FED, Visa Pause & Turtle Island Liberation Front

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6c445efc-1571-4792-ae16-b3d400006b5a/transcript

Andrew and James discuss what happened in 2025 from climate disasters to Gen Z uprisings to AI.

Sources:

https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/2025-set-be-second-or-third-warmest-year-record-continuing-exceptionally-high-warming-trend

https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4522124/study-warns-brazilian-food-imports-increasingly-vulnerable-climate-change

https://wmo.int/media/news/fao-and-wmo-report-highlights-extreme-heat-risks-agriculture

https://apnews.com/article/monsoon-rains-nepal-floods-climate-change-india-ef8b703ab93bc310e397d896b032ce8f

https://chimpreports.com/un-warns-as-somalia-drought-crisis-deepens-hunger/

https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/cams-tracks-extreme-july-wildfire-activity-both-sides-atlantic

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/31/weather-tracker-hurricane-melissa-caribbean-jamaica-haiti-cuba

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-switch-gen-z-protests-spread-across-globe-2025-10-02

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/scenting-victory-madagascar-youth-give-scant-thought-whats-next-2025-10-14

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/moroccos-youth-police-clash-fifth-night-protests-demanding-education-health-care-2025-10-01

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-military-ruler-randrianirina-sworn-president-reuters-witness-2025-10-17/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5w5nyd5xzo

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/young-anti-corruption-protesters-oust-nepal-pm-oli-2025-09-09/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/25/peru-youth-protesters-state-of-emergency-gen-z

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/gen-z-styled-protests-spread-mexico-fueled-by-mayors-murder-2025-11-16/

https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2025/11/13/politica/marcha-de-la-generacion-z-estrategia-digital-pagada-no-es-genuina-sheinbaum

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trade-unions-india-stage-nationwide-protests-new-labor-127887286

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-ai-on-the-rise-what-will-be-the-environmental-impacts-of-data-centers-180987379/

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/03/blood-spilled-sudan-el-fasher-space-rsf-uae-darfur

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/drc-un-report-raises-spectre-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-north

https://cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/2020/08/15103021/Yemen-HCA-2025.pdf

https://www.stimson.org/2025/too-little-too-late-china-steps-up-military-aid-to-myanmars-junta/

Andrew and James discuss what happened in 2025 from climate disasters to Gen Z uprisings to AI.
Sources:
<a href="https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/2025-set-be-second-or-third-warmest-year-record-continuing-exceptionally-high-warming-trend">https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/2025-set-be-second-or-third-warmest-year-record-continuing-exceptionally-high-warming-trend</a>
<a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4522124/study-warns-brazilian-food-imports-increasingly-vulnerable-climate-change">https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4522124/study-warns-brazilian-food-imports-increasingly-vulnerable-climate-change</a>
<a href="https://wmo.int/media/news/fao-and-wmo-report-highlights-extreme-heat-risks-agriculture">https://wmo.int/media/news/fao-and-wmo-report-highlights-extreme-heat-risks-agriculture</a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monsoon-rains-nepal-floods-climate-change-india-ef8b703ab93bc310e397d896b032ce8f">https://apnews.com/article/monsoon-rains-nepal-floods-climate-change-india-ef8b703ab93bc310e397d896b032ce8f</a>
<a href="https://chimpreports.com/un-warns-as-somalia-drought-crisis-deepens-hunger/">https://chimpreports.com/un-warns-as-somalia-drought-crisis-deepens-hunger/</a>
<a href="https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/cams-tracks-extreme-july-wildfire-activity-both-sides-atlantic">https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/cams-tracks-extreme-july-wildfire-activity-both-sides-atlantic</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/31/weather-tracker-hurricane-melissa-caribbean-jamaica-haiti-cuba">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/31/weather-tracker-hurricane-melissa-caribbean-jamaica-haiti-cuba</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-switch-gen-z-protests-spread-across-globe-2025-10-02">https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-switch-gen-z-protests-spread-across-globe-2025-10-02</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/scenting-victory-madagascar-youth-give-scant-thought-whats-next-2025-10-14">https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/scenting-victory-madagascar-youth-give-scant-thought-whats-next-2025-10-14</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/moroccos-youth-police-clash-fifth-night-protests-demanding-education-health-care-2025-10-01">https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/moroccos-youth-police-clash-fifth-night-protests-demanding-education-health-care-2025-10-01</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-military-ruler-randrianirina-sworn-president-reuters-witness-2025-10-17/">https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-military-ruler-randrianirina-sworn-president-reuters-witness-2025-10-17/</a>
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5w5nyd5xzo">https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5w5nyd5xzo</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/young-anti-corruption-protesters-oust-nepal-pm-oli-2025-09-09/">https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/young-anti-corruption-protesters-oust-nepal-pm-oli-2025-09-09/</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/25/peru-youth-protesters-state-of-emergency-gen-z">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/25/peru-youth-protesters-state-of-emergency-gen-z</a>
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/gen-z-styled-protests-spread-mexico-fueled-by-mayors-murder-2025-11-16/">https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/gen-z-styled-protests-spread-mexico-fueled-by-mayors-murder-2025-11-16/</a>
<a href="https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2025/11/13/politica/marcha-de-la-generacion-z-estrategia-digital-pagada-no-es-genuina-sheinbaum">https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2025/11/13/politica/marcha-de-la-generacion-z-estrategia-digital-pagada-no-es-genuina-sheinbaum</a>
<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trade-unions-india-stage-nationwide-protests-new-labor-127887286">https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trade-unions-india-stage-nationwide-protests-new-labor-127887286</a>
<a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-ai-on-the-rise-what-will-be-the-environmental-impacts-of-data-centers-180987379/">https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-ai-on-the-rise-what-will-be-the-environmental-impacts-of-data-centers-180987379/</a>
<a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine">https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine</a>
<a href="https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan">https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/03/blood-spilled-sudan-el-fasher-space-rsf-uae-darfur">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/03/blood-spilled-sudan-el-fasher-space-rsf-uae-darfur</a>
<a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/drc-un-report-raises-spectre-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-north">https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/drc-un-report-raises-spectre-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-north</a>
<a href="https://cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/2020/08/15103021/Yemen-HCA-2025.pdf">https://cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/2020/08/15103021/Yemen-HCA-2025.pdf</a>
<a href="https://www.stimson.org/2025/too-little-too-late-china-steps-up-military-aid-to-myanmars-junta/">https://www.stimson.org/2025/too-little-too-late-china-steps-up-military-aid-to-myanmars-junta/</a>

What Happened in 2025 with Andrew

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4d7525ad-25dc-4cb5-aa68-b3d2018b01f0/transcript

James is joined by Gordayen to discuss the protest wave in Iran, massive regime violence, and the possibilities for the future.

Sources:

https://www.instagram.com/hengaw_english?igsh=MTZ3Z29qd3h6YzVlMA==

https://www.instagram.com/ali.javanmardi?igsh=ODV2cGZzaXk2Z3dt

https://www.instagram.com/soran.mansournia?igsh=OWFhNDdtMTRtNzl0

https://www.instagram.com/kurdistanipeople?igsh=MTI3Y3kwZ3V0N3Zvag==

James is joined by Gordayen to discuss the protest wave in Iran, massive regime violence, and the possibilities for the future.
Sources:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hengaw_english?igsh=MTZ3Z29qd3h6YzVlMA==">https://www.instagram.com/hengaw_english?igsh=MTZ3Z29qd3h6YzVlMA==</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ali.javanmardi?igsh=ODV2cGZzaXk2Z3dt">https://www.instagram.com/ali.javanmardi?igsh=ODV2cGZzaXk2Z3dt</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/soran.mansournia?igsh=OWFhNDdtMTRtNzl0">https://www.instagram.com/soran.mansournia?igsh=OWFhNDdtMTRtNzl0</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kurdistanipeople?igsh=MTI3Y3kwZ3V0N3Zvag==">https://www.instagram.com/kurdistanipeople?igsh=MTI3Y3kwZ3V0N3Zvag==</a>

What’s Happening in Iran?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/679415d7-8982-43a6-bd02-b3d101449839/transcript

Andrew on Authoritarian Leaders

In 1 playlist(s)

It Could Happen Here

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips