Demonstrators are gearing up for another nationwide No Kings Day Protest this weekend against President Donald Trump. 

If you don’t know what we’re talking about, here’s a tagline on the event’s website to catch you up to speed: “Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism.” 

For years, Americans on the left have called Trump an authoritarian. And for a lot of people, his second go in the White House has only reinforced these labels.

In the past year, Trump has pardoned rioters who tried to keep him in office after a free and fair election; deployed the National Guard to major U.S. cities against the wishes of state governors; and called for the prosecution of his critics by the U.S. Justice Department. 

But does Trump’s expansion of executive authority make him… and authoritarian? Or a fascist, as some argue? Two experts from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies hash it out with us. 

Guest:
Scott Radnitz, Herbert J. Ellison Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the University of Washington
Daniel Bessner, Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Associate Professor in American Foreign Policy at the University of Washington and co-host of American Prestige


Related stories:
U.S. is sliding toward authoritarianism, hundreds of scholars say : NPR
Trump Vows to Prosecute Political Enemies — Who’s Next? | TIME
What is fascism? Experts unpack the ideology : NPR

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Demonstrators are gearing up for another nationwide No Kings Day Protest this weekend against President Donald Trump.&nbsp;
If you don&rsquo;t know what we&rsquo;re talking about, here&rsquo;s a tagline on the event&rsquo;s website to <a href="https://nokingsmovement.com/pages/no-kings-day-protest">catch you up to speed</a>: &ldquo;Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism.&rdquo;&nbsp;
For years, Americans on the left have called Trump an authoritarian. And for a lot of people, his second go in the White House has only reinforced these labels.
In the past year, Trump has pardoned rioters who tried to keep him in office after a free and fair election; deployed the National Guard to major U.S. cities against the wishes of state governors; and called for the prosecution of his critics by the U.S. Justice Department.&nbsp;
But does Trump&rsquo;s expansion of executive authority make him&hellip; and authoritarian? Or a fascist, as some argue?&nbsp;Two experts from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies hash it out with us.&nbsp;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Scott Radnitz, Herbert J. Ellison Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the University of Washington</li>
<li>Daniel Bessner, Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Associate Professor in American Foreign Policy&nbsp;at the University of Washington and co-host of <a href="https://americanprestigepod.com/">American Prestige</a> </li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/04/22/nx-s1-5340753/trump-democracy-authoritarianism-competive-survey-political-scientist">U.S. is sliding toward authoritarianism, hundreds of scholars say : NPR</a></li>
<li><a href="https://time.com/7321683/trump-political-opponents-doj-prosecution/">Trump Vows to Prosecute Political Enemies &mdash; Who&rsquo;s Next? | TIME</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5164488/harris-trump-fascist-explained">What is fascism? Experts unpack the ideology : NPR</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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For years, Americans on the left have called Trump an authoritarian and a fascist. Two professors at the University of Washington weigh in on whether these labels are accurate.

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