How Bad Is It?: Why an Antifascism Scholar Fled the Country

The New Yorker staff writer Andrew Marantz joins Tyler Foggatt for the latest installment of “How Bad Is It?,” a regular checkup on the health of American democracy. Their guests are the Rutgers historians Mark Bray and Yesenia Barragan, a married couple who recently left the United States after Bray became the target of a right-wing doxing campaign. Bray and Barragan share the events leading up to their decision to leave the country with their family, including the death threats that followed Bray’s addition to a right-wing “professor watch list” and the portrayal of his work in conservative media as promoting political violence. Bray, who is the author of “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,” also speaks with Tyler and Andrew about his research into militant antifascism and how those ideas resonate in Donald Trump’s second Presidential term. They discuss the debates his work has sparked over political violence, free speech, and how his arguments about antifascism challenge conventional ideas of liberalism and academic freedom. This week’s reading: “ When the Government Stops Defending Civil Rights ,” by Eyal Press “ What if the Big Law Firms Hadn’t Caved to Trump? ,” by Fabio Bertoni “ Trump and the Presidency That Wouldn’t Shut Up ,” by Jill Lepore “ Why Biden’s White House Press Secretary Is Leaving the Democratic Party ,” by Isaac Chotiner “ Why Trump Tore Down the East Wing ,” by Adam Gopnik Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts . The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics . Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy , the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices