On Tuesday, August 31, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) joined The Recount Senior Political Producer Steve Morris on Instagram Live to discuss the latest with President Biden.
Morris: President Biden's comments, last week, labeling Mega Republicans semi fascist. It's the first time he's used words—language along those lines, caught some people by surprise, and inspired a little bit of backlash, outrage, real or faint from conservatives. I'm curious, would you agree with that framing and phrasing? Would you use it yourself?
Rep. Cicilline: Yeah, look I think there's no question that the Trumpists and the people who have been supporting the former president—if you look at kind of the key characteristics of fascism, Umberto Eco, kind of has—a great philosopher—laid those out. I think, you know, the use of plot, the use of violence to achieve a political objective, the use of misinformation and propaganda, really power for power sake, stoking division and anger, sort of selected populism. All of those things have been presented by the former president and his followers. I think the president's point was that we face a real threat with this ultra maga movement that is anti-democratic, that is in so many ways undermining our democracy in kind of pursuit of their devotion to a single person, an authoritarian figure and that's classic fascist behavior. So I think it's an important criticism and acknowledges the reality we're living in.
