What do the 1930s and 2025 have in common? A lot more than you think—and none of it’s good. In this special episode of The Make It Make Sense Podcast, Davette and Travis connect the dots between the rise of fascism in Hitler’s Germany and the authoritarian creep happening right now in the U.S.We dig into: • How oligarchs shaped policy then—and how they’re doing it again now • The eerie parallels between Hitler’s rise and Trump’s comeback • Book bans, anti-DEI laws, and the dangerous return of “purity politics” • The role of racist ideology in shaping American governance, past and present • And how fascism isn’t just back—it never really leftPlus, we wrap it all up with a Wanna Learn More? segment packed with must-read books and resources to help you stay sharp and stay resisting.Wanna Learn More?Books featured or referenced in this episode: • Stamped from the Beginning by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619–2019 (co-edited by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Dr. Keisha N. Blain) • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • Goodnight Racism by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley • They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer • The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt • The Road to Unfreedom by Timothy Snyder • Twilight of Democracy by Anne ApplebaumFollow & Support Us:TikTok: @themimspodwdtleeInstagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepodFacebook: The Make It Make Sense PodcastEmail: themakeitmakesensepod@gmail.comBuy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mimspod#MakeItMakeSensePod #SameAsItEverWas #OldFascismNewFascism #StopAuthoritarianism #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory #BookBans #DEI #PodcastWithPurpose #StayLoud #ResistAndPersist #HistoryRepeats #MIMSPod

Episode Description:This week on The Make It Make Sense Podcast, we break down the truth behind tariffs—what they actually are, how they work, and why Trump keeps pretending they’re a flex when they’re really just a fancy tax on us.Davette gives a history lesson that stretches from the Boston Tea Party to Trump’s Twitter tantrums, explains the difference between tariffs and a Value-Added Tax (VAT), and lays out how this mess impacts everything from your groceries to your job. Travis adds in his signature shocked reactions, and together they ask: Who’s really paying for this trade war? (Spoiler: it’s not China.)Links Mentioned in This Episode: • www.myvote.org – Check your voter registration • www.brookings.edu – Search “Tariffs 101” for nonpartisan explainers • https://ustr.gov – U.S. Trade Representative site (yes, it’s real and it matters) • Episode Resistance Brief – Action items from this episode on our InstagramFollow Us + Join the Conversation: • TikTok: @themimspodwdtlee • Instagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepod • Email us: themimspod@gmail.comHelp us grow the movement:Like the episode? Smash that like button, leave us a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode that makes actual sense. Your support helps us keep resisting, educating, and exposing the mess.

This week’s Damage Report is brought to you by the letter “O”… as in Oz, outrage, and oh no, what now?!We break down: • Dr. Oz Confirmed: Yes, that Dr. Oz. The wellness huckster turned political appointee. We talk about what this means for public trust, health policy, and the administration’s growing obsession with propaganda over credentials. • Nazi Quote on the House Floor: A member of Congress quoted Hitler — on purpose. We dig into who said it, who challenged it, and what the silence says about our political climate. • The Relationship Ban in China: A new directive bars U.S. citizens in China from dating Chinese nationals. This isn’t just xenophobia—it’s textbook fascism.And of course, we close with “You Can’t Sit Here” — our weekly moment of civic accountability.⸻THE RESISTANCE BRIEF: WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK 1. CALL YOUR SENATORSDemand accountability for Dr. Oz’s confirmation. We deserve better than quacks in lab coats.www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative 2. FLOOD YOUR SCHOOL BOARDAnd state legislatures with opposition to book bans. Read a passage from a banned book during public comment.pen.org/book-bans 3. SUPPORT CAMPUS PROTESTSStand with students punished for speaking truth. Protect academic freedom.aclu.org | chronicle.com 4. CONTACT THE STATE DEPARTMENTDemand answers on the international relationship directive. This isn’t foreign policy—it’s fascism.www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 5. TALK TO YOUR PEOPLEShare banned books. Share facts. The more they try to isolate us, the more we need to connect.⸻LISTEN NOWBecause they’re betting on confusion — and we’re here to make it make sense.#TheDamageReport #DrOz #BookBans #CampusProtests #RelationshipBan #MakeItMakeSensePod #ResistanceBrief #YouCantSitHereFollow the pod:TikTok: @themimspodwdtleeInstagram: @welcometothemakeitmakesensepodEnterYou