Interview Only w/ Gal Beckerman - How To Be A Dissident

<p>Gal Beckerman &mdash; author of the new book <em>How to Be a Dissident</em> &mdash; joins the Chuck Toddcast for a timely conversation about what it actually takes to resist authoritarianism, written explicitly for an American audience that he argues is now experiencing something abnormal and authoritarian for the first time. Beckerman, drawing on his years of reporting on historical resistance movements, identifies the qualities that successful dissidents across cultures and eras tend to share: the ability to step away from human conformity, a deep sense of pessimism that paradoxically motivates action, and a willingness to be reckless in ways that expose the cruelty of the system they're fighting &mdash; whether that's putting children in harm's way during the Birmingham civil rights protests, setting oneself on fire to prove a point, or Alexei Navalny choosing to return to Russia knowing he would likely lose his life. He explains why killing dissidents often backfires by making them immortal, why humor and satire are uniquely powerful tools that authorities have always tried to suppress (medieval rulers banned satire for a reason), and the simple question every dissident eventually faces: "Can I live with myself?"</p> <p>The conversation turns to what Beckerman sees happening in America right now. He praises the No Kings protests for ramping up demonstrations strategically and points to Minneapolis during ICE's occupation as a moment where ordinary Americans demonstrated genuine dissident behavior. Beckerman makes the provocative argument that the most effective dissidents tend to come from within the system rather than from outside it. He compares Hungary's recent overthrow of Orb&aacute;n, which was made possible by years of civic organizing in rural areas building the sense of community needed to believe change was possible, with America's institutional capitulation under Trump. He argues Americans weren't prepared to act because they'd never faced this situation before, but that ICE's actions in Minneapolis genuinely woke many people up, They close with cautious optimism: Trump has shaken Americans out of complacency, voter turnout is at its highest in a century, the country has become more sophisticated about protest, and that most dissidents don't realize they've succeeded in the moment they're acting.</p> <p>Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at <a href="https://ethos.com/chuck">https://ethos.com/chuck</a>. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.</p> <p>&nbsp;Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.&nbsp;</p> <p>Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com &amp; enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order.</p> <p>Timeline:</p> <p>(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)</p> <p>00:00 Gal Beckerman joins the Chuck ToddCast</p> <p>01:45 The book is intended for an American audience&nbsp;</p> <p>02:15 Americans are experiencing something abnormal &amp; authoritarian</p> <p>03:00 The conditions for a &ldquo;normal life&rdquo; are being impeded on in America</p> <p>03:30 We saw true dissidents in Minneapolis during ICE occupation</p> <p>05:00 Most people are hardwired to conform, Minneapolis didn&rsquo;t</p> <p>05:30 Dissidents say &ldquo;no&rdquo; when their conscience is being violated</p> <p>06:30 The most simple question for dissidents is &ldquo;Can I live with myself?&rdquo;</p> <p>08:30 What made Soviet dissidents successful vs. modern Russians?</p> <p>10:00 Soviet Jews were oppressed, but also couldn&rsquo;t leave</p> <p>10:45 Soviet Jews broadcast to the world that they were basically prisoners</p> <p>12:30 Orban&rsquo;s fall in Hungary had been percolating for years</p> <p>13:30 Civic organizations in rural Hungary had been organizing</p> <p>14:30 The sense of community helped people think Orban could be defeated</p> <p>15:30 No Kings protests have been smart about ramping up demonstrations</p> <p>16:00 People can join No Kings for their preferred cause &amp; find community</p> <p>17:30 Are the most effective dissidents the people who came from the system?</p> <p>18:15 Navalny in Russia was a creature of the establishment</p> <p>19:15 Liz Cheney didn&rsquo;t work as a dissident since she wasn&rsquo;t from Trump wing</p> <p>20:45 The qualities found in dissidents transcend cultures and eras</p> <p>22:00 Dissidents have to be able to step away from human conformity</p> <p>22:45 Pessimism is a common quality in dissidents</p> <p>24:15 If you think things will get better, it doesn&rsquo;t motivate you to act</p> <p>25:30 The difference between fatalism and pessimism</p> <p>27:15 Humor and satire are a great way to speak to broader audiences</p> <p>28:30 The absurdity in satire cuts through</p> <p>30:00 Satire was pulled down by authorities during the middle ages</p> <p>30:30 Why is recklessness the mark of a successful dissident?</p> <p>31:30 Putting children in harms way in Birmingham showed cruelty of segregation</p> <p>32:45 People set themselves on fire to prove a point</p> <p>34:00 Navalny risked and ultimately lost his life by going back to Russia</p> <p>35:30 Killing dissidents can make them immortal, make them more powerful</p> <p>37:45 It&rsquo;s important to understand what qualities make for a powerful dissident</p> <p>38:45 We&rsquo;ve seen institutions and people capitulate in America</p> <p>39:30 Disney settling with Trump put a permanent stain on corporate owned media</p> <p>42:00 Americans weren&rsquo;t prepared to act because they&rsquo;ve never faced this situation</p> <p>42:45 ICE going to Minneapolis really woke up many Americans</p> <p>43:15 Being a citizen does demand hard choices sometimes</p> <p>46:15 Israeli society is organized around the idea that citizenship is active work</p> <p>47:00 The upside to the Trump era, is the highest voter turnout in a century</p> <p>48:30 Trump has shaken many Americans out of their sense of complacency</p> <p>49:30 America has become more sophisticated about protesting&nbsp;</p> <p>51:15 America wants change badly, they keep voting for it</p> <p>52:00 Change takes time and people are increasingly impatient</p> <p>54:00 What lesson do you hope people most learn from your book?</p> <p>56:45 Moral choices are a burden, but are also creative acts</p> <p>58:15 Most dissidents don&rsquo;t know they are successful in the moment</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>