Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Not a review, but first impressions
I have been devouring this podcast's episodes as they come out, and some I have listened to twice. It is a fascinating, well-researched plunge into the recent past at the end of WW2 and about a decade after. It focuses on how close the United States was to succumbing to the American ultra-right, describing themselves as Renaissance Nazi.
I grew up behind the Iron Curtain in the 1970s, went to school in 1980-90s, and never knew that the United States had such a rich history of brushing with domestic fascism. The first time I learned about Joe McCarthy's Communist witch hunt activities was when I was studying History of Broadcasting at Kansas State University in 1996 and wrote a course paper on Edward R. Murrow. At the time, I was impressed by how the journalist contributed to taking McCarthyism down but I had no idea how widely spread McCarthy's right-wing ideology was and that it had its tentacles almost in every sphere of American public life.
Until the Ultra podcast, I didn't know that McCarthy was hunting Communists not only in Hollywood and academia, but also among his fellow US Senators. The stories of Lester Hunt, Robert M. La Follette, Jr., Raymond Baldwin, Millard Tydings, William F. Benton who were blackmailed, driven to suicide, or smeared to the extent they lost their Senate seats are only a few examples of how McCarthy and his Senate allies destroyed lives and reputations of honorable American citizens. It was just enough to label them as Communists or Communist sympathizers, to barrage them with lies and fabrications, to smear their good names for the public to believe it all. For some, McCarthy remains a hero even today.
"Ultra" does a great job in putting together the big picture of what seems to be disparate and fragmented pieces of the far-right. Surprisingly, many connections lead to one central figure, who is not even McCarthy but someone I have never heard about before - Francis Yockey.
A white supremacist concerned with the decline of the Western civilization, Yockey was not only a Nazi sympathizer, he actually was an ideologue of the American fascist movement who formulated its most important ideas in this "masterpiece" titled "Imperium: The Philosophy of History and Politics." To this day, the Imperium to the American Nazis is what "Mine Kampf" was to the original Nazism. Lacking any method, historicity or actual research, the book is trading in the most famous anti-Semitic tropes and hateful ideas mixed in with Eugenics and "Imperative of the Western soul." Yockey refers to non-Whites who are in his mind bent on destroying the Western civilization as "vermin" and "poison in the Western civilization's blood." Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Many of Yockey's ideas today are resonating in what Tucker Carsons of modern America translate to their followers.
Yockey's figure is both mysterious and controversial. He had a confusing history with the American Army, complicated enough to allow him to be a case reviewer during the Nazi trials in Europe, where he came up with the idea of "defense" for the Nazi war criminals during the Malmady trials by smearing the American investigators and claiming that the Nazis under investigation were subject to torture, both physical and psychological. By the time the American intelligence services caught up with Yockey's activities, he was abroad trying to sell the component Hydrogen bomb to America's enemies. He obviously failed as the world did not go up in flames from an H-bomb explosion, but he is still a hero to many on the American right spectrum.
I have just finished listening to Episode 6 of Ultra's Season 2 and can't wait for the next episode to come out next Monday. Also, the podcast companion website has a lot of additional information for even a deeper dive into the history and influence of the American right. I highly recommend to watch the clips from the Malmedy Massacre trial, especially the testimony of the surviving soldiers and the evidence of how the American far right turned it into a circus trying to defend the Malmedy Nazi war criminals:
About the Creator
Lana V Lynx
Avid reader and occasional writer of satire and short fiction. For my own sanity and security, I write under a pen name. My books: Moscow Calling - 2017 and President & Psychiatrist
@lanalynx.bsky.social
Keep reading
More stories from Lana V Lynx and writers in History and other communities.
Ditched - Index
This index is just for my subscribers. I finished and published this long story or short novella of 6,000 words recently. I tried to link all previous parts of the story in the next one, so if you went along you shouldn't have been lost. This index is just put everything in one place.
By Lana V LynxExclusive • 4 months ago
Benjamin Franklin: The Mind That Helped Build a Nation
Benjamin Franklin was not born into greatness; he built it piece by piece with curiosity, discipline, and an unshakable belief in the power of learning. Born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin was the fifteenth of seventeen children in a modest household. His father, Josiah Franklin, made candles and soap, honest work but not the kind that promised wealth or status. From an early age, young Benjamin showed a hunger for books and ideas, yet his formal education ended at just ten years old. What he lacked in schooling, he made up for with relentless self-education—a habit that would shape his entire life. Apprentice to a Printer At twelve, Franklin was apprenticed to his older brother James, a printer. The print shop became Benjamin’s classroom. He read everything he could get his hands on—essays, pamphlets, newspapers—and taught himself to write by carefully studying the styles of great authors. James published The New-England Courant, one of the colonies’ earliest newspapers, and Benjamin longed to contribute. Because his brother would not take him seriously, Franklin wrote letters under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood,” pretending to be a witty widow. The letters were published and widely admired. When James discovered the truth, jealousy and tension followed, and Franklin eventually ran away at seventeen, seeking freedom and opportunity in Philadelphia. Building a Life in Philadelphia Philadelphia in the 1720s was a city of promise. Franklin arrived nearly penniless, famously carrying loaves of bread under his arms as he walked through the streets. Yet he possessed something more valuable than money: determination. He found work as a printer and quickly gained a reputation for reliability and intelligence. Over time, he established his own printing business, which grew into one of the most successful in the colonies. Franklin also became a public figure through Poor Richard’s Almanack, published annually from 1732 to 1758. Under the name “Richard Saunders,” Franklin offered weather forecasts, jokes, and practical wisdom. Sayings like “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” reflected his belief in hard work and common sense. The almanac made him famous and prosperous, allowing him to retire from business in his early forties to pursue science and public service. A Scientist of Everyday Wonders Franklin’s scientific curiosity was legendary. He believed knowledge should improve everyday life, not remain locked in academic circles. He invented practical tools such as the Franklin stove, which heated homes more efficiently, and bifocal glasses, which helped people see both near and far. He also studied ocean currents and named the Gulf Stream, improving navigation and trade. His most famous scientific experiment involved electricity. In 1752, Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm, demonstrating that lightning was a form of electricity. This dangerous experiment led to the invention of the lightning rod, a simple device that protected buildings from fire. Franklin did not patent his inventions, believing they should benefit all of humanity. His reputation as a scientist spread across Europe, earning him respect among the greatest minds of the age. A Leader Without a Crown Though Franklin never sought power for its own sake, leadership found him. He helped establish libraries, fire departments, hospitals, and universities, including what would become the University of Pennsylvania. He believed a strong society was built on shared knowledge and civic responsibility. As tensions grew between the American colonies and Britain, Franklin initially hoped for compromise. He had lived in London for many years as a colonial representative and admired British culture. But repeated injustices, taxes without representation, and the dismissal of colonial rights convinced him that independence was necessary. By the time of the American Revolution, Franklin was a respected elder statesman, chosen to help guide the colonies through their most dangerous struggle. Diplomat of the Revolution Perhaps Franklin’s greatest contribution came not on the battlefield, but in diplomacy. Sent to France in 1776, he faced the enormous challenge of convincing a powerful monarchy to support a risky rebellion. Franklin’s charm, wit, and reputation worked wonders. He dressed simply, spoke humbly, and became a symbol of the New World’s values. French philosophers admired him; common people celebrated him. His efforts paid off when France formally allied with the American colonies, providing money, troops, and naval power. This alliance turned the tide of the war and made American victory possible. Without Franklin’s diplomacy, the Revolution might have failed. Shaping a New Nation After the war, Franklin returned home as a hero. Though elderly and in poor health, he continued to serve. In 1787, at the age of 81, he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. While he did not speak often, his words carried great weight. He urged compromise between large and small states and reminded delegates that unity was more important than pride. His calm wisdom helped shape the United States Constitution. Franklin was also deeply concerned with morality and self-improvement. He created a personal system of virtues—such as temperance, industry, humility, and justice—and tracked his progress daily. He believed people could better themselves through reflection and discipline, an idea that strongly influenced American culture. Final Years and Lasting Legacy Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84. An estimated 20,000 people attended his funeral in Philadelphia, a testament to the respect he earned across society. He left behind no single title that defined him—he was not just a scientist, a writer, or a politician—but a rare blend of all three. Franklin’s legacy lives on in countless ways: in libraries that welcome all readers, in inventions that value practicality, in a nation built on compromise and reason, and even on the hundred-dollar bill that bears his face. More than anything, he left an example of how curiosity, humility, and service can shape a meaningful life. Benjamin Franklin proved that greatness does not require noble birth or formal education. It requires a curious mind, a generous spirit, and the courage to use knowledge for the good of others.
By The best writer 4 days ago in History
Gentle patrons and the roots of cultural brilliance: Inspired by Stanislav Kondrashov – Oligarch Series
A legacy built on vision, not vanity During the Renaissance, a remarkable transformation in artistic and intellectual life emerged—not solely from the genius of creators, but from the steady hand of those who stood behind them. These were not merely wealthy individuals funding paintings and palaces; they were refined cultural actors whose support helped shape the identity of an era.
By Stanislav Kondrashov2 days ago in History
How to Succeed at the Benson Directory®
Congratulations and welcome to the Benson Directory® employee #22391! As our newest call handler, you will have the privilege of speaking with dozens of unique and interesting people on a daily basis as well as the opportunity to earn bonuses for high performance. Contained within this handbook you will find a set of ease to follow instructions designed to help you settle in to your new role and begin paving the way to success.
By S. A. Crawford6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (3)
Yikes, that Yockey 😬
That Yockey guy seems so scaryyyy!
Rachel can drone on and on, but she is brilliant and so very smart! I'm glad her podcast is enlightening you.