Rephonic
Artwork for Autocratic Despair
Donald Trump
Kash Patel
America 250
Antifa
Billy Bragg
Woody Guthrie
Global Fascism Studies
Green Bay, United States
Fashwave
WWE
Viktor Orbán
James Talarico
Fascism
US Flag Code
Graham Plattner
United States
Péter Magyar
Bob Dylan
Has Seth Rollins
Barack Obama

Stare into the abyss of the United States' descent into Authoritarianism with a truly funny comedian from Green Bay, WI and a very serious PHD in Global Fascism Studies from Cal-Berkeley.

Very Funny. Very Serious.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes15Founded3 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsComedyPolitics

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Artwork for Autocratic Despair

Latest Episodes

This week on Autocratic Despair, the comedy podcast about surviving American authoritarianism, Nick Mortensen and Dr. Craig open on a rare thing in 2026: a piece of good news, delivered with a knife in it. The Supreme Court handed down its decision o... more

This week on Autocratic Despair, the comedy podcast about surviving American authoritarianism, Nick Mortensen and Dr. Craig open on the strangest sales pitch in the country: Dana White, the UFC boss, in a Chevrolet ad, informing America that the corr... more

Craig's back from the desert and stuck at a four — buoyed by the World Cup, dragged down by the "National State Fair" spectacle. Nick's at a seven, and it's one man's fault.

We open on Elon Musk, who in a single week became the world's first trillio... more

We had a whole episode planned. A Delaney Hall follow-up with court receipts. A cold open about a flesh-eating parasite crawling north through Texas. A thing about active clubs. And then, on Monday, James Talarico opened his mouth on a podcast — and ... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dave Troy
Independent researcher; runs America 2.0; author of Dave Troy Presents
America 2.0; America2.News
Episode: Dave Troy Sounds Off

Hosts

Nick Mortenson
Host of Autocratic Despair; comedian from Green Bay, Wisconsin
Dr. Craig Johnson
Co-host; PhD in global fascism studies; lecturer

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 6 ratings
  • Circus peanuts

    Podcast Addict
    5
    CH
    2 months ago
  • A Spoonful of Sugar

    While the times we are living in are unsettling and anxiety-inducing for many of us, it’s a real comfort to hear Nick and Dr. Craig’s refreshing perspectives - simultaneously grounded and humorous - as we collectively cope with the increasingly fragile state of our democracy. A duo with clear authenticity and great chemistry, their collaboration is a much-needed spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lipper920
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Energetic, fearless, and insightful critique that stays entertaining.
A spoonful of sugar for democracy, with great chemistry between hosts.
Thoughtful, sharp analysis paired with humor; engaging for long-form discussions.
Chemistry and credibility make complex topics accessible and digestible.

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Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per EpisodeGender SkewLocation
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Frequently Asked Questions About Autocratic Despair

What is Autocratic Despair about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, humor-driven examination of American democracy and rising autocratic tendencies, blended with pointed political analysis and pop-culture riffs. Episodes balance rigorous criticism of fascist-adjacent rhetoric and policy with jokes, personal anecdotes, and timely references from current events, history, and media. Notable strengths include a fearless, no-holds-barred critique from a comedian's perspective paired with academic rigor from a PhD in global fascism studies, plus ongoing segments and dynamic chemistry between the hosts. The show's distinctive voice—irreverent yet earnest—helps contextualize complex political themes in an accessible, entertaining way, making it a likely fit for listeners who want wit without sacrificing in... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Autocratic Despair?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Autocratic Despair:

1. Fifteen Minutes of Fascism
2. Dave Troy Presents
3. The Nerd Reich
4. It Could Happen Here
5. Know Your Enemy

How many episodes of Autocratic Despair are there?

Autocratic Despair launched 3 months ago and published 15 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Autocratic Despair?

Recent guests on Autocratic Despair include:

1. Dave Troy

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