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Scot Nakagawa

3 articles and 23 podcasts

Scot Nakagawa is a co-founder and co-director of the 22nd Century Initiative, a national strategy and action hub in the fight to defeat white nationalism and authoritarianism. Scot is also the founder of The Anti-Authoritarian Playbook, an online newsletter to the frontline of the growing movement to win a truly people-centered, pluralistic, multiracial and feminist democracy in the U.S.

Contributions from Scot Nakagawa

Looking Beyond Survival, with Ejeris Dixon

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Scot Nakagawa and Sue Hyde sit down with Ejeris Dixon, an organizer, strategist, and co-editor of Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement. Ejeris shares insights on navigating rising authoritarianism, building abolitionist futures, and strengthening community resilience drawn from their 20-plus years of experience in racial justice, LGBTQ, anti-violence, and economic justice movements. This episode dives deep into how movements can incorporate anti-fascist strategies and reimagine justice through transformative frameworks.

Choosing Democracy Today and Every Day

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Following last week's elections, Scot and Sue are joined by Daniel Hunter, co-founder of Choose Democracy, to discuss how we respond to authoritarians emboldened by the election results. In the episode, they take a deeper look together at Daniel's recent post-election essay 10 Ways to Be Prepared and Grounded Now That Trump Has Won What (first published by Waging Nonviolence and then shared by Convergence). What should we be doing to defend our democratic institutions? What can we learn from other countries fighting the rise of authoritarianism in their borders? Daniel also touches on the transformative power of trusting ourselves and making space for grieving in movement work. 

Florida Rising Fights Back, With Dwight Bullard

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Continuing this season’s exploration of how communities are fighting authoritarians, we turn the spotlight to Florida. Scot and Sue sit down with Dwight Bullard, Senior Political Advisor with Florida Rising. Dwight gives insights into what has been going on in Florida for the past 20 years and how authoritarians have captured the state. He shows us how authoritarian policies weaken public education and other institutions, and offers food for thought for the rest of us drawn from Florida's fightback.
Rachel Carmona AAP Cover

Mass Movements Make Room: Lessons From the Women’s March, with Rachel Carmona

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Scot and Sue are joined by Rachel Carmona, Executive Director of the Women’s March, to discuss threats to our democracy and what building mass movements has taught her. How is minority rule undermining democracy and what must organizers and believers in democracy do to win? How do we create a big enough tent to allow room for disagreement, while keeping a shared commitment to defeating authoritarianism? And what’s up with the authoritarian bloc's obsession with the LGBTQ community?

Activating the Next Generation- Young People in the Pro-Democracy Movement, with Alex Ames

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Throughout history, the participation and leadership of young people have defined the success of movements for justice - the same is true today. Scot and Sue are joined by Alex Ames, a movement leader in the state of Georgia, to give insights into the experiences of young people and democracy. Why are young people cynical of the democratic process in the US and how does social media and the rising cost of living create the conditions for isolation? What are the issues that matter most to them and how do we bring more young people into the pro-democracy movement?

What Could Have Been – Insurrection and Democracy in Crisis, with Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan

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Scot and Sue have a conversation with Alan Jenkins and Gan Golan, co-authors of the graphic novel 1/6, which speculates what could have happened if the insurrection on January 6, 2021 was successful. After the insurrection, Alan and Gan were concerned with how quickly the nation was forgetting, and more troubling, reinventing history. They retell this history in a compelling way that can reach everyday people; not just the story of what happened, but the story of what could have happened and how close we came to losing our democracy. How can this moment in history be a warning sign and call to action for us all?

As Goes North Carolina, So Goes the Nation, with Serena Sebring

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The American South remains the epicenter in the fight for freedom and equality in the US, and North Carolina specifically has been a battleground for authoritarians attempting to capture state government and for communities to defend the democratic process. Scot and Sue are joined by Serena Sebring, Executive Director of Blueprint North Carolina, an organization helping to lead the charge against these authoritarians. How has North Carolina historically and presently been a battleground for democracy, what are real threats that we must acknowledge and navigate, and what are victories and stories of hope that the rest of the country can learn from?