How do political ideologies like fascism take shape, spread, and gain power over the way we think and act? Justin Freebourn, Ph.D. tackles this big question in this episode. He holds his ph.D. in Political Science from UC Riverside and has published work in the journals of Party Politics, Political Research Quarterly, and Legislative Studies Quarterly.

As Freebourn shares in his talk from Fall Flex Day 2025 called "Teaching Under Fascism: Ideological Framing for Learning and Science", he examinates how social sciences can shed light on how political shifts can lead to erosion of democratic competition making us fall into a system of exclusion and control. In this episode Freebourn explores how political ideology, persuasion, and knowledge itself is organized. Let's listen in.

References/Resources:

• Baer, J. A. (1983). Equality under the Constitution: Reclaiming the Fourteenth Amendment. Cornell University Press.

• Bishin, B. (2009). Tyranny of the Minority: The subconstituency politics theory of representation. Temple University Press.

• Borg, M. J. (2009). The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a life of faith. Zondervan.

• Freebourn, J. P. (2023). Fiscal Policy Preferences in the US Context: Theory, Measurement, and Practice. University of California, Riverside.

• Freebourn, J.P. (Forthcoming). Imagining Tomorrow: Americans' attitudes towards basic income. The Social Science Journal.

• French, J. R., & Raven, B. (1959). The Bases of Social Power. Studies in Social Power.

• Golash-Boza, T. M. (2016). Race and Racisms: A critical approach. Oxford University Press.

• Mlodinow, L. (2013). Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior. Vintage.

• Oatley, T. (2018). International Political Economy. Routledge.

• Stewart, A. J., McCarty, N., & Bryson, J. J. (2020). Polarization under rising inequality and economic decline. Science advances, 6(50), eabd4201.

Run Time: 1 hour, 7 min

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

We appreciate your support and hope you've enjoyed and learned from this season's episodes so far! We will be taking a short break from releasing episodes over the coming holiday season. You can expect new episode releases when we return in the New Year, in January 2026.

The best way to not miss our return is to make sure you're subscribed to the podcast on your favorite listening app - if you're not already subscribed.

From everyone here at the Mt. SAC podcast - we are wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!

Run Time: 2:00 min

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Grounded in the work and priorities of the Academic Senate, Dr. Tania Anders, an Oceanography professor and part of the Earth Sciences program and current President of the Academic Senate shares her insight on the value of a great team with diverse experiences and strengths in the senate to support thoughtful work in the Senate, as well as in the classroom and lab.

Listen in for Tania's concise explanation of the Senate role, commonly called "the 10+1," into three areas of focus. You'll learn how DEISA + principles are at the core and how healing-centered practices can help us better support our newly hired faculty.

Join us as we follow the threads of our local Senate priorities, learn what is driven by state-level legislation, and how this impacts faculty and students. Enjoy!

Resources:

• "Governance Committees" Mt. SAC, https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/committees/
• Healing Centered Engagement (HCE) at Mt. SAC." Mt. SAC, https://www.mtsac.edu/pod/hce/healing_centered_engagement_info.html
• "Mt. SAC 2035." & Mt. SAC www.mtsac.edu/2035/ - "The college-wide plan to serve as the foundation of integrated planning. "Gives direction to accomplish the Mission and means to assess progress toward that goal."
• Mt. SAC Academic Senate. Mt. SAC, https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/academicsenate/

• Informational and resource page for the Academic Senate, Mt. SAC's faculty governance body makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees academic and professional matters. This is the best resource to learn about the 10+1, serving on committees, being a faculty coordinator or liaison, accessing Senate resolutions, agendas, and minutes, as well who is currently serving on the Senate - Professional & Organizational Development Mt. SAC.
• https://www.mtsac.edu/pod/
• Vision 2030 - The July 2025 edition
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Website/docs/vision2030/vision-2030-report.pdfThe Chancelor's Office system-wide plan for "building the most inclusive, future-focused, student-centered and worker-centered systems of higher education in the nation."

Run Time: 34:14

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE