Fake news, Henry Ford, and the Dearborn Independent. With Dr. Victoria Woeste Artwork

A Nazi on Wall Street Podcast

This is a podcast about US current events and how they relate to the history of the 1930s and 1940s. Elusive Films believes that the fight for the soul of America depends on understanding our history and where we've been before. Join hosts EJ Russo, Dr. Jason Weixelbaum, and special guest experts as they discuss historical topics relevant to today's political climate. We speak with bestselling authors, Pulitzer Prize winners, and up-and-coming scholars to help you make sense out of what's going on. This project came about as part of Elusive Films' larger plans to put this history on the big screen, so stay tuned! We hope you'll join us.

All Episodes

A Nazi on Wall Street Podcast

Fake news, Henry Ford, and the Dearborn Independent. With Dr. Victoria Woeste

June 28, 2021 • Jason Weixelbaum • Season 1 • Episode 2

What is the backstory of A Nazi on Wall Street? In order to tell the story of Nazi spies in New York in 1940, we started with FDR and the New Deal last episode. Now, we take on Henry Ford. And, of course--always with an eye toward what's happening in the present day.

In this second episode by Elusive Films, EJ Russo and Dr. Jay Weixelbaum discuss the current problem of "fake news," propaganda, and conspiracy theory that has run rampant through the Trump era and the pandemic. They are joined by Dr. Victoria Woeste, author of "Henry Ford's War on Jews" to learn about the dramatic episode of the defamation case against Ford and his propaganda newspaper, the Dearborn Independent.

We ask: How do we help our fellow citizens think critically about what they read online? Join us as we unpack the Fairness Doctrine, the rise of rightwing media outlets, and how the echoes of Ford's vicious antisemitism has echoes online today.