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2019: Ordinary Things, like elevators and headphones 2025: Ordinary Things, like staging a coup and military dictatorships

"Some time in January, I had nightmares about the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini" Happens to the best of us mate

it's great that nothing in the modern world can be compared to this in any way

When talking about fascist movements it's important to not only emphasize their atrocities, but their incompetence. Fascism crumbles when they encounter larger forces immune to their pageantry and imposing image, the most important thing to fascists is image above all else, including practical leadership

1:02:17 "Hitler's boyfriend, the deflated Mussolini" Is the best historical quote I've ever heard.

The cocaine definitely explains the wide-eyed glare.

The origins of the Roman salute being in stage productions of the time is such a perfect piece of trivia. It really goes to show just how deeply fascism, at its core, is nothing more than pageantry and the spinning of an emotional story.

It is so weird to me when I compare Italian Fascism and German Nazism. Often they are conflated as basically the same, but I find the differences are important. It’s easy to feel good about yourself because you aren’t a Nazi. However, just because you aren’t an antisemite or even necessarily a racist at all, doesn’t mean you aren’t a fascist.

Nowadays, Mussolini really doesn't get enough credit for how much he ruined everything everywhere for everyone forever

"Many who gathered didn't really know why they were here or what this new political movement was supposed to stand for. What they did know is that they were angry" And there is the catalyst.

My favourite thing about history is how it famously never repeats ever

Incredible job juxtaposing old footage with your travel shots. Didn’t think I’d watch the full hour, but your style kept me engaged. I laughed hard at your “9-piece nugget” line.

Just one comment from an Italian who is not an expert, but maybe a bit more familiar with the period (just by the fact of language of sources and proximity in memory). You have been a bit “light” on the extreme violence of the years before the rise to power of Mussolini. Fascists squads had killed hundreds (if not thousands) way before the rise to power. By beating, public executions, night incursions, kidnappings… their victims were in 99% of cases blue collar workers, union organisers, and protesting proletariats. Fascism was born as a union-busting squad. This impunity (and even support by the elites, as they were financed by factory owners) gave them the aura of invincibility that allowed them to enter into Parliament and conquer the country with an actual early minority of votes. But the violence was ruthless from the very beginning. Hangings, houses broken into in the middle of the nights and fathers shot in front of the kids because they went on strike, beatings, kidnappings… the level of violence was truly had to believe

Crazy to see you strolling around the places I’ve lived for most of my life: my grandpa (who as a kid was recruited as a soldier for the fascist party) was Union leader and became vice-mayor of Predappio after WWII for the socialist party. In the cemetery you’ve visited in Predappio, where Mussolini is buried, facing the crypt there’s the grave of Adone Zoli, who was the first prime minister of liberated Italy after Fascism, and (I’ve heard) specifically asked to be buried in front of his “enemy”.

Fantastic deep dive. Growing up in an American school, Mussolini and Italy’s role in WWII was always treated as a footnote to the mightier Japanese and German militaries. I learned a lot from this video.

If I’m lucky, In 50 years I’m going to be watching a documentary like this about right now.

Mussolini Oct, 1922: we're so back Mussolini July, 1943: it's so over Mussolini Sept, 1943: we're so back Mussolini April, 1945: it's so over

“The bullet only grazed his nose” really hits different…

Josh, there's a mistake- I think your video is upside down. Mussolini's head should be facing towards the ground.