Episode 4: Spectacle

About this episode

The episode explores the American ultra right's post-war sympathy for Nazi war criminals and the rise of Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

Elements of the American ultra right -- including the trailing ends of the America First movement -- begin taking up a strange new cause after the war... sympathy for Nazi war criminals. The surprising efforts to oppose the Nazi war crimes trials, and advocate for individual Nazis at home and abroad, will involve some of the most high-profile voices on the American right, and will jumpstart the career of one rising Republican star, Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

People in this episode

Host: Rachel Maddow

Topics covered

• American ultra right
• Nazi war criminals
• Joseph McCarthy
• America First movement
• post-war politics
• Nazi war crimes trials

Keywords

• ultra right
• Nazi war criminals
• Joseph McCarthy
• America First
• war crimes trials
• American politics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: America First movement

More episodes of Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra

• Check Out a Preview for “Clock It” · February 12, 2026 · 6 min
• MS NOW Presents: Clock It with Symone and Eugene · February 5, 2026 · 2 min
• Episode 8: Mystery Man · August 5, 2024 · 1h 12m
• Episode 7: Mobilized · July 29, 2024 · 51 min
• Episode 6: Under Pressure · July 22, 2024 · 53 min
• Episode 5: Coming Home · July 15, 2024 · 53 min