Ep. 206: CJ Hopkins compared modern Germany to Nazi Germany. Now he’s standing trial.

J Hopkins is an American playwright, novelist, and political
satirist. He moved to Germany in 2004. He publishes a self-titled
blog on Substack and is the editor of Consent Factory
Publishing. 


 


CJ’s most recent book, “The Rise of the New Normal Reich,” draws
a parallel between Nazi Germany and the response to the COVID-19
pandemic. In August 2022, it was banned on Amazon in Germany,
Austria, and the Netherlands. In the months that followed, CJ was
charged by German authorities with violating a section of the
German penal code that prohibits “disseminating information, the
intention of which is to further the aims of a former
National-Socialist organization [the Nazis].” He was recently
acquitted, but the prosecutor chose to appeal the decision. 


 


In the coming months, CJ will stand trial — again — for a crime
he claims he didn’t commit and for which he has already been
acquitted.


 


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Timestamps


0:00 Introduction


2:58 Who is CJ Hopkins?


9:35 CJ moves to Germany


15:02 CJ’s work since 2004


18:23 Berlin in 2020


27:18 “The Rise of the New Normal Reich”


34:01 CJ’s book banned in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands


37:05 German investigation


47:26 German sensitivities to Nazism 


50:17 Why didn’t CJ just pay the fine? 


54:03 CJ goes to trial


1:03:29 Double-jeopardy / prosecutorial appeal


1:08:49 Does CJ have regrets?


1:12:50 Conclusion


 


Show Notes 


Atlantic profile by Jamie Kirchick 


“Berlin Diary” by William L. Shirer 


“The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer


“The Rise of the New Normal Reich” by CJ Hopkins


Consent Factory 


“The Verdict” by CJ Hopkins, a Substack article about the
conclusion of his first trial


“The Rise of the New Normal Reich: Consent Factory Essays, Vol.
III, banned in Germany, Austria, and The Netherlands!” by CJ
Hopkins, a Substack article about his book being banned on Amazon


Transcript