Learn how Father Coughlin capitalized on the panic of the Great Depression to stoke fear, create enemies, and build a nationwide audience in the process. In this resource drawn from the podcast Radioactive: The Father Coughlin Story, students examine how Coughlin invoked conspiracy theories that spoke to common, antisemitic prejudices and inserted his increasingly influential voice into the 1932 presidential campaign. In the process they consider why demagogues have such strong appeal during times of crisis and uncertainty.