Ep. 327 Inside the 'American Reich' with Eric Lichtblau and Shereen Rahming

Still from Episode 327 of Jeanne Pepper, Eric Lichtblau and Shereen Rahming March 2026

Eric Lichtblau

Eric Lichtblau is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and best-selling author known for his deep dives into the most pressing issues of national security, civil rights, and political extremism. Having spent years at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, Lichtblau has built a career on exposing the hidden structures of power and prejudice. His latest work, American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate, serves as a definitive account of the modern far-right movement, using the tragic murder of Jeanne Pepper’s son, Blaze Bernstein, as a lens to examine the rise of the Atomwaffen Division.

Shereen Rahming

Joining the conversation is Shereen Rahming, a children’s author, educator, and a key figure in the South Orange County activism scene. Born in Belize, Shereen moved to the United States and eventually settled in Ladera Ranch, where her efforts to address systemic intolerance and a conservative culture of exclusion caught the attention of major media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times. Shereen’s journey from a dedicated educator to a vocal community advocate provided Eric Lichtblau with a vital local perspective for his investigation, making her a central interviewee in the pages of American Reich.

American Reich

The intersection of Jeanne’s advocacy, Eric’s work and Shereen’s lived experience is a study in meaningful synchronicity. While Eric was mapping the national landscape of neo-Nazi radicalization, Shereen and Jeanne were confronting the manifestation of those same ideologies on the ground in their own neighborhoods. Their shared presence in this investigative project highlights a crucial truth: that the work of a global journalist and two local activists share sides of the same coin when it comes to defending democratic values and protecting vulnerable communities.

In this episode, host Jeanne Pepper explores the "unusual synchronicities" that bind her and these guests together. A striking example of this occurred when a PeppTalks podcast volunteer spotted Shereen in a Starbucks reading American Reich, a few days after its’ release, only to discover that Shereen was a featured subject in the book. This is the meeting that bridged the gap between the recorded history in Eric’s pages and the ongoing reality of Shereen and Jeanne’s advocacy illustrating how deeply the "New Age of Hate" has impacted individual lives and community structures alike.

The discussion moves beyond the statistics of extremism to the human cost of radicalization. Eric shares his perspectives on the radical right after the rigorous process of documenting the Atomwaffen Division's influence, while Shereen discusses the personal toll of being a visible target while standing up against hate and Jeanne shares perspective and the impact on her life of the actions of one Orange County radicalized neo-nazi. Together, they provide a roadmap for awareness and resistance, emphasizing that the first steps in dismantling extremist movements is the courage to name them, increasing public awareness and persistence in telling the stories of the innocent people forever harmed by hate and its outcomes.

Finally, the episode looks toward the future of advocacy and education. With Jeanne’s advocacy, Shereen’s background in education and Eric’s expertise in historical reporting, they discuss how we can equip the next generation with the tools to identify and reject hate. This conversation is not just an analysis of a book, but a call to action for every listener to remain vigilant and engaged in their own communities, ensuring that the light of truth always outshines the shadows of extremism.

American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate is a true-crime book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eric Lichtblau, published in 2026, that investigates the resurgence of neo-Nazi violence, focusing on a specific murder in Orange County, California, and exploring the broader rise of extremist hate in America. The book is a follow-up to Lichtblau's The Nazis Next Door and serves as a deeply reported look into modern white supremacist movements.

Parent Letter to Bernsteins referred to

Jeanne read parts of a letter from the parent of one of the Atomwaffen (AW) members at the time of Blaze’s murder - a summary of that letter here:

“A grieving parent wrote a heartfelt apology to Jeanne and Gideon Bernstein after seeing a 48 Hours segment about Blaze’s death. She reflects on her shame and sorrow that her son joined the AW group in Nevada, was interviewed by the FBI, and has since changed his name—possibly distancing himself from the group or even on the run from it. She does not believe he was involved in Blaze’s death but feels deep guilt for his affiliation. The situation has torn her family apart; other siblings refuse contact or to attend gatherings if he might be present. She prays for those hurt, for her son’s change of heart, and for an end to the hate that led to this tragedy, and expresses regret at never having known Blaze, whom she describes as kind and charming. She expresses deep remorse and guilt on behalf of their family for harm caused by their son and for any suffering inflicted by the AW group. They reject the group's ideals, offer a heartfelt apology, and say they cannot comprehend the recipients’ loss. They pray for peace, love, and blessings for the families affected, praise the BlazeItForward foundation as a positive legacy for Blaze, and offer condolences, regret, and hope.”

Farrah Kahn Incident referred to by Jeanne Pepper and discussed in this Letter to the Editor-in-Chief of Orange Coast Magazine, Tina Borgatta:

Re: February 28, 2026, Hate Incident Involving Former Mayor Farrah Khan

Dear Ms. Borgatta,

We write on behalf of leading Jewish community organizations across Orange County to express our serious concern regarding the inclusion of Farrah Khan among this year’s “OC Kick-Ass Women.” In light of her recent public conduct, we respectfully urge you to reconsider this recognition.

On February 28, 2026, Ms. Khan used her public social media platforms—identifying herself as “Former Mayor”—to amplify an unverified report alleging that Israel had attacked an Iranian girls’ school. In doing so, she added the commentary: “The sick pedophiles/cannibals are doing what they do best.” A screenshot of this post is included as Appendix A.

This language reflects a blood libel—an historically documented form of antisemitic incitement that falsely accuses Jews of grotesque violence and has, for centuries, fueled real-world attacks against Jewish communities. 1 This was not a private remark, but a public statement broadcast to a broad audience under her official identity.

When challenged, Ms. Khan did not retract the statement, but instead attempted to narrow its scope to “government officials and the military.” This distinction is not meaningful in the Israeli context, where military service is compulsory and deeply intertwined with civilian life. Such rhetoric, even when qualified in this way, continues to perpetuate harmful and dangerous narratives.

This incident comes at a time of heightened antisemitic activity both locally2 and nationally. Orange County is home to a significant Jewish and Israeli-American population, many of whom have deep personal and familial connections to Israel. Public rhetoric of this nature contributes to an environment in which Jewish individuals and institutions feel increasingly vulnerable.

Recognition as a “Kick-Ass Woman”—particularly one described as leading with “empathy” and “compassion”—carries with it an implicit endorsement of values and conduct. Continuing to

1 See, e.g., “Blood Libel: A False, Incendiary Claim Against Jews” available at

https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/blood-libel-false-incendiary-claim-against-jews.

2 See 2024 Orange County Hate Crime Report at 8

honor Ms. Khan under these circumstances risks signaling that rhetoric of this kind is compatible with the standards your publication seeks to elevate. We believe such recognition should reflect not only past achievements, but current conduct that upholds the dignity and safety of all communities.

Accordingly, we respectfully request that Orange Coast Magazine remove Ms. Khan from this year’s list of honorees. Given the recency and seriousness of this issue, we urge prompt consideration and action.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Matthew Friedman

Regional Director

ADL Orange County/Long Beach

APPENDIX A: SCREENSHOT OF FARRAH KAHN’S FEBRUARY 28, 2026 POST:

Episode 325

Hosted by: Jeanne Pepper

Guests: Eric Lichtblau and Shereen Rahming

Producer: Eli Moskowitz

Executive Producer: Jeanne Pepper

Original Theme Music: Jay Bernstein

Special Thank You to our volunteers

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