It's thrown around a lot now because it's apt. And the Republicans need to rely on it more and more as people realize the truth to the capitalist propaganda and they can't keep in power using BS like trickle down economics. People are understanding that equality isn't a part of what Republicans are interested in, so they need to appeal to the people who aren't interested in equality.

The rich are one group that benefits from inequality but are outnumbered by the poor, so that leaves people who believe in fascist ideals, like one race is better than others, or gender, or gender preference, or some other trait that means they can feel superior without needing to do anything that sets them apart.

Which might have been at the root of why people were willing to believe that bullshit that favoured the ruling class in the first place because my own reaction to "trickle down economics" the first time I heard of it was that it was fucking stupid. I still don't see many people pointing out that even if it did work, it implied that some people deserve the bulk of resources to pass through their hands and be used to get labour and other goods from those it "trickles down" to.

I'd argue that the American dream itself was fascist, at least the versions that have everyone aspiring to be billionaires. The Confederacy was fascist, existing purely because they thought that some men should be able to own others outright.