The word fascism may not be as precisely or universally defined as you seem to think. In the UK over the last several decades its chief association has been with German Nazis and British Nationalists, movements characterised by antisemitism and xenophobia. Examples of those do appear in the text.

However that the word fascism is used sparingly probably indicates the authors' own doubt that it is the appropriate term.

> these people are quite literally fighting for less government control. How can that be construed as fascist?

At risk of derailing this thread... It's entirely possible for someone to fight against government control in specific areas of policy. If that person feels threatened they might become more strident in their views, and become more supportive of new policies that implemented their preferences 'firmly'.

I've rarely seen anyone support 'less government' in 100% of situations. When anyone's societal values are threatened (real or imagined) there will be demand for the government to do something about it. When people feel increasingly threatened, they support increasingly 'robust' politicians.

Having said all that, I agree that the word 'fascist' is unhelpful here.