> The vast majority of people who casually throw around the word "fascist" are very happy to have a large, interventionist state that controls society. All "fascist" seems to mean here is that the interventions chosen don't align with the speaker's values.

Respectfully, I think this is overly reductionist. Words have meanings, and in many cases I believe "fascism" to be the appropriate classification for a number of hard-right moves in recent years, such as womens health rights and restrictions among other political bombs.