Burn the Boats

Evergreen Podcasts, the network that brings you Burn the Boats, is pleased to introduce Countdown to Dallas. On the sixtieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, former White House correspondent Paul Brandus takes an in-depth look at the seemingly unconnected events that led to that infamous afternoon in Dallas, Texas. He explores the troubled and broken life of Kennedy’s killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, and challenges six decades worth of conspiracy theories—none of which have been proven. Enjoy the first episode here. You can find more episodes of Countdown to Dallas in your favorite listening app, or at Evergreenpodcasts.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy MacLean is a historian and professor at Duke University. Her book Democracy in Chains details how the radical right, funded by billionaires, has slowly molded the American political landscape to change the rules of democracy in their favor… all with the help of an economist you have likely never heard of. Today’s episode is guest hosted by Amanda Weinstein. She studies the quality of life in suburban America and is the co-host of the podcast, The Suburban Women Problem. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/boats Visit https://Lomi.com/BOATS and use code BOATS at checkout to save $50! Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 by going to boatsbeets.com Head to https://Rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pat Ryan is an Army combat vet who represents New York’s 18th district. In this interview, he talks about the unprecedented House Speaker elections, right-wing extremism, and his new resolution. Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic Get up to 50% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com/BOATS and use code CYBER at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Kathleen Belew is a historian and expert on the American white power movement. In this episode, she explains how the rhetoric used by Trump and Alt-Right groups is both dangerous and purposeful. Dr. Kathleen Belew is a professor at Northwestern University and author of Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America. You can find Kathleen on Twitter at @Kathleen_Belew, and learn more about her at kathleenbelew.com. Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’ll automatically get an extra free pack of 850+ honey sticks with your order - a $15 value. Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 by going to boatsbeets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Stewart is a reporter and author who has covered religious liberty, politics, policy, and education for over a decade. Her book The Power Worshippers details how the religious right has risen to power, and how they plan to use that power to impose their vision on American Society. This episode is guest hosted by Dara Starr Tucker. Following the January 6th insurrection, Dara was inspired to educate others about the political and social issues facing our country, and has become an online political commentator. Her video commentaries have garnered widespread attention, her TikTok and Instagram channels have over a million subscribers, and last year she started the podcast I’m All Over the Place to take a deeper dive into the content she posts. Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic Head to https://Rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 by going to boatsbeets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is an historian who specializes in authoritarianism and propaganda. Her most recent book, Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present, examines how authoritarians use propaganda, virility, corruption, and violence to stay in power, and how they can be opposed. In this interview, Ruth reveals how Trump and the radical right are paving a path toward authoritarianism in the US. If you’d like to hear more from Ruth, you can subscribe to her weekly newsletter Lucid for free. Also, make sure to check out her website, ruthbenghiat.com, and follow her on Twitter @ruthbenghiat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Finley is a former officer within the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, where she served in West Africa and Europe. She is now a columnist and author who focuses on security and intelligence issues. In this episode, she discusses authoritarianism, the intelligence community, Russia, and how former Trump officials were susceptible to foreign influence. Visit https://Lomi.com/BOATS and use code BOATS at checkout to save $50! Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 by going to boatsbeets.com To shop plant based bags and replace single use plastics all over your home, visit holdonbags.com/BOATS or enter BOATS at checkout to save 20% off your order. Head to https://Rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Rothschild is a journalist and expert on conspiracy theories. His new book, Jewish Space Lasers, details how myths about the Rothschilds, a German-Jewish banking family, have influenced anti-semitic conspiracy theories for 200 years. In this interview Mike talks about the origins of anti-semitic conspiracies, and how they’ve grown to dominate right-wing American politics. Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’ll automatically get an extra free pack of 850+ honey sticks with your order - a $15 value. Head to https://tryfum.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Navy SEAL and founder of Veterans for Responsible Leadership explains why he thinks Civil War in the US is unrealistic, but future political violence isn’t. Dan is a former Navy SEAL with multiple combat deployments. After returning home, he attended Harvard Medical School and became an Emergency Medicine doctor at the University of Vermont. Dan is a conservative, but was appalled by Trump’s comments and messages during the 2016 election. Dan did not vote for Trump in that election, but decided to give him a chance. After a year of the Trump Presidency, Dan said Trump was “worse than I thought he would be—and I thought he was going to be terrible.” In response, Dan created Veterans for Responsible Leadership, an organization that is dedicated to holding public officials accountable and helping to defeat candidates like Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Hogg discusses the political burden placed on Gen-Z, his trauma from the Parkland shooting, gun violence, and protests. David is a survivor of the Parkland shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in 2018. Following the attack, he and his classmates founded March for Our Lives, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence in the U.S, and held the largest single day of protest against gun violence in history. Since then, David has become a leader in the fight to end gun violence. He graduated from Harvard this year, and has co-founded Leaders We Deserve, an organization that aims to help elect young, progressive candidates to office. In the wake of the UNC shooting, a March for Our Lives Protest is being held today in Raleigh. Learn more here. David Hogg discusses the political burden placed on Gen-Z, his trauma from the Parkland shooting, gun violence, and protests. David is a survivor of the Parkland shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in 2018. Following the attack, he and his classmates founded March for Our Lives, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence in the U.S, and held the largest single day of protest against gun violence in history. Since then, David has become a leader in the fight to end gun violence. He graduated from Harvard this year, and has co-founded Leaders We Deserve, an organization that aims to help elect young, progressive candidates to office. In the wake of the UNC shooting, a March for Our Lives Protest is being held today in Raleigh. Learn more here. Head to https://tryfum.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Neurohacker: Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic. Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’ll automatically get an extra free pack of 850+ honey sticks with your order - a $15 value. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/boats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Commentator Dara Starr Tucker talks about why many white Americans hide behind “politeness” as an excuse for not confronting racism. She also discusses the January 6th insurrection, the song “Try That in a Small Town,” and the damage done by nostalgia for the Confederacy. Dara is a social commentator and vocalist. Following the January 6th insurrection, Dara was inspired to educate others about the political and social issues facing our country. Her video commentaries have garnered widespread attention, her TikTok and Instagram channels have over a million subscribers, and last year she started the podcast I’m All Over the Place to take a deeper dive into the content she posts. Head to https://Rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Representative Jason Crow is a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and represents Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District. He was in the Capitol building during the January 6th insurrection, and has been hailed as “one of the heroes of that day” for guiding fellow members of Congress to safety. In this interview, Rep. Crow discusses Space Command remaining in his state, right-wing extremism, and the lack of political courage shown by Republican politicians. GreenChef.com/60ken and use code 60ken to get 60% off plus free shipping To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to mintmobile.com/boats Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’ll automatically get an extra free pack of 850+ honey sticks with your order - a $15 value. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denver Riggleman is a former representative for Virginia’s 5th congressional district, and an ex-Republican. He served as a technical advisor to the January 6th committee, and now he’s partnered with Hunter Biden’s legal team to provide data analysis in the face of congressional inquiries and the GOP’s claims about Hunter’s conduct. Denver’s new podcast, The Mighty Peculiar, takes a deep dive into conspiracy theories. In this episode, he describes the appeal of conspiracy theories, and the damage that they can do. Go to https://FastGrowingTrees.com/BOATS NOW to get FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF your entire order. Head to https://Rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/boats Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and 15% off your first order by going to GETSUPERBEETS.COM and using PROMO CODE BOATS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, Dr. Crayton discusses gerrymandering, supermajorities, the impact of the courts, and voter suppression. Dr. Kareem Crayton is an attorney, law professor, and academic whose work explores the effects of state-sanctioned racial discrimination on campaigns, elections, and governance. He recently joined the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, where he manages efforts to implement pro-voter reforms. Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’ll automatically get an extra free pack of 850+ honey sticks with your order - a $15 value. Head to ZBiotics.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS at checkout for 15% off. Head to https://tryfum.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark J. Lindquist is an Air Force Veteran who has been providing non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian Army since late March of last year. In this interview, he describes being a mile from the front lines, his efforts, and how Americans can help Ukraine win the war. To shop plant based bags and replace single use plastics all over your home, visit holdonbags.com/BOATS or enter BOATS at checkout to save 20% off your order. Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic Visit https://Lomi.com/BOATS and use code BOATS at checkout to save $50! Head to https://Rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne discusses the corruption within the Supreme Court and how certain “grassroots” conservative organizations have ties to powerful shadow networks. Anne is an award-winning war correspondent and author. Her newest book, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right, details the influence of the Council for National Policy, a powerful right-wing political coalition. To hear more from Anne, listen to her previous two interviews on Burn the Boats here and here. Also, make sure to check out her website, anne-nelson.com, and follow her on Twitter at @anelsona. Thank you to our sponsors: Go to https://GreenChef.com/ken50 and use code ken50 to get 50% off plus free shipping. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/boats Go to https://FastGrowingTrees.com/BOATS NOW to get FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2018, Miles Taylor anonymously authored a New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.” At the time, Miles worked in a senior role in the Department of Homeland security. Eventually, after Trump asked him and other officials to break the law, Miles quit. He decided to author a book, again anonymously, titled A Warning, which described the morally gray, and sometimes blatantly illegal orders that came from the President. In the lead up to the 2020 election, Miles felt it was important to reveal himself as the anonymous author of both the op-ed and the book. He then created the Renew America Movement, an organization dedicated to giving a voice to the ‘rational’ Republicans who do not subscribe to the right-wing extremism of Donald Trump. In our 2021 interview with Miles, Miles Taylor: Inside the Trump White House, he talked about his op-ed, his book, and the Renew America Movement. Since then, Miles left the Republican party, and co-founded the Forward Party with Andrew Yang. In last year’s interview, Miles Taylor: The Fight Has Just Begun, we brought him back on the show to talk about this decision, the midterm results, the future of Trumpism, and the ongoing threats to American democracy. Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’ll automatically get an extra free pack of 850+ honey sticks with your order - a $15 value. Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use BOATS to save 20% at https://rhone.com/boats. Go to https://GreenChef.com/ken50 and use code ken50 to get 50% off plus free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Seth Moulton discusses right-wing extremism within Congress and the dangers to American Democracy Representative Seth Moulton is a former Marine Corps officer who has represented Massachusetts’s 6th district since 2015. He appears in the upcoming documentary film, Against All Enemies, where he delivers a prophetic warning about the threats to American Democracy posed by extremist organizations that target and recruit military veterans. Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic Head to https://tryfum.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Head to https://ZBiotics.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS at checkout for 15% off. To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to mintmobile.com/boats Go to GreenChef.com/ken50 and use code ken50 to get 50% off plus free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olivia Julianna is a 20-year-old abortion-rights advocate and the director of politics and government affairs at Gen-Z for Change. With the help of her substantial TikTok following, Olivia initiated the takedown of an anti-abortion website that encouraged Texans to inform on their neighbors, and raised over $2.3 million after a twitter battle with congressman Matt Gaetz. She’s also a Senior Advisor to Lose Cruz, an organization dedicated to defeating Ted Cruz’s reelection bid in 2024. Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/boats Neurohacker: Go to neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic ZBiotics: Head to https://ZBiotics.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS at checkout for 15% off. Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://TryMiracle.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. LOMI: Visit Lomi.com/BOATS and use code BOATS at checkout to save $50! Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use BOATS to save 20% at https://rhone.com/boats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Busse is a former executive of a major firearms manufacturer. During his 25 years at the company, he was nominated for multiple industry awards and became a prominent player in the industry. He saw the number of mass shootings grow exponentially during his tenure, and eventually this prompted him to quit. Ryan’s book Gunfight exposes the gun industry’s “McCarthyesque” internal policing, and its shift away from safety and ethics to fear, conspiracy, and intolerance. Neurohacker: Go to neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for up to 50% off Qualia Senolytic LOMI: Visit Lomi.com/BOATS and use code BOATS at checkout to save $50! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Posner is a journalist who has been covering the religious right for decades. Her most recent book, Unholy, explores how race and xenophobia have long been at the core of evangelical Christianity in America. In this episode, Sarah reveals how many evangelicals have adopted and executed a platform of extremism, citing their support for white supremacists, the corruption of the church, and their attempt to roll back the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community. Go to GreenChef.com/Ken60 and use code Ken60 to get 60% off plus free shipping. Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to TryMiracle.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Head to ZBiotics.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS at checkout for 15% off. Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use BOATS to save 20% at rhone.com/boats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brynn Tannehill is a columnist, author, LGBTQ+ activist, and former Navy pilot. Her book American Fascism details how the GOP has been undermining democracy for decades. In this episode, Brynn draws comparisons between Nazi Germany and modern America, citing successful attempts to undermine elections and persecute minorities. Brynn also discusses common myths about Trans people, and her books Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trans, and My Child Told Me They’re Trans… What Do I Do?. Head to https://tryfum.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Go to TryMiracle.com/BOATS and use the code BOATS to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/boats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Father’s Day episode, Ken is joined by Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting. Since then, Fred has become one of the most impactful, and inspiring, advocates for gun safety. His new book, American Carnage, dismantles many of the myths we hear today about guns and gun violence. In this interview, he shares some of those myths, and explains how the NRA has prioritized profits over people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristin Kobes Du Mez describes how Evangelism has transformed, and its relationship to masculinity, oppression, and nationalism. Kristin is a pastor and a professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. Her book, Jesus and John Wayne, reveals “how evangelicals have worked to replace the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism.” This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being your best self. Visit Lomi.com/BOATS and use code BOATS at checkout to save $50! Go to FastGrowingTrees.com/BOATS NOW to get FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general and former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command who led counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, General McChrystal discusses the weaknesses in American democracy, and how insurgents within our country are using them to erode democracy. He also warns against dismissing these threats: “There is an idea that it can't happen here, that our society can't break down, that we can't have an autocratic dictator. We sure could. And we'd have a lot of Americans who would fall behind that and do things that we've criticized other countries for, we've been shocked by. It could happen here. We could have a civil war. We could break down and kill our neighbors. We say we couldn't, but everywhere around the world that we see, the Balkans, you know, now Ukraine and Russia, just almost everywhere you go where you think it's unthinkable. It's thinkable. It's possible. It can happen, and it can happen here. Because while we think we're exceptional, we're not enough different that we're not subject to the same weaknesses that can happen elsewhere. And if we stare into the abyss and we say, ‘Wow, that could actually occur.’ Then we've got to step back and say, ‘That's why the founding fathers spent so much time and effort to try to create a republic that could survive the wins. It could survive the ups and downs. It could survive internal discord, but it wouldn't lose sight of the fact there are things we have to hold on to.’ And that's what I would tell people.” This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being your best self. Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase at athleticgreens.com/BURNTHEBOATS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stacey Abrams talks about her new book, Rogue Justice, and the systems that influence American life from the shadows. Stacey Abrams is a politician, author, and voting rights activist. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 10 years, she fought two closely contested gubernatorial races, and has been at the forefront of expanding voting rights in Georgia and beyond, with her organization, Fair Fight Action. Head to https://TryFum.com and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get the journey pack today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Trump is a clinical psychologist and host of the podcast The Mary Trump Show. She is also a bestselling author, and her most recent book, The Reckoning, talks about national trauma and finding ways to heal. Her first book, Too Much and Never Enough, analyzes how the toxic Trump household created the Donald Trump we know today. Here’s the mashed potatoes story that Mary and Ken reference during the episode. Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase at athleticgreens.com/BURNTHEBOATS Head to tryfum.com/BOATS to save an additional 10% off your order today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mila Atmos is the host of Future Hindsight, a podcast about civic engagement that gives listeners action items so that they can better participate in our democracy. In this episode, Mila discusses voter engagement and persuasion. Go to magicspoon.com/BOATS to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code BOATS at checkout to save five dollars off your order! Go to FastGrowingTrees.com/BOATS NOW to get FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF your entire order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Denker is a Lutheran pastor and journalist. Her book Red State Christians takes a hard look at White Christian Nationalism and the evangelicals who voted for Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Longwell discusses the 2024 presidential race and its potential candidates. Sarah is a longtime Republican political strategist who has broken with her party to defend democracy. She is the publisher of The Bulwark, and has been monitoring the opinions of voters for years by hosting weekly focus groups. She discusses these groups on her podcast, The Focus Group. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fred Wellman is a Senior Advisor to Voters of Tomorrow, an organization dedicated to building political power for Gen-Z. He’s also an Army combat veteran, a West Point and Harvard graduate, a former republican, the former Executive Director of the Lincoln Project, and the host of the podcast On Democracy. Fred was on the show back in 2021, and you can find that interview here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Breen is the President and CEO of Human Rights First. He’s been on the ground in Ukraine documenting Russian war crimes, and he joins us from Kyiv. Human Rights First is an organization that defends human rights and democracy around the globe. They’ve been active in Ukraine since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and now after Russia’s invasion, have provided technical and logistical support, training, and other aid. They’ve issued dozens of reports and commentaries, and work to hold Russian leaders and war criminals accountable. Mike served in the US Army, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. He also co-founded the International Refugee Assistance Project, a global legal aid and advocacy organization that fights for the right of refugees to freely move and have a path towards lasting refuge. To support Human Rights First and the people of Ukraine, visit humanrightsfirst.org. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan talks about the quality of American life, divisions within both parties, and how American culture has made a turn for the worse over the last few decades. Tim spent 20 years in the House of Representatives, rising to a prominent leadership position. He ran for president in 2020, and recently lost a tough Senate race during the 2022 Midterms. Head to https://rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Jones served as a Navy SEAL during ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’. He was forcefully outed, and was subjected to an interrogation and investigation about his sexuality. He fought back, and was given the opportunity to continue to serve as a SEAL, but he left in fear of further discrimination. Brett continued to serve in the CIA, but was the victim of vicious harassment. He’s spent the last three years as a police officer in Alabama, where he lives with his husband and son. In Pride: The Story of the First Openly Gay Navy SEAL, Brett tells his life story, from being kicked out of his house for being gay, to the intense Navy SEAL training, to almost being ousted from the SEALs. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former leading Republican Bill Kristol discusses media echo chambers and anti-democratic enablers within the Republican Party Bill served in two presidential administrations and founded The Weekly Standard, an influential conservative magazine. After leaving the Republican Party, he helped launch Defending Democracy Together, an organization created by Republicans with the goal of preserving democratic institutions. He also is the host of Conversations with Bill Kristol, a video and podcast series. Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use BOATS to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/BOATS This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being your best self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Sommer is a political reporter for The Daily Beast and host of the podcast Fever Dreams. His new book, Trust the Plan, details QAnon’s journey into the mainstream, the threat it poses to democracy, and how we can reach out to those who have embraced the conspiracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Navy SEAL and founder of Veterans for Responsible Leadership Dr. Dan Barkhuff discusses the relationship between toxic masculinity and gun culture. Dan is a former Navy SEAL with multiple combat deployments. After returning home, he attended Harvard Medical School and became an Emergency Medicine doctor at the University of Vermont. Dan is a conservative, but was appalled by Trump’s comments and messages during the 2016 election. Dan did not vote for Trump in that election, but decided to give him a chance. After a year of the Trump Presidency, Dan said Trump was “worse than I thought he would be—and I thought he was going to be terrible.” In response, Dan created Veterans for Responsible Leadership, an organization that is dedicated to holding public officials accountable and helping to defeat candidates like Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucas Kunce talks about his run against Josh Hawley for the 2024 Missouri Senate Seat. Lucas is a Marine Corps veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and eventually went on to become an international negotiations officer at the Pentagon. He ran for Missouri’s open Senate seat in 2022, but lost the primary to multi-millionaire Trudy Busch Valentine after her last-minute entrance into the race. She went on to lose the general by 13 points. Lucas believes he’s the right person to take on Josh Hawley, who he refers to as a “Corporate, Country Club Republican.” Lucas is running a populist campaign that focuses on taking power out of the hands of corporate monopolies, and putting it back in the hands of working people. He refuses to take corporate donations, and instead is completely funded by small-dollar grassroots donors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Walsh represented Illinois’ 8th district in the house from 2011 to 2013, and ran against Trump in the 2020 presidential race. He hosts the podcast White Flag with Joe Walsh and has been increasingly critical of the extremism within his former party, as well as the part he played in stoking that extremism. You can find Joe on Twitter at @WalshFreedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld discusses political violence, the possibility of a Civil War, and extremism. Rachel is an expert on democracy, security, and international relations. She’s currently a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, where she regularly briefs the governments of the United States and allied democracies on issues of conflict, the rule of law, and policing and security sector reform. Her most recent book, A Savage Order, examines ‘why democracies are crippled by extreme violence and how they can regain security.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat describes the similarities between current authoritarian movements and those of the past. Ruth is a historian who specializes in authoritarianism and propaganda. She’s a professor of History and Italian Studies, as well as an MSNBC Opinion Columnist and frequent guest commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and other media channels. Her most recent book, Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present, examines how authoritarians use propaganda, virility, corruption, and violence to stay in power, and how they can be opposed. Ruth also authored Fascist Modernities, about how Mussolini presented fascism as a unique solution to his people, and Italian Fascism’s Empire Cinema, about the propaganda films created in Mussolini’s Italy. If you’d like to hear more from Ruth, you can subscribe to her weekly newsletter Lucid for free. Also, make sure to check out her website, ruthbenghiat.com, and follow her on Twitter @ruthbenghiat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Hartzler, nephew of fmr. Representative Vicky Hartzler, talks about his viral video and how he has faced discrimination as a gay man. In early January, Andrew Hartzler went viral on TikTok for calling out his aunt, fmr. Representative Vicky Hartzler, for her homophobic comments on the house floor. As a result of that video, Andrew received national attention, and was invited to the White House to watch president Biden sign the Respect for Marriage act. For Andrew, his Aunt's comments did not come as much of a surprise. Most of his family, including Rep. Hartzler, have not accepted him for who he is. Andrew came out to his family as gay when he was fourteen, and as a result, he was sent to conversion therapy. His father also forced him to attend Oral Roberts University, a homophobic, christian private school. During the interview, Andrew had this to say about the discrimination he faced at ORU: “I'm grateful that I was able to experience that firsthand. So, now, I can hopefully make a difference for others.” To learn more about Andrew, visit his website, andrewhartzler.com. There you’ll find his post, Fix Him. You can also find Andrew on TikTok and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Mayer is a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on elections and campaign finance. His current research focuses on evaluating recent state-level campaign finance reforms. In this episode, he discusses the chances of Republicans in 2024, and current campaign finance reform efforts: “Well, the explanation for that is that the Republican Party is in a little bit of a bind. And a lot of the leaders, Pence and McConnell and Pompeo and others, have indicated that they think Trump is old news, that they think the party should move beyond him.” Find Ken on Twitter at @uwkenmayer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator from Illinois Tammy Duckworth reflects on her first term in office, the current issues facing the Senate, and what she hopes to accomplish in her second term. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian politics expert Olga Lautman discusses Russia’s failure to defeat Ukraine, the instability of the Russian political system, and more. Olga is a researcher and analyst who has been monitoring Russian and Ukrainian internal politics for years. She’s a Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, and the co-host of the Kremlin File, a podcast that details the rise of Putin and the spread of authoritarianism across the globe, including the Trump White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ravi Gupta held several positions during the first term of the Obama administration, including Special Assistant and Speechwriter to Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. After serving in the Obama Administration, Ravi wanted to take a break from partisan politics and do real work on the ground. He Founded RePublic Schools, a network of charter schools in the South that provide quality education to underserved communities. Following the election of Donald Trump, Ravi decided he had to help fight Trumpism. He founded Arena, an organization dedicated to convening, training, and supporting the next generation of candidates and campaign staff. Arena has helped to elect over 75 candidates, and trained over 1500 staffers. In 2019, Ravi Co-Founded Second Chance Studios, which teaches life, social, and professional skills to formerly incarcerated individuals. SCS provides courses in editing, social media, podcasting, and other topics in the media space. Now, Ravi is the CEO of Lost Debate, a non-profit media company he founded in 2021. He hosts several podcasts, including Majority 54 which he co-hosts with Jason Kander. You can find Ravi on Twitter at @RaviMGupta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stuart Stevens dedicated his life to getting Republicans elected. He worked for dozens of candidates, including both Bush and Romney during their presidential campaigns, and was extremely successful. Now however, Stuart regrets the part he played in the rise of Trumpism. In 2020, he wrote It Was All a Lie, about his time in the Republican party, and how Trumpism is “the natural outcome of five decades of hypocrisy and self-delusion.” Through the Lincoln Project and Resolute Square, he’s working to counteract the movement he helped build. You can follow Stuart on Twitter @stuartpstevens. To learn more about the Lincoln Project, check out their new limited series on Showtime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, it’s Ken Harbaugh. I just wanted to let you know that the team and I are taking some time off during the holidays. We’ll return to our normal release schedule on January 10th. Thank you all for an amazing year, and for your support for this show. Happy holidays, and have a great new year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tyler Merritt is an Activist, Author, Actor, and public speaker. His video monologue, “Before You Call the Cops,” garnered national attention after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and has been viewed tens of millions of times. Tyler’s new children's book, A Door Made for Me, is based on his own experience being rejected by neighbors because of his race. The book helps kids understand the injustice of racism in a way they can understand, while also preparing them for situations they may encounter in the future. In Tyler’s first book, I Take My Coffee Black, he talks about his experiences as a black man in America, as well as privilege, religion, multiculturalism, and even musical theater. To hear him talk about it, listen to our interview with him from last year. You can follow Tyler on Twitter at @TTMProject, and on instagram at @thetylermerrittproject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miles Taylor, who co-founded the Forward Party, discusses the significance of the midterm election results, the future of Trumpism, and the ongoing threats to American democracy. – Back in 2018, Miles Taylor anonymously authored a New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.” At the time, Miles worked in a senior role in the Department of Homeland security. Eventually, after Trump asked him and other officials to break the law, Miles quit. He decided to author a book, again anonymously, titled A Warning, which described the morally gray, and sometimes blatantly illegal orders that came from the President. In the lead up to the 2020 election, Miles felt it was important to reveal himself as the anonymous author of both the op-ed and the book. He then created the Renew America Movement, an organization dedicated to giving a voice to the ‘rational’ republicans who do not subscribe to the right-wing extremism of Donald Trump. In our interview with Miles last year, “Miles Taylor: Inside the Trump White House,” he talked about his op-ed, his book, and the Renew America Movement. Since then, Miles left the Republican party, and co-founded the Forward Party with Andrew Yang. We brought him back on the show to talk about this decision, the midterm results, the future of Trumpism, and the ongoing threats to American democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices