Unf*cking The Republic® (UNFTR) is a series of audio essays on the grand American experiment lovingly curated and presented by a quasi-anonymous political writer. Each essay reflects on a singular topic that is generally misunderstood or purposely obfuscated by the so-called “powers that be.” As we know, history is written by the victors and can be perilously manufactured to favor destructive world views. These views become intractably ingrained in the public consciousness and pervert public ...
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Unf*cking Flashback: What’s the deal with Peter Thiel? Sociopathic billionaire man-child wants to eat the world.
47:21
47:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:21
In October of 2022, we released this episode on Peter Thiel. The last line of the story is that he’s a monster. At the time, we were focused on his personal selections and funding of Congressional candidates, one of whom was none other than JD Vance. Far from his purported hillbilly roots, the country quickly came to know that JD is little more tha…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Phone A Friend: Shane Burley and Ben Lorber, authors of Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism.
1:00:21
1:00:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:21
This week, Max welcomes Ben Lorber and Shane Burley to the program, co-authors of Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. Resources Melville House: Safety through SolidarityA Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism Bookshop: Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism Ben Lorber on Twitter Ben Lor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
A Progressive Take on the Harris Coronation.
14:30
14:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:30
The Democratic Party finally took the all important step of convincing Joe Biden to drop his bid for re-election. In a matter of hours, the party elites, donors, elected officials and DNC members coalesced around Kamala Harris, and according to The New York Times, she has already secured the delegates required to run the table at the convention. De…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Phone A Friend: Lee Camp. Comedian, author, commentator and activist.
1:10:46
1:10:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:46
This week I spoke with an old friend and inspiration—comedian, author, commentator and activist Lee Camp. We’re all over the place in a cathartic conversation about independent media, censorship, Supreme Court antics, Julian Assange, the presidential election and more. Resources Lee Camp Online Lee Camp on Twitter Lee Camp on Instagram Lee Camp on …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
A Contested Convention: Building the Progressive Bench (Project 500).
43:06
43:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:06
Despite his assurances to the contrary, Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee is far from a lock. What happens if the DNC winds up hosting a contested convention? In this episode we delve into a brief history of contested conventions and draw upon prior examples to demonstrate how progressives can use a contested convention to their advantage and get…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
DNR The DNC: Propping up the Cadaver-in-Chief.
21:08
21:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:08
After Joe Biden’s historically bad debate performance, many Americans were left wondering how the Democratic Party could allow him to remain in the race. The answer is a corrupt and wholly inept corporation called the DNC Services Corporation—Democratic National Committee or DNC for short. This episode looks at the DNC’s failures over time and how …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Show Notes [The United States Postal Service + Europe Slides to the Right + Pharmacy Benefit Managers.]
1:02:32
1:02:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:32
In this week's Show Notes Max and 99 catch up from a few episodes past, and dive into some news items. They also hatch a plan to celebrate 99's birthday month. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:20:00 Emails: 00:23:39 Memberships: 00:58:29 Reviews: 00:59:17 Outro: 01:00:53 -- If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on…
…
continue reading
In this UNFTR Phone A Friend we speak with economist, political leader and bestselling author Yanis Varoufakis about his latest book Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism. Max and Yanis cover a wide array of topics from the release of Julian Assange, the thesis behind Technofeudalism, the future of labor and the post-capitalism reality we already…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The United States Postal Service: How it can truly deliver.
35:27
35:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:27
The United States Postal Service is one of the most derided institutions in the country. Also, it’s one of the most highly regarded according to every poll conducted on government agencies. This episode digs into our complicated relationship with the Postal Service and examines the historical challenges facing this institution. We cover the controv…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Europe Slides to the Right: Unpacking the EU Parliamentary elections.
44:28
44:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:28
Parliamentary elections were held in the European Union last week. It did not go well. Check that. It went very well for the right-wing movement in Europe. Most Americans caught wind of some kind of election in the EU but it’s fair to say that few really understand what it was all about. And with good reason. This stuff is really confusing. Scores …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Show Notes [Pause. Reset. Where do we go from here?]
1:23:16
1:23:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:23:16
Max and 99 are back after a few week Show Notes hiatus. In this episode they catch up on the most recent episodes and the latest news. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:27:35 Memberships: 01:21:50 Reviews: 01:22:16 Outro: 01:22:45 Resources UNFTR TikTok -- If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on Y…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The American Drug Cartel.
1:17:35
1:17:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:17:35
In this episode, Max breaks down the biggest scandal in the healthcare industry (and that’s saying a lot). We walk through how a bunch of pencil pushing pharmacy middlemen became so powerful they bought out the biggest health insurance companies and pharmacy chains, and did it through hiking up drug prices, kickbacks and taking advantage of governm…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Unf*cking Flashback: UNFTR on LGBTQ. Behind the Acronyms.
47:10
47:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:10
In celebration of Pride we're flashing back to an early Unf*cking: UNFTR on LGBTQ. Read the essay or visit the episode resources online. -- Today we begin a conversation about the LGBTQ movement in the United States, with a nod to our Canadian friends as well. In order to properly introduce issues facing LGBTQ people into the larger context of soci…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Pause. Reset. Where do we go from here? Max Unfiltered.
16:36
16:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:36
I’m still catching my breath from the immigration series, slew of Phone A Friends and topical political stories these past couple of weeks. The upcoming episodes are all pretty exciting and intense so I decided to take a moment to have a family meeting with Unf*ckers in another “Max Unfiltered.” Resources UNFTR: Over The Borderline: Intro. UNFTR: P…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
On Protest and Anti-Semitism: Listening through propaganda.
48:51
48:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:51
Max takes aim at NYU professor Scott Galloway who recently appeared on CNN to criticize student protests with the most bizarre analysis that smacks of laziness and propaganda. While “takedowns” and “gotchas” aren’t Max’s favorite thing, he makes an exception for Galloway because of the space he occupies in the media ecosystem and on the spectrum of…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Show Notes [Over The Borderline: Part Three. + Phone A Friend: Jeff Main.]
1:30:51
1:30:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:30:51
In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 get into many spirited discussions inspired by Unf*cker feedback—from climate change to faux intellectual influencers. Additionally, they touch on some topical headlines relevant to the Over The Borderline Series and Point of Pride Phone A Friend. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:34:25 Outro: 01:30:00 Res…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Phone A Friend: Jeff Main, Executive Director of Point of Pride.
1:10:28
1:10:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:28
One half of one percent of Americans identify as a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth. And yet our state legislatures found the time to propose more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2023, with over 80 passed into law and nearly all focused narrowly on restricting trans rights. According to Human Rights Watch, since the Transgender Day…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Over the Borderline: Part Three. The Economics of Migration.
55:47
55:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:47
Our third and final installment of Over The Borderline stays below the U.S. southern border to look at the economic factors that contribute to mass migration from Central and South American countries specifically. We look at the root economic causes of migration, the U.S. failure to meaningfully partner with LAC nations to promote mutually benefici…
…
continue reading
In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 review Unf*cker feedback from the Over The Borderline series and the recent Phone A Friend with Tad DeLay. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:08:55 Instagram Shout Outs: 00:43:09 Member Shout Outs: 00:46:28 Outro: 00:47:04 Resources Phone A Friend: Tad DeLay. -- If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make s…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Phone A Friend: Tad DeLay, author of Future of Denial: The Ideologies of Climate Change.
1:15:39
1:15:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:15:39
Welcome to Phone A Friend. Today we’re speaking with Tad DeLay, the author of the newly released book Future of Denial: The Ideologies of Climate Change. Tad Delay is a philosopher, religion scholar and interdisciplinary critical theorist. His books include Against: What Does the White Evangelical Want?, The Cynic and the Fool, and God is Unconscio…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Show Notes [RFK Jr.’s Trojan Horse Campaign.]
1:07:24
1:07:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:24
In today's Show Notes, Max & 99 dive into some headlines, as well as the divisive feedback from the recent UNFTR episode/video on RFK Jr. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Headlines: 00:23:16 Emails + YouTube Comments: 00:43:22 Outro: 01:06:08 UNFTR Episode Resources Video: RFK's Trojan Horse Campaign: What Michigan Ballot Access Means Episode: RFK's…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
RFK Jr.’s Trojan Horse Campaign: On the Ballot in Michigan.
13:10
13:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:10
For months we’ve said that RFK Jr. is the biggest threat to Biden’s re-election. Now that he’s gained ballot access in Michigan, it’s time to go beyond the vaccine headlines to examine Kennedy the nascent politician and what his candidacy means to this election cycle. Just as the pollsters missed several important cues during the 2016 election, we …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Evolution of AOC and Behind the Trump Bump.
1:16:53
1:16:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:16:53
Distracted Max reached new heights this week so instead of releasing the third installment of the Over the Borderline series, he mashed up two shorter Topical Creams from YouTube into an episode. Both cover familiar ground to keep a focus on what matters politically. The “silly season” is when narratives harden so sometimes it’s important to reasse…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Over the Borderline: Part Two. The Politics of Migration.
1:32:50
1:32:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:32:50
In today’s episode, we head to the border and below to examine the root causes and circumstances that factor into immigration patterns, from economic opportunity to asylum. Max speaks with Maureen Meyer from The Washington Office on Latin America, known as WOLA, a D.C. based organization that advocates for human rights in the Americas. Meyer serves…
…
continue reading
Max and 99 are back today to talk "SPACtacular Bullsh*t" feedback, catch up with the Unf*ckers and get into numerous tangents, of course. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:07:13 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:52:14 YouTube Shout Outs: 00:59:51 Members + Outro: 01:05:39 Resources Deep Blue Something: Breakfast At Tiffany's Project 2025 YouTube Vid…
…
continue reading