Unf*cking The Republic

Since the Civil War, white Christians in this country have swung wildly between advancing a social doctrine of equality and promoting outright racism, nationalism and hatred of the poor. Since the Eisenhower years, however, Christians of all stripes have decidedly split along similar fault lines to our politics. While secularists and the so-called religious left represent the majority of Americans...

They’ve done it. Well, they’re about to. As much as we all knew this was coming it’s still stunning. Today’s Topical Cream presses the obvious point that we live under the tyranny of the minority. The racist, white nationalist, right-wing, Christian fucking minority that elected two illegitimate Presidents who appointed the sitting majority of the Supreme fucking Court. Max and 99 trade off though...

In today's Show Notes minisode, we review some Dem Bums episode feedback (as well as some leftover Military Film Complex feedback), discuss how the Democratic Party sucks ~writ large~ and Max ages himself by talking about something called B. J. and the Bear. Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters A Quick Note: 00:0:21 Intro: 00:01:06 Emails: 00:10:24 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:38:41 T...

You can’t do the big things if you can’t do the little things. A friend of mine used to say this all the time. And it reminds me of the Democratic Party - a party that can’t seem to move the needle on the big, meaningful stuff because they’re always fighting about procedural issues that prevent the nation from moving forward. Has the right wing lost its fucking mind in this country? Sure. But they...

The second installment of topical cream peers into the petty world of the billionaire class and the purchase of Twitter by racist enabler and inventor of nothing Elon Musk. Resources Good Jobs First: Los Angeles Times Stirs Debate: Elon Musk’s Use of Subsidies at Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity The New York Times: Judge reduces $137 million penalty against Tesla over factory racism. Time: How Elon Mu...

In today's Show Notes minisode, we review some Military Film Complex episode feedback, discuss progressive candidate suggestions from Unf*ckers, and talk about the genius of Tom McGovern! Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:03:36 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:34:22 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:40:39 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 01:04:38 Outro: 01:15:29...

Trendsetter or follower? Hollywood has made over 5,000 war films in the past 100 years. Today’s episode probes whether Hollywood has been complicit in building a culture of warmongering and nationalism, whether inadvertently or by design. With a little help from our friend Krin - who has authored three books on Hollywood - and a handful of other resources, we look back over a few different eras in...

Welcome to  Topical Cream , a new, periodic UNFTR segment with an appropriately cringeworthy title for fuckery in the news. Our aim with these segments is to tackle more timely and newsworthy events that either relate to previous Unf*cking narratives or to set up future episodes. Our inaugural Cream  finds us back in the world of crude oil and commodities with the recent capitulation on the part o...

In today's Show Notes minisode, we continue our conversation about the midterm/primary candidates (with special insight from Manny Faces), talk unf*cking cannabis and hear some McFleshman’s beer feedback! Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:03:20 Twitter Shout Outs: 01:03:48 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 01:06:26 Reviews: 01:09:48 Outro: 01:...

Dems are already in the fetal position crying over races they have yet to lose and blaming progressives for losing them. Fuck that. Today we look at three upcoming races (two Senate, one House) that demonstrate how much the landscape has changed for progressives and the importance of primaries. The Democratic establishment is lining up against very capable progressive candidates in key races in Wi...

In today's Show Notes minisode, we hear a bit more from John Kane of Let's Talk Native, have a lengthy conversation about how to deal with Trump-supporting parents, and read Bobby McD's new inscription for the Statue of Liberty. Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:03:33 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:51:16 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:57:46 Instagram Shout Outs: 01...

A run-of-the-mill, one-day news story about a billionaire holding a city hostage over a sports team and a new stadium buried the lede on the dark underbelly of Native American relations with the U.S. government. New York State agreed to finance a significant chunk of the $1.4 billion stadium for the Buffalo Bills, an NFL team owned by a billionaire worth 5.5x that amount. A deal done almost entire...

In today's Show Notes minisode, Max abandons 99 and delirium takes hold as she struggles to do show notes by herself. Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Emails: 00:01:13 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:10:48 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:10:59 Instagram Shout Outs: 00:13:53 Substack Shout Outs: 00:16:24 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 00:38:00 Reviews: 00:41:29 Outro:...

The time has come to honor our Down Under F*ckers who have been supporting UNFTR since we launched. As we’ve done in prior shows about other countries, we attempt to explain the Australian political system, provide an overview of key issues and draw parallels between our experiences. Basically, a rough translation of Aussie politics for American listeners that only scratches the surface of this in...

In today's Show Notes minisode, we shit on Clinton, discuss the disparity of letting some immigrants into the country and unveil a dark secret from Max's past. Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Previous Episode Update: 00:02:48 UNFTR Coffee Chat: 00:08:30 Emails: 00:11:51 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:27:50 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:31:13 Instagram Shout Outs: 00:36:16...

As Ukrainians flee the war in their home country, some have found their way to the U.S. southern border where they are immediately escorted into the country. Because they're seeking refuge from a dangerous conflict and seeking asylum in the land of the free. And they're getting in. Quickly. Through Mexico. Meanwhile... you can probably guess where this is headed. Anyhoo, today's episode looks at i...

In today's Show Notes minisode, Max revisits Thomas Piketty's theory of universal inheritance, we continue talks of NATO + Russia, and 99 yells about Phish some more.  Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Previous Episode Thoughts: 00:01:36 Emails: 00:08:03 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:30:59 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:32:45 Instagram Shout Outs: 00:35:59 Coffees and Member...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed the global political calculus almost overnight. While catastrophic and horrific in nature, this shift has provided unforeseen opportunities that were unthinkable just a few months ago. The question is how best to mobilize in this darkness to affect positive change moving forward. We examine the work of Thomas Piketty and Erica Chenoweth to help wrap our minds a...

In today's Show Notes minisode, Max reads a cutting room floor draft, we share some Unf*cker feedback, and discuss Russia and Ukraine a bit further.  Listen to the main episode accompaniment here Chapters Intro: 00:00:21 Cutting Room Floor: 00:00:55 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 00:07:38 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:24:52 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:26:27 Instagram Shout Outs: 00:31:44 Emails: 00...

A psychopath in Russia just committed a war crime by invading Ukraine. Now he’s a mass murderer as well. Today’s episode examines whether the United States has standing in this fight, the role of NATO since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the bullshit narrative surrounding rising oil and gas prices that literally no one is getting right. We also destroy some current popular right wing talking...

On this bonus UNFTR, 99 revisits Book Love segments past in hopes to inspire your reading lists. We’ll be back with full-fledged Unf*ckings very soon!  Resources UNFTR Book List on Bookshop.org Unf*cker Book Recommendations -- If you like #UNFTR, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at...

Today we have a special episode for you—a Manny & 99 takeover. While Max is away the minions will play! We run through some listener feedback and share some behind the scenes details of our recording process. Enjoy! Unf*cker Resources Swing Left Indivisible Manny + 99's Podcast Recommendations News Beat Hip-Hop Can Save America Louder Than A Riot Code Switch Stuff You Should Know Last Podcast...

The showwwwww noteessss. In this experiment, we break out show notes into their own unf*cking minisode so we can spend more time answering y'all Unf*ckers. Listen to the main episode accompaniment here . Resources from Unf*ckers Bobby McD on Instagram and Facebook Jacobin: Can We Criticize Foucault? Josh Mitchell: The Debt Trap: How Student Loans Became a National Catastrophe -- If you like #UNFTR...

Because inflation is on everyone’s minds and the media can’t seem to get this right, we dive even deeper into the inflation narrative to dispel both propaganda and myth. Surprise, surprise, the real story of inflation is wrapped up in corporate America’s rather impressive year. We’ll talk about how increasing rents, pain at the pump and higher consumer prices went back into the pockets of large co...

We’re hitting the pause button in honor of our 50th full episode. Quite the milestone and we wanted to celebrate together. And in true UNFTR fashion, we celebrate by running through 2021 from a congressional perspective. What did we actually accomplish and why? How? We top it off with some ways for Unf*ckers to get involved and make change in their communities so that come end of ’22 we can (hopef...