Real Patriotism

The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort today raise the stakes for all journalists, but especially for those reporters, videographers, photojournalists, researchers and others who work independently, here on Substack and elsewhere. We are all in this together. I stand with Don and Georgia and all my colleagues. This is a fight for American freedom. #democracy #donlemon #trump #minnesota

Minneapolis just scored a major victory. In the face of state terror and brutality, Minnesotans said "no," and Trump blinked. He's sidelined Border Patrol commander, Greg Bovino and seems to be dialing down his occupation of the city. Here's what the rest of us can learn from their example.

Media outlets are scared to tell the truth about President Trump's unprecedented power grabs. It's time to stop being cautious and start being honest about what's happening. From threatening Greenland to using ICE as his personal paramilitary, here are four major steps toward autocracy that Trump is already taking. #democracy #uspolitics #trump #venezuela #greenland #ice

As Donald Trump breaks the limits of the presidency, will the Supreme Court stand up to him or let him run wild? Law Professor Kate Shaw joins Terry Moran to discuss how the court created an imperial presidency and whether ICE violence, attacks on the First Amendment, the investigation of Jerome Powell, or even plans to annex Greenland will be enough to make them rein Trump in. #ice #supremecourt...

In the first week of 2026, Terry Moran sits down with his wife Johanna for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what the year ahead may bring. They talk through the shock of Venezuela, the erosion of congressional power, the rise of strongman politics, and the quiet resilience of everyday American life. From midterm elections and executive overreach to parenting, community, and why politics h...

Historian Douglas Brinkley joins Terry Moran to make sense of one of the most chaotic years in modern American history. In this wide-ranging year-in-review conversation, Brinkley places Trump’s second term in historical context — from the collapse of the Cold War consensus and NATO anxiety to the return of economic nationalism, political violence, and a reshaping of global power. They explore why...

Former Chicago mayor and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel joins Terry Moran for a sweeping, provocative conversation about banning social media for kids under 16, the psychological damage algorithms are inflicting on adolescents, and the deeper threats social platforms pose to American democracy. Emanuel outlines why he believes parents are losing a generational battle against addictive sys...

Senator Mark Kelly, a Navy combat veteran and former astronaut, joins Terry Moran for one of the most urgent conversations yet about military integrity, illegal orders, presidential power, and the looming risk of conflict in Venezuela. Kelly explains why he and several Democratic senators released a video reminding service members of their duty to refuse unlawful orders — a message rooted directly...

Ambassador John Bolton joins Terry Moran in Austin for an unflinching conversation about the Trump administration’s approach to Venezuela, the Ukraine peace plan, the Pentagon shake-up, and what Bolton sees as a dangerous breakdown in U.S. foreign policy decision-making. Bolton argues that Trump’s actions toward Venezuela lack planning, strategy, and congressional or hemispheric support. He tells...

At the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Terry Moran sits down with former Senator Joe Manchin for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the shutdown, Donald Trump’s governing style, the decline of Congress, immigration, political extremism, and what Manchin sees as a dangerous moment for American democracy. Speaking with the bluntness he’s known for, Manchin argues that the 43-day shutdown sh...

At the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Katie Phang joins Terry Moran for a powerful, unscripted conversation about the future of independent journalism, Donald Trump’s expanding exposure in the Epstein scandal, the failures of legacy media, and the stakes for American democracy. Phang explains why she left MSNBC, how corporate media softens language to avoid upsetting advertisers, and why this m...

Attorney Arick Fudali, who represents 11 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, joins Terry Moran for one of the most direct, unflinching interviews yet about the Epstein files, the DOJ failures, Trump’s ties to Epstein, and why victims have waited decades for justice. Fudali explains how Epstein was “memeified” into a joke while the real crimes — and the powerful people who enabled him — remain hidden. He...

On this Veterans Day episode of Real Patriotism, Terry Moran talks with former U.S. Senator Jon Tester of Montana — a third-generation farmer, veteran advocate, and straight talker about the state of American democracy under Donald Trump. Tester delivers an unflinching assessment of Trump’s shutdown politics, the hunger crisis it created, the threat of militarization in U.S. cities, and how tariff...

Pulitzer-nominated writer Joe Posnanski joins Terry Moran to talk about baseball, storytelling, and why sports still bind us together. From his acclaimed bestseller The Baseball 100 to his upcoming book Big Fan, Posnanski reflects on the poetry of the game, the heartbreak of Cleveland, the joy of fandom, and the connection between generations that makes baseball timeless. This conversation covers...

Terry Moran reports from Chicago, where ICE raids, legal battles, and community resistance have turned the city into the frontline of a national crisis. From parents afraid to take their kids to school to priests turned away from detention centers, The Battle for Chicago captures the human, political, and moral stakes of America’s immigration crackdown — and what it reveals about power, fear, and...

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joins Terry Moran to discuss the human toll of the government shutdown — and what comes next for 24 million Americans whose healthcare premiums could double. From federal workers showing up at food banks to families facing rising costs, Gallego warns of the long-term consequences of political brinkmanship. As a Marine veteran, he also reflects on patriotism, leadership...

Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) joins Terry Moran for a deeply human conversation about fear, resilience, and hope in his hometown of Chicago. From ICE raids and National Guard deployments to neighbors stepping up for one another, Quigley shares how ordinary people are doing extraordinary things — and why he still believes America’s strength lies in its people. The discussion moves from politics t...

Congressman Jamie Raskin joins Terry Moran for an urgent conversation about the state of American democracy, Trump’s assault on the rule of law, and the path forward. From the courts to Congress, Raskin offers a rare mix of constitutional clarity and personal conviction — and a call to defend democracy before it’s too late. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Why We Obey the Law 01:20 – The Constitut...

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-3) joins Terry Moran for a powerful and personal interview from the heart of Chicago — now under siege by Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol forces. Ramirez describes a city living in fear, residents being assaulted and detained without warrants, and the constitutional crisis unfolding in real time. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: Rep. Delia Ramirez on the Crisis in Chi...

Donald Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act to send troops to places like Portland and Chicago. He's already sent federal agents to the latter, and they are laying siege to my hometown. So I wanted to talk to Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, to share her harrowing story of being handcuffed by ICE inside a hospital while trying to protect her constituents. She describes the moment...

The federal government has shut down — and this time, it’s different. Terry Moran talks with Daniella Diaz (NOTUS, formerly CNN and Politico) about what’s driving the crisis, how long it might last, and what it means for Americans. Topics covered in this episode: • Why Democrats are holding the line on Affordable Care Act subsidies • Republicans’ strategy and Speaker Mike Johnson’s balancing act •...

Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just summoned America’s top generals and admirals to Quantico — for what Congressman Jason Crow calls a dangerous and appalling display. In this wide-ranging interview with Terry Moran, Crow draws on his service as an Army Ranger and his experience in Congress to break down what it all means. Topics covered include: - Trump and Hegseth’s push to resh...

Former Chicago mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel joins veteran journalist Terry Moran for a wide-ranging conversation about American democracy at a crossroads. From the FCC’s pressure campaign that pushed Jimmy Kimmel off the air, to Donald Trump’s attacks on free speech, to why Democrats have “lost the American dream,” Emanuel speaks candidly about: - Trump’s authoritarian tactics a...