The Home Front

Today, Host Reed Galen is joined by News Nation Contributor and Communications Strategist Kurt Bardella. Kurt and Reed discuss shortcomings in Democratic messaging and action in reaction to Donald Trump's early actions, why doing the right thing is not always the easy thing but worth it, and why Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Half Time Show (watched by 132 million people) made MAGA kick and scream,....

Today, Host Reed Galen begins a seven-part series: Olson's Rules for Dealing with Autocrats. Based on longtime colleague Trygve Olson's experiences overseas, Reed begins with Rule #1 - Play the Game You're In, Not the One You're Used To. Reed takes you through what this means, some real-world examples, and some advice on how to survive today's political fire hose. Read the corresponding Substack p...

Host Reed Galen and Abigail Tracy get tossed around in the bouncy house of American politics. They discuss the first two-plus weeks of the Trump administration, what it means for USAID to disappear, why when these types of regimes move fast and break things, it takes years to recover, and...many, many World War 2 references. Go to JoinTheUnion.us and sign up to get involved with the important work...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Jonathan “Buck” Buchwalter, a veteran of the US Marine Corps Reserve, and Social Studies teacher in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with a focus on History and Philosophy. He’s also developed quite the following as a TikTok creator under the handle @JonsterTruck where he regularly posts history & philosophy videos. Reed and Buck discuss the nature of propaganda through the lens of...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Brendan Ballou, a federal prosecutor who’s served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. They discuss the latest regarding the recent FBI/DOJ firings, the implications of the January 6th pardons, and concerns about the rise of vigilantism and political violence. Plus, the national security risks of individuals like Elon Mu...

Host Reed Galen comes to you solo to discuss why we shouldn't scream into the void, why (after all this time) we shouldn't be surprised by Trump, and why the Democrats' problems are far more than just logistics. Read Reed's latest up now at Substack: https://reedgalen.substack.com/ Go to Sez.us and join the social media network where YOU decide who you see and hear from. Now in the iOS App Store!...

Today, host Reed Galen is joined by journalist Abigail Tracy. They discuss Donald Trump's first week in office, why Democrats need to win races anywhere and everywhere they can, a reminder that Jesse Ventura was our first reality-tv politician, and why some people have no business being elected to represent other human beings. Go to Sez.us and join the social media network for sanity. Now in the i...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Matt Bennett, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third Way, a national think tank that champions modern center-left ideas. They discuss the early days of the new Trump administration and its already blatant authoritarian tendencies, how Democrats can overcome their current state of disarray and reunite their party, and the implications of AI...

Host Reed Galen comes to you solo to talk about the beginning of Donald Trump's second presidency, a recap of his inaufural address, how to build inner strength and outer boundaries against the insanity, why we will ultimately prevail, but only if we are honest about what we face, and how to keep a clear head while all those around you lose theirs. Subscribe to Reed's Substack, The Home Front Reed...

Host Reed Galen is joined by longtime political journalist, proud Michigander and all around great America, Ron Fournier. Reed and Ron discuss why it's difficult to cover Trump, the importance of meeting voters where they are, and Ron's new Substack, Convulsions. You can find Ron's Substack here. Go to Reed's Linktree here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Reed Galen is joined by Trygve Olson, a Lincoln Project & Lincoln Democracy Institute Senior Advisor. They discuss the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of defending democracy, how understanding system one and system two thinking may be the key to changing voter habits, and the challenges faced by the Democratic Party (why it’s crucial to understand voter psychology, why it’s par...

Host Reed Galen is joined Kris Goldsmith, an accomplished public policy advocate, nonprofit leader, and expert on the threats posed by domestic extremist organizations against American democracy. He is the founder and CEO of Task Force Butler Institute, a nonprofit organization that trains veterans in research and operations to counter extremism, teaching the skills and context necessary to keep v...

Host Reed Galen joins veteran professional negotiator and Stanford instructor Stan Christensen for a discussion about his political background and how negotiation skills are valuable when it comes to voter contact. Please follow and subscribe Stan's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-negotiation/id1769229339 Follow Stan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanchris Go t...

On this fourth anniversary of the 1/6 insurrection, we present an encore episode featuring host Reed Galen interviewing Michael Fanone, retired Metropolitan Police Department officer who was severely injured on January 6th, 2021. They discuss Fanone's book, Hold the Line, describing his law enforcement career, what it was like to be at the Capitol on 1/6 and its aftermath. You can find Fanone's bo...

Host Reed Galen is joined by journalist and political reporter Abby Tracy to discuss what to expect in Donald Trump’s return to th White House, the media’s role in shaping narratives in an outrage economy, and how the Democratic Party can recalibrate for 2025 and beyond by valuing talent over tenure. Plus, “Ab-Libbing” and the Minnesota Hot Dish! For more from Abby Tracy be sure to follow her on T...

Today, the tables are turned on host Reed Galen as Claire Atkin, CEO of Check My Ads, a digital advertising watchdog, asks him questions about political evolutions, what comes next for Americans, and the importance of humans seeing each other face-to-face, whatever the reason - book clubs, knitting, or bowling leagues. Find Reed on Linktree Follow CheckMyAds Please follow The Home Front and leave...

Host Reed Galen stops by for a quick reminder of why fighting Donald Trump the same way after 10 years still doesn't work, it's exhausting, and it's ignoring the people we need most: The voters! Come along with Reed as he walks through recent online kerfuffles and why they're a distraction from the work to be done beginning in just a few weeks. Go to Sez.us to join the social media platform for sa...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Ron Insana, the CEO of i-Fi AI and a Senior Analyst and Commentator at CNBC. They discuss the current roller-coaster-state of financial markets, the housing crisis and why it persists, and the political landscape surrounding government shutdowns and budget cuts. Plus, how the incoming Trump administration is setting our nation up for a nasty bout of stagflation and why...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Creator and Activist Kat Abughazaleh to discuss the state of the country today, why it's important to listen (without interrupting) how people from different backgrounds often find agreement on most things, why in-person contact is crucial, what the Democratic Party MUST do to regain trust with voters, and cats! Find Kat on her Linktree Find Reed on his Linktree Follow...

Join host Reed Galen as he gives his post-vacation thoughts on staying angry all the time, the distraction that is 2028 parlor games, and why the Democratic Party no longer has a monopoly on the non-Republican conversation about where we go as a country. Follow Reed on Substack: https://reedgalen.substack.com/ Go to Sez.us and join the SANE social media network! Get involved in the work of moving...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Nina Jankowicz, the Co-Founder and CEO of The American Sunlight Project, a bipartisan group increasing the cost of lies that undermine democracy. They discuss the challenges of combatting disinformation in the current political climate, the importance of maintaining integrity in communication, and how individuals can become dangerously radicalized as a result of disinf...

Host Reed Galen and journalist Abigail Tracy discuss the public reaction to the murder of United Health Care's CEO, and what it means for corporate America. Then they turn to the media's role in Donald Trump's second term and how MSNBC's morning hosts appear to have entered the 'controlled opposition' phase. The Atlantic's David Frum on Scarborough: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/202...

Host Reed Galen returns to discuss his reaction to the Harris campaign leadership's interview on Pod Save America. He expresses his frustration, but not surprise at the lack of candor or accountability and explores the deeper fissures within the Democratic coalition, and pro-democracy movement that must be addressed openly and honestly, if we're to move forward. Read the Substack version: https://...

Host Reed Galen is joined by Charlie Sykes (Publisher of To The Contrary and MSNBC Columnist) to discuss the recent election and its implications for Democrats & Republicans, the disconnect between parties and voters, the importance of not getting lost in outrage over every political issue, and the inevitable overreach of the next Trump administration. Plus, why capitulation can never be an option...

Host Reed Galen is joined by independent journalist and documentarian Lauren Windsor. They discuss the latest in Matt Gaetz's short-lived consideration for Attorney General and the potential future of Trump's appointees overall, and the disconnect between politics and the average American (particularly in factory towns as shown in Lauren’s new documentary), and the challenges Democrats face in mes...