On Offense with Kris Goldsmith

Why Fascism Keeps Coming Back in America | Omer Aziz

Omer Aziz, author of Shadows of the Republic: The Rebirth of Fascism in America and How to Defeat It for Good [https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889836643/Shadows-of-the-Republic], joins Kris Goldsmith to discuss why fascism in America cannot be understood purely as an electoral or political phenomenon. Drawing from history, media culture, masculinity, religion, and modern online radicalization, Aziz explains how fascist movements use spectacle, identity, belonging, and entertainment to recruit followers — and why democratic movements consistently underestimate those forces. Kris and Omer discuss the rise of right-wing influencer culture, the collapse of civic institutions and “third spaces,” the radicalization of young men, why Trump may ultimately be remembered as a symptom rather than the endpoint of a broader movement, and why defeating Trump electorally will not be enough to defeat the conditions that produced him. They also examine: * the relationship between fascism and spectacle * Joe Rogan and the entertainment ecosystem surrounding MAGA * why fascism appeals to some marginalized groups * propaganda and media normalization * anti-fascism as community and purpose * the dangers of complacency after electoral victories * how democratic movements can begin rebuilding civic culture from the ground up Omer Aziz is a writer, lawyer, and former foreign policy advisor. He is the author of Shadows of the Republic and Brown Boy, and his work has appeared in The Atlantic, Harper’s, The New York Times, and the Boston Globe. Subscribe to On Offense with Kris Goldsmith on Substack: https://onoffense.substack.com/ [https://onoffense.substack.com/]

How to Save Our Democracy | Tim Heaphy, Jan 6 and Charlottesville Investigator

Former January 6 investigative counsel Tim Heaphy joins Kris Goldsmith for a difficult conversation about whether American democracy still works — and whether it can survive what’s happening now. Heaphy, a former U.S. Attorney and author of Harbingers and the forthcoming We Are the Answer: How to Save Our Democracy [https://steerforth.com/product/we-are-the-answer-9781586424565/], helped lead major investigations into both the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally and the January 6 insurrection. But this interview isn’t about revisiting history. It’s about the present moment. Kris and Tim discuss the Trump administration’s indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center, the weaponization of the justice system, political violence, disinformation, institutional collapse, accountability, and whether Americans should still have faith in the systems meant to protect democracy. Throughout the conversation, Kris challenges Heaphy’s core belief that institutions can still function if enough people stay engaged. Can democracy be repaired? Or are we already past that point? Links: * Buy We Are the Answer: How to Save Our Democracy by Tim Heaphy [https://steerforth.com/product/we-are-the-answer-9781586424565/] * Subscribe to On Offense on Substack [https://onoffense.substack.com/] * Support Task Force Butler Institute [https://www.taskforcebutler.org/] * Support Veterans Fighting Fascism [https://www.veteransfightingfascism.org/]

How to Show John Roberts He’s Not Above the Law

Most people think accountability is someone else’s job. But what happens when the institutions that are supposed to hold power accountable stop doing it? In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith sits down with the founder of The Existentialist Republic, Chris Armitage to examine growing concerns around Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court, and the broader accountability crisis at the highest levels of power. This conversation focuses on: * Conflicts of interest and ethics concerns surrounding John Roberts * What it means when the Supreme Court won’t police itself * How power operates when there are no real consequences * What everyday Americans can actually do to push back If the people at the top aren’t going to hold themselves accountable, the pressure has to come from somewhere else. It has to come from you. TAKE ACTION: Read Chris Armitage’s work and follow his guidance on holding Chief Justice John Roberts accountable: 👉 TheExistentialistRepublic.com [https://TheExistentialistRepublic.com] Look for his piece on Roberts’ financial conflicts and guidance on contacting the DC Bar Office of Disciplinary Counsel. FOLLOW & SUPPORT: Subscribe to On Offense on Substack: 👉 https://onoffense.substack.com/ [https://onoffense.substack.com/] Watch and subscribe on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@ValorMediaNetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@ValorMediaNetwork] CREDITS: Producer: Gina Kim Edited by: The Lombardos for VALOR Media Network If you value this work, make sure you’re subscribed and have downloads enabled.

Interview with a Nazi Hunter: The Cost of Fighting Fascism Under Trump | Michael Edison Hayden

BREAKING: The Department of Justice has charged the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) over its use of paid informants inside extremist groups. This episode was recorded before that news broke—but it explores the exact kind of work now at the center of that controversy: infiltrating extremist networks, documenting their activity, and the real cost of doing it. Our guest in this episode was one of SPLC's top investigative reporters. --- The fight against extremism isn’t just about ideas—it’s about resources. In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith sits down with investigative journalist Michael Edison Hayden to discuss his new book, Strange People on the Hill, and the real-world consequences of extremist movements embedding themselves in local communities. When a white nationalist organization purchased a castle overlooking Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, it wasn’t just a bizarre headline—it was part of a broader strategy. Hayden’s reporting reveals how extremist ideologies move from the fringe into positions of power, and what happens when ordinary people are forced to confront them in their own backyard. This conversation goes beyond the headlines to examine the human cost of this work—the burnout, the mental health toll, and the reality faced by the small number of researchers, journalists, and community members who take on these movements directly. This is a story about one town—and a warning for the rest of the country. Get the book: Strange People on the Hill by Michael Edison Hayden [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/michael-edison-hayden/strange-people-on-the-hill/9781645030607/?lens=bold-type-books] Follow Michael Edison Hayden: Bluesky: michaelehayden.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/michaelehayden.bsky.social] Substack: michaeledisonhayden.substack.com [https://michaeledisonhayden.substack.com/] Podcast: Posting Through It [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/posting-through-it/id1348573415] Subscribe to On Offense: Substack: onoffense.substack.com [https://onoffense.substack.com/] Take action locally: Veterans Fighting Fascism [https://www.veteransfightingfascism.org/] On Offense is produced by Gina Kim and edited by the Lombardos for VALOR Media Network.

Dropkick Murphys at the Anti-ICE Concert in Minneapolis

In this special episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith takes you inside the anti-ICE concert and fundraiser that brought Minneapolis together after the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. Featuring live performances by the Dropkick Murphys, this episode captures the sound, energy, and urgency of a community refusing to back down in the face of fear, violence, and political intimidation. You’ll hear exclusive interviews with Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey and Gina Christ, owner of the Black Forest Inn, whose restaurant sits across the street from where Alex Pretti was killed and became a gathering place for grief, solidarity, and resistance. Together, they talk about how this concert came together in just a few weeks, what it meant to bear witness in Minneapolis, and what the rest of the country needs to understand about what’s happening there now. If you want to see the full concert and livestream, or donate to support the community directly, visit AbolishICE.live [https://AbolishICE.live]. In this episode: * Live performances from the Dropkick Murphys * An exclusive interview with Ken Casey * An exclusive interview with Gina Christ of the Black Forest Inn * On-the-ground audio from Minneapolis * The story behind the AbolishICE.live concert and fundraiser If you value this kind of reporting, make sure you’re subscribed to On Offense with Kris Goldsmith wherever you get your podcasts.