We Sided with the Rebellion

Special Episode - Fact Checking Trump's 12/17/25 Primetime Address: An In-Depth Debunking of the Claims

In this episode of We Sided with the Rebellion, we do not do a quick fact check. This is a full, in-depth debunking of a wide range of political claims made by Donald Trump, with receipts, across inflation, immigration, wages, jobs, energy costs, healthcare, military recruitment, drug prices, and more. We break down what the data actually shows versus what is being claimed, using primary sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Treasury, DHS, ICE, and EIA, along with peer-reviewed research. From inflation myths and border statistics to drug pricing math and claims about jobs going only to Americans, we separate rhetoric from reality and explain the context that gets intentionally left out. We also directly debunk Trump’s comments about trans people, including the “transgender for everybody” rhetoric, and lay out what reputable medical and scientific organizations actually say, and what the data does and does not support. This episode is not about party loyalty. It is about accuracy, economic literacy, and holding power accountable to facts. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. Opinions expressed are those of the host and are supported by publicly available data and credible reporting at the time of recording. This is not legal, financial, or medical advice. Follow and support the show: https://linktr.ee/wesidedpodcast [https://linktr.ee/wesidedpodcast] Show notes and sources available at www.wesidedwiththerebellion.com [https://www.wesidedwiththerebellion.com/]

Episode 3 - Bread and Circuses: How Authoritarian States Use Entertainment to Control People

This week’s Fact Check Dispatch breaks down a series of recent political and economic claims, including assertions about Thanksgiving dinner costs, Black Friday spending, redistricting battles, and election outcomes. Despite confident headlines, the data tells a different story. We examine how selective comparisons, inflation-blind metrics, and narrative framing are used to manufacture perceptions of economic strength and democratic legitimacy rather than reflect lived reality. From there, the episode moves into a broader story through The Hunger Games. Beginning with societal collapse and resource scarcity, we trace how Panem rose from chaos, how the Capitol consolidated power, and how the district system was designed to engineer dependency and control. We examine the First Rebellion, the creation of the Hunger Games, and how punishment was transformed into ritualized entertainment that normalized fear and obedience. The episode explores life inside the Capitol itself, focusing on extreme wealth, excess, and luxury, and how oligarchic insulation allows those at the top to remain detached from the suffering that sustains their power. We then examine how Katniss Everdeen’s defiance exposed the Capitol’s dependence on narrative control, showing how authoritarian systems fracture not through force alone, but when belief collapses. The episode closes by connecting Panem’s systems of control to modern history, showing how spectacle, economic dependency, concentrated wealth, and crisis-driven governance have been used repeatedly to consolidate power — and why awareness, not violence, is often what ultimately breaks these systems. Show Notes and Sources: Available at ⁠⁠www.wesidedwiththerebellion.com⁠⁠ Contact: ⁠⁠hello@wesidedwiththerebellion.com⁠⁠ Follow: @WeSidedPodcast on… Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube Disclaimer: This podcast is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Scholastic, Lionsgate, or any entity associated with The Hunger Games. Any references remain the property of their respective owners and are used for commentary and educational purposes only. Silence serves the oppressor. Truth fuels the rebellion.

Episode 2 - Manufactured Chaos: How Democracies Become Empires Part 2

This week's Fact Check Dispatch is a breakdown of what really caused the 2025 government shutdown. Despite the headlines, it was not about “healthcare for illegal immigrants.” It was about H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which gutted healthcare programs and turned next year’s funding into a political weapon. The episode unpacks how that law’s cuts to ACA subsidies and Medicaid created the shutdown crisis, then moves into the larger story of how fear and control shape political systems. We turn to the fall of the Galactic Republic, examining how Chancellor Palpatine manufactured wars, staged threats, and used emergency powers to build an empire. The episode closes by connecting those same tactics to modern history, showing how leaders from the 1930s to today have used crisis as a pretext for control. Show Notes and Sources: Available at ⁠www.wesidedwiththerebellion.com⁠ Contact:⁠ hello@wesidedwiththerebellion.com⁠ Follow: @WeSidedPodcast on...Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube Disclaimer:This podcast is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd., Disney, or Star Wars. Any references remain the property of their respective owners and are used for commentary and educational purposes only. Silence serves the oppressor. Truth fuels the rebellion.

Episode 1 - Manufactured Chaos: How Democracies Become Empires Part 1

In this episode, we begin with the leaked NY Young Republicans group chat that revealed racist, antisemitic, and violent messages among group members. The group has since been disbanded, but the incident exposes how extremist ideologies continue to exist within modern political spaces. From there, we connect fiction to reality, examining how Star Wars illustrates the same authoritarian playbook used throughout history and today. Palpatine’s rise to power through chaos, fear, and manipulation mirrors how real-world leaders exploit crises to gain control. This episode explores how propaganda, misinformation, and the illusion of order erode democracy from within, and what it means when history’s darkest lessons start repeating. Show Notes and Sources: Available at www.wesidedwiththerebellion.com [http://www.wesidedwiththerebellion.com] Contact: hello@wesidedwiththerebellion.com Follow: @WeSidedPodcast on...Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube Disclaimer:This podcast is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd., Disney, or Star Wars. Any references remain the property of their respective owners and are used for commentary and educational purposes only. Silence serves the oppressor. Truth fuels the rebellion.

Trailer

When we were kids, we rooted for the rebels... the ones who stood up when no one else would. We Sided with the Rebellion is a show about what that means in real life: breaking down U.S. politics, media spin, and disinformation through the lens of pop culture and history. Hosted by Tee, this podcast cuts through the noise with honesty, humor, and a little rebellion.