How To Be a Dissident in Trump’s America | Gal Beckerman

How QAnon Took Over MAGA | Denver Riggleman

What happened to QAnon? Most Americans stopped talking about it after January 6. The headlines faded. The QAnon Shaman disappeared from the news. The movement seemed to dissolve. But according to former Congressman and January 6 investigator Denver Riggleman, QAnon never really went away. In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith sits down with Riggleman to discuss how QAnon evolved from an internet conspiracy theory into a broader political identity, why conspiracy culture remains deeply embedded in American politics, and what the January 6 investigation revealed about the networks and personalities behind the movement. Drawing on his book The Breach, Riggleman explains how conspiracy movements adapt, fragment, and survive—and why understanding those movements is essential for anyone concerned about the future of American democracy. Topics include: * QAnon and its lasting influence on American politics * The role of Mike Flynn and other influential figures * The January 6 attack and its aftermath * Radicalization, conspiracy culture, and political identity * How extremist movements evolve over time * What Americans still misunderstand about January 6 If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to On Offense on your favorite podcast app and visit OnOffense.Substack.com for additional reporting, analysis, and interviews.

How To Be a Dissident in Trump’s America | Gal Beckerman

Gal Beckerman, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of How to Be a Dissident, joins Kris Goldsmith to discuss conformity, authoritarianism, propaganda, and the pressures that cause ordinary people to stay silent while democratic institutions erode around them. But more importantly, they discuss what makes dissidents different — and the values, behaviors, and habits that shape people willing to resist normalization during moments of democratic decline. Drawing from dissident movements across history — and from the lived reality of Trump’s second administration — Beckerman argues that resistance begins long before politics. It begins with the refusal to normalize cruelty, corruption, fear, and obedience. Together, Kris and Gal discuss: * why authoritarianism depends on adaptation and exhaustion; * how propaganda reshapes identity and social behavior; * the psychological pressure to conform; * why some people comply while others “sit apart”; * the role of community and “neighborism” in resisting authoritarian politics; * why “hopeful pessimism” may be necessary for democratic survival; * and what integrity looks like in moments of democratic decline. This is a conversation about how human beings behave when institutions fail — and how we choose who we become in the process. Buy How to Be a Dissident by Gal Beckerman: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/816867/how-to-be-a-dissident-by-gal-beckerman/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/816867/how-to-be-a-dissident-by-gal-beckerman/] Subscribe to On Offense on Substack: https://onoffense.substack.com/ [https://onoffense.substack.com/] Subscribe to VALOR Media Network: https://www.youtube.com/@VALORMediaNetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@VALORMediaNetwork]

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.