The Defiant Citizen

Gary Mullins | The Publius Project

The Defiant Citizen is a podcast for ordinary Americans who still believe the republic belongs to them. Drawing from philosophy, the American founding, and the ideas of Publius, each episode explores the principles citizens must understand to preserve a free society. Through philosophical discussions, breakdowns of the Restoration Papers, and real-world analysis of current events, the show challenges listeners to reclaim the spirit of self-government. Because a republic does not survive on institutions alone. It survives when its citizens refuse to become subjects.

Episodios

  1. HACE 2 D

    The System You Can't Vote Against

    Episode 4: The System You Can’t Vote Against You can vote for your representatives. But what about the system that actually runs your life? In this episode, we apply Restoration Paper No. 3 to the real world and examine the rise of a system where rules are written, enforced, and interpreted by people you will never vote for—and may never even know exist. From everyday regulations to crisis-level directives, this is the story of how governance quietly gave way to management. And once you see it…you start seeing it everywhere.

    12 min

  2. HACE 6 D

    The Great Displacement: From Governance to Management

    Episode 3: The Great Displacement — From Governance to Management We’ve been taught that we live in a republic where elected representatives write our laws. But look closely at the rules that shape your daily life—and you may find something very different. In this episode, we explore the quiet shift from constitutional governance to administrative management. Over time, authority has moved away from elected officials and into a vast system of agencies, regulations, and “expert” rulemaking. This isn’t a story about politics. It’s a story about structure. Where does authority reside? Who writes the rules? And what happens to a republic when consent is replaced by compliance? This episode corresponds to Restoration Paper No. 3 of The Publius Project.

    9 min

  3. 15 MAR

    Survival Without the State

    Episode 2: Survival Without the State When Washington shuts down, what actually happens to the country? In October 2025, a federal funding lapse brought the machinery of government in Washington to a standstill. News headlines warned of crisis, chaos, and national disruption. But something surprising happened across the country: most communities kept functioning. Trash was still collected. Local police still patrolled neighborhoods. Food banks, churches, and neighbors stepped in where federal programs stalled. In this episode of The Defiant Citizen, we apply the principle behind Restoration Paper #2: The Baseline We Forgot to a real-world event. The shutdown exposed something the founders assumed about a free republic—that citizens and local communities would be capable of solving problems without waiting for permission from a distant central authority. The result wasn’t a collapse of society. It was a reminder of a forgotten truth: the real foundation of American governance isn’t a federal building in Washington. It’s the local relationships, institutions, and responsibilities that exist in every community. What happens when we stop acting like clients of a central system and start acting like citizens again? Because a republic survives only when its citizens refuse to become subjects. New episodes of The Defiant Citizen explore the principles of American self-government and apply them to the events shaping our country today.

    17 min

  4. 11 MAR

    When Did Americans Stop Acting Like Citizens?

    Episode 1: When Did Americans Stop Acting Like Citizens? The American system of government was never meant to run on autopilot. It was designed to operate alongside a citizenry that understood how it worked and accepted responsibility for preserving it. In this first episode of The Defiant Citizen, we introduce the Publius Project and explore the principle behind Restoration Paper No. 2: The Baseline We Forgot — the founding assumption about citizenship that once sustained the American republic. #citizenship #republic #constitution #selfgovernment #civicresponsibility

    13 min

  5. TRÁILER

    Trailer

    Show trailer.

    23 s

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Información

The Defiant Citizen is a podcast for ordinary Americans who still believe the republic belongs to them. Drawing from philosophy, the American founding, and the ideas of Publius, each episode explores the principles citizens must understand to preserve a free society. Through philosophical discussions, breakdowns of the Restoration Papers, and real-world analysis of current events, the show challenges listeners to reclaim the spirit of self-government. Because a republic does not survive on institutions alone. It survives when its citizens refuse to become subjects.

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    Gary Mullins | The Publius Project
  • Años en activo
    2 mil
  • Episodios
    5
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Derechos de autor
    © Gary Mullins | The Publius Project
  • Sitio web del podcast
    The Defiant Citizen