On Offense with Kris Goldsmith

Kris Goldsmith
  • 5.0 (271)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

On Offense with Kris Goldsmith is a podcast about fighting for democracy and organizing against fascism. Hosted by a U.S. Army combat veteran, antifascist investigator, and founder of Task Force Butler and Veterans Fighting Fascism, this show brings a strategic, hard-hitting perspective to the most urgent threats facing America today. We call it On Offense because defending democracy isn’t enough—we need to take the fight to the fascists. Each episode breaks down how everyday Americans can push back against authoritarianism—drawing on lessons from the battlefield, the streets, and the halls of power. No fluff. No navel-gazing. Just real talk from people who’ve been in the fight and aren’t backing down. Learn more and take action at weareonoffense.com

  1. 6d ago

    QAnon Never Ended

    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.

    1h 11m

  2. May 27

    How To Be a Dissident in Trump’s America

    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/ Subscribe to On Offense on Substack:https://onoffense.substack.com/ Subscribe to VALOR Media Network:https://www.youtube.com/@VALORMediaNetwork

    1h 13m

  3. May 13

    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, 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/

    1h 24m

  4. May 6

    Tim Heaphy on January 6, Weaponized Justice, and Whether Democracy Still Works

    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, 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 Subscribe to On Offense on Substack Support Task Force Butler Institute Support Veterans Fighting Fascism

    58 min

  5. Apr 29

    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 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/ Watch and subscribe on YouTube: 👉 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.

    43 min

  6. Apr 22

    Interview with a Nazi Hunter: The Cost of Fighting Fascism Under Trump

    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 Follow Michael Edison Hayden: Bluesky: michaelehayden.bsky.social Substack: michaeledisonhayden.substack.com Podcast: Posting Through It Subscribe to On Offense: Substack: onoffense.substack.com Take action locally:Veterans Fighting Fascism On Offense is produced by Gina Kim and edited by the Lombardos for VALOR Media Network.

    1h 25m

  7. Apr 15

    Dropkick Murphys Anti-ICE Concert 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. 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.

    1h 15m

  8. Apr 1

    Army Ranger Charged After ICE Protest

    Who gets to decide who is a terrorist? In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith sits down with Ian Austin, a former Army Ranger who deployed six times and is now facing federal charges tied to an anti-ICE action in Minnesota. Ian says he went to Minneapolis because he saw something he recognized: fear, force, and a government using power against civilians in ways that felt disturbingly familiar. In this conversation, he talks about war, PTSD, moral injury, activism, and what it feels like to be prosecuted by the same government he once fought for. This is a raw interview about trauma, conscience, protest, and the cost of taking action when democracy is under attack. Support Ian Austin’s legal defense: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ian-austin-support-fund Watch the Abolish ICE concert and fundraiser featuring Dropkick Murphys: https://abolishice.live Subscribe to On Offense: Substack: https://onoffense.substack.com Follow Kris Goldsmith: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/KrisGoldsmith If this episode matters to you, share it widely.

    57 min
See All (22)

Trailer

5
out of 5
271 Ratings

About

On Offense with Kris Goldsmith is a podcast about fighting for democracy and organizing against fascism. Hosted by a U.S. Army combat veteran, antifascist investigator, and founder of Task Force Butler and Veterans Fighting Fascism, this show brings a strategic, hard-hitting perspective to the most urgent threats facing America today. We call it On Offense because defending democracy isn’t enough—we need to take the fight to the fascists. Each episode breaks down how everyday Americans can push back against authoritarianism—drawing on lessons from the battlefield, the streets, and the halls of power. No fluff. No navel-gazing. Just real talk from people who’ve been in the fight and aren’t backing down. Learn more and take action at weareonoffense.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kris Goldsmith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025-2026 Sparverius, LLC / VALOR Media Network
  • Show Website
    On Offense with Kris Goldsmith

You Might Also Like