On Offense with Kris Goldsmith

Kris Goldsmith
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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

Episodes

  1. 6H AGO

    How to Use Local Power Against Authoritarianism (with Christopher Armitage)

    Since Trump’s reelection, people have been desperate for an answer to the question: what do I do now? In this episode of On Offense, I’m joined by Christopher Armitage, the writer behind Existentialist Republic, to lay out a practical blueprint for engaging local and state power—because it’s far more accessible than most people think. We talk about how everyday people can: Rally friendly local and state officials to take meaningful steps that blunt federal authoritarianism Raise the cost of complicity by making governing uncomfortable for authoritarian collaborators Move beyond outrage and build jurisdictional leverage through state legislatures, attorneys general, city councils, and mayors Apply disciplined pressure with specific demands, meetings, and sustained follow-through If you’re waiting on Washington to save you, you’re going to be waiting a long time. The fight is local—and you have more leverage than you realize. Follow Christopher Armitage: https://cmarmitage.substack.com/ https://buymeacoffee.com/theer Organize locally: Start an Antifascist Book Club: https://veteransfightingfascism.org Access antifascist field manuals: https://taskforcebutler.org P.S. This work—this podcast, this newsletter, this organizing—is now my full-time focus. I stepped into an unpaid role as President of VALOR Media Network, and On Offense is my primary source of income. If you believe in what I’m building, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Every dollar helps support my family and sustain this work. Let’s go on offense.

    1h 31m

  2. FEB 11

    To Catch a Fascist with Christopher Mathias

    In this episode of On Offense, Kristofer Goldsmith talks with investigative journalist Christopher Mathias, author of the new book To Catch a Fascist. Mathias spent more than a decade at HuffPost documenting the American far right—from white supremacist rallies and fascist street gangs to the federal agents who enable them. In this conversation, Kris and Chris talk about infiltration, antifascist organizing, the state’s complicity in far-right violence, and how antifascists are building decentralized networks to stop it. This episode includes a personal reflection from Kris on his own radicalization, his infiltrations of Patriot Front, and how To Catch a Fascist captures what motivates antifascists to go on offense—whether they’re organizing in the streets, gathering evidence, or unmasking fascists embedded in state power. Buy the book: To Catch a Fascist by Christopher Mathias Read Chris’s Guardian investigation: Antifa used to unmask neo-Nazis, now it’s exposing ICE: ‘Predators don’t get anonymity’ Follow Chris on Bluesky: letsgomathias.bsky.social Take action: Start an Antifascist Book Club Explore antifascist field manuals and tools Support the show: https://onoffense.substack.com

    1h 27m

  3. JAN 28

    How to Stop Christian Nationalism

    Tim Whitaker is the founder of The New Evangelicals — a platform created to help evangelicals hold onto their faith without being pulled into a theocratic political movement. In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith shares his own journey from disillusionment with religion during the Iraq War to a deeper understanding of Christian nationalism as a rising authoritarian threat in America. Together, Kris and Tim unpack the ideology, identity, and propaganda fueling the far-right’s Christian nationalist movement — and how we can fight back. Follow Tim Whitaker: 👉 Substack 👉 Instagram 👉 YouTube Support On Offense: Subscribe, rate, and share the show. Every post, comment, and review helps build a stronger pro-democracy movement. weareonoffense.com Get organized: Download the Antifascist Book Club guides and take action locally at veteransfightingfascism.org

    1h 24m

  4. JAN 21

    How to Face Your Fears and Fight ICE

    How far would you go to fight authoritarianism? In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith speaks with Rachel Cohen—a Harvard Law grad who quit her Big Law job at Skadden and put her body on the line to confront ICE operations in Chicago and Minneapolis. Rachel didn’t wait for mass arrests or national headlines—she got arrested before the raids began. She took action before things escalated. This episode is about what it means to face your fears, test your red lines, and move from resistance to intervention. Kris opens with a deeply personal reflection on how—even in spaces where he was empowered to speak out—he still made compromises. He obeyed in advance. And he challenges listeners to ask: are you doing the same? Guest links: 👉 Rachel Cohen on Substack 👉 Instagram: @Cohen.489 👉 TikTok: @Cohen.489 Get organized: 📚 Download the Antifascist Book Club Guides 💻 Learn more at Task Force Butler Subscribe to On Offense on Substack, Apple, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Produced for the VALOR Media Network. Join the movement at weareonoffense.com

    1h 6m

  5. JAN 14

    America’s Global Reckoning with Dr. Nola Haynes

    America’s status as a global superpower isn’t guaranteed—and it may already be gone. In this episode of On Offense, national security expert Dr. Nola Haynes joins Kris Goldsmith to talk about the collapse of U.S. credibility, the damage of “Trump policy,” and the reckoning America must face—at home and on the world stage. This isn’t just a conversation about decline. It’s about what comes next—and what it will take for us to go on offense. 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube 📰 Subscribe to Dr. Nola Haynes’ #SecurityBrief on Substack ✊ Read the full episode post: https://onoffense.substack.com/p/americas-global-reckoning-dr-nola-haynes

    1h 8m

  6. 12/29/2025

    Wars Abroad, a Fascist Coup at Home

    In the 1930s, U.S. Marine General Smedley Butler stopped a fascist coup backed by Wall Street. Today, under Trump’s second term, the same forces are rising again—from threats of war in Venezuela to coordinated attacks on democracy at home. Historian and journalist Jonathan M. Katz joins On Offense to break down Butler’s legacy, America’s long history of imperialism, and what it means to organize against fascism in 2025. We cover: The Business Plot and America’s first coup attempt Butler’s evolution from warfighter to whistleblower How elites manipulate veterans to serve authoritarian goals Trump’s foreign policy and echoes of gunboat diplomacy How to go on offense against the far right 📘 Read Gangsters of Capitalism → jonathanmkatz.com/gangsters 📰 Subscribe to Jonathan’s newsletter → theracket.news/links 🎧 Follow On Offense and visit weareonoffense.com for more. #WeAreOnOffense #JonathanKatz #SmedleyButler #GangstersOfCapitalism #Trump #Coup #Antifascism #Venezuela

    1h 32m

  7. 12/17/2025

    Gen. Honoré: "To Die Free Is an Obligation"

    Lieutenant General Russel Honoré doesn’t talk like most generals—and in this conversation, he doesn’t mince words about politicians who glorify war but avoid accountability, or veterans who use their military service as a shield while undermining democracy. That’s exactly why I wanted to have him on On Offense. Honoré knows what it means to lead troops under pressure. He’s the kind of leader who called out systemic failures in real time after Hurricane Katrina—and he hasn’t stopped holding power accountable since. In this episode, we talk about what happens when the military becomes a political pawn—and why the deployments of troops onto American streets reminds him of America’s darkest moments of the 20th century. And we talk about how real service doesn’t end with the uniform—unless you trade your values for a comfortable seat and fat check. Here are some of the stakes we dig into: The threats facing troops and veterans from extremists and disinformation What it means to be “combat ineffective” in a democracy under attack How to take care of our people without feeding a culture of violence What accountability looks like in the age of Trump and Hegseth If you believe in the mission of this show, share this episode. Subscribe. Leave a review. Follow On Offense on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Learn more and get involved at weareonoffense.com

    1h 4m

  8. 12/10/2025

    Officer Harry Dunn on January 6 and the Fight Ahead

    On January 6, 2021, Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn stood his ground against the violent mob that tried to overturn the election. In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith—combat veteran and antifascist investigator—sits down with Harry to talk about what it took to defend democracy that day—and why the fight isn’t over. They get into: What it felt like to face off with insurrectionists in real time Why Harry is still organizing, speaking out, and staying in the fight What service looks like after January 6 How everyday people can join the fight in 2025 🎧 Follow On Offense on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 🌐 Learn more and take action: weareonoffense.com More on Harry Dunn: 📘 Standing My Ground — Buy the book ✍️ Standing Our Ground — Subscribe to Harry’s Substack 🥃 Pours and Perspectives — Listen on the Siren Network 🧹 Cleanup on Aisle 45 — Watch with Allison Gill and Harry Dunn

    1h 12m

  9. 12/03/2025

    Dropkick Murphys Take on Trump

    Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey joins host Kris Goldsmith for a conversation about punk, patriotism, and the fight against fascism in the Trump era. For over 30 years, Dropkick Murphys have called out Nazis and racists—from the stage, in their lyrics, and with their platform. In this episode of On Offense, Ken talks about why the band has always been political—and why more artists should speak out. In this episode: Ken’s response to Trump using DKM’s music without permission Why being anti-fascist is central to punk The loneliness of speaking up when others won’t Solidarity between working-class veterans and musicians Watch the video version on VALOR Media Network. Read more at onoffense.substack.com.

    59 min

  10. 11/20/2025

    Ken Burns’ Dangerous Myths — Tad Stoermer on History, Resistance, and Authoritarianism

    Historian and veteran Tad Stoermer joins host Kris Goldsmith for the debut episode of On Offense. Together, they dig into the dangerous power of patriotic myth-making—like that in Ken Burns’ ‘feel-good history’—and how it’s left Americans unprepared to face modern authoritarianism. They cover: What the Founders really understood about tyranny Why “defending democracy” isn’t enough The danger of comforting lies in history and politics How to start fighting back—right now Visit onoffense.substack.com for the full write-up and more episodes.

    1h 8m

  11. TRAILER

    Trailer: On Offense with Kris Goldsmith

    On Offense with Kris Goldsmith is a new podcast for anyone ready to fight for democracy and stand up to fascism. Hosted by U.S. Army combat veteran and antifascist investigator Kris Goldsmith, each episode goes inside extremist movements, breaks down how the far right is seizing power, and features frontline voices from the fight against authoritarianism. Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts.Watch full episodes right here on VALOR Media Network.Visit weareonoffense.com to learn more.#OnOffense #KrisGoldsmith #FightFascism #VeteransAgainstFascism #ProDemocracy

    1 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
250 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
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Sparverius, LLC / VALOR Media Network
  • Show Website
    On Offense with Kris Goldsmith

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