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Unf*cking The Republic

265 EpisodesProduced by UNFTR MediaWebsite

Unf*cking The Republic® (UNFTR) is a series of audio essays on the grand American experiment lovingly curated and presented by a quasi-anonymous political writer.  Each essay reflects on a singular topic that is generally misunderstood or purposely obfuscated by the so-called “powers that be.” As we… read more

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Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

Unf*cking Flashback: Corporate (Ir)Responsibility: Parts One and Two.

March 23rd, 2024

58:14

Silly season is in full swing so politicians take center stage. But it's important to remember who really pulls the strings and runs the show. This …

“Project 2025.” Republicans With Time.

March 16th, 2024

38:54

There are few things in this world as dangerous as Republicans with time on their hands. When Republicans find themselves out of office, they stay busy hatching evil plans in undisclosed lairs somewhere. Actually, they …

Show Notes [Over the Borderline: Part One.]

March 15th, 2024

43:54

Today is a Max solo adventure; join him as he covers feedback from the new Over the Borderline series, as well as some Unf*cker comments from the …

Over the Borderline: Part One. New York’s Migrant Crisis.

March 9th, 2024

1:23:35

We kick off the first installment in our series “Over the Borderline” where we examine the plight of immigrant families, the socioeconomic and …

Show Notes [Phone A Friend: George Laws García + Briahna Joy Gray.]

March 8th, 2024

39:56

Max and 99 are apart this week but meet up ~virtually~ to discuss feedback from the two recent Phone A Friends!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Email: 00:10:43

Outro: 00:33:19

Resources

Phone A Friend: George Laws García, …

Over the Borderline: An Introduction.

March 7th, 2024

13:30

This is the brief introduction to our series “Over the Borderline” where we update our reporting on immigration and the border crisis to examine the myriad moving parts of this hot button topic. The series kicks off …

Phone A Friend: George Laws García, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council.

March 2nd, 2024

59:42

Our guest this week is George Laws-García, the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council. A longtime policy advocate and consultant and …

Phone A Friend: ​Briahna Joy Gray of the Bad Faith Podcast.

February 28th, 2024

1:16:35

On this week’s UNFTR Phone a Friend we’re speaking with the incomparable Briahna Joy Gray. Briahna is the host of the popular politics podcast and …

Show Notes [The Banality of Violence.]

February 28th, 2024

1:30:06

In today's Show Notes Max and 99 catch up on the last few weeks, discussing 'The Banality of Violence,' 'Unf*cking Healthcare,' the 'Palestine' …

Immigration Nation A Crisis of Our Own Design.

February 24th, 2024

48:42

This week is a flashback. Yes, that means re-run but there’s a good reason for it as we covered in Show Notes. We’re bringing back our episode titled Immigration Nation to refresh crucial misconceptions around migration …

The Banality of Violence: Our troubling indifference to suffering.

February 17th, 2024

40:24

Watching Sean Hannity casually ask Curtis Sliwa to turn the cameras toward Sliwa’s Guardian Angels crew “taking down” a person they perceived to be an undocumented migrant in the streets of New York stuck with me. This …

Phone A Friend: Ben Burgis, author, journalist and podcaster.

February 10th, 2024

1:14:07

Today we get to all live tuition free inside the head of one of the most prominent intellectuals on the left, Ben Burgis. Ben is a Jacobin columnist, …

Show Notes [Don’t sweat the election. We already lost.]

February 8th, 2024

1:41:23

In today's episode of Show Notes, Max & 99 talk 'Don't Sweat The Election' + 'Mental Health Care in America' feedback, and spend plenty of time …

Don’t sweat the election. We already lost: A progressive meditation on the 2024 election.

February 3rd, 2024

46:13

Some of you are upset that I’ve targeted Biden so much lately given the threat of another Trump term. We’ve hashed and rehashed this on Show Notes …

Show Notes [Mental Health Care in America.]

January 30th, 2024

1:17:20

Max and 99 take some time to read feedback from the mental health episode. Unf*ckers were very gracious with their submissions and openness. Thank you all!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Emails: 00:10:21

Social Shout Outs: …

Revenge of the “Strongman.” Lessons from around the globe.

January 27th, 2024

29:33

Back-to-back wins in Iowa and New Hampshire have the nation bracing for a rematch between Trump and Biden. This episode explores how other nations are dealing with the ‘strongman’ wannabe dictator phenomenon. Maybe …

Mental Health Care in America: Capitalism’s Invisible Blight on the American Mind.

January 20th, 2024

1:16:03

This week’s episode examines the connection between capitalism and declining mental health in the United States. From the pressure the system places on workers to its ruthless manner of discarding those who suffer from …

Phone A Friend: Reverend Roger C. Williams.

January 13th, 2024

1:36:05

In response to a number of listeners suggesting that Max be less dismissive of religion and pay attention to the UNFTR creed of meeting people where they are, Max invited his friend Reverend Roger Williams on the show. …

2024: Welcome to Another Year in Bizarro America. Max Unfiltered.

January 6th, 2024

38:16

Max shakes off the cobwebs to take stock of where the country is as we head into 2024. In this “Max Unfiltered” take to start the year he examines the tension between the past and present. Has the arc of history bent …

Show Notes [The Carter Years One–Three.]

December 23rd, 2023

1:48:25

In this episode, the team winds down 2023 with a very special edition of Show Notes. Max and 99 experience peak silliness as they discuss the new …

The Carter Years: Part One, Two, Three + Epilogue.

December 16th, 2023

1:55:50

Our series on The Carter Years looks back at the brief but remarkable tenure of President Jimmy Carter. In Part One we cover Carter's rise to the Presidency. Part Two peers into the first half of the White House years …

The Montreal Protocol: When we listened to science.

December 9th, 2023

19:51

There was a time when we listened to scientists. Believe it or not, it actually happened in the 1980s. Under Ronald Reagan. (Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a quasi-villain in this story.) When set against the backdrop …

Show Notes [Quickie 15: The 3 Men Who Will Defeat Biden.]

December 8th, 2023

1:29:09

In today’s Show Notes Max and 99 review the schedule for the rest of December and trade some stories on the heels of the (thankfully) lighter Quickie …

The 3 Men Who Will Defeat Biden: A UNFTR Quickie.

December 2nd, 2023

46:07

Today’s Quickie predicts the three men who will combine to beat Joe Biden next November. Can you guess any one of them?

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:12

Subject One: 00:01:12

Subject Two: 00:06:35

Subject Three: 00:11:30

Outro: …

Show Notes [Palestine: Part Three + Epilogue, and Phone A Friend: Rashid Khalidi.]

December 1st, 2023

1:14:34

This week's Show Notes has Max and 99 catching up on the last three episodes; they cover more Palestine series feedback from the Unf*ckers, and …

Palestine: Epilogue. “Never Forget.”

November 24th, 2023

34:30

The epilogue to the Palestine series is an essay from Max that draws upon personal experience and reveals what he learned from putting together these episodes. The conclusions are far from uplifting. In fact, they’re …

Phone A Friend: Rashid Khalidi, author of The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine.

November 22nd, 2023

53:45

Rashid Khalidi is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. Professor Khalidi received his BA from Yale in 1970, and …

Palestine: Part Three. Two states, one state, none.

November 18th, 2023

58:22

The final installment of our series on Israel/Palestine covers the Arab Revolts of the late 1930s through present day, highlighting the agreements, …

Show Notes [Palestine: Part Two.]

November 16th, 2023

1:11:42

Today's Show Notes features more Palestine Series feedback, some punch ins from Manny Faces, and a smattering of Max and 99 tangents. Enjoy!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:17:00

Emails: 00:31:02

Instagram Shout …

Palestine: Part Two. The Palestinian Cause.

November 11th, 2023

44:27

Part Two of our series on Israel/Palestine turns back the clock to examine the time period from Part One but from the Palestinian perspective. By establishing the foundation of the conflict in parallel, it helps …

Show Notes [Palestine: Part One.]

November 10th, 2023

1:24:26

Today’s Show Notes covers all the feedback Max and 99 received from the Palestine: Part One episode. Give it a listen, Unf*ckers!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:05:18

Emails: 00:26:13

YouTube Shout Outs: 01:11:53

Palestine: Part One. The Jewish Question.

November 4th, 2023

45:12

Every story has a beginning. Every conflict has its roots. For some, the Israel/Palestine conflict is rooted in scripture and written in blood. Others claim it boils down to a deadly dispute over real estate. There’s a …

Show Notes [Palestine.]

October 31st, 2023

1:35:57

Max and 99 catch up in today's Show Notes, discussing Palestine intro feedback, why Boomers love their generation, and the canon of UNFTR songs. Enjoy!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:23

Emails: 00:39:37

Facebook …

Phone A Friend: Manny Faces of Hip-Hop Can Save America!

October 28th, 2023

1:20:51

You've heard him on the pod. You know the magic of his sound design. But do you really know "Manny Faces?" Long-time, award winning Hip-Hop journalist and activist Manny Faces joins Max in studio to talk about Hip-Hop …

Palestine: An Introduction. The Land Imperialism Left Behind.

October 21st, 2023

19:44

Max finally takes aim at the Israel/Palestine conflict with an introduction that frames the approach for the mini-series and sets guardrails for what will undoubtedly be an emotional journey for many UNFTR listeners. …

Show Notes [Phone A Friend: Nick Hanauer]

October 20th, 2023

37:45

Max flies solo while 99 goes on a long distance mission from god. Left to his own devices, Max dips his pinky toe into the Palestinian conflict to …

Phone A Friend: Nick Hanauer of Pitchfork Economics.

October 14th, 2023

52:22

Max interviews Nick Hanauer, co-host of the Pitchfork Economics podcast and founder of Civic Ventures. They discuss Nick’s work at Civic Ventures to promote the $15 minimum wage among other initiatives and have a wide …

Show Notes [The House that Newt Built.]

October 13th, 2023

1:16:04

In this episode of Show Notes, Max and 99 lightly discuss Israel/Palestine in preparation for a future episode, continue with some Socialism feedback, and 99 makes an admission about shoelaces.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

The House that Newt Built: The Rise of Matt Gaetz.

October 7th, 2023

20:00

Max struggles to understand exactly what Matt Gaetz is after, but has his suspicions. Regardless of the right-wing endgame, this week’s fiasco was made possible by Newt Gingrich in the 1990s. Gingrich’s run marked not …

Show Notes [Understanding Socialism: Part Six.]

October 6th, 2023

1:00:49

Today's Show Notes is brought to you by: Hip-Hop! Max and 99 get an assist from Manny Faces who responds to an Unf*cker, and DJs while Max and 99 sing. They also discuss capitalism, the working class and Max's new …

Understanding Socialism: Part Six. Epilogue.

October 2nd, 2023

56:41

The final, final (no really) installment in our series on socialism looks narrowly at the period between World War One and the Russian Revolution to …

Show Notes [Strike!]

September 29th, 2023

1:31:53

99 is back in this episode of Show Notes; her and Max talk Taylor Swift, unions + strikes, and read some opposing view feedback from Unf*ckers. Enjoy!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:17:43

Emails: 00:42:42

Buy Me …

Strike! Reality checking the labor movement.

September 22nd, 2023

45:38

Strike! Union actions are everywhere. High profile work stoppages from the Screen Actors Guild to the United Auto Workers have put the labor movement …

Show Notes [Understanding Socialism: Part Five.]

September 21st, 2023

55:25

Max flies solo in this episode of Show Notes while 99 is out with consumption (COVID). He covers AOC + Socialism feedback, goes on a Boebert rant, …

Understanding Socialism: Part Five. 1871 to 1917. Revolutionary Divide.

September 16th, 2023

1:10:06

This is technically the final installment of our series “Understanding Socialism” where we cover the period between the Paris Commune in 1871 and onset of World War I, which precedes (and leads to) the Russian …

Hands Off AOC: Reply to the Slandering of a Revolutionist.

September 2nd, 2023

38:23

AOC. The country continues to obsess over the bright light of the progressive caucus and most high profile member of “The Squad.” From day one, AOC has been the subject of harsh criticisms steeped in misogyny and class …

Show Notes [What is Bidenomics?]

September 1st, 2023

1:07:25

Max and 99 are reunited in this episode of Show Notes! They talk Bidenomics, Phone A Friend, and sharting. (Sorry.)

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:16:41

Emails: 00:27:51

Facebook Shout Outs: 00:47:00

Buy Me A …

What is Bidenomics? Is anyone telling the truth?

August 26th, 2023

55:31

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” “Is there life after death?”

“If the POTUS says the economy is great but no one feels it, is it really a recovery?”

I’ll leave the …

Phone A Friend: Francesca Fiorentini of The Bitchuation Room.

August 21st, 2023

1:06:26

Francesca Fiorentini is a journalist, activist, comedian and host of the popular Bitchuation Room podcast and YouTube channel. Max and Francesca talk …

Show Notes [Understanding Socialism: Part Four.]

August 13th, 2023

53:32

Happy Max-less Show Notes to all who celebrate! 99 is joined by Manny this week and they discuss Socialism Part Four, Barbie, Hip-Hop and podcasts!

Chapters

Intro: 00:20:00

Start Barbie Spoilers: 00:07:37

End Barbie …

Phone A Friend: Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs.

August 10th, 2023

1:05:46

Nathan J. Robinson is the author of 10 non-fiction books and four illustrated books. He defied modernity by launching a magazine (yes an actual physical magazine), called Current Affairs which blends eye-popping and fun …

Understanding Socialism: Part Four. Praxis.

July 31st, 2023

52:40

It’s Part Four this week, and things are really heating up. We’re bridging the gap between the “critique” years and the “praxis” years with a deep dive into the late 1800s. Mikhail Bakunin and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon …

Show Notes [Understanding Socialism: Part Three.]

July 28th, 2023

1:04:07

In this episode of Show Notes, Max and 99 review some housekeeping, Headlines (Leonard Leo, NY State + the ADA), and talk Socialism Part Three. Enjoy, Unf*ckers!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:22:43

Emails: …

Understanding Socialism: Part Three. The “Critique Phase” (1825–1870).

July 18th, 2023

55:07

We have the third installment in our socialism series, where we resume our journey beginning in 1825 and the collapse of Robert Owen’s New Harmony …

Show Notes Part Two [Unf*cking Flashback: The Assange Problem.]

July 17th, 2023

1:08:45

In the second part of Show Notes, Max and 99 delve into Unf*cker emails and social comments; weighing in on some heavy hitting topics like Israel/Palestine and term limits.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Emails: 00:01:03

Show Notes Part One [Unf*cking Flashback: The Assange Problem.]

July 14th, 2023

52:56

Today we have a first: a two part Show Notes! In Part One, Max and 99 catch up, and delve into some headlines. Part Two to come tomorrow.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Manny’s Corner: 00:05:00

Headlines: 00:22:50

Outro: …

News Beat's Exclusive Interview With Dr. Cornel West

July 7th, 2023

1:10:56

"If our democracy is to survive, the empire must be dismantled.” That’s what Dr. Cornel West told our friends at News Beat in an exclusive, …

Unf*cking Flashback: The Assange Problem. Time is Running Out to Salvage Press Freedom.

June 26th, 2023

30:12

[An update from Max, 6/26/23] Hey Unf*ckers. This episode updates the Assange piece we released a while back. It’s possible that by the time you hear this, there will have been movement on his case. If not, it seems …

Show Notes [Ep 99: Understanding Socialism: Part Two.]

June 23rd, 2023

1:08:36

Today’s Show Notes is a rousing display of show notes. Headlines, emails + donations galore. Enjoy!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:03:50

Emails: 00:17:00

Instagram Shout Outs: 01:00:13

YouTube Shout Outs: …

Understanding Socialism: Part Two. The Seeds of Socialism.

June 17th, 2023

38:52

Believe it or not, we’re still not up to Karl Marx because we’re mired in the turn of the 19th Century. Part Two reveals the progenitors of socialist theory toward the end of the Enlightenment era. Charles Fourier, …

Show Notes [Topical Cream 12: The Doctor is in.]

June 15th, 2023

1:05:32

In this episode of Show Notes, Max and 99 read a comment from a disgruntled Unf*cker, discuss the weird number of conservatives who have done drag, and have a rousing conversation about menstruation. Oh, and the …

Show Notes [Ep. 98: SCOTUS Native Adoption Case.]

June 8th, 2023

50:51

In this episode of Show Notes, Max and 99 spend too much time talking about Mad Men, cover pressing news in Headlines (the injustices being waged against the LGBTQ+ community, children in the work force & climate …

The Doctor is In: Dr. Cornel West announces bid for presidency.

June 7th, 2023

15:07

Cornel West is one of the most important public intellectuals of the modern era. And now he's running for President of the United States representing the People's Party. Right person. Wrong platform. 

Resources

World …

SCOTUS Native Adoption Case: Landmark Decision Due This Month.

June 4th, 2023

39:46

The SCOTUS is set to release a number of decisions this month. Top of mind for us is the decision on Haaland v. Brackeen, which places Native …

Show Notes [Ep. 97: Understanding Socialism, Part One]

June 2nd, 2023

1:12:28

On this Show Notes episode, Max & 99 review brilliant and insightful listener and viewer feedback on our first of probably 63 Socialism episodes, …

Understanding Socialism: Part One. An Introduction to Socialism.

May 27th, 2023

40:44

This week on UNFTR we have the first in the series on socialism. After our “ISMs” refresher last week, we dip our toes into the communal water and …

Show Notes [Unf*cking Flashback: Capitasociafascilibdemarxism.]

May 26th, 2023

1:23:34

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 gear up for the Summer Socialism Series; they review feedback from the ISMs re-drop, hear from some global Unf*ckers on Socialism, and somehow squeeze in impressions and bad singing. …

Unf*cking Flashback: Capitasociafascilibdemarxism Exploring ISMs in the Modern Age.

May 20th, 2023

1:04:54

A while back we did an episode titled Capitasociafascilibdemarxism. It was an expression of the confusion surrounding the casual way insults are …

Show Notes [Ep 96: Williamson and Kennedy: Damaging the Brand.]

May 18th, 2023

1:30:12

In today's Show Notes, Max & 99 wade through a litany of comments about the Williamson & Kennedy episode. 99 is nursing a back injury. Max cuts off his own mic by accident. No animals were harmed during the …

Williamson and Kennedy: Damaging the Brand. Sorry, not sorry.

May 13th, 2023

37:15

Marianne Williamson and Robert Kennedy Jr. have entered the presidential race and are being cast as the progressives in the field. And to be fair, …

Show Notes [Ep 95: Fox Untucked, Noam Undone, Taibbi Unhinged.]

May 11th, 2023

1:22:58

In today’s Show Notes, Max and 99 continue discussing patriarchy, hero worship and Max’s modern nemesis, Tucker Carlson.

Listen to Fox Untucked, Noam Undone, Taibbi Unhinged: The Toxic Mix of Money and Patriarchy.

Fox Untucked, Noam Undone, Taibbi Unhinged: The Toxic Mix of Money and Patriarchy.

May 6th, 2023

1:15:23

Can we separate the art from the artist? Do the misdeeds of our political and cultural icons diminish their accomplishments? “Cancel Culture” has …

Show Notes [Ep 94: Dismantling the Oligarchy.]

May 4th, 2023

50:57

In today’s Show Notes, Max intentionally fucked up 99's audio in an attempt to assert his dominance. (Yell at him, Unf*ckers.) Other than that, they discuss some salacious headlines—Epstein and Chomsky, anyone? Plus, …

Dismantling the Oligarchy: The Political Class is Intellectually Bankrupt.

April 29th, 2023

19:00

This episode explores both the majesty of our democracy and its failures. No matter the issue that motivates you as a voter and citizen, there is an artificial barrier that exists between our desire for change and …

Show Notes [Ep 93: Updated Tax Evasion Figures.]

April 27th, 2023

1:15:26

Max is back for today's Show Notes and there's plenty to review! Him and 99 cover important headlines (Tucker's departure, Biden's re-election, etc.), Updated Tax Evasion Figures feedback and discuss the prosperity …

Updated Tax Evasion Figures: Lifestyles of the Rich and Fraudulent.

April 21st, 2023

37:29

An explosive new report from the Bureau of Economic Research just landed, and it seems that no one in the media or political class cares. The report …

Show Notes [Ep 92: The End of Affirmative Action.]

April 12th, 2023

26:08

In today’s Show Notes, 99 flies solo while Max is on vacation. She covers affirmative action feedback, some housekeeping and YouTube comments. Plus, …

The End of Affirmative Action: Civil rights advocates brace for the worst.

April 8th, 2023

49:31

Affirmative action has a long history in the United States, beginning with the labor movement in the 1930s. But over time, the country and the courts …

Show Notes [Topical Cream 11: Hochul's “Gift.”]

April 7th, 2023

1:09:15

In today's Show Notes Max and 99 cover headlines ranging from oil to Trump's Indictment, discuss MMT and review some Unf*cker updates.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:04:24

Emails: 00:16:46

Instagram Shout Outs: …

Hochul’s “Gift.” NY Governor Does it Again.

April 1st, 2023

16:29

NYS Governor Kathy Hochul is once again under scrutiny for vetoing a bill that would have protected unmarked graves of Native People. It’s another in …

Show Notes [Ep 91: Has “Creative Destruction” Reached Silicon Valley?]

March 30th, 2023

56:33

99 is back in today's Show Notes! She and Max talk Creative Destruction, YouTube production, and something else that rhymes. Enjoy, Unf*ckers!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: 00:04:41

Emails: 00:15:20

YouTube Shout …

Has “Creative Destruction” Reached Silicon Valley? The Capitalism Trap.

March 25th, 2023

38:33

Silicon Valley is in a slump. For all the talk about innovation, there’s a real question as to whether the U.S. tech sector is really all that innovative. Today’s episode digs into this question through the lens of a …

Show Notes [Ep 90: Contagion!]

March 23rd, 2023

25:50

In today's Show Notes Max flies solo as 99 is 'Down With Disease.' He covers the new Times piece regarding Carter, makes some Book Love suggestions …

Weaponizing “Woke.” Dumb Right-Wing Tropes.

March 23rd, 2023

7:58

This is the audio version of the fourth installment of our “Dumb Right Wing Tropes” series on YouTube that looks at the word “woke” and how it has been increasingly used by the right to belittle and dehumanize groups on …

Contagion: When Banks Fail.

March 18th, 2023

31:41

What goes up, must come down. Unless you’re a banker. In which case it’s up, up and away with bailouts and low interest loans! Today’s episode is an …

Show Notes [Ep 89: The Fed and Inflation.]

March 17th, 2023

1:07:33

In today’s Show Notes, Max and 99 lightly cover bank failures, and Project Willow. Plus a discussion on prison abolition and some closing thoughts on …

The Fed and Inflation: The stories we tell.

March 11th, 2023

49:02

Today, we’re talking about the stories we tell. Narratives that take root and stubbornly refuse to die. The economic version of urban legends. …

Show Notes [Ep 88: James Earl Carter (Epilogue).]

March 10th, 2023

1:10:39

In today’s Show Notes, Max and 99 round out the Carter series; cover more Headlines (the TN drag bill, Nord Stream 2 and Chris Hedges), and read some Facebook and YouTube comments.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Headlines: …

James Earl Carter (Epilogue).

March 4th, 2023

19:33

President Carter ran out his final year in office from the confines of the Oval Office as he worked night and day to free the hostages in Iran. After 444 days, they were released on the day his successor was …

Show Notes [Ep 87: James Earl Carter (Part Three).]

March 3rd, 2023

1:09:55

In today’s Show Notes, Max and 99 talk even more about Carter; continue with the Headlines segment (covering a vegan news story, student debt and a rebuttal to Seymour Hersh), and hear from some all star Unf*ckers! …

Spy Balloons: The ultimate distraction.

March 2nd, 2023

11:06

Somehow, we’re still talking about spy balloons. Long-forgotten are the revelations of Edward Snowden, who uncovered mass surveillance programs under the NSA and other U.S. agencies. Since that time, we’ve come to learn …

James Earl Carter (Part Three).

February 27th, 2023

42:15

On the heels of multiple domestic and foreign policy successes, the Carter Administration headed into 1979 brimming with hope and optimism. And the …

Show Notes [Ep 86: James Earl Carter (Part Two).]

February 24th, 2023

46:22

In today’s Show Notes, Max and 99 discuss the recent Jimmy Carter news, review Carter Part Two feedback, and introduce a new recurring segment for Show Notes.

Listen to James Earl Carter (Part Two).

Chapters

Intro: …

James Earl Carter (Part Two).

February 18th, 2023

52:33

In Part One of our series, we discussed the persistent attempts on the right to draw parallels between the Carter and Biden administrations. We looked at the rise of James Earl Carter from humble beginnings on a farm, …

Show Notes [Ep 85: James Earl Carter (Part One).]

February 16th, 2023

57:15

In today's Show Notes, 99 returns! And her audio is a little fucky (sorry). Max and 99 review Carter feedback, Max has plenty of aggressive diatribes, and they discuss what's to come on YouTube and the main feed.

Listen …

The (Fake) Debt Ceiling Crisis: The GOP’s Dangerous Gamble.

February 14th, 2023

12:56

The debt ceiling crisis is a completely manufactured, self-inflicted wound that only the GOP sees fit to weaponize when it suits them. Forget the fact that it has been raised 78 times since 1960, 49 of which were under …

James Earl Carter (Part One).

February 11th, 2023

30:39

Today we begin our look back at the brief but remarkable tenure of President Jimmy Carter. The late 70s is a fascinating period on a number of levels. Civil Rights groups had fractured into several pieces, the Vietnam …

Big Tech Layoffs: The Madness of Capitalism.

February 4th, 2023

20:04

GDP growth was stronger than expected. Unemployment remains historically low. Supply chain issues continue to work themselves out. China is entering a period of strong projected growth. The Fed has even signaled that it …

Show Notes [Ep 84: Who To Trust In Media + Topical Cream 7: Airline Crisis]

January 26th, 2023

45:55

Max is left to (mainly) fend for himself in this 99-less episode of Show Notes, as she takes a well deserved break. While her presence is missed, it's always worth hearing Max read listener feedback from Unf*ckers who …

Airline Crisis: Why Is the FAA Failing Under Buttigieg?

January 21st, 2023

16:17

Pete Buttigieg is in the news a lot for a Transportation Secretary. Either he’s a media darling the democratic establishment is keen to keep in the public eye, or he’s really bad at his job. Methinks it’s both. Today’s …

Who To Trust in Media.

January 18th, 2023

58:20

We’re gearing up and doubling down in 2023. Today, Max makes a couple of big announcements (big to us, at least) before musing on the state of the media. The balance of the show is dedicated to highlighting other great …

Public Education: Parts One, Two, and Three.

January 7th, 2023

2:12:30

Public education is a universal part of the American experience. Every one of us interacts with our system of education whether directly or through taxation. Since the nation's founding, a commitment to universal …

Show Notes [Ep 82: The Black & Jewish Divide in America + Quickie 14: How New York F*cked the Country.]

January 4th, 2023

1:18:08

In this very special Show Notes, Max and 99 are joined in-person by the one and only Manny Faces! They cover some Unf*cker feedback from the last two episodes, reflect on what was covered in 2022, and tease what’s to …

Phone a Friend: John Kane of Let's Talk Native.

December 30th, 2022

1:01:39

Welcome to a very special edition of Phone a Friend, where we reach out to experts, authors and intellectuals who know way more shit about certain subjects than I will ever know. Now this one is a real home game and …

How New York F*cked the Country: New York’s Unelected Leadership Void.

December 23rd, 2022

18:52

From failing to run opposition research on the most fraudulent candidate ever to colluding with Republicans on key judgeships, the NY Democratic …

The Black & Jewish Divide in America: The Fractured "Grand Alliance."

December 18th, 2022

1:27:34

Fascism, Nazism and antisemitism are back in the headlines. Conservative media and the New Right are relaxing with popcorn and settling in to watch as tensions between the Black and Jewish communities increase once …

Show Notes [Episode 81: Public Education Part Three.]

December 16th, 2022

25:14

In today's unusually quick Show Notes, Max and 99 review feedback from the final installment of the Education series and read out some 5 star reviews!

Listen to Public Education (Part Three): Criticize, Demonize, Then …

Public Education (Part Three): Criticize, Demonize, Then Privatize.

December 10th, 2022

1:44:26

This is it. The moment about seven of you have been waiting for. The dramatic conclusion to the three part series on public education that no one asked for. Oh, and it’s long. In sparing our beloved Unf*ckers a fourth …

Show Notes [Episode 80: Public Education Part Two.]

December 8th, 2022

1:03:37

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 review feedback from Education Part Two, talk about some language nuances and 99 is a wee bit cranky. Enjoy, Unf*ckers!

Listen to Public Education (Part Two): Expansion, Reconstruction …

Unf*cking Flashback: Happy Noam Chomsky Day: Pundits, Public Intellectuals & Charlatans.

December 7th, 2022

55:59

Today is the great professor and renowned linguist Noam Chomsky's birthday. December 7th. A day that lives in infamy to this pod, because we love us some Uncle Noam. So in honor of this great public intellectual we …

Public Education (Part Two): Expansion, Reconstruction & Desegregation.

December 3rd, 2022

47:57

Today we continue our three-part series by examining three of the four major eras of public education in the United States: Expansion, Reconstruction and Desegregation. This episode looks at the legal and constitutional …

Show Notes [Episode 79: Public Education Part One.]

December 1st, 2022

1:17:03

They’re baaaack! In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 review feedback from Public Education Part One and discuss what’s to come throughout education …

Public Education (Part One): Scaffolding.

November 18th, 2022

41:50

Today is the first in a three-part series on public education in the United States. The focus is on compulsory K-12 education. We begin the series by …

Show Notes [BONUS: Midterm Recap.]

November 18th, 2022

48:40

In today’s Show Notes, Max and 99 discuss some midterm updates and work through some T***p 2024 feelings. Plus 99 gets all boomer on some Unf*ckers, lovingly.

Listen to BONUS: Midterm Recap.

Resources

Variety: Candace …

Show Notes [Episode 78: “Tough on Crime” Republicans.]

November 12th, 2022

37:41

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 unwind from the Midterms Recap, reflect back on the “Tough on Crime” Republicans episode, and read the smart fuckin' write-ins from the Unf*ckers.

Listen to “Tough on Crime” Republicans.

BONUS: Midterm Recap

November 9th, 2022

1:40:15

Max, Manny and 99 slice and dice the midterm election and highlight several key outcomes that portend good things for Progressives. Also, 99 stayed up the latest but it was to watch the Parent Trap. So there's that.

--

“Tough on Crime”: Republicans pin midterm hopes on tired trope.

November 5th, 2022

37:42

The midterms are upon us and the Republicans have pinned their hopes on a tried and true fear tactic: Crime. It’s a winning narrative. Always has been. The data paint another picture entirely, however. While in no way …

Show Notes [Strange Bedfellows 1: Arthur & Sand]

November 3rd, 2022

1:37:57

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 catch up on some big news stories of the last few weeks like midterms, Twitter, antisemitism, and Lula. They also …

Unf*cking Flashback: Building the Climate Industrial Complex.

October 29th, 2022

56:39

The world is more fucked than the United States. And we’re pretty fucked, so that’s saying a lot. Perhaps there’s a way to mitigate this mess by playing upon our worst instincts as a nation and the competitiveness that …

Strange Bedfellows: Chester A. Arthur and Julia Sand.

October 22nd, 2022

20:04

As Max grinds away at a more in-depth Unf*cking, we offer our dear listeners a new palate cleanser. Strange Bedfellows examines fascinating relationships and wonders how these duos might have altered the course of …

Show Notes [Episode 77: What’s the deal with Peter Thiel?]

October 20th, 2022

45:53

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 discuss some Thiel feedback, review episode suggestions from Unf*ckers, and discuss what’s up next for UNFTR episodes. Tune in!

Listen to Episode 77: What’s the deal with Peter Thiel?

What’s the deal with Peter Thiel? Sociopathic billionaire man-child wants to eat the world.

October 15th, 2022

46:02

I’m not a doctor. But even I can certainly see that Peter Thiel is a sick, sick person. Bright, awkward and successful, Peter Thiel has risen to …

Show Notes [Episode 76: The FCC (Part Two).]

October 12th, 2022

52:35

In today's Show Notes, Max is cranky about the Mets, we close out feedback from the FCC series and happy cry over real-world Unf*cker meet ups.

Listen to Episode 76: The FCC (Part Two). On the death of competition.

The FCC (Part Two). On the death of competition.

October 8th, 2022

57:23

In our first installment of the two-part FCC series we discussed the origins of the Federal Communications Commission, the reason it came into existence and the tension between its charge and the First Amendment. Our …

Show Notes [Quickie 13: One nation divided?]

October 5th, 2022

1:03:46

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 share some show scheduling updates, discuss a potential recurring 99 segment and trade New York stories. Plus, they …

One nation divided? What bipartisanship says about America.

October 1st, 2022

38:06

We’ve all heard of the great divide. The most dysfunctional Congress ever. The end of civility! There’s an impression that nothing passes Congress with bipartisan support anymore. That every piece of legislation has to …

Show Notes [Ep 75: The FCC.]

September 30th, 2022

1:33:38

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 talk about the FCC, bagpipes and parkways. And nothing else. (Okay, obviously a lie. But tune in to find out what else is discussed!)

Listen to Episode 75: The FCC.

Chapters

Intro: …

The FCC: On the death of the fairness doctrine.

September 24th, 2022

52:27

This week we finally heed the call to Unf*ck the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.) We don’t get all the way there (it’s been around since 1934) but we manage to tackle the fairness doctrine, which was intended to …

Show Notes [Ep 74: BlackRock.]

September 23rd, 2022

1:23:38

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 talk about the future of the enablers “series,” how people like Larry Fink of BlackRock fit into the overall UNFTR ecosystem and how that relates to ESGs + the billionaire class. Plus, …

BlackRock: The Devil's Banker. Do as I say, not as I do.

September 17th, 2022

1:11:49

Larry Fink is one of the most influential people on the planet. His firm BlackRock mints money. Billions of dollars a year. Their risk management …

Show Notes [Ep 73: Hospitals and Healthcare.]

September 15th, 2022

56:17

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 discuss the conclusion of the three part Healthcare series, share plans to support two progressive candidates in the upcoming election, and get hyped for the Fall Raisers: Friend, Fund, …

Hospitals and Healthcare: From Sanatoriums for the Indigent to Citadels of the Elite.

September 11th, 2022

1:12:41

The third and final installment of our American Healthcare series examines the evolution of the American hospital system. There are more than 6,000 …

Show Notes [Ep 72: This Healthcare is Killing Us.]

September 10th, 2022

1:26:15

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 continue to discuss the healthcare industry—this time with insight from some of the international Unf*ckers. Plus, 99 has the sniffles and sounds like Squidward. And, as always, …

Unf*cking Flashback: Labor Unions: From Pullman to Kellogg’s. Labor’s long, hard road.

September 5th, 2022

1:14:32

We're re-releasing our Labor Union episode in honor of Labor Day. For Unf*ckers outside of the United States, this is the day government set aside as a token of appreciation to the labor movement for eight hour days, …

This Healthcare is Killing Us: The perpetual cycle of money madness.

September 3rd, 2022

53:33

The first installment of our healthcare series encapsulated the magnitude of the industry that accounts for 20% of our nation’s GDP and how efforts …

Show Notes [Topical Cream 6: Biden’s Big Student Debt Announcement.]

September 1st, 2022

1:52:08

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 continue talking about the student debt announcement and its impact, address more feedback from the healthcare episode, plus feedback from the last show notes re: Big Pharma, natural …

Phone a Friend: Lily Geismer, author of Left Behind: The Democrats’ Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality.

August 30th, 2022

1:01:36

Lily Geismer wrote an incredible book called Left Behind. Unf*ckers who listened to our three part series on the Clinton years are familiar with it and know how important it was to framing this series. We had some …

Biden’s Big Student Debt Announcement: PITOTWIU for the Indebted Masses.

August 28th, 2022

21:47

It’s here! It’s finally here! Today we review our predictions for student debt relief and square them with Biden’s proposed plan. There’s a lot to like about the announcement, several unanswered questions and some …

Show Notes [Ep 71: U.S. Healthcare.]

August 26th, 2022

2:15:53

In today’s Show Notes Max and 99 talk for 30 hours…Okay, exaggeration. But they talk for a long while, because there’s a lot of U.S. healthcare feedback to run through, as the Unf*ckers are so smart and dedicated (as …

All Hail Nettie.

August 26th, 2022

16:40

A note for one of our original Unf*ckers. Sending our love, light, and thank yous to Nettie for being the patron saint of this show, and making us all better.

If you're able, please consider donating to Nettie's fund:

U.S. Healthcare: America’s Hypocritical Oath.

August 20th, 2022

1:14:22

Today we’re doing some level setting on healthcare in the U.S.—a long requested topic. We navigate this unf*cking based on direct queries from the Unf*ckers, creating a baseline that helps establish a foundation for …

Show Notes [Ep 69: Max Unfiltered + More.]

August 18th, 2022

1:49:30

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 shoot the shit and catch up on what the world’s been up to since they took a lil vacation.

Listen to Max Unfiltered.

Listen to A Chat with Tom McGovern.

Listen to UNFTR x Best of the …

UNFTR X News Beat: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People

August 14th, 2022

1:07:44

Countless Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people go missing or are murdered across Canada and the United States in an ongoing genocide receiving inadequate attention from media, governments, and law enforcement. 

The Clinton Years (Parts One, Two, and Three)

August 10th, 2022

2:07:17

This episode is a re-release of sorts. Due to the amount of positive feedback we received on our Clinton Years series, we decided to put the series together into one seamless episode to make it easier to share.

Access …

UNFTR x Best of the Left: America, A Beginner's Guide

August 6th, 2022

1:34:49

If not for Best of the Left, we are not. The person who put UNFTR on the map has graciously allowed us to drop his very special 1,500th anniversary show on our feed. The episode is titled “America, A Beginner’s Guide” …

BONUS: A Chat with Tom McGovern

August 4th, 2022

1:12:53

The man behind the curtain. The fifth Beatle. The ace up our sleeve. Max interviews UNFTR’s ultimate secret weapon, Tom McGovern. Tom is the genius …

Max, Unfiltered: Finishing the hat.

July 30th, 2022

7:43

We bid Unf*ckers adieu for a couple of weeks with some quick ruminations about from whence we came and where we’re headed. In this brief reflection, Max and crew address the cacophony of issues swirling about in our …

Show Notes [Ep 68: The Clinton Years (Part Three)]

July 28th, 2022

1:30:12

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 discuss the finale of The Clinton Years and review Unf*cker feedback, share some book love and we hear from Manny Faces about his other project, News Beat.

Listen to The Clinton Years …

The Clinton Years (Part Three): The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.

July 23rd, 2022

1:08:02

Part One of “The Clinton Years” examined Bill Clinton’s legacy through the lens of their foundation work and stubborn insistence on the private sector’s ability to cure everything from poverty to climate change. Part …

Show Notes [Ep 67: The Clinton Years (Part Two)]

July 21st, 2022

1:33:46

In today's Show Notes, Max and 99 discuss listener feedback from Part Two of The Clinton Years, the powerful Jesse Jackson tie-in (including the …

The Clinton Years (Part Two): Yesterday's gone.

July 16th, 2022

1:01:12

In Part One of “The Clinton Years” we started our journey in the present day by examining the structure and programs of The Clinton Foundation. Many of Clinton’s earliest ideas in public service remain very much a part …

Show Notes [Ep 66: The Clinton Years (Part One)]

July 14th, 2022

1:12:18

In today's Show Notes Maxisode, 99 and Max discuss recent political changes across the globe, the state of conservative education outlets and what to …

The Clinton Years (Part One): Don't stop thinking about tomorrow.

July 9th, 2022

48:03

When we think of prosperous eras in modern U.S. history, conservatives often point to the Reagan administration as a crucial turning point. To the corporate class, there’s a good deal of truth to this, but mostly to the …

Show Notes [Ep 65: Fuck U, PragerU.]

July 8th, 2022

1:39:23

In today's Show Notes Maxisode, 99 has terrible audio (sorry!), we finally put the condiment war to rest and enjoy our usually smattering of Unf*cker write-ins on an assortment of topics like health care, the DNC and of …

Fuck U, PragerU: The Internet’s Fake Toxic University

July 2nd, 2022

58:15

For years, the propagandists with the greatest visibility in the United States were on television; the ones who contributed most to the “manufacture of consent.” Think Fox News. And we’ve covered many of the dark, …

Show Notes [Ep 64: $5 Gasoline + Unf*cking Flashback: Peak Oil.]

June 29th, 2022

1:45:00

In today's Show Notes minisode we talk about the backwards SCOTUS decision and how we even got to this point, and chat about the $5 Gasoline episode …

$5 Gasoline: The Real Culprit Revealed.

June 25th, 2022

42:43

I know, I know. Didn’t we just do this episode? Kinda, sorta. But not to this extent. In our Peak Oil episode we reviewed the history of oil as a commodity, currency and weapon on the world stage. This episode picks up …

Unf*cking Flashback: Peak Oil.

June 24th, 2022

1:35:04

Hey Unf*ckers, it’s Max. Just wanted to weigh in very quickly. This is an episode that we’ve dropped already, it’s called Peak Oil.

We dropped it a few months back to try and explain why oil prices were so high. It is a …

Show Notes [Ep 63: Amazon (Part 2) + Phone a Friend.]

June 22nd, 2022

54:03

In today's Show Notes minisode we review Phone a Friend feedback, welcoming some Prestige Heads into the Unf*cking family, argue about the new Matilda movie and Max loses the ketchup v mustard debate.

Listen to Amazon …

Phone a Friend: Daniel Bessner + Derek Davison of the American Prestige Podcast.

June 20th, 2022

49:28

Our inaugural edition of Phone a Friend, where we interview luminaries in different fields, features Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison from the American Prestige podcast. The pair answer some easy questions on

Introducing: Phone a Friend.

June 19th, 2022

3:37

Here's a sneak peak at the inaugural drop of Phone a Friend, a new Unf*cking series where we interview people smarter than Max. (The possibilities are endless.) This episode features Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison …

Amazon (Part 2): The Unfulfillment Company.

June 18th, 2022

1:01:30

In Part 1 of Amazon, the Unfulfillment Company, we reviewed Amazon’s rise from online bookseller to third largest company on the planet and well on …

Show Notes [FMF Day Bonus + Ep 62: Amazon (Part 1)]

June 15th, 2022

50:32

In today's Show Notes minisode we continue to celebrate #FMF Day by reading Unf*cker’s scathing comments towards ‘ol Milty, continue to shit on …

Amazon (Part 1): The Unfulfillment Company.

June 12th, 2022

59:20

The first of a two part series on Amazon. In many ways, Amazon is the logical extension of America’s perverted version of neoliberal capitalism. The …

BONUS: Happy F*ck Milton Friedman Day- Family Reunion Episode Celebrating Uncle Fartnoggin.

June 10th, 2022

1:17:42

Manny Faces joins Max and 99 in studio for the first time ever. The three celebrate the dastardly legacy of Milton Friedman, reflect on the growth …

Show Notes [Quickie 12: Congressional Summer School.]

June 8th, 2022

58:56

In today's Show Notes minisode Max rides solo and struggles to understand how emails or social media work.

Okay, it wasn't that bad. Max teases some …

Congressional Summer School: Shabooya Roll Call.

June 4th, 2022

51:36

In today’s Quickie we’re going to look at three different bills or groupings of bills that represent the array of legislation that exists. Something …

Show Notes [Topical Cream 5 + Ep 61: Obsession Over Recession Depression]

June 2nd, 2022

1:44:09

In today's Show Notes minisode we chat a lot about making change, how to cope with our current political system, and then end up fried from the 900 …

Obsession Over Recession Depression: Feeding the Economic HypeBeast.

May 28th, 2022

1:08:25

We just came through the eighth “technical” recession over the past 50 years and many predict that another is around the corner. Depending upon who you believe we might already be in one, we are about to drop off a …

The School Shooting Script: Our Immunocompromised Body Politic.

May 27th, 2022

13:18

It’s the same old script. Mass shooting occurs. Thoughts and prayers fly. Declarations are made. Fingers point. There’s something more insidious at …

Show Notes [Topical Cream 4 + Ep 60: Student Debt.]

May 26th, 2022

1:30:38

In today's Show Notes minisode we chat about the free market/student debt, hear from John Kane about Deb Haaland’s residential school report, and …

Student Debt: Hey Boomer, STFU.

May 21st, 2022

1:11:25

Various sources report that the Biden Administration is set to release its plan to deal with student indebtedness. Cancellation? Forgiveness? Refinance? Today’s episode covers the spirited debate surrounding student …

Show Notes [Ep 59: Convention of States.]

May 19th, 2022

1:21:38

In today's Show Notes minisode Max and 99 sort out some beef (tofu? #PlantF*cker), chat about our coffee partners on the Poospatuck Reservation, and somehow touch on every hot button issue under the sun.

Listen to …

Boarding Schools from Hell: Indian Residential Schools in America

May 18th, 2022

14:20

Imagine for a moment a breaking news story that more than 500 bodies of white children were found buried in unmarked graves at some of the most …

Convention of States: The Right Wing Takeover Has Only Just Begun.

May 14th, 2022

59:04

For decades, right wing actors have been steadily tearing apart critical protections of our democracy and stacking the deck in their favor. Civil rights and liberties that were hard fought and then eventually assumed …

Show Notes [Topical Cream 3 + Ep 58: Where is the Religious Left?]

May 12th, 2022

1:17:02

In today's Show Notes minisode we review Topical Cream + Religious Left feedback, work through some more Russia/Ukraine issues and Max tangents about the stock market for a bit (a while).

Listen to Topical Cream: The …

Where is the Religious Left? Dissecting the American Theocracy.

May 7th, 2022

1:11:55

Since the Civil War, white Christians in this country have swung wildly between advancing a social doctrine of equality and promoting outright racism, nationalism and hatred of the poor. Since the Eisenhower years, …

The End of Roe v. Wade: Extinguishing the Penumbra.

May 5th, 2022

13:49

They’ve done it. Well, they’re about to. As much as we all knew this was coming it’s still stunning. Today’s Topical Cream presses the obvious point that we live under the tyranny of the minority. The racist, white …

Show Notes [Episode 57: Dem Bums.]

May 4th, 2022

1:10:17

In today's Show Notes minisode, we review some Dem Bums episode feedback (as well as some leftover Military Film Complex feedback), discuss how the Democratic Party sucks ~writ large~ and Max ages himself by talking …

Dem Bums: 50 Shades of Blue.

April 30th, 2022

37:11

You can’t do the big things if you can’t do the little things. A friend of mine used to say this all the time. And it reminds me of the Democratic Party - a party that can’t seem to move the needle on the big, …

Elon Gated: Billionaires and Their Toys.

April 28th, 2022

13:33

The second installment of topical cream peers into the petty world of the billionaire class and the purchase of Twitter by racist enabler and …

Show Notes [Episode 56: The Military Film Complex.]

April 27th, 2022

1:19:34

In today's Show Notes minisode, we review some Military Film Complex episode feedback, discuss progressive candidate suggestions from Unf*ckers, and talk about the genius of Tom McGovern!

Listen to the main episode …

The Military Film Complex: Destroying the Myth of Liberal Hollywood.

April 23rd, 2022

1:19:07

Trendsetter or follower? Hollywood has made over 5,000 war films in the past 100 years. Today’s episode probes whether Hollywood has been complicit …

Drill Man, Drill: Biden's Broken Promise.

April 21st, 2022

9:40

Welcome to Topical Cream, a new, periodic UNFTR segment with an appropriately cringeworthy title for fuckery in the news. Our aim with these segments is to tackle more timely and newsworthy events that either relate to …

Show Notes [Quickie 11: Midterms, Primaries and Get Out the Vote.]

April 20th, 2022

1:16:12

In today's Show Notes minisode, we continue our conversation about the midterm/primary candidates (with special insight from Manny Faces), talk unf*cking cannabis and hear some McFleshman’s beer feedback!

Listen to the …

Midterms, Primaries and Get Out the Vote: Send the Blue Dogs to the Pound.

April 16th, 2022

53:28

Dems are already in the fetal position crying over races they have yet to lose and blaming progressives for losing them. Fuck that. Today we look at three upcoming races (two Senate, one House) that demonstrate how much …

Show Notes [Ep 55: New York's Casual White Supremacy.]

April 13th, 2022

1:08:53

In today's Show Notes minisode, we hear a bit more from John Kane of Let's Talk Native, have a lengthy conversation about how to deal with Trump-supporting parents, and read Bobby McD's new inscription for the Statue of …

New York’s Casual White Supremacy: Losing the Plot on Hochul & Buffalo Bills.

April 9th, 2022

1:10:02

A run-of-the-mill, one-day news story about a billionaire holding a city hostage over a sports team and a new stadium buried the lede on the dark …

Show Notes [Ep 54: Unf*cking Down Under.]

April 6th, 2022

21:57

In today's Show Notes minisode, Max abandons 99 and delirium takes hold as she struggles to do show notes by herself.

Listen to the main episode …

Unf*cking Down Under: And the Long Arm of the Chicago School.

April 2nd, 2022

1:04:35

The time has come to honor our Down Under F*ckers who have been supporting UNFTR since we launched. As we’ve done in prior shows about other …

Show Notes [Ep 53: Immigration Nation.]

March 30th, 2022

43:45

In today's Show Notes minisode, we shit on Clinton, discuss the disparity of letting some immigrants into the country and unveil a dark secret from Max's past.

Listen to the main episode accompaniment here

Chapters

Immigration Nation: A Crisis of Our Own Design.

March 26th, 2022

48:41

As Ukrainians flee the war in their home country, some have found their way to the U.S. southern border where they are immediately escorted into the country. Because they're seeking refuge from a dangerous conflict and …

Show Notes [Quickie 10: The World in Numbers.]

March 23rd, 2022

47:15

In today's Show Notes minisode, Max revisits Thomas Piketty's theory of universal inheritance, we continue talks of NATO + Russia, and 99 yells about Phish some more. 

Listen to the main episode accompaniment here

The World in Numbers: 99 / 3.5 / 1.5.

March 19th, 2022

50:58

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed the global political calculus almost overnight. While catastrophic and horrific in nature, this shift has …

Show Notes [Ep 52: White on White Crime in Eastern Europe.]

March 15th, 2022

1:00:40

In today's Show Notes minisode, Max reads a cutting room floor draft, we share some Unf*cker feedback, and discuss Russia and Ukraine a bit further. 

Listen to the main episode accompaniment here

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:21

White on White Crime in Eastern Europe: NATO, Onions & But-What-About.

March 12th, 2022

49:51

A psychopath in Russia just committed a war crime by invading Ukraine. Now he’s a mass murderer as well. Today’s episode examines whether the United …

BONUS: A Book Love Mashup.

March 5th, 2022

28:24

On this bonus UNFTR, 99 revisits Book Love segments past in hopes to inspire your reading lists. We’ll be back with full-fledged Unf*ckings very …

BONUS: A Manny + 99 Takeover.

February 26th, 2022

40:32

Today we have a special episode for you—a Manny & 99 takeover. While Max is away the minions will play! We run through some listener feedback and share some behind the scenes details of our recording process. Enjoy!

Show Notes [Ep 51: Corporate America’s Banner Year.]

February 23rd, 2022

57:25

The showwwwww noteessss. In this experiment, we break out show notes into their own unf*cking minisode so we can spend more time answering y'all Unf*ckers.

Listen to the main episode accompaniment here.

Resources from …

Corporate America’s Banner Year: Please understand that they hate you.

February 19th, 2022

56:25

Because inflation is on everyone’s minds and the media can’t seem to get this right, we dive even deeper into the inflation narrative to dispel both propaganda and myth. Surprise, surprise, the real story of inflation …

"UNLESS." Building Back to What?

February 12th, 2022

1:16:47

We’re hitting the pause button in honor of our 50th full episode. Quite the milestone and we wanted to celebrate together. And in true UNFTR fashion, …

Peak Oil: It's a Crude, Crude World.

February 5th, 2022

1:32:11

Oil is everywhere. It’s all around us. It’s in everything and it makes the world go around. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that renewable energy will comprise 27% of the world’s energy production …

Fox in the Outhouse: Invasion, Immigration & Inflation.

January 29th, 2022

1:03:08

This week’s alliterative Quickie is brought to you by the letter “i.” In typical Quickie fashion we delve into three distinct but related topics: Invasion, Inflation & Immigration, as seen through the lens of Fox …

Libertarians Are Exhausting: Inside the 50-year American coup d'état. [Part 2]

January 22nd, 2022

1:08:49

In part two of “Libertarians are Exhausting” we’re still talking about freedom and liberty. Economic freedom, personal liberty and the next important …

Libertarians Are Exhausting: But they might be onto something(s). [Part 1]

January 15th, 2022

1:09:11

Libertarians can be exhausting. Because libertarianism has so many attractive features and strong statements about “freedom” and “liberty” they have …

A (Mostly) Vegan World: Plantf*ckers Can Save Us All.

January 8th, 2022

1:15:39

As many of you know, we’ve had this on the pod-docket for months. It’s finally time to unf*ck our food system and talk about veganism. We decided not to pursue this topic from a moral or ethical perspective, but that …

Holiday Quickie: How the Manch stole Christmas.

December 25th, 2021

1:05:04

Our little Unf*cking team wishes the Unf*cking community a safe and healthy holiday season. We'll be back on January 8th with a new drop but here's a …

Labor Unions: From Pullman to Kellogg’s. Labor’s long, hard road.

December 18th, 2021

1:14:32

From Pullman and Carnegie to Kellogg's and the PRO Act, this week we unf*ck the labor movement in the United States. No single episode can possibly …

Playing Chicken with China: How Propaganda Rationalizes Conflict.

December 11th, 2021

51:54

There were 15 references to China in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. The recent bill passed by the House, which is more than what President Biden requested (because that makes fucking sense) contains 89 …

Happy Noam Chomsky Day: Pundits, Public Intellectuals & Charlatans.

December 4th, 2021

55:21

Today we celebrate the life of Noam Chomsky who turns 93 this week and discuss the nature of punditry, the role of true intellectuals in today’s …

Pirates of the Caribbean: Debt, Diplomacy and Destruction.

November 26th, 2021

58:58

It’s chilly here in New York so we’ve got the Caribbean on the brain. Actually, we’re just building on our money and power episodes and tying in lessons from our shows on Milton Friedman, Cuba and climate change. …

The Itsfuckedforsure Bill: And the Ghosts of Spending Bills Past.

November 20th, 2021

54:40

President Biden signed H.R. 3684 into law with leaders in Washington breaking their arms to pat themselves on the back. Never mind that the infrastructure bill is either 20% or 40% of what the American Society of Civil …

The Global Order of Power: Money, Position & Might.

November 13th, 2021

1:10:15

Last week we reviewed the global order of money. Today we examine money’s sister, power. It’s an American-centric journey spanning 75 years, from the …

The Global Order of Money: How exactly does it make the world go ‘round?

November 6th, 2021

1:13:07

We’ve hit on some big economic themes from capitalism and socialism to deregulation, privatization and Modern Monetary Theory. And we’re typically …

“Independent” Men with Massive Platforms: Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle & Joe Rogan.

October 30th, 2021

59:44

In this week’s installment of how to lose friends and disappoint people, we’re talking about the independent platform media culture, mostly of the …

Capitasociafascilibdemarxism: Exploring ISMs in the Modern Age.

October 23rd, 2021

1:02:15

In today’s cure for insomnia episode, we explore the origins of the ISMs the pundit class abuses each and every day. We’re focusing on the big ones. Fascism, Socialism, Communism, Marxism and Capitalism. The show covers …

From Bull Moose to Jackass: U.S. Progressivism from 1912 to 2021.

October 16th, 2021

55:50

Today’s episode is a mashup of a Quickie and a full fledged Unf*cking. We start by going back in time to tell the origin story of the Progressive …

1 Year Anniversary: Look Back, Go Forward.

October 9th, 2021

52:05

It’s the one-year anniversary of Unf*cking the Republic. Yay us. Only 1.6 million other podcasts have passed this historic mark. We couldn’t let the …

The Washington Consensus: Consensus is not consent.

October 2nd, 2021

52:32

Economist John Williamson presented a paper titled The Washington Consensus in 1989. More of a reflection than a policy statement, the Washington …

UNFTR on LGBTQ: Behind the Acronyms.

September 25th, 2021

47:10

Today we begin a conversation about the LGBTQ movement in the United States, with a nod to our Canadian friends as well. In order to properly introduce issues facing LGBTQ people into the larger context of socio …

BONUS: An interview with Unkechaug Chief Harry Wallace and Native Coffee Trader’s Amy Wallace.

September 23rd, 2021

46:06

Today we break from our format to introduce you to our partners from Native Coffee Traders on the Poospatuck Reservation in New York. Harry Wallace, the elected chief of the Unkechaug people, founded Native Coffee …

Building the Climate Industrial Complex: Strange Bedfellows, Wildfires and Heat Waves.

September 18th, 2021

56:39

The world is more fucked than the United States. And we’re pretty fucked, so that’s saying a lot. Perhaps there’s a way to mitigate this mess by playing upon our worst instincts as a nation and the competitiveness that …

9/11: A Story in Three Parts.

September 11th, 2021

50:30

Today’s episode is a departure from our normal format. We were tempted to let the 20th anniversary of 9/11 pass given it will be oversaturated with remembrances and armchair punditry as well as the usual tragedy porn …

Californication: F*cking Around with our Biggest Economy.

September 4th, 2021

40:24

The last time California had a “successful” gubernatorial recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor. While we try not to wade into current …

Procedural F*ckery: Quirks of our "Democracy."

August 28th, 2021

49:48

We love to promote our democratic principles. We love to spread them across the globe as well. But there are three procedural quirks in our system …

When We Leave: Afghanistan Tomorrow and Forever.

August 21st, 2021

53:28

Operation “Blame the Afghan People” is in full swing. The countdown to us forgetting completely about Afghanistan has also just begun and the media …

August 2021 Quickie - Power Is as Power Does: Immigration, Budgets and Drones.

August 14th, 2021

33:05

Momma always said, "Power is as power does." With democrats in charge, Bernie managing the budget and endless wars ending, it's a new day in …

The Economics of Racism: Bootstraps, Black Banks and Redlining.

August 7th, 2021

1:19:00

Progressives continually lose the debate on issues of institutional poverty, structural inequality and systemic racism because they’re loaded with history and meaning that require thinking. It’s a lot easier to say, …

Oh, Canada: Digging through America’s attic.

July 31st, 2021

1:06:48

They look like us. Sound (mostly) like us. And they know everything about us. And yet, we know precious little about our best friends up north. That ends today, Unf*ckers. Today we cast our gaze upwards to honor our …

Best of: UNFTR Sketches.

July 24th, 2021

43:49

We recorded today’s episode right before a brief vacation so the team could get some rest and chill out for a bit. So, we’re running a special show …

Occupy at 10: A Love Story.

July 17th, 2021

40:43

We’re nearly 10 years on from Occupy Wall Street. We wanted to get a jump on the retrospective before every mainstream news outlet hops on and gives it perfunctory treatment and dismisses it as a failed movement. It …

Modern Monetary Theory: Can we afford it? Yes. Yes, we can.

July 10th, 2021

51:49

Few concepts get under the skin of traditional economists, Wall Street executives and academics as Modern Monetary Theory, or MMT. We’ve been building to this episode for quite a while in our examinations of the United …

Stupid White Guy Olympics: Governors Kemp, DeSantis and Abbott.

July 3rd, 2021

29:56

In today’s Quickie we celebrate the upcoming Olympics with our own field of challengers for the nation’s top Stupid White Guy! Exciting times. Our contestants include three Republican governors and it’s a real barn …

How to Talk About the Trump Years: Or, "What the Fuck Just Happened??"

June 26th, 2021

48:31

While the ink is still wet on the Trump era, we’re going to talk through what the real legacy might be before revisionists get a hold of it one way …

Manufacturing Dissent: How We Let an Aussie Destroy the U.S.

June 19th, 2021

1:01:10

Today we take on News Corp., the most egregious example of “manufactured consent.” The fact that we let this monster from down under invade our thought space and contaminate the discourse in this nation is a crime. …

Fuck Milton Friedman: The Chicago School of Economics.

June 10th, 2021

1:19:31

Here we are Unf*ckers. It’s our great hope that we contextualize the Chicago School of Economics and its high priest Milton Friedman by alternately …

Chicago School Teaser Trailer

June 3rd, 2021

8:10

In this teaser episode we do a quick recap on why the fuck we're so mad at Milton Friedman and briefly summarize prior episodes that are useful …

The Problem with Conscious Capitalism: ESG, SRI and FMF.

May 29th, 2021

35:50

Today we examine Conscious Capitalism™ as an organization (the trademarked entity) and Conscious Capitalism the movement characterized by the investment concepts of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and …

Cuba (Not So) Libre: "Vas Bien, Fidel."

May 22nd, 2021

58:08

Since 1959, the island nation of Cuba has been giving the middle finger to the United States. Cuba has been in the control of a Castro through …

May 2021 Quickie: Republican Rehab.

May 15th, 2021

32:06

The media has been hard at work lately trying to rehabilitate the image of three significant members of the Republican Party. So we’re not going to let them. In today’s Quickie we examine the legacy of George W. Bush, …

The Assange Problem: Either Set Him Free or Go Full Fascism.

May 7th, 2021

52:49

Assange is a complicated figure personally and historically. And he evokes pretty strong reactions on both sides. Mostly though we don’t think about him at all. With the exception of occasional reports whenever there’s …

Corporate (Ir)Responsibility (Part II): Deregulation and Catastrophe.

April 30th, 2021

33:42

We briefly recap what we covered in Part I as a refresher then launch into some of the more egregious examples of how corporations have used their …

Corporate (Ir)Responsibility (Part I): Financial Fuckery and Tax Evasion.

April 24th, 2021

39:37

Mitch McTurtlefuck recently chastised Corporate America for butting into politics, which we all know is a joke. But it highlights the insidious …

April 2021 Quickie: AOC & the Lying Men Hydra.

April 16th, 2021

29:27

In today’s Quickie we’re taking a look at a developing phenomenon related to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In reality it’s an age-old issue …

Mass Incarceration: The War On Drugs.

April 9th, 2021

46:28

And a good day to you my beloved Unf*ckers. We’re back with another blood-boiling, enraging episode of Unf*cking the Republic. Mass Incarceration: …

Culture Cancel: The American Holocaust.

March 29th, 2021

40:59

Despite the occasional reference to poverty statistics or coverage of events like Standing Rock, the plight of Native Americans continues to be a …

Stimulate This Beyotch.

March 19th, 2021

28:50

The United States seems to have lost the ability to govern and has given itself over to the whims of corporations that are designing every inch of …

March 2021 Quickie: Cuomo, Tanden & Manchin.

March 13th, 2021

16:29

Hey Unf*ckers. We have a new “inter-episode” format - Unf*cking Quickies - meant to parachute into more current events by looking at three different, but related things happening in the world right now. In this …

America Inc. Copyright, 2021.

March 5th, 2021

28:52

“I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” These are the nine words Ronald Reagan called “terrifying.” Just another brick in the wall of disdain …

Unfucking Congress: And the Fucking Fuckers Who Fucked Us.

February 22nd, 2021

32:36

Congress is a quirky place. The rules are arcane. The people are diverse. The power struggle is real. We take a brief, and sometimes ridiculous …

Dear Rebekkkah Mercer: A Love Letter To the Alt-Right's Sugar Mama.

February 10th, 2021

19:10

As we covered in our insurrection episode, it’s actually quite difficult to take down an Empire, particularly one as fortified as the United States. …

The Beatification of Ronald Reagan.

February 1st, 2021

18:24

The minute the election was called, the GOP went into high gear reshaping its image for the next cycle. Because nostalgia is its single greatest weapon, they’ll be digging into the archives to revise history once again. …

How Trump Threw Away His Shot.

January 25th, 2021

16:46

Is he gone yet? I mean really gone? Okay. Wow. So that happened. Holy shit, what a four years. This episode of Unf*cking The Republic briefly …

Ayn Rand Was a Dick.

January 15th, 2021

15:16

On this episode of UNFTR we unfuck the theory of “objectivism,” a movement inspired by novelist Ayn Rand in the 1950s and talk about how it still …

The Prosperity Doctrine: Christ as Capitalist.

January 5th, 2021

19:47

Prior to the 20th Century evangelical Christians were seen as the babbling mystics and frauds that they were. Then something happened in the 1920s to legitimize these maniacs. Since then, conservative Christians have …

Capitalism.

December 14th, 2020

25:52

The left claims America is proof that Capitalism is destroying the working class and the planet. The right claims America is proof that Capitalism is …

The Violent States of America.

November 17th, 2020

26:56

This week in Unf*cking the Republic we dive into U.S. interventions in the post-Vietnam War era. Starting with our recent meddling in Bolivia we work …

An Election Interlude.

November 7th, 2020

3:25

Greetings fellow unfuckers. A brief interlude to comment on the big election shitshow we just witnessed.

--

If you like #UNFTR, please leave us a …

The American Propaganda Machine.

October 28th, 2020

25:50

On this episode of Unf*cking the Republic we do a deep dive into the American system of propaganda and pull back the curtain on the tangled web of …

Freeze! It’s the… Military?

October 20th, 2020

15:44

While the country wrestles with police brutality and protests, dividing between Black Lives Matter or Back the Blue, a bizarre phenomenon has been …

Priorities: War, Wealth and Welfare.

October 13th, 2020

16:23

Coronavirus exposed the American budget and monetary policy as giant myths. Turns out, we can afford to pay for just about anything we want. …

Nothing is as it seems. America: 2020.

October 9th, 2020

14:55

Welcome to Unf*cking the Republic (UNFTR).

So what is this? Glad you asked. Long story short, and as you have no doubt observed, our little republic is fucked. On so many levels. The central objective of this podcast, …

Introducing: Unf*cking The Republic.

October 9th, 2020

1:28

Unf*cking The Republic (UNFTR) is a series of audio essays on the grand American experiment lovingly curated and presented by a quasi-anonymous …

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