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
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Why Fascism Keeps Coming Back in America | Omer Aziz
Season 1 · Episode 19
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 • Duration 01:24:28
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/
How to Save Our Democracy | Tim Heaphy, Jan 6 and Charlottesville Investigator
Season 1 · Episode 18
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 • Duration 58:00
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
How to Show John Roberts He’s Not Above the Law
Season 1 · Episode 17
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 • Duration 43:11
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.
Interview with a Nazi Hunter: The Cost of Fighting Fascism Under Trump | Michael Edison Hayden
Season 1 · Episode 16
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 • Duration 01:24:33
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.
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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.
Dropkick Murphys at the Anti-ICE Concert in Minneapolis
Season 1 · Episode 15
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 • Duration 01:14:31
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.
Army Ranger Charged in Federal Case After ICE Protest | Ian Austin
Season 1 · Episode 14
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 • Duration 57:03
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.
How Veterans Are Fighting ICE in Minneapolis After the Killing of Alex Pretti
Season 1 · Episode 13
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • Duration 01:17:25
In this deeply emotional episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith brings listeners to Minneapolis for two conversations recorded in the wake of the killing of Alex Pretti and the federal immigration crackdown that has shaken the city.
First, Kris sits down with Matt Gordon, better known online as @USMCAngryVeteran, to talk about why he has been traveling the country since Donald Trump’s return to office, what he has seen on the ground, and why veterans have a responsibility to speak out when Americans are being terrorized by their own government.
Then the episode takes an unexpected turn.
After the interview, Kris realizes that the veteran Matt had been talking about throughout their conversation was sitting right there in the room. That veteran is Riveter — a Minnesotan, a street medic, and a former patient of Alex Pretti, the VA nurse whose death has become a symbol of what Minneapolis has endured.
Together, Matt and Riveter speak with Kris about grief, joy, service, community, and what it means to fight for democracy here at home.
If this episode moves you, please watch the full concert and fundraiser at AbolishICE.live and donate to support the local community. Veterans Fighting Fascism is collecting the donations, but not keeping a penny. Every dollar is going directly to people in Minneapolis who need help right now.
This is the first of several Minneapolis interviews coming to On Offense in the weeks ahead, including conversations with Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey, Black Forest Inn owner Gina Christ, and former Army Ranger Ian Austin.
Subscribe to On Offense on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Substack, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.
The Courts vs. DHS: ICE, Executive Power & the Rule of Law | Chris Geidner
Season 1 · Episode 12
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • Duration 01:17:04
The Courts vs. DHS: ICE, Executive Power & the Rule of Law
Federal judges across the country are being forced to confront a question that sits at the core of constitutional democracy: when DHS and ICE push the boundaries of their authority, who stops them?
In this episode of On Offense, Kris Goldsmith is joined by legal journalist Chris Geidner, founder of Law Dork, to break down what’s actually happening inside the courts as immigration detention policies, executive actions, and long-settled legal frameworks are tested under pressure.
This conversation is about more than immigration policy. It’s about whether institutions still function when they’re stressed — and what it looks like when judges, lawyers, journalists, and ordinary people defend the rule of law in real time.
Follow and support Chris Geidner:
📰 Law Dork: https://www.lawdork.com/
🦋 Chris Geidner on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chrisgeidner.bsky.social
🦋 Law Dork News on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lawdorknews.bsky.social
More from Kris and Task Force Butler:
📚 Start or join an Antifascist Book Club: https://veteransfightingfascism.org
🧰 Field manuals and organizing tools: https://taskforcebutler.org
Support On Offense
Subscribe on Substack: https://onoffense.substack.com/p/courts-vs-dhs-judges-stopping-ice
What to Do When Hate Comes to Main Street (with Phil Williams)
Season 1 · Episode 11
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • Duration 01:15:12
Hate doesn’t stay on the margins. It shows up in city council meetings, school board races, local sheriff elections, and “community” groups that want to look normal while they build power.
In this episode, I’m joined by Phil Williams, chief investigative reporter at NewsChannel 5 Nashville and the writer behind Hate Comes to Main Street. Phil has documented how extremist networks embed themselves locally—how they recruit, intimidate, and normalize their presence in civic life—and what it takes to push back before they take over.
We talk about:
How hate groups move from online propaganda to real-world influence
Why local politics is where extremist movements test strategies first
How intimidation campaigns target journalists—and why sunlight still works
What you can do in your own town to go on offense
Read and subscribe to Phil’s work:
https://www.hatecomestomainstreet.com/
If you’re serious about acting locally:
Start or join an Antifascist Book Club: https://veteransfightingfascism.org
Access antifascist field manuals and organizing tools: https://taskforcebutler.org
Support this work: On Offense is my full-time focus. If this episode helped you understand how hate embeds locally—and how to push back—consider becoming a paid subscriber at https://weareonoffense.com.
No one’s coming to save your town. But you can defend it. Let’s go on offense.
How to Use Local Power Against Authoritarianism with Christopher Armitage
Season 1 · Episode 10
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • Duration 01:30:48
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.
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