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 more and more about the capabilities of multiple U.S. agencies to surveil its own citizens. The spy balloon narrative overshadows the steady erosion of civil liberties in our own backyard.
Resources
James Fallows: What the Hell is Happening in the Sky?
The Soldiers Project: How Many US Military Bases Are There in the World?
The Guardian: US intelligence spending has doubled since 9/11, top secret budget reveals
South China Morning Post: Edward Snowden: US government has been hacking Hong Kong and China for years
Spiegel: European Union
Spiegel: NSA Spied on European Union Offices
WikiLeaks: Vault 7: CIA Hacking Tools Revealed
The Intercept: NSA Blimp Spied in the United States
Truthdig: Truthdigger of the Week: Alexa O’Brien
UNFTR YouTube: Much Ado About a Spy Balloon
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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR
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Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic." Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spy Balloons: The ultimate distraction.

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 know, history is written by the victors and can be perilously manufactured to favor destructive world views. These views become intractably ingrained in the public consciousness and pervert public policy, oftentimes with horrific results. 
As of this podcast’s founding, we find ourselves living in a true kakistocracy. The disconnect between what we believe and what is actually happening below the surface or in plain sight is where this podcast lives. 
Together we’ll upend conventional wisdom, blow up narratives on the left, right and center and use magical devices like facts, logic and reason to explain how exactly we arrived in bizarro America, the funhouse mirror version of what was originally intended. #UNFTR

News

Politics

Government

For months we’ve said that RFK Jr. is the biggest threat to Biden’s re-election. Now that he’s gained ballot access in Michigan, it’s time to go beyond the vaccine headlines to examine Kennedy the nascent politician and what his candidacy means to this election cycle. Just as the pollsters missed several important cues during the 2016 election, we might be underestimating the impact Kennedy has beyond his loyal environmental and anti-vaccine followers the media focuses on.
Resources
FiveThirtyEight: 2016 Election Forecast
Associate Press: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secures ballot access in battleground state of Michigan
New York Times: The Ex-Bernie Sanders Pollster Raising Alarms About R.F.K. Jr.’s Appeal Among Latinos and Young Voters
Quinnipiac Poll: Is Democracy In The U.S. Working? It's A Toss-Up, But Voters Don't See It Ending In Their Lifetimes
The Conversation: Anti-vaccination beliefs don’t follow the usual political polarization
Wired: RFK Jr.’s Very Online, Conspiracy-Filled Campaign
New York Times: R.F.K. Jr.’s Environmental Colleagues Urge Him to Drop Presidential Bid
CNN: Kennedy family brushes off RFK Jr.’s campaign as they endorse Biden
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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR
Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.
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Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.
Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®." Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RFK Jr.’s Trojan Horse Campaign: On the Ballot in Michigan.

Distracted Max reached new heights this week so instead of releasing the third installment of the Over the Borderline series, he mashed up two shorter Topical Creams from YouTube into an episode. Both cover familiar ground to keep a focus on what matters politically. The “silly season” is when narratives harden so sometimes it’s important to reassert certain claims. The first segment is about AOC’s recent decision to fund the Democratic Party in the upcoming election for the first time in her brief career. The second is a reminder that the things that people recall fondly from the Trump era were predominantly socialist-style and Keynesian interventions that provided momentary relief and financial security for all those who made it through COVID. 
Chapters
Intro: 00:00:18
The Evolution of AOC: 00:02:16
Behind the Trump Bump: 00:10:36
Post Show Musings: 00:18:33
Outro: 01:16:25
Resources
OpenSecrets: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 
The Moscow Times: Why Is Stalin’s Popularity On the Rise?
The Guardian: Trump suggests 'nuking hurricanes' to stop them hitting America – report
Newsweek: Trump Suggests Not Raking Leaves Is Bigger Cause of California Wildfires Than Climate Change
Brookings: What did the Fed do in response to the COVID-19 crisis?
UNFTR Episode Resources
Hands Off AOC.
AOC & the Lying Men Hydra.
--
If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR
Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.
Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565
Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.
Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.
Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.
Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.
Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.
Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®." Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Evolution of AOC and Behind the Trump Bump.

In today’s episode, we head to the border and below to examine the root causes and circumstances that factor into immigration patterns, from economic opportunity to asylum. Max speaks with Maureen Meyer from The Washington Office on Latin America, known as WOLA, a D.C. based organization that advocates for human rights in the Americas. Meyer serves as WOLA’s Vice President for Programs, working with senior staff to develop policy priorities and strategies to advance human rights and social justice in Latin America. We’re still following the blended episodic and Phone A Friend approach for this series, so Max begins with a brief discussion about the complex nature of immigration policy and the historical relationship between the United States and Latin America.
Chapters
Intro: 00:00:36
Episode Section: 00:03:30
Interview: 00:21:20
Resources
WNYC: WNYC's Suds & Civics project brings political dialogue to laundromats across the NY metro area
American Immigration Council: CBP One: An Overview
Pew Research Center: Migrant encounters at U.S.-Mexico border hit record high at end of 2023
Human Rights Watch: Venezuela: Events of 2023
Migration Policy Institute: Shifting Patterns and Policies Reshape Migration to U.S.-Mexico Border in Major Ways in 2023 
The Baffler: Enigmas of Ecuador | Pablo Ospina Peralta 
WhiteHouse.gov: FACT SHEET: The United States and Central America: Honoring Our Commitments
Forbes: 2024: A New Age For Venezuela-U.S. Relations 
Gobierno de Mêxico: México y Venezuela estrechan cooperación en materia migratoria
El País: United States reactivates mass deportations of Venezuelans to relieve pressure on the border with Mexico 
Council on Foreign Relations: Central America’s Turbulent Northern Triangle 
Council on Foreign Relations: Climate Change and Regional Instability in Central America 
Congressional Research Service: Central American Migration: Root Causes and U.S. Policy 
Vice: The Violence Central American Migrants Are Fleeing Was Stoked by the US
Time: Welcome to the Immigration Election 
Pew Research Center: How Americans View the Situation at the U.S.-Mexico Border, Its Causes and Consequences
Brookings: The collapse of bipartisan immigration reform: A guide for the perplexed
The Hill: Manchin: Failed border bill factored into decision not to run for White House
DW News: Ecuador raid on embassy in Mexico
Yahoo Finance:Border crisis might be boon for economy 
WOLA: Migration in the Americas: 'A root causes strategy only for Central America falls far short of addressing the type of migration we are seeing'
Congressional Budget Office: Director’s Statement on the Budget and Economic Outlook for 2024 to 2034 
WOLA
--
If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR
Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.
Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565
Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.
Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.
Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.
Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.
Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.
Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®." Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the Borderline: Part Two. The Politics of Migration.

Max and 99 are back today to talk "SPACtacular Bullsh*t" feedback, catch up with the Unf*ckers and get into numerous tangents, of course. Enjoy!
Chapters
Intro: 00:00:20
Emails: 00:07:13
Facebook Shout Outs: 00:52:14
YouTube Shout Outs: 00:59:51
Members + Outro: 01:05:39
Resources
Deep Blue Something: Breakfast At Tiffany's
Project 2025 YouTube Video
Unf*cker Recommendations
McFleshman's Brewing Co: Respecting the Beer Podcast
UNFTR Episode Resources
Immigration Nation: A Crisis Of Our Own Design.
SPACtacular Bullsh*t: Inside Trump’s Multi-Billion Dollar Sham.
--
If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR
Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.
Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565
Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.
Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.
Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.
Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.
Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.
Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®." Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Show Notes [SPACtacular Bullsh*t.]

He did it again. The Donald pulled off yet another miracle by taking his (failing) social media platform public. The deal had been in the works for a while and looked DOA last year. But it was revived recently and when it hit the Nasdaq this week it added billions to Trump's net worth and gave him an immediate cash infusion that will likely prevent him having to sell assets to make the (reduced) bond in his civil fraud case. The wealthy in this country truly operate under different rules. The mechanism Trump used to take a losing company public quickly and with relative ease compared to normal IPOs is called a SPAC, or Special Purpose Acquisition Company. SPACs gained a lot of attention a few years back before basically imploding as regulators frowned upon them and investments fizzled. As quickly as they gained prominence, they flamed out and were basically revealed to be scams. But it didn't stop the biggest SCAM artist in the world from packaging up his SCAM social media platform inside a SCAM financial vehicle. God bless 'Murica.
Chapters
Intro: 00:00:38
Chapter One: 00:07:01
Chapter Two: 00:17:57
Chapter Three: 00:26:44
Post Show Musings: 00:26:$4
Resources
New York Times: Why Only One Top Banker Went to Jail for the Financial Crisis
Morningstar: How to Lose Money: Buy Digital World Acquisition Corp.
SPACInsider: Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp. (BENE) to Liquidate Trust
SPAC Insider: Executive Drama at Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC) Provides New Source of Risk 
Financial Review: Meet the Brazilian ‘prince’, Luiz Philippe de Orléans e Braganza, backing Donald Trump’s media venture 
Investment Adviser Public Disclosure: Brian C. Shevland
CBS News: Trump's Truth Social is losing money and has scant sales. Yet it could trade at a $5 billion value.
Mizuho Insights: The SPAC Roller Coaster – Is a Renaissance Coming?
Fast Company: DWAC says Truth Social won't be profitable 'for the foreseeable future' as investors eye risky SPAC merger
Bloomberg Law: SEC Imposes New Rules on Blank-Check Deals as SPACs Fizzle (3)
US News: What Is a SPAC? 6 Best SPACs to Invest In
Yahoo Finance: Chamath Palihapitiya’s Crumbling SPAC Empire: Where His Top 5 Deals Are Today 
Casetext: Shevland v. Orlando, 629 F. Supp. 3d 1252
--
If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR
Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.
Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565
Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.
Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.
Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.
Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.
Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.
Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.
Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®." Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spy Balloons: The ultimate distraction.

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