On Democracy with FPWellman

Fred chats with Patrick Murphy about the attacks on our military and veterans and what it's like appearing on Fox News daily as the progressive voice trying to break through the lies and manipulations. Patrick regularly appears as an analyst and guest on Fox News and has served as a soldier, America’s first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, and the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army. He is now a Wharton Business School lecturer, Emmy award-winning producer, and a senior managing director at Ankura, one of the top management consulting companies in the world. Murphy is also the founder of an Emmy & CLIO award-winning strategic engagement & film production company, Taking the Hill LLC, specializing in gritty military & veteran projects of his 9/11 Generation. You can find out more about him and his work at https://www.patrickjmurphy.com/ Sponsors: Neurohacker: Get this exclusive offer when you use promo code FRED at NEUROHACKER.COM/FRED Lumen: Lumen.me and use code: FRED to get $100 off your Lumen. HumanN: Find out how you can get a free thirty-day supply of new Superbeets Heart Chews advanced and save 15% by going to GETSUPERBEETS.COM

Rachel Vindman joins Fred on a special episode to discuss the outrageous abortion ruling in Arizona, Trump’s attempt to thread the needle, and Republican’s panic after finally getting what they wanted on abortion. Women are pissed and so are we. Rachel is a wife, mom, podcast host, writer, and activist. She is a co-host of the Suburban Women Problem podcast, and an advisory board member for the Renew Democracy Initiative. She has found her voice as an activist and plain-spoken political commentator online where you can follow her as @RachelVindman on Threads and @natsechobbyist on X/Twitter. Sponsors: Reel Paper: Head to REELPAPER.COM/FRED and sign up for a subscription using my code FRED at for 30% off your first order and FREE SHIPPING! Factor: Head to FACTORMEALS.com/FRED50 and use code FRED50 to get 50% off

The Republicans and extremists have decided that transgender kids are their target to divide the nation and focus their hate. From laws banning their participation in sports, ending their care, investigating clinics that support them to turning families in for abuse investigations. The hate has been growing in red states. Fred wanted to speak to an advocate and the father of a trans child to share what it’s like when your government attacks your child’s right to exist. Rabbi Daniel Bogard is proud native St. Louisan, proud parent of a trans child, and part of the rabbinic team at Central Reform Congregation in the city. He is one of the founders of Camp Indigo Point, a camp for trans, gender expansive, and LGBTQ+ kids that brings together 150+ campers from 30+ states for two life-changing weeks each summer. He is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute and is adjunct faculty at Eden Theological Seminary. Sponsors: Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED Sugar and Spruce: Head To SUGARANDSPRUCE.COM and Use Code Fred at checkout and get 20% off your first order

It only took about ten minutes for the lunatics on the far right to blame everything from DEI to the border for the accident at the Key Bridge in Baltimore. They have mastered the outrage cycle and that wasn’t even one of the craziest stories this week! Political strategist, podcast host, and bestselling author Cliff Schecter joins the show this week to discuss all of the craziness. You can find him on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cschecter and all the usual places. Sponsors: Mosh: Head to moshlife.com/FRED to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on your first 6-count Trial Pack. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED

Moms for Liberty and their clones have been causing chaos across the country in school board meetings and hallways alike. Guest Laura Pappano has attended both of their summits and just published her new book on the movement to save our schools ‘School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education.’ She and Fred discuss what she has seen and the case for public schools. Laura is an award-winning journalist and author who has written about K-12 and higher education for over 30 years. A former education columnist for The Boston Globe, Pappano has written about education for multiple publications. She is the author or co-author of three books, The Connection Gap: Why Americans Feel So Alone, Playing with the Boys: Why Separate is Not Equal in Sports, and Inside School Turnarounds. You can find her on X/Twitter at @LauraPappano and at her website https://www.laurapappano.com/. Sponsors: HumanN: Get a free month supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews, on all bundles, and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 with your order by going to democracybeets.com. Factor: Head to FACTORMEALS.com/FRED50 and use code FRED50 to get 50% off

Fifteen youth activism groups endorsed President Biden this week amid worries that the Gaza situation is peeling off support for the Administration. Fred discusses it with Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, the President of NextGen America, the country’s largest youth voting rights organization. NextGen American helped mobilize one in nine young voters across the country in the 2023 elections. Named “Hero of the New South'' by Southern Living Magazine and People of the Year by Tribeza Magazine, Cristina has spent the last twenty years founding and leading some of the most creative organizations to raise wages, tackle the climate and student debt crises, and fight for immigrant rights. Cristina is an author on issues of race, gender and immigration and was a 2020 U.S. Senate candidate. She also teaches at the LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. You can find her on X/Twitter at @cristinanextgen. Support Our Sponsors Neurohacker: Go to https://Neurohacker.com/FRED For Up To 50% Off Qualia Senolytic and As a listener of On Democracy use Code FRED at Checkout for An Extra 15% OFF your First Purchase! Mosh: Head to moshlife.com/FRED to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on your first 6-count Trial Pack.

DC-based political advisor, commentator, and social entrepreneur Rina Shah joins Fred to discuss the madness of the Republican Party, how to reach the normies, and how no matter how professional a campaign they build its always going to be Trump blowing it up. Rina is a proud daughter of West Virginia and of immigrants from Uganda and India. In 2016, she led the #NeverTrump movement, becoming the first RNC delegate to speak out against candidate Donald Trump––for which she was canceled by the RNC, only to be reinstated after a lengthy legal battle. She later worked as Chief Spokesperson for Evan McMullin’s presidential campaign, just one of nearly 40 political campaigns on which she has worked. In 2020, she founded Republican Women for Biden. She is a co-founder of the Women’s Public Leadership Network and sits on the board of many women-focused nonprofits and is a member of the Leadership Network for the American Enterprise Institute. She can be found on all the usual social networks as @RinaInDC. Sponsors Factor: Head to FACTORMEALS.com/FRED50 and use code FRED50 to get 50% off Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED

Dr. Kevin M. Kruse has spent his career studying the conservative movement and race relations and unfortunately his expertise is coming in handy today as the Republican Party becomes more extreme by the day. He and Fred examine the racism, authoritarianism, and failure of today’s GOP and how Biden and the Democrats should take them based on the success of the past. He is a Professor of History at Princeton University. He specializes in the political, social, and urban/suburban history of twentieth-century America, with a particular interest in conflicts over race, rights and religion and the making of modern conservatism. His newsletter ‘Campaign Trails’ ties history with today’s battles. Find it at https://kevinmkruse.substack.com/. Reel Paper: Head to REELPAPER.COM/FRED and sign up for a subscription using my code FRED at for 30% off your first order and FREE SHIPPING! Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED

Fred is joined by the ‘Liberal Redneck’ himself, Trae Crowder to talk about the weird love Republicans have for Putin, the continued failure of Reconstruction in the South, and more. Trae first gained international attention (or notoriety depending on your politics) in 2016 for his hugely viral series of “Liberal Redneck” comedic “porch rant” videos. Since then, Trae has written a best-selling book, The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin Dixie Outta The Dark, toured the country thrice over playing sold out theatre shows under the WellRED Comedy Tour banner, appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), Nightline (ABC), The View, Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC), NPR, WTF with Marc Maron, MTV, CNN, Huffington Post and in the Veronica Mars reboot, as “Chattanooga Charlie”, among many others. Follow him on Twitter @traecrowder and on his YouTube channel @TraeCrowderLiberalRedneck and find all of his tour dates and book links at https://traecrowder.com. You can support Fred’s legal defense fund at https://www.gofundme.com/f/defend-democracy-against-maga-litigation Sponsors: Humann: Get a free month supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews, on all bundles, and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 with your order by going to democracybeets.com Mosh: Head to moshlife.com/FRED to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on your first 6-count Trial Pack.

Host Fred Wellman is solo this week as it was one of shocking news here and abroad with the shooting in Kansas City and the death of Alexei Navalny in Russia. Both stories hit close to home for Fred as a veteran and Missouri resident. He watched his friend Mayor Quinton Lucas go from celebrating another world championship to managing a mass shooting in just minutes. We can do better both against Russia and about the flood of guns. Neurohacker: Go to https://Neurohacker.com/FRED For Up To 50% Off Qualia Senolytic and As a listener of On Democracy use Code FRED at Checkout for An Extra 15% OFF your First Purchase! HumanN: Get a free month supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews, on all bundles, and a free full-sized bag of turmeric chews valued at $25 with your order by going to democracybeets.com

Professor Austin Sarat is a political scientist and attorney. He and Fred discuss the insane legal week and what we as Americans must do to fight for this democracy. Austin is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College. He is also a Five College Fortieth Anniversary Professor. He has written, co-written, or edited more than fifty books in the fields of law and political science. Follow him on Twitter @ljstprof. LINKS: https://www.gofundme.com/f/defend-democracy-against-maga-litigation SPONSORS: Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED Sugar+Spruce: Head To SUGARANDSPRUCE.COM and Use Code Fred at checkout and get 20% off your first order

Kaivan Shroff joins Fred to discuss the outrageous twisting of DEI to cover for Republican racism, Taylor Swift hysteria, and much more. Kaivan is a public interest attorney who serves as press secretary for the youth mobilization nonprofit Dream For America and as senior advisor for the Institute for Education, a D.C. nonprofit. He worked on the litigation team at Everytown for Gun Safety and as a digital organizer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. He continues to organize for a range of Democratic causes. He holds a JD from Harvard Law School, an MBA from the Yale School of Management, and an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School. Follow him on Twitter @KaivanShroff. Sponsors: Reel Paper: Head to REELPAPER.com/FRED and sign up for a subscription using code FRED to checkout to get 30% off your first order and FREE SHIPPING! Green Chef: Go to Greenchef.com/60FRED and use code 60LEGALAF to get 60% off plus 20% off your next two months!

Juliet Jeske is a journalist and producer of the Decoding Fox News newsletter and podcast. She graduated from the Craig J. Newmark School of Journalism at the Central University of New York and has been studying the right-wing media environment for many years. She and Fred discuss how much in the tank Fox News is for Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, their increasing extremism, open racism, and misogyny. Be sure to follow her online at @DecodingFoxNews and subscribe to her Substack at https://decodingfoxnews.substack.com. Sponsors: HumanN: Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and 15% off your first order by going to GETSUPERBEETS.COM and using PROMO CODE FRED. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED

Trump can be beaten and has been in court before. This week's guest Tristan Snell was the New York AG prosecuting attorney on the Trump University case and he knows what it takes to beat Trump and his peers. Fred and Tristan discuss that and the legal peril Trump faces today. Snell is a lawyer and legal commentator featured on MSNBC and NPR, and in the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. He served as Assistant Attorney General for New York State, where he led the investigation and prosecution of the Trump University case. Today he’s the founder and managing partner of MainStreet.Law, and a content creator on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Twitter. He lives in New York City. His book Taking Down Trump publishes at the end of this month and is available for pre-order now at TakingDownTrump.com. Go to reelpaper.com/Fred and get 30% off your first order and free shipping.

If you thought Trump Admin 1.0 was bad, you can’t imagine how insane the second version will be with less guardrails and thousands of acolytes installed in the government. Fred and HuffPo senior White House correspondent S.V. Dáte discuss the crazy legal arguments he’s floating and what the next year will look like. S.V.’s book, The Useful Idiot, captures Trump's failed management of the coronavirus pandemic and his corruption of the Republican Party. Dáte is the author of five novels and previous two political biographies, including one of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. He has been a journalist for three decades, with stints at the Associated Press, the Palm Beach Post, National Journal and NPR. More info at svdate.com. Sponsors: Mosh: Head to moshlife.com/FRED to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on your first 6-count Trial Pack. Neurohacker: Go to https://Neurohacker.com/FRED For Up To 50% Off Qualia Senolytic and As a listener of On Democracy use Code FRED at Checkout for An Extra 15% OFF your First Purchase!

How do we cut through vibes and actually reach young voters before its too late? What drives Gen Z and Millenials to the ballot box and what matters to this next generation of voter? We welcome back John Della Volpe who is America’s leading polling expert on the topic as we head into one of the most important elections of the modern era. John Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, and the author of Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (St. Martin's Press, January 2022). John is also founder of SocialSphere, a Cambridge based public opinion and analytics company. You can find his excellent newsletter ‘JDV on Gen Z’ on Substack and on your favorite social media channels as @DellaVolpe. Sponsors: Humann: Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and 15% off your first order by going to GETSUPERBEETS.COM and using PROMO CODE FRED. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use FRED to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/FRED Fight: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Channeling-Their-Passion-America/dp/1250260469/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Fight+gen+z&qid=1704484555&sr=8-1

We end the year on a positive turn in the economy and justice finally moving for Donald Trump. Fred also caught a bug so while the news is good, his voice isn't. We are fortunate to have this great interview with MSNBC's Katie Phang from February that has never aired on MeidasTouch. She and Fred discussed the search for justice and American’s faith in our systems as we face an onslaught of more extreme actions from the right. Katie has been on a roll this year. She began her career as a lawyer and prosecutor before beginning her path on TV as a legal analyst locally in Miami and continuing to national success. Now she has her own show on MSNBC and Peacock, aptly called 'The Katie Phang Show,' as well as hosting her podcast ‘Class Action.’ Her talent makes her a frequent guest host across MSNBC. Neurohacker: Go to https://Neurohacker.com/FRED For Up To 50% Off Qualia Senolytic and As a listener of On Democracy use Code FRED at Checkout for An Extra 15% OFF your First Purchase!

Colorado’s Supreme Court made the factual ruling that Donald Trump supported an insurrection and isn’t eligible to run for President. This week we are joined by petitioner’s attorney Mario Nicolais to chat about this stunning win. Mario is a lifelong Coloradan and attorney and a former colleague of Fred’s from the Lincoln Project. Mario has worked political campaigns at every level from municipal government to presidential races, as well as arguing and winning cases before the Colorado Supreme Court, served as General Counsel for Colorado's largest post-acute and long-term healthcare provider and written opinion columns that earned national attention and all while running his own law firm. Fred also discusses the stunning collapse of Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s outrageous hold on military promotions and the latest on his legal fight with disgraced former Army General Mike Flynn. Visit our Sponsors: Neurohacker: Go to https://Neurohacker.com/FRED For Up To 50% Off Qualia Senolytic and As a listener of On Democracy use Code FRED at Checkout for An Extra 15% OFF your First Purchase! Support Fred’s Legal Defense Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/defend-democracy-against-maga-litigation

This is a special episode dedicated to the situation in Ukraine and in Washington D.C. as the U.S. Congress and White House are deadlocked in pushing through more aide for the beleaguered nation. We discuss the danger on the ground in Ukraine and the danger we face in the halls of Congress too. We speak with two brilliant guests to tell the story, first a journalist that’s been on the ground since before the invasion and then the Deputy National Security Council Spokesman. Tim Mak is a journalist based in Ukraine reporting on his site ‘The Counteroffensive. Tim is a former investigative correspondent for NPR, and I am also a former U.S. Army combat medic. You can find him online as @TimKMak and at The Counteroffensive at https://www.counteroffensive.news/. Sean Savett is the Deputy National Security Council spokesperson and has served with the Biden Administration since the transition into the White House. Visit our Sponsors: HumanN: Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and 15% off your first order by going to GETSUPERBEETS.COM and using PROMO CODE FRED. Neurohacker: Go to https://Neurohacker.com/FRED For Up To 50% Off Qualia Senolytic and As a listener of On Democracy use Code FRED at Checkout for An Extra 15% OFF your First Purchase!

Brian Stelter probably watches more Fox News than the people that work there and when the Dominion lawsuit opened up the private emails and text messages in the company he pounced. The result is his latest gripping book “Network of Lies” on how key elements of the Big Lie were fostered on Fox and the price both they and we are paying for it. Stelter is the New York Times bestselling author of three books: Top of the Morning, Hoax, and his latest, Network of Lies. Previously, Stelter was a media reporter at The New York Times, the chief media correspondent for CNN Worldwide, and the anchor of Reliable Sources. He is currently a special correspondent for Vanity Fair and a Walter Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children. Follow him on Twitter @BrianStelter. Visit our Sponsors: HumanN: Get a free thirty-day supply of SuperBeets Heart Chews and 15% off your first order by going to GETSUPERBEETS.COM and using PROMO CODE FRED. Beam: Get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com/FRED and use code FRED at checkout.