Unf*cking The Republic

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 prominence in American society on the gamble that he can break it. A product of the Ivy League system who wants to take it down. A gay man who backs candidates that would degrade his civil rights. A hedge fund tech investor who thinks Silicon Valley hasn’t done anything innovative in 50 years. A Trump backer and advisor who walked away when he got what he wanted. Peter Thiel is known as a contrarian, but it may be simpler than that. He might just be a nihilistic asshole.  Chapters Intro: 00:00:35 Chapter One: So who the fuck is this guy? 00:04:02 Chapter Two: Where did all his money come from and can I have some? 00:13:07 Chapter Three: We’re all just pawns on Peter’s board 00:20:53 Chapter Four: Bring it home, Max. 00:31:53 Post Show Musings: 00:37:51 Outro: 00:45:46 Resources The Atlantic: Peter Thiel Hates a Copycat ProPublica: Lord of the Roths: How Tech Mogul Peter Thiel Turned a Retirement Account for the Middle Class Into a $5 Billion Tax-Free Piggy Bank Founders Fund: Portfolio The Intercept: How Peter Thiel’s Palantir Helped The Nsa Spy On The Whole World The Wall Street Journal: Tech Tycoon Peter Thiel Shies From Trump Re-Election Campaign SEC: Palantir Technologies Inc. Cato Unbound: The Education of a Libertarian The Intercept: The New New Right Was Forged in Greed and White Backlash Daily Beast: Blake Masters’ Views on Gay Marriage May Surprise His Political Master Peter Thiel Book Love Max Chafkin: The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley’s Pursuit of Power -- If you like #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 on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). The show is 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Chapters Intro: 00:00:25 Newbie Unf*cker Introduction: 00:06:12 Emails: 00:07:58 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:35:29 Instagram Shout Outs: 00:45:44 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 00:48:12 Outro: 00:51:25 Resources Summer Lee Mandela Barnes Hazen Pingree Wikipedia The David McWilliams Podcast: UK experiments & Irish stability Paul Krugman: End This Depression Now! DiversifyOurNarrative -- If you like #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 on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 story resumes with a nod to the Chicago School, the one-two punch of the Reagan and Clinton administrations to deliver a death blow to media competition in the United States and the recent history of net neutrality. Let’s fucking go.  Chapters Intro: 00:01:56 Chapter One: The Coase Theorem. 00:03:08 Chapter Two: Reagan and Clinton. 00:10:28 Chapter Three: Title II and Net Neutrality. 00:25:25 Chapter Four: Bring it home, Max. 00:37:22 Post Show Musings: 00:42:14 Book Love: 00:53:17 Outro: 00:54:02 Resources FCC Website Steven G. Medema: “Failure to Appear”: The Use of the Coase Theorem in Judicial Opinion European Council On Foreign Relations: Network effects: Europe’s digital sovereignty in the Mediterranean Brookings: Was the 1996 Telecommunications Act successful in promoting competition? USTelecom: Research FCC: National Broadband Map Community Networks: Community Network Map Berkman Klein Center: Community-Owned Fiber Networks: Value Leaders in America Vice: A Community-Run ISP Is the Highest Rated Broadband Company in America Tristin Esfandiari: The FCC Threatens Free Speech Open Secrets: Ajit Pai Employment History FCC: FCC Releases Restoring Internet Freedom Order FCC: Biography of Former Chairman Ajit Pai Public Knowledge: We Already Knew Broadband Should Be A Public Utility. The Pandemic Made It Obvious. Congress.gov: S.4676 - Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act of 2022 Electronic Frontier Foundation: New Proposal Brings Us a Step Closer to Net Neutrality Ed Markey: Communications Act Bill Electronic Frontier Foundation: Today’s Net Neutrality Order is a Win, with a Few Blemishes Electronic Frontier Foundation: Today—and Every Day—We Fight to Defend the Open Internet Searchlight Capital: Investments Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University: 2 Live Crew Book Love Steven J. Simmons: The Fairness Doctrine and the Media Brian J. Karem: Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It Ken Auletta: Backstory: Inside the Business of News Bernard Harcourt: The Illusion of Free Markets: Punishment and the Myth of Natural Order -- If you like #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 on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). The show is hosted by The Gipper and distributed by Slick Willy. 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 review a few Unf*cker emails regarding supply chain, healthcare and native issues. Listen to Quickie 13: One nation divided? What bipartisanship says about America. Chapters Intro: 00:00:25 Housekeeping: 00:03:40 Emails: 00:07:44 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:48:57 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 00:50:55 Reviews: 00:54:26 Outro: 01:02:44 Resources Summer Lee Mandela Barnes Halftown Must Go WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 1370 - Abigail Disney Whyy: Detroit’s urban farms: engines of growth, omens of change Free2Care’s Rx for Reforming America’s Predatory Healthcare System A Physician-Led Roadmap to Patient-Centered Medical Care Even The Rich Podcast: Marilyn Monroe Adrian Brody SNL -- If you like #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 on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 pass along party lines, setting us up for bloodsport events each and every fucking election cycle. There’s a lot of truth to this. And yet, each year thousands of bills and resolutions are introduced and hundreds are eventually signed into law. We define ourselves along partisan lines, but perhaps we should look more closely at what bipartisan efforts say about America.  Visit the episode's accompanying site page. Chapters Intro: 00:00:10 Bill Primer: 00:05:22 Rule One: Protect the “free” market at all costs. 00:12:48 Coffee Break: 00:20:06 Rule Two: Protect the war machine. Even if we don’t have our own war. 00:21:36 Rule Three: Protect the war machine. In case you want to start a war.  00:29:02 Post Show Musings: 00:31:54 Outro: 00:36:30 Resources GovTrack: S. 1404: Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act Ghost Army Legacy Project: The story of The Ghost Army in a nutshell GovTrack: H.R. 1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act GovTrack: H.R. 8351: Formula Act GovTrack: H.R. 2954: Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021 Committee On Ways And Means, House Of Representatives Report: Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021 CNBC: 41% of Americans say it’s ‘going to take a miracle’ to be ready for retirement, report finds CNBC: Some retirees get by on just Social Security. Experts disagree on how many Congress.gov: 1st Session S. 1770  GovTrack: S. 3522: Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 ISS PSC Report: African conflicts to watch in 2022 ISS: Inclusive national dialogue is a priority for Ethiopia ISS: Will this week’s AU mission to CAR deliver a change in strategy? ISS: The clock is ticking on South Sudan’s transition ISS: South Sudan’s transitional government: realities, challenges and opportunities GovTrack: S. 1605: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 U.S. Department of Defense: The Department of Defense Releases the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Budget Politico Magazine: Where in the World Is the U.S. Military? UNFTR Episode Resources Procedural F*ckery: Quirks of our “Democracy.” The Beatification of Ronald Reagan. Immigration Nation: A Crisis of Our Own Design. Building the Climate Industrial Complex: Strange Bedfellows, Wildfires and Heat Waves. Priorities: War, Wealth and Welfare. -- If you like #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. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: 00:00:20 Housekeeping: 00:30:00 Emails: 00:15:25 Twitter Shout Outs: 01:13:12 Substack Shout Outs: 01:19:20 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 01:25:33 Reviews: 01:28:07 Outro: 01:28:34 Resources Summer Lee Mandela Barnes The Rewatchables: Boogie Nights Last Podcast On The Left: Mormonism Series and Black Death Series The Rewatchables: Miami Vice Kentucky Candidate Charles Booker Stephanie Kelton: The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy Mises Institute: A Review of Stephanie Kelton’s The Deficit Myth The New York Times: California to Ban the Sale of New Gasoline Cars Peter Shapiro: The Music Never Stops: What Putting on 10,000 Shows Has Taught Me about Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Magic Danny Meyer: Setting the Table News Beat Podcast: MMIWG2S: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People The War on Cars Podcast WebMD: Under 2% of Eligible Have Gotten Newest Booster Shot NPR: CDC recommends new booster shots to fight omicron UNFTR Sticker Request -- If you like #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. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 provide balance and equal time in broadcasting and was repealed in 1987. Many credit this Reagan-era move as the beginning of the end of civility, leading to the divide in the nation today. But, of course, the story behind the doctrine is far more nuanced. We review a history of the FCC, its limitations and whether or not the fairness doctrine ever really had a place in America given the natural tension with the First Amendment. Visit the episode's accompanying site page. Chapters Intro: 00:03:53 Chapter One: What is the FCC and why should we give a shit? 00:04:51 Chapter Two: To be fair, it was never really a doctrine. 00:13:35 Chapter Three: Fairness in the eye of the withholder. 00:24:57 Chapter Four: Bring it home, Max. 00:33:27 Post Show Musings: 00:39:36 Book Love: 00:40:22 Outro: 00:49:35 Resources FCC Website Congressional Quarterly: Broadcasting Deregulation UNFTR Episode Resources Manufacturing Dissent: How We Let an Aussie Destroy the U.S. The Economics of Racism: Bootstraps, Black Banks and Redlining. Book Love Steven J. Simmons: The Fairness Doctrine and the Media Brian J. Karem: Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It Ken Auletta: Backstory: Inside the Business of News Bernard Harcourt: The Illusion of Free Markets: Punishment and the Myth of Natural Order -- If you like #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 on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). The show is written by free speech and distributed by shut the fuck up. 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, there’s some irrelevant movie talk, and reminders to support the Fall Raisers: Friends, Funds and Hell. Listen to Episode 74: BlackRock: The Devil's Banker. Do as I say, not as I do. Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Housekeeping: 00:02:00 Emails: 00:07:43 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:35:45 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:36:15 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 00:45:32 Outro: 01:02:12 Resources Unf*cker Artist Submission Form Summer Lee Mandela Barnes Christopher Leonard: Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America to Collections Jane Mayer: Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right to Collections UNFTR Episodes: Libertarians Are Exhausting (Part 1 and Part 2) Tom McGovern on TikTok, Youtube, Instagram and Twitter News Beat Podcast: The Fossil Fuel Industry's Big Lie UNFTR Episode: The Problem with Conscious Capitalism: ESG, SRI and FMF. Bloomberg: Patagonia Billionaire Who Gave Up Company Skirts $700 Million Tax Hit Ben Sheehan on Instagram and Twitter Ben Sheehan: OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?: A Non-Boring Guide to How Our Democracy Is Supposed to Work -- If you like #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. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Larry Fink, influential CEO of BlackRock, discusses the controversy surrounding his firm's push for sustainability, conspiracy theories, and the true story of BlackRock's terrifying power.

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, and Hell. Listen to Episode 73: Hospitals and Healthcare: From Sanatoriums for the Indigent to Citadels of the Elite. Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Housekeeping: 00:07:54 Emails: 00:18:57 Facebook Shout Outs: 00:41:06 Twitter Shout Outs: 00:41:19 Buy Me A Coffee Donations + Memberships: 00:42:14 Reviews: 00:49:25 Outro: 00:49:52 Resources Summer Lee Mandela Barnes Unf*ckers Facebook Group ContraPoints Youtube F.D Signifier Youtube Some More News Youtube News Beat Podcast: The Fossil Fuel Industry's Big Lie -- If you like #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. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic on Substack at unftr.substack.com 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). 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.unftr.com/membershipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.