← Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
Special No Kings Preview: Trump’s Imploding Base w/Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys.
00:43:19
Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff chops it up with Dropkick Murphys fiery and beloved frontman Ken Casey for a high-energy, no-BS conversation about patriotism, protest, and pushing back on authoritarianism at home and abroad. From Red Sox–Yankees trash talk and World Series rings to Ukraine, ICE, Iran and Trump, Ken explains why the band has spent 30 years standing with workers, veterans, cops, firefighters and immigrants—and why staying loud now is a moral obligation, not a branding choice.
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- [00:00]
Ken Casey
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- [00:31]
Paul
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- [00:32]
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- [00:36]
Ken Casey
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- [00:43]
Paul
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- [00:45]
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- [01:15]
Paul
Would you ever run for office, man? We need people to step up right now. We're going to need people to clean up this message. I know you're a Democrat. I might try to get you to declare your independence and leave the Democratic Party. But either way, man, if you run, you got my vote and support. Can we get you to run for anything?
- [01:31]
Ken Casey
Fuck no.
- [01:48]
Paul
Independent Americans around the country and around the world, we have a very special treat, a true honor. A man that I have admired, I have been a fan of, I have been inspired by, is finally joining me on this show. The Boys are Back. And if you don't know the music of Dropkick Murphy's, you should. Everything from I'm shipping up to Boston Rose tattoo, the state of Massachusetts. Only the strong. The Boys are Back, of course, and Citizen Ice. They do tremendous music and creativity and energy and community. But they also do a ton for this country, for the community and for the world. Veterans, kids, cops and firefighters, vets, Ukraine. They're defenders of our democracy. So I am very, very honored and privileged to finally have on the show. The great and powerful Ken Casey is here on Independent Americans. Welcome, sir.
- [02:41]
Ken Casey
What an intro. Can I hire you for my hype? Man, that was amazing. Thank you. Thank you. It's an honor to be here. But before we get started, because I want this to go, this to go well, you have some propaganda behind your right shoulder that I'm going to need you to take down for this interview, please.
- [03:02]
Paul
No, you're referring, you're referring to the mighty graphics of the mighty New York Yankees. Oh, Jesus.
- [03:08]
Ken Casey
Yeah. No, I'm just kidding. You can, you know, listen. Hey, listen, with everything that's going on in the world now that that little rivalry seems like all love, you know?
- [03:20]
Paul
Right. I mean, maybe we can even get Yankees and Red Sox fans. But I got something for you, man. You don't know this, right? And this is special. Okay. You don't notice my now 7 year old river, his favorite basketball team in the world for a very weird reasons. Number of reasons is the Boston Celtics. And I have never showed this to anybody in public, but on his fifth birthday, my brother got him this.
- [03:46]
Ken Casey
I like it.
- [03:47]
Paul
This is why you need to watch on YouTube.
- [03:49]
Ken Casey
I love it. Someone's, someone's got some taste in Celtics jersey.
- [03:55]
Paul
It is a Celtics jersey with the Roff name on the back which if one day he gets drafted in the NBA, ends up being on the Celtics. I'll be okay with that.
- [04:02]
Ken Casey
That'd be really worth. If I knew, if I knew, if I knew you were going to have that there, I would have brought out my world. My 2004 World Series ring that the Red Sox gave me. So. But anyway.
- [04:15]
Paul
Did they give you a ring? They gave you a ring.
- [04:17]
Ken Casey
Yeah. The Red Sox have been great to us. Yep. We, you know, we've been, we've been involved in, well, we've been involved in all their winning years and only their winning years, believe it or not, they've never asked us to do anything on the years they didn't win. So either we're good luck or we just have, you know, good timing. But yeah, being a part of that, you know, I was on the field in St. Louis calling my 86 year old grandfather who had waited his literal whole life. So. See, sometimes being a loser pays off because when you finally get the win, it's, you know, that much more valuable. And I'd also like to say I was in Yankee Stadium when we completed the four game comeback. And that was a spiritual experience, you know, and, but anyway, you got more rings than us also.
- [05:08]
Paul
Yeah, that was spiritual. All right, man, that was spiritual, you know, but I think it's number one. My other son is a Jets fan and I've always said that, you know, that's Going to build integrity. It's going to steal you for life from adversity. Right. And that's what being a rescue fan for.
- [05:26]
Ken Casey
Yes. Because my little shits, my kids are, you know, you know, in their early 20s, and my youngest is 17. And it's like they've. They've. I had to explain to them, like, guys, it isn't typically like this. You know, you have to. You have to be used to losing to appreciate a win. And so there's a whole generations of spoiled Massachusetts kids who didn't grow up the way I did.
- [05:51]
Paul
You know, they are spoiled. I don't know if, you know, I went to school in Massachusetts, deep behind enemy lines in western Massachusetts. So, you know, those were days when the Yankees were winning and the Red Sox were stinking and I had a lot to talk about, but my kids are 10 and 7. They don't believe me that the Giants actually used to be good. Yeah, they like, dad, that's not true. They were never really good. I'm like, no, they were actually really good. They won a bunch of Super Bowls and against the Patriots, too.
- [06:18]
Ken Casey
Yeah.
- [06:18]
Paul
Oh, those.
- [06:19]
Ken Casey
Those hurt. Yeah.
- [06:21]
Paul
But you know what, man, you are. You are. You guys have always been, I think, a kiss of good luck to, to Boston, to this country, to the world. I ask everybody this can. First of all, happy opening day. I want. I want to hear your thoughts on opening day. But I ask everybody on the show, where are you? And especially in what is trying times, it's opening day. We got some joy. We don't want them to take away our joy. Joy is an important form of resistance. And we got opening day. But where are you, my friend? And how are you?
- [06:48]
Ken Casey
I am well, thank you. I'm home in Boston and I'm excited. You know, the Red Sox say, you know, we've become. Since our billionaire owner decided to turn us into the Oakland A's. You know, it's nice to be rooting for a. For a young team would like to spend, you know, spend some money to get it over the line. But, you know, it's nice to. It's nice to be competitive. We had a few years where, you know, baseball's. You go through a horrible winter here, and baseball is what you, you know, part of the. Your summer plans, and it sucks when you're out of it by July, you know, so I'm looking forward to just another fun season. It's a fun team to watch. And I don't have any predictions. I typically do, but I've learned to in My older age, I've become wiser and I've guided my predictions a little. A little closer, you know.
- [07:45]
Paul
Did you watch the World Baseball Classic? You guys had the youngest guy on the team.
- [07:49]
Ken Casey
Yeah. And if. And if. And if bats, if they can bring that back, you know, and swing the bats and stuff like that, we'll have a good year. So the World Baseball Classic's a great tournament, and, you know, it's nice that it's before the season and doesn't have to, like, upend stuff the way, you know, like the Olympics do for hockey, or that four nations, you know, where teams are losing. You know, something like us losing Charlie McAvoy coming back from that last year. As much as those are great tournaments to watch, it, it sucks when it throws a curveball at your team season afterwards, for sure.
- [08:32]
Paul
Well, we might have the Knicks vs. The Celtics in the playoffs. Maybe I'll have you back on the show when we get to that point. But in the meantime, I think, you know, you're bringing up something important. It's been a hard winter. I mean, not just the weather, but the politics, you know, the controversy, the bloodshed, now war. You know, you're a guy who has been inspiring, and you've been. You guys have been to Ukraine. You. You've helped veterans. You've done so many important things. You know, responding to need. In Boston, when stuff happens, I want to get to the serious issues. But I want to ask you, just as like a leader, as a person that inspires people every time you open your mouth or you do something, how do you get through hard winters? How did you get through what brought you through it and got you to this spring, where hopefully we have some more hope and we have some more unity. But how do you get through hard times, man?
- [09:22]
Ken Casey
You know, it depends on the day. You know, when I'm home and off tour and I'm looking at the news and there's two feet of snow outside. You know, I'm just like everybody else, where you can be. You gotta be careful that you. You need to recharge your own battery, you know, so that you don't. And that's what this authoritarian regime wants. They want people to just say, effort, man. I can't. I can't look at the news anymore. And then you take your eye off the prize for even three days. And there's been so much crime, corruption and killings and kidnappings that, you know, you missed tragedies happening to a lot of people and money being stolen from, you know, taxpayers. So you got to recharge your battery. When I'm home, you know, friends and family and when I'm on tour, I'm blessed with the ability to have this fan base give us back so much love, you know. So we're in a unique position where we've chosen to speak out and be vocal, which just seems like the only thing to do. You know, a lot of times people will chalk us up. They'll say, well, Ada shouldn't speak up. And I said, well, I disagree with that. But even if I agreed with that, if you're an artist or an athlete, if you're an artist that for 30 years since its inception, has spoke about workers rights, human rights, stood on picket lines, done all the things we've done over 30 years, then why would we be quiet now? And that's, you know, and I just feel so strong to be able to stand on that track record of 30 years of never changing our tune. And I would say to many maga that a butthurt that the Dropkick Murphy's decided to be involved in politics. A lot of those people, you have to remember, white working class voters were a big part of our fan base that were lockstep with us, that were regular union guys or cops or firemen or whatever. And then this guy came down the escalator and somehow a silver spoon billionaire convinced half this country that he had their best interest in mind. And that's just insanity, you know, and then, and not to, not, not to say, because there's a lot of people that are on the Trump team that are just flat out racists, under the rock, were like that their whole life. And this guy just came along and gave them the freedom to speak, you know, in these ugly terms and talk down to people and talk down to.
- [12:08]
Paul
And.
- [12:09]
Ken Casey
But I also think, and I say this from people that I know in my life personally that weren't racist, that were good people, but they got hooked on the lie. And then you get hooked on the algorithm and then fast forward 10 years later and you're not the person I knew 10, 15 years ago. So I think there's an element of. Some people have always been that and he's been their vehicle to come out of hiding and out of the shadows. And there's other people that for whatever reason, maybe they bought into it for something like, no, no new wars, you know, that that is an admirable, you know, thing to get behind. Even though of course he, you know, like all his promises, he didn't keep it. But my Point is, even if you came into it for something simple like taxes or, you know, you thought it was better for business, you know, I'm talking, you know, 2016, but now you've been dragged down mentally by whether it be the algorithm or just becoming used to years of this rhetoric. And then talk about younger people. There's people that have now voted and, you know, two, potentially three elections that have never known civility in politics. They just think this is politics. They'll say to us, stay out of politics. And I say, I don't even consider this politics. If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H VAC and plumbing supplies to lighting and more, and all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock. So your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [14:06]
Paul
Hey, I'm Josh Spiegel, host of the podcast Lunatic in the Newsroom. If you enjoy journalism that drifts into mild panic, wild overthinking, and a guaranteed nervous breakdown, Lunatic in the Newsroom is for you. It's news like you've never heard before. The only newsroom with a panic button, you. You'll laugh, you'll cry and gasp in horror as the show spirals completely out of control. It's not just news, it's emotionally unstable. Lunatic in the Newsroom.
- [14:35]
Ken Casey
Listen, today I consider this about humanity, but there's people that have only known this one thing.
- [14:44]
Paul
I think that's. That's really important because some folks have tried to normalize this, and it's not normal. It's not acceptable. There's the old saying, you might not be into politics, but politics is into you. And this is a time where it's into everybody. And you guys have been very brave. And I want to celebrate that because I feel like the Grammys might have been kind of a tipping point, right, where artists felt comfortable not even saying his name, but challenging ice, right? That was like a gateway into people kind of breaking the seal on ice. And now the Iran war opens up another flank. And then maybe those two things will triangulate around understanding that Trump is the reason why a lot of this bad shit is happening. But you guys have been brave, you've been patriotic. You caught a lot of shit for it. But you also. Part of what I wanted to talk to you, Ken, is You got your feeling, your fingers on the pulse of where the country is and where it's going. You've been around for a long time. You guys saw this grow. You've seen it really grow. Now you're seeing it start to change and you understand it on a very visceral level. But the top topic I want to bring to you is the all of it. Right. You kind of took us there. But I think it's really, really important. I was gonna say, you know, Iran, ice, Trump, go. But you really started to open that up in this conversation. And I just think that the moral example or their lack of that he sets is maybe the thing that's finally had people to have it. And they say, you know what? He lied to me. He lied to me. He lied to me about taxes, he lied to me about no new wars. He lied to me about keeping us safe. He lied to me about putting troops on the streets. And now he's trying to say to you, hey, don't believe your eyes. Believe me. And people know it's bullshit. But talk about this moment and especially the war, the forever war, because it's not just Iran. He wants to keep going. He has no checks on him, and he's just all gas, no breaks. You guys have spent a lot of time helping veterans, helping cops, helping firefighters. You know, the cost of war. Can you talk about this moment with the war in particular and how you see it impacting people? Yeah.
- [16:42]
Ken Casey
So it's a lot to cover there. And I think that, you know, one of the reasons that we speak out is because aside from, like I said, we spoke out all along, but we've also, you know, that the idea of patriotism has been so co opted, you know, that you're not a patriot, you know, if you're not a Christian, the way I say, you know, right wing, national Christian nationals, you don't, you know, you're not worthy of God if you don't, you know, wave your flag and hate, hate others who just arrived here, which is ironic for, you know, people from the Northeast or anywhere where, you know, chances are one or two generations ago, we were the immigrants, you know, and, you know, and blindly supporting whatever a president said at that, you know, that was never what patriotism meant to me. You know, it meant all the things that America was supposed to stand for. Arguably may to a degree, never did, but, you know, that we were the beacon of hope, the beacon of freedom. We were the people that should be giving someone a hand up, treating their neighbors well, kindness, love, tolerance, you know, and I, and I, and I say that with the preference that, you know, America has had its failings even in its best of times, but those are the things that I thought America strived to be. And now we're striving to be the opposite with a bully on the world stage. I travel the country, you know, a lot of the. Out of the country a lot of the year, and I felt like in the first Trump presidency and even through the Biden one, because of the division, Europeans almost looked at us like we were hostages, you know, the people who weren't maga, or just like they felt bad for us, like, oh, I can't believe you have to live there now. I've seen the tune change internationally to us, like, hey, we felt bad for you, but now, like, if you don't get out there on the street and like, be ready to take a bullet to get rid of this guy, then fuck off. Because now it's affecting the world economy and the world's safety. So I feel, I see the world losing its patience with even the people who don't support Donald Trump because they said, well, it's your country.
- [19:09]
Paul
Fix it.
- [19:10]
Ken Casey
Look at how South Korea fixed it immediately when, you know, they tried to seize power and whatnot. So. So the world is expecting more of all of us. And so I can say it's nice to be when we're going to other countries, it's nice to not. I still. We still have to drag the shame, but we have to drag it a little less because at least we are actively trying to resist. And as a band who's been speaking out since 2000, well, like I said, a whole career. But is speaking out against Trump since before he was ever elected the first place. Trying to warn, like, I don't know, I'm not a political scientist, but I got a pretty good bullshit detector. And right off the rip was like, really, you guys believe what this guy's saying? And I would always say to my friends, like, he wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire on the sidewalk. You know what I mean? And I just knew that was the case. And so we spoke out since then and no one would speak out. And what I say to bands now that are starting to come off the sideline, whether it's bands or actors or whatever, is like, it's easy now. It's like you're kicking him when he's down. You know what I mean? Like, if you're not ready to come out now when citizens are being executed in the streets. And there's, you know, legitimate, you know, pedophile allegations. Like, and, and a war that nobody wanted. Like, what else would it take for you to come off? So I say now, like, I'm not going to judge anyone for being silent. Prior, if you're ready now, for whatever reason it took you this long, come on out. The water's fine. Don't be scared. And it's almost like the equivalent of, like, being the third guy in, in a fight. Like, you're kicking him when he's down. You know what I mean? And, and, and, and you'll still get hate. And there's still, you know, these clowns. I will say, like, in the early days of us speaking out of it would, it would kind of suck because no one would really, like, defend us on a, on an Internet level because even people didn't want to. Like, if you were getting hammered by Maga or bots or Russia or whatever, people would, wouldn't want it turning on them. And now when someone comes in with negative comments, like, one, they get piled on by the. By society, and two, it's almost laughable, like, you're still going around putting your name to paper on the Internet to defend this guy's, you know, character and policies. It's like, man, how low will you go? You know, so, so, you know, and where are we today? I mean, the fraud, you know, is just incalculable. But, well, my worry is not only like, will we have the balls when we get power again to go after all these people? Not Merrick Allen. Let's let it just, you know, hope everyone, you know, turns over a new leaf because we've proved you can't trust humanity. You have. There's a reason we need real rules and laws, but, man, where the hell are they going to get all the people to work, you know, after all the Doge cuts, like, the amount of prosecutions and investigations that would be needed is just mind blowing.
- [22:45]
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- [23:15]
Ken Casey
Hi, this is Alex Canceroitz. I'm the host of Big Technology Podcast, a longtime reporter and an on Air contributor to cnbc. And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it, asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices, in meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. But I think there'll be a lot of people ready, willing, and able to do that work when the time comes.
- [23:59]
Paul
Sorry, Yeah, I was going to say it's a battle for the soul of our country, and it's going to be long, it's going to be hard, and then when the battle is finally won, which I believe will win, then you got to rebuild. You know, like they had to rebuild World War II after the war. Right. And it's going to take a lot of people. But I think you're touching on something that I really want to celebrate about you guys. It's really important is, you know, in these times, especially in the darkest of times, we need voices to the world that say, Americans are not all on board with this. Americans are not all fucking crazy. Americans are not all cruel. And you guys speaking out was very important because that, you know, I remember 2004 when the Dixie Chicks first spoke out and they got hammered, right? And then eventually it gets to the point where I say, Americans are not stupid. They're slow oftentimes, but they're not stupid. And they eventually get there, right? And they got there on Iraq, they got there on Afghanistan, and they're going to get there on him, too. But I do feel like you guys open that hole for other artists to go through. And then the Grammys kind of really pushed it open because it went to the point where it wasn't cool, Right? If you were supporting ice, if you weren't speaking out, it wasn't cool. And the less cool it gets. To support Trump is very important, I think, in pop culture, Right. And not just the fact that he's 80 years old and he's a pedophile and he's a rapist and he's starting wars nobody wants. But, you know, there was this little moment where people are like, all right, I don't think he's that cool, but I'm afraid of him. And then now they see that momentum shift and you guys are at the front of it. It's gonna, I think, see a big spike point this weekend at the no Kings rallies and protests are gonna happen around the country and around the world. You guys are gonna be at that in Boston. Can you talk about. I think this one's gonna be really big because it's the first one since the Iran war really, you know, unfolded. I have only one bone to pick with them. I wish they wouldn't call it no Kings. I wish they would just put a point on it and say no Trump. If they said no Trump, they might have 3x the number of people. But the whole no Kings thing, I mean, you're a master storyteller. It's a little complicated for people to understand sometimes, but no Trump is something almost everybody can get behind. And so now you got no ice, you got no Trump, you got no Kings, you got no Iran. But at the end of the day, it's going to be potentially a warm day in the Northeast. You know, spring break is here, kids are back, you know, with time, and people are pissed off. I mean, what are you expecting and what are you hoping to achieve at no Kings this weekend, man?
- [26:14]
Ken Casey
Well, you know, people. There's that debate where some people will say, you know, no Kings, what's the point? We march down the road or we get in a park and we, you know, and I will say there is a point. It's not enough. It's not going to end there. But two things getting back to what we talked about before, about, like, how do you keep yourself sane having done the first no Kings in April in Boston, the sense of community and that sense of feeling that you get when you go because, you know, the news is so bad and the Trump supporters are so frigging loud and obnoxious that at times it makes you feel like they must be the majority. And you go out on a day like that, like, no Kings, and you realize, like, you're in that community of people who are. Who want to see America do the right thing. You almost can take like a deep breath and go, okay, like, there's hope here, you know, Secondly, I'll say in my mind, and you see this from the boycotts of, you know, the streaming platforms and whatnot after the Jimmy Kimmel stuff, the real way to make. Make this Epstein billionaire class listen is to hurt them in their wallet. And I think that aside from getting people out of office election wise, that it would probably come to a general strike of some sort to really shut the system down. People don't go from no participation to a general strike. Do you know what I mean? Like, we're not even at the numbers on the straight up participation level yet. So I think that if we can, say, get the no Kings numbers to. I think it's somewhere in the, maybe the 12 million. I think I heard 12, 13 million, where you get to that, like, percentage of the population that if we could then get that same amount of people to enact a general strike, okay, but like I said, you got to involve the people, you got to get them invested in protests. You got to get them invested in taking part in the resistance. So I feel like, one, the no Kings days are good for community and restoring your hope that there's other people that also are thinking sanely. But two, I think it's a step in activating people towards larger, more prolonged resistance. And so that's why we take part in it. And I do think your idea of changing the name to no Trump is a, is a great idea. I'm, I'm going to say that from stage. I'm going to steal your line.
- [28:58]
Paul
Well, I think it's. Yeah, I mean, look, it's, it's a moment, right? And movements evolve, right? And strategies evolve and leaders emerge. And you've been such a great leader. You're going to have the mic, you're going to have a tremendous ability to help people understand this moment. But, but the point you're making is really critical. I know that from organizing veterans, community is key, right? For hope, for power, but also just to know you're not alone and to share that pain, share that burden, but also share the energy and the hope that's out there. Like, you know, I'm going to take my kids this weekend. You know, they got chess tournament and basketball and then I'm taking them and they don't know. I think the energy that they're going to feel when they're a part of that, and I want them to see democracy, right, all its different beautiful and ugly forms. And we don't. We're all, you know, we are, of course, also concerned about the security situation. We don't know how it's going to respond. So it's fucked up that I have to worry about whether or not I can take my kids to a protest. But it's also about that courage to get out there and be a part of this and to say that you stood up and you weren't just complicit. Let me ask you to go, Ken, below the radar on a point that I think is related. You guys have fans of all Kinds. A lot of them are MAGA supporters, Trump supporters that maybe are still with you. Maybe they're a little quieter. Maybe they've left. There's the famous video of you challenging the guy who's got the MAGA shirt on at one of your shows, saying, it's not made in America. Right. That thing is going everywhere. But can you talk a little bit more about how you see those people that maybe not weren't going to change? My brother's got a best. A good friend. I'm not going to mention his name. You know who you are. And he's been flying Trump flags, and he's been all in on Trump, you know, fucking up Christmas every year. And my brother called me and he said, hey, he's off. I said, you got to be fucking kidding me. He said, no, he's done. He said, he's done. He's done with him. And I said, if this guy is done with him, that's a big fucking deal, because he was hardcore. As hardcore as they come. Can you talk about that change that you're seeing not just in Boston, but in your travels around the country and what that means?
- [30:56]
Ken Casey
Yeah, I think I get some of my best feedback when, you know, after every show, I stay down front of the stage to thank those people that are right up front, because those people up front at a show is really what drives the energy for us. You know what I mean? Like, listen, I'm a. I'm gonna sit in the balcony guy now when I'm at a concert, but, you know, the kids down front singing along with the fish in the air, and I have a lot of people that'll say to me, like, you know, I'm concerned, you know, especially when we're playing in the South. I'm conservative, but I don't. I don't support this guy. I don't support this bullshit. This isn't right. We don't treat people like this. And you know, that. To me, if you're. I've never been a conservative, but, like, if you're gonna say what you allegedly preach, like, you know, a lot of those family God, you know, like, that's not about kicking people when they're down and shooting people in the street.
- [31:46]
Paul
And.
- [31:47]
Ken Casey
And I think a lot of these true conservatives are saying, wait, man, why did we let this guy tarnish our image? You know, and even though, you know, I consider myself a leftist, like, you know, it's nice to have a sane conversation with someone who, you know, aligns to values that are different than Mine, but yet they're not Trump, you know, because Trump is not. He's not anyone's values but his own man, you know, So I see a change. I see. I see one of the main reasons at every show we speak out is you hit the nail on the head, is just normalizing, speaking out. Like, listen, the last thing I want to do is talk about that fucking guy. You know what I mean? I never want to utter his name again. But every night I do it because one, I want to be on record that Dropkick Murphy's took a stand every night because not everyone follows it on the Internet or whatever. And two, I want to. I can. I can say when I say something at a show, the cheer gets louder and louder. And I was saying it in 2016. It wasn't shooting fish in a barrel. We, as you know, we have been there for veterans throughout our whole career. We've been there for first responders throughout our whole career. So I know that there's a large percentage of our fan base that. That may lean conservative. And, you know, and to those people, you know, even them. And I've said. I said this before on another one of my rants on stage, it went kind of viral. I said. In a very red area, I said, do you mind if I have your ear for a minute? Because, you know, if you're someone who leans right, you know, and you don't agree with what I'm going to say, have we not earned your respect and maybe attention for two minutes? And the fact that we've played at the funerals of soldiers that have come home, we've played at the funerals for first responders. You know, we've been there with the families, we've donated to the families. Like, we're not just talk, we're action. And. And I think that has given. Even if they're giving us the finger when I'm saying it, it's given. I. When I. When I frame it like that, they'll be like, all right, I'll listen to what you, you know, you have to say. I mean, I remember we played. We played at the. To show you how far this is seeped into our culture, we played at the international convention for the iaff. The firefighters union was in Boston. And we were booked to play, like, the end party at a. At a kind of outdoor, tented, like, 5,000 cap venue, private thing for the firefighters. And they had just had J.D. vance speak that. That day. And I was bullshit, because I didn't really like the fact that we were playing this, you know, different venue but down the street. So I said, hey, man, I gotta say something. And they were telling me, don't say anything. Our membership's too divided. Don't say anything. And I said, I'm playing at a union event and you're telling me not to say anything. You booked the wrong fucking band. You know what I mean? And you know, it's just insane that rank and file union members are willing to vote against their own best interest, you know, and even at no Kings. Where's the labor unions? They're not. I didn't. I don't. I don't. The building trades aren't speaking at these events. Why is that? They'll. They'll be there to support, you know, but. But behind the scenes, it's crazy.
- [35:39]
Paul
Yep.
- [35:40]
Ken Casey
You know, look at, look at, look at the Teamsters. I love you, Sean o', Brien, but Elon Musk and Friggin Bezos are going to automate everything and there's going to be no work left for anyone. Why are we voting for these people or anyone that supports them? Am I crazy? Am I radical?
- [35:59]
Paul
You know, you're not. And I think it's really, really important because you bust a seal and courage is. Is contagious. And I think there's a really important point that I want to make to folks too, because I, you know, I got friends that have been hardcore and you don't have to be a fucking Democrat. And that's why this show is so important too. Right? You don't have to go full bore and vote for Elizabeth Warren or love aoc. You just gotta leave them and stop giving him your name and your support and your good name and your honor. Right? He's besmirching all of you. And there's a off ramp, and an off ramp can be coming to a protest. It can be listening to this show. It can be going to a Dropkick Murphy show. Right? And you don't have to go all in and change your affiliation and, you know, vote for Mamdani in order to leave this. Right? And be a part of what the future is. And I think that's an important message for people to hear. Your music is contagious, but so is the energy and the power and the spirit. That's why every time I hear a track come on, it just kind of goes over me like so many other folks, because, you know, it's about so much that we don't have the power necessarily or the creativity to say ourselves. I gotta ask you One thing, Ken, and then we'll go to something good. Would you ever run for office, man? We need people to step up right now. We're gonna need people to clean up this mess. I know you're a Democrat. I might try to get you to declare your independence and leave the Democratic Party, but either way, man, if you run, you got my voting support. Can we get you to run for anything?
- [37:24]
Ken Casey
Fuck no. I think I can do way more telling the truth from the outside, you know, I mean, listen, part of the reason that, you know, the, the Democratic Party lost so many rank and file working class union members is because, you know, a lot of the Democrats became bought and paid by corporate interest and stuff. So until we take money out of politics, nothing's really ever going to change. You know, I believe one side votes, you know, the voting records is way better than the other side. But there's still some people that, you know, aren't doing enough and won't do enough. And that's, that's, that's. People got disenfranchised and started to look for something different. And obviously it backfired and it didn't work. And all I will say is that we've had a lot of problems under the surface, whether it still be rampant racism, whether it be Doc money in politics. And all I can hope for that will come out of this is that the real change that we kind of needed all along will happen. And you made that, you know, analogy back to, you know, FDR and after World War II and like, getting back to things that take care of people. Like, you know, why, why is the richest country in the world not providing healthcare for people? Why are we not taking care of our homeless? Why are we not taking care of our homeless veterans? And both sides love to point the fingers and, but like, let's stop pointing fingers and just get it done, you know. And right now we're going in the exact opposite way with, you know, one side. The right loves to talk about how they love the veterans. You know what I mean? But where's the action? You know, where is the action? I don't see it. I just see the deficit skyrocketing and billionaires getting richer. I don't see how that's helping veterans. So no, I won't run for politics. I'll just keep, I'll just keep screaming into my microphone, true story. When my friend Marty Walsh, you know, ran for, became mayor of Boston, he put me on the mayor before Mayor Menino had been mayor for 20 plus years and mayor Menino kept things tight to the vest with his inner circle. So it was a challenging task to come in and kind of learn how to reshape and govern the city of Boston. And Marty put me on one of his transition teams, the economic development transition team. And the reason I ended up on that is because, man, Menino was famous for just being old fashioned and not doing, you know, cool stuff with the arts and things like that. And I would always be traveling in other cities around the world and talking to Marty, saying, you should see what they're doing in Berlin today. They have this festival and this fair and there's all these people. Why doesn't Boston do this stuff? So he thought I had a good, you know, eye to the outside world and whatnot. And so he puts me on the economic development transition team. I went to the first meeting, it was about 30 people, and I'd never been in a room with so many fucking blowhards in my life. And I said, that sucked. And I went to the second meeting and it lasted about 15 minutes. And I said, I'm out of here. I cannot take this. So I'll just stay on the sidelines and keep telling the truth.
- [40:47]
Paul
Well, we need that too. But I'm going to still keep on you because we're recruiting and there's a lot of different ways to serve. And I think one of the most important ways you serve, you know, anybody who's seen your shows or goes to your shows, knows about the atmosphere you create, the command climate, the example you set for our kids. And I've taken my kids to a lot of shows, and oftentimes they'll see somebody who understands the community that you build when people come to a show. Right. I mean, I remember taking my kids to Michael Franti once, and the love and the kindness and how he elevates old people. And then we've been to, you know, heavy metal shows that can do the same, all different shows, but you guys always bring that spirit of community and brotherhood and sisterhood in a way that is so powerful. It's an example to our kids and that I think I'm most grateful for. But I gotta end with something good. All right, And I'm gonna go first. I got a special one that's perfect for you, and then I'll come over to you. For folks that have been listening to the show for a long time, you know, we support cops, firefighters, first responders. You know, our great friend Rob, Sarah, 9 11, first responder, American heroes, often been on this show. And he is promoting. And I want to remind you, this weekend, Sunday, is the 52nd annual FDNY versus NYPD hockey game. The event is sold out. It's always amazing. It's at the UBS Arena. Long Island Sports Network is going to have it. It'll be online. I'll post clips. But it's a really an inspiring day. It's always a reminder about our 911 first responders who continue to fight toxin exposures, an issue that I care about a lot myself and we've supported on this show. But it's a great example how people can beat the hell out of each other for a game, and then when it's over, they shake hands and they're all in the same fight. It's an example to our kids and to our country. I know it's baseball season, but it's also getting in to be a fun time in hockey. And this game is always a highlight of the calendar. And shout out to Rob Serra and everybody at the Ray Pfeiffer foundation, the FDNY foundation, the nypd, all those guys. It's going to be an awesome day, and we celebrate you. And it's definitely something good. All right, Ken Casey, over to you. What do you got, man? What's something good?
- [42:53]
Ken Casey
Well, I'm going to, by the way, shout out to that game. And that's why hockey is the greatest game that. That the pro. The gloves probably will hit the ice in that game and then. But you know, you can. It's the only sport where you can literally try to take someone's head off for 60 minutes and hug each other afterwards. It's amazing. But I'm going to switch it up a little bit here because my mother, the woman, it was just me and my mother growing up, and she raised me to be the human that I am today, for better or worse. And she's coming up on her 80th birthday, and before our call, I was just trying to figure out how the hell I'm gonna do something worthy of an 80th birthday. So shout out to Eileen Casey, the greatest woman on ear, and we'll acknowledge her pending big day.
- [43:45]
Paul
Bravo, Eileen Casey. You are.
- [43:50]
Ken Casey
Scored me some good points with her, too.
- [43:52]
Paul
So it was my mom's birthday last weekend, and she's turning 80 next year, so I'm gonna have to get your notes. But if your mom is listening, you know, I know she's incredibly proud of you, as any parent would be. Man, you're so inspiring. And she must be as well. Your family, your crew, all the guys in the band, you guys, you know, leadership's about sacrifice. And you guys, you know, they see you on stage, they don't see the threats you get. They don't see the hard work you put in. Maybe. What about ambassador to Ireland?
- [44:25]
Ken Casey
Listen, Claire Cronin, Brockton, Mass. Shout out. She was Biden's ambassador to Ireland and did a kick ass job. She went over and immediately sanctioned the Irish mob who had ruined the sport of boxing in Iowan with corruption and threats and all that. And she came in and dropped the hammer and internationally sanctioned the, the mob in, in Dublin. So she's got balls of steel. And we actually played at the, at the American, the U.S. embassy's Fourth of July. They throw a big Fourth of July party in Dublin and we wouldn't have said yes to that for anyone but a Brockton gal. So I would take that job. Yes. You should see the house they get to live in. Holy shit.
- [45:11]
Paul
It's amazing, right? I mean, you could have some great parties and the music would be awesome. You'd be a great cultural empower. I would put a pin in it if that. We'll work on your nomination once we get a new president, but dude, you've been an amazing patriot, a role model, courageous braid. If folks aren't already Drop Kick Murphy's fans, they are now. Not just about the music, but about the work and the spirit and, and defending our democracy, man. That's what you guys have been doing for so long and giving people a real touchstone that they need in times like this especially. So I'm grateful for your leadership, your friendship, your support. Props to you and everybody who's going to be out in the streets and at the Dropkick Murphy's shows in the days ahead. I hope you'll come back again, man. And well, thank you for all you.
- [45:54]
Ken Casey
Thank you, thank. Thank you for all you do. And you had to end it like that, you son of a. Thanks, Paul.
- [46:20]
Paul
Citizen. I say, hey,