Podcast Summary: The PoliticsGirl Podcast – "American Military OR Trump’s Military? : A Conversation with Kristopher Goldsmith"

Show: The PoliticsGirl Podcast
Host: Leigh McGowan, Meidas Media Network
Guest: Kristopher Goldsmith (Veteran, investigator, founder of Task Force Butler and Veterans Fighting Fascism)
Date: November 11, 2025
Episode Theme: Examining the politicization and use of the U.S. military under Donald Trump, the risks to American democracy and military values, and the importance of defending democratic institutions.

1. Episode Overview

This Veterans Day episode explores the increasing politicization of the U.S. military, the threats to its integrity under the Trump administration, and the broader implications for American democracy. Leigh McGowan interviews Iraq veteran Kristopher Goldsmith, who works to counter domestic extremism and fascism, about his military background, the manipulation of veterans’ affairs, and how ordinary Americans can resist authoritarian movements through activism and community.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Personal Motivations and Military Service

• Goldsmith’s Inspiration: Idolized WWII veterans in his family, long aspired to join the army.
  “I think like a lot of little American boys, I idolized people in uniform...” (05:04, Goldsmith)
• The Impact of 9/11: As a 16-year-old on Long Island, 9/11 was a formative moment, intensifying his desire to serve with an initial sense of vengeance.
  “It also became about revenge. And that's where real genuine hatred and anger started brewing…” (05:54, Goldsmith)
• Disillusionment Post-Service: Exposure to the realities of war and government deception (WMD narrative) left him politically disillusioned and vulnerable to extremist views until an eclectic support network—ranging from socialists to libertarians—broadened his perspective.
  “I started to lose my faith in democracy, in politics, in the American people. And that… made me very vulnerable for a time.” (07:18, Goldsmith)

B. The VA, Veterans, and Government Undermining

• Destruction of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Under Trump and with figures like Elon Musk and Russell Vought, massive layoffs and morale-killing policies have degraded services for veterans and citizens alike.
  “The goal was to fire 80,000 people from the VA… The damage that's been done is going to last quite some time.” (10:49, Goldsmith)
• Veterans as Federal Employees: About a third of federal employees are former military, meaning attacks on the civil service disproportionately harm veterans.
  “Russell Vought… said he wants government workers to feel terrorized… to feel traumatized.” (13:15, McGowan)

C. Politicization and Weaponization of the Military

• Trump’s View: Trump treats the military as a personal tool rather than an apolitical national institution, using active duty forces for political intimidation and even product marketing (Trump wine in commissaries).
  “It is wildly inappropriate for the President of the United States to act like a dictator.” (16:25, Goldsmith)
• Danger of Lost Diversity: “By politicizing military service… he is impacting the future diversity of thought, of education, of economic background… planting the seeds for the military to become something that only MAGA wants to join, and that is profoundly dangerous.” (17:53, Goldsmith)
• Risks of Division: Goldsmith and McGowan emphasize the military’s unique diversity as a unifying national institution—undermined by attempts to polarize recruitment and loyalty.

D. Generational Shift and Loss of Norms

• Younger Soldiers’ Experience: Many in the military now only know the hyper-polarized, post-9/11, Trump-era America, potentially normalizing violence, stochastic terrorism, and disregard for democratic norms.
  “Young people who are currently lower enlisted… their concept of what is normal… is off the rails from where we grew up with.” (24:14, Goldsmith)

E. Dangerous Precedents & Leadership Failures

• Live Fire Incidents as Political Theater: The firing of live rounds over a civilian highway during the “No Kings” protests shows a dangerous acquiescence in military leadership and normalization of unlawful or ethically questionable orders.
  “For it to happen over a highway when you're expecting crowds, that is extremely unusual… that was an opportunity for some good, smart military officers to set a precedent of saying no.” (29:37, Goldsmith)
• Purge of Military Leadership: Trump systematically removed dissenting voices from top military positions, including JAG lawyers (legal advisors), exacerbating the risk of misuse and violations.
  “He also purged a lot of the JAG lawyers, the military lawyers who decide whether orders are lawful… this is how we got to things like firing live rounds over the highway…” (31:35, McGowan)

F. Fighting Fascism – Concrete Steps

• Anti-fascist Book Clubs: Goldsmith encourages organizing anti-fascist book clubs using key texts (Timothy Snyder, Masha Gessen, Ibram X. Kendi) as a grassroots method for understanding and resisting authoritarianism.
  “The big project of Veterans Fighting Fascism is to encourage people to start their own anti-fascist book clubs.” (35:07, Goldsmith)
• Building Community: Emphasis on community leadership, local action, and knowledge-sharing as antidotes to despair and atomization.
  “If our institutions are going to fail us from on high, it's very important we build community from the bottom up.” (39:36, McGowan)

G. On Offense – A New Approach

• Launching the 'On Offense' Podcast: Goldsmith’s new show and activism rejects ‘admiring the problem’—favoring aggressive, proactive strategies (boycotts, lawsuits, protests) to inflict real costs on fascist actors, politicians, and complicit corporations.
  “If the only thing you're going to do is let them take shots at you, you're going to lose. So we're going on offense.” (42:30, Goldsmith)
• Expanding the Movement: The podcast aims to feature guests engaged in on-the-ground democracy work, spotlighting artists, activists, and leaders.

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s military manipulation:
  “What Donald Trump is doing by politicizing military service… is planting the seeds for the military to become something that only MAGA wants to join, and that is profoundly dangerous.” (00:00, Goldsmith)

• On VA destruction:
  “The goal was to fire 80,000 people from the VA… the damage that's been done is going to last quite some time.” (10:49, Goldsmith)

• On the stakes of militarization:
  “Trump treats the military as a personal army. That’s not just inappropriate—it’s a threat to the republic.” (16:25, Goldsmith)

• Diversity in the military as a strength:
  “Diversity is our strength, right? Which the opposite of what Pete Hegseth says. Diversity of experiences are what make the American military so powerful.” (00:44, Goldsmith)

• On why being perpetually defensive won’t save democracy:
  “If you’re always in a defensive position, you lose… we’re going on offense.” (42:30, Goldsmith)

4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:04] – Goldsmith’s motivation and military background
• [10:25] – VA under attack: Trump-era layoffs and Russell Vought’s “terrorize” doctrine
• [16:25] – Trump’s use of the military as a personal tool & danger to national cohesion
• [24:14] – Generational shift in the military: loss of “norms” and historical memory
• [29:37] – Live fire over a freeway for political showmanship—failure of the military chain of command
• [35:07] – Veterans Fighting Fascism’s anti-fascist book club project
• [42:30] – Launch of “On Offense” podcast: strategies for proactive resistance

5. Call to Action

• Download Veterans Fighting Fascism’s free anti-fascist book club guide at veteransfightingfascism.org
• Follow Kristopher Goldsmith’s new podcast, “On Offense,” for practical strategies to confront authoritarianism: WeAreOnOffense.com

6. Tone & Language

The conversation is urgent, motivational, and unflinchingly honest—with McGowan’s characteristic warmth and clarity, and Goldsmith’s firsthand perspective as a veteran and activist. Both speakers warn of grave dangers but focus on concrete, collective action as the antidote.

Summary Statement:
This essential Veterans Day episode spotlights the ongoing assault on America’s military institutions and broader democracy, calling for vigilance, solidarity, and aggressive civic engagement—not just to defend, but to reclaim, the promise of American democracy. Listeners seeking hope and actionable steps will find both in Goldsmith’s message: history shows that, with enough effort and courage, democracy wins.

Notable Closing Quote:
“We need to keep reminding ourselves that the history of fascism is the history of democracy winning. We just need to make our comeback stronger and faster. We need to, as Chris’s new podcast says, go on offense.” (49:19, McGowan)