Unfuck the Poor

Remember UFTP? We're back, in pod form.Plan a road trip for this one, UFTP has brought the best and brightest minds from the exclusive IngSoc Social Club for a 2-hr deep dive into all the news that's not worth talking about anymore.That's right, we're closing the book on all the stuff that's getting recycled in the news - are Nazis bad? Are Republicans in the Found Out stage of FAFO? Are taxes good? Well, we're here to tell you of course Nazis are bad, silly. And even if Republicans are finding out, they should still be able to afford insulin. We're undecided on taxes, though. We report, we decide!Topics and time-stamps: Nazis - 17:21The Democratic Party is a Farce - 22:05Two-Party System - 25:49Russia is the Bad Guy - 34:25Media Blackout - 37:15Electric Vehicles (not Tesla) - 43:44Detaining Immigrant Families - 53:23FAFO - 1:01:07Trump is Dumb - 1:22:00Taxes - 1:26:50There is no "Gotcha" - 1:34:12Climate is Still a Huge F-ing Problem - 1:35:41Re-negotiating the Social Contract - 1:49:09

Mississippi has been withholding federal funds to repair its capital city's water problems. Majority black Jackson, Mississippi, has been at the mercy of the majority white state legislature for decades, which acts as overseer of the city's finances. Climate change has brought severe weather to the state - flood conditions and freezing weather overwhelms Jackson's ancient infrastructure and causes burst pipes, broken pumps, endless leaks, and contaminated drinking water. The impact on Jackson's 150,000 residents has been devastating - city-wide water boil notices, complete lack of service, and elevated blood-lead levels in children. And it's happening right now. If you were to ask Mississippi's legislators what caused these problems, they would tell you it was the people of Jackson who brought it upon themselves. After all, Jackson didn't have a water problem until they elected their first black mayor - their words, not mine. If you asked the legislators how the people of Jackson could fix their own water crisis, they'd tell you they'd be willing to help if Jackson made some sort of effort to fix it first. Though, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure repairs since the mid-1990s apparently doesn't count. Maybe if Jackson sold its airport to the state, Governor Tate Reeves would be more willing to help. Oh, yeah, there's a whole thing about the airport. For this episode, author, professor, and host of HBO+'s Hungry For Answers Caroline Randall Williams joins me to discuss the intersection of race and infrastructure - and we determine once and for all whether you can be racist towards a whole-ass place (spoiler: yes, you can). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

Kenny returns! In this multi-part unscripted episode, Kenny and I butcher some of our favorite conspiracy theories: the ones we love, the ones we loathe, the ones we secretly want to be true, and the ones we believe. Don your tinfoil hats, power up the Google, and prepare to yell at your listening devices as we dive into the world of government lies, government truths, and the Pyramids! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

Kenny returns! In this multi-part unscripted episode, Kenny and I butcher some of our favorite conspiracy theories: the ones we love, the ones we loathe, the ones we secretly want to be true, and the ones we believe. Don your tinfoil hats, power up the Google, and prepare to yell at your listening devices as we dive into the world of government lies, government truths, and the Pyramids! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

Who's ready to get weird? Like...uncomfortably weird. In the final episode of The Apostate Peter Ruckman we get into the pettiness of bible believers and the biblical evidence of aliens, UFOs, alien-government conspiracies, lizard people, and how Ruckmanism is but one example of religious fascism that has crept upon us for over half a century. Super fun stuff. Wouldn't it be neat if you could justify all your prejudices by interpreting the Bible however you wanted and then saying that it's the inerrant word of God? If you're Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, that Bible is the King James Version, aka A.V. 1611, and your interpretation will come to be known as Ruckmanism. The souls you save, should they cling to your teachings, will become Ruckmanites. As far as cults go, Ruckmanism is as close as you can get to a cult without renouncing your worldly possessions and turning over your bank information. Though Ruckman died in 2016, the teachings of Ruckmanism remain relevant to certain Bible-believing Christians who adhere to King James Onlyism. Dr. Ruckman was a viciously smart preacher who could read upwards of 700 words a minute and re-read the bible dozens of times a year. One of the core tenets of Ruckmanism is that the original King James Bible was divinely inspired to the point that it is more accurate than the Greek texts from which it was translated, which is a bridge too far even for many Christian literalists. Dr. Ruckman was also a vicious drunk, womanizer, domestic abuser, and racist. Through Ruckman's interpretation of the Bible, Black Americans were meant to be subservient, the Jews were meant to serve as a sacrifice for the second coming of Jesus, and Catholicism was a satanic cult. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

Wouldn't it be neat if you could justify all your prejudices by interpreting the Bible however you wanted and then saying that it's the inerrant word of God? If you're Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, that Bible is the King James Version, aka A.V. 1611, and your interpretation will come to be known as Ruckmanism. The souls you save, should they cling to your teachings, will become Ruckmanites. As far as cults go, Ruckmanism is as close as you can get to a cult without renouncing your worldly possessions and turning over your bank information. Though Ruckman died in 2016, the teachings of Ruckmanism remain relevant to certain Bible-believing Christians who adhere to King James Onlyism. Dr. Ruckman was a viciously smart preacher who could read upwards of 700 words a minute and re-read the bible dozens of times a year. One of the core tenets of Ruckmanism is that the original King James Bible was divinely inspired to the point that it is more accurate than the Greek texts from which it was translated, which is a bridge too far even for many Christian literalists. Dr. Ruckman was also a vicious drunk, womanizer, domestic abuser, and racist. Through Ruckman's interpretation of the Bible, Black Americans were meant to be subservient, the Jews were meant to serve as a sacrifice for the second coming of Jesus, and Catholicism was a satanic cult. In Part 3, we explore the foundations of Ruckmanism, Ruckman's biblical crusade against integration, and Ruckman's totally-not-obsessed obsession with Nazism. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

Wouldn't it be neat if you could justify all your prejudices by interpreting the Bible however you wanted and then saying that it's the inerrant word of God? If you're Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, that Bible is the King James Version, aka A.V. 1611, and your interpretation will come to be known as Ruckmanism. The souls you save, should they cling to your teachings, will become Ruckmanites. As far as cults go, Ruckmanism is as close as you can get to a cult without renouncing your worldly possessions and turning over your bank information. Though Ruckman died in 2016, the teachings of Ruckmanism remain relevant to certain Bible-believing Christians who adhere to King James Onlyism. Dr. Ruckman was a viciously smart preacher who could read upwards of 700 words a minute and re-read the bible dozens of times a year. One of the core tenets of Ruckmanism is that the original King James Bible was divinely inspired to the point that it is more accurate than the Greek texts from which it was translated, which is a bridge too far even for many Christian literalists. Dr. Ruckman was also a vicious drunk, womanizer, domestic abuser, and racist. Through Ruckman's interpretation of the Bible, Black Americans were meant to be subservient, the Jews were meant to serve as a sacrifice for the second coming of Jesus, and Catholicism was a satanic cult. In Part 2, we look at the failure of Ruckman's first marriage to wife Janie May and how Ruckman battled God and demons to attain salvation. There's also those several times he assaulted a priest, hit his wife, and began hearing voices just like his brother Johnny. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

Wouldn't it be neat if you could justify all your prejudices by interpreting the Bible however you wanted and then saying that it's the inerrant word of God? If you're Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, that Bible is the King James Version, aka A.V. 1611, and your interpretation will come to be known as Ruckmanism. The souls you save, should they cling to your teachings, will become Ruckmanites. As far as cults go, Ruckmanism is as close as you can get to a cult without renouncing your worldly possessions and turning over your bank information. Though Ruckman died in 2016, the teachings of Ruckmanism remain relevant to certain Bible-believing Christians who adhere to King James Onlyism. Dr. Ruckman was a viciously smart preacher who could read upwards of 700 words a minute and re-read the bible dozens of times a year. One of the core tenets of Ruckmanism is that the original King James Bible was divinely inspired to the point that it is more accurate than the Greek texts from which it was translated, which is a bridge too far even for many Christian literalists. Dr. Ruckman was also a vicious drunk, womanizer, domestic abuser, and racist. Through Ruckman's interpretation of the Bible, Black Americans were meant to be subservient, the Jews were meant to serve as a sacrifice for the second coming of Jesus, and Catholicism was a satanic cult. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message

In Part 2: Divine Fascism we dive into the historical context of the Religious Right and how evangelical Christians became so emboldened as to propose legislation explicitly pushing their own batshit crazy beliefs upon the entire nation. We're discussing the Moral Majority, the Heritage Foundation, the John Birch Society, and the anti-semitic/anti-democratic/fascist trio of the 1930s: Gerald LK Smith, William D. Pelley, and Gerald Winrod, whose beliefs and publications have a direct link to today's Religious Right. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

House Bill 874 is possibly the most batshit crazy document I've ever read - and I've read "Your Best Life Now" by Joel Osteen. House Bill 874 was introduced in 2022 to impose a national year of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, meant to deliver our wayward nation from sin and back into the loving arms of a Christian god. Lifelong friend and inventor of the game show "That's not food get it out of your mouth" Corey joins me again to discuss the finer and crazier points of HB 874 and its champion, Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers. Rogers, a radical pietist, is a Bible literalist and boring Republican. No original thoughts. What kind of person believes the government has the authority to enact an entire year of humiliation, fasting, and prayer? Well, a fascist, for one. But also a Christian nationalist with a loose grip on reality. Part One Dives into the meat of a bill and an examination of Rogers' theological framework. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

From RachelCorrieFoundation.org, a reading of Rachel Corrie's emails to friends and family during her time volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement in Rafah. Rachel Corrie was an American college student and activist who spent winter quarter in Gaza sleeping next to water wells and protecting homes from IOF destruction. Her emails are witness to the policy of expulsion and dehumanization of the Israeli military. Rachel Corrie was killed in March 2003 when an Israeli Caterpillar D9R bulldozer ran over her while protecting the Nasrallah family's home from demolition. To date, no justice has been served to Corrie's family, neither Caterpillar nor Israel have been found liable for Corrie's death. This episode ends with Tom Dale's eyewitness account of the day of Corrie's death, and his comments regarding the court verdict against the Corrie family. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

To celebrate the holiday season - whatever and however you're celebrating - we're celebrating the life of Rachel Corrie, the 23 year-old American college student who was killed by Israeli Occupation Forces in 2003 while protecting a Palestinian home from being demolished. Rachel Corrie was born an activist, a true champion of the underdog. I am moved by the earnestness of her actions, by her openness and compassion for not only Palestinians, but for all in the world facing injustice. Rachel Corrie's story is both timeless - a student with a big heart intent on making a difference - and timely. The Israeli military that Rachel encountered 20 years ago has not changed. Nor has the narrative of the Israeli government. Her story is a crucial component of deconstructing the lies we have been told about Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

UFTP took the shitshow on the road over the November holiday break, sitting down with my brother David and our mother in North Carolina to get more history on the man we knew as our father. Spoiler: he was always a giant piece of shit. From being a non-dancing, gaslighting, child abusing Church-of-Christ piece of shit to a one-upping, narcissistic, child abusing non-denominational piece of shit, the guy was a real piece of shit. We do not come to terms with anything in this episode. This is a family holiday therapy session where we make fun of a piece of shit whose only place in our lives is as a punchline. UFTP encourages you to spend your holiday season with your loved ones snuggled around the fireplace listening to this bonus episode. Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

Me and ol' Trademark keep pulling the thread on mental health. I go further into my personal history - the 5 year anniversary of sobriety and life itself and how I crawled out of the deepest, darkest pit of my life. Why is the psychiatric hospital the best place ever? Are psychiatric medications worth the cost and the hassle? Can you get the therapeutic experience outside of a mental health facility? Luke says yes, absolutely. We talk about Luke's alter-ego, Trademark, the rugged outdoorsman with the swaggering beard who's in the middle of hiking the Appalachian Trail as a form of therapy and doing a "hard reset" on life. We talk support networks, family, dealing with our shit, and how getting back to the most basic aspects of life have profound impacts on our mental health and our spirits. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

Remember during the Covid lockdowns when we were all practicing self-care because life as we knew it was changing permanently and in real-time and felt like an out of control nightmare? That's what mental health crises feel like, except there is no pandemic and the nightmare is all in your head. It's a nightmare that festers and grows out of control until you yourself lose control. And self-care? Wtf is that? It's all you can do to get out of bed in the morning. For this 2-part series on mental health, I discuss Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), anxiety, and bipolar disorder with friend, colleague, and Appalachian Trail section-hiker Luke, aka Trademark. Me and ol' Trademark go deep into diagnoses, treatments, and our personal stories about dealing with lifetimes of mental health issues. From not seeking treatment to inadequate treatment to meds that cause suicidal ideation to meds you can't even afford, the mental breakdown is just one component of a mental health crisis. The rest of the crisis comes from family, circumstance, and substance abuse. Trigger warning: this episode covers the topic of suicide. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

In the final episode of Beefcake Dysmorphia we discuss the communal acceptance of certain aesthetic trends: what we do because our friends do it. From botox, collagen, and steroids to plastic surgery, what will we do to our bodies to keep looking young and desirable? We also discuss some of the beefiest bods in Hollywood: Zac Efron, Michael Keaton, David Hasselhoff, Daniel Craig, and that one guy from Jaws. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

In this episode Ashe and I discuss our personal experiences with body image, the impact of social media and pop culture on how we view ourselves, the how and why of steroid use among gay men - the pros, the cons, the arbitrary side effects - and the popularity of cosmetic surgeries among increasingly younger men and women. In this episode: body dysmorphia, Ryan Phillippe, botox, roid rage, vaping, Ashe's weird eyebrow, OnlyFans, and the Dead Kennedys. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

Ashe and I are back to discuss the Stonewall Riots (but briefly), the muscle magazines of the 1950s and 60s, Hal Fisher in the 1970s, how HIV/AIDS transformed physical culture in the 80s, Hulk Hogan, monkey pox, and steroid use. Beefcake Dysmorphia is a multi-episode series on body dysmorphia disorder in the gay community. I'm grateful to my lifelong friend Ashe for sitting down with me to discuss camp, queerness, the resiliency and reach of the gay community, and for putting up with my bullshit. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

Is the person in the mirror worthy of love? In this episode series I discuss body dysmorphia in the gay community with one of my oldest friends, Ashe! We can trace the modern phenomenon of body dysmorphia down to modern advertising and three groundbreaking revelations about the consumer. If you want to keep the customer clamoring for more, just appeal to their desires, habits, and fears. Women and gay men process advertising and media in similar ways - both groups are statistically more likely to take appeals to appearance and body image personally. Straight men, it seems, are oblivious. While advertising has come a long way in including women of all sizes, gay men are still internalizing a lot of negative media and engaging in a lot of unhealthy behaviors. This multi-part series covers a lot of ground. We get personal about our own body image issues and explore how gay male body image has changed throughout the 20th-21st centuries. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

In the final episode, Jessi and I discuss the aftermath of disclosing our family's darkest secret. Does closure exist? Do we have to forgive the people who hurt us the most? What does life look like when the abuse stops and the abuser is locked up? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

We've established that my father is an asshole, but Jessi is about to explain what makes him a monster. Trigger Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse of a child. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

My sister Jessi and I reflect on two lifetimes of an abusive, narcissistic man who pretended to be our father. We have wildly different stories with a common thread: we'd both be better off if this man was dead. Trigger Warning: This episode has graphic descriptions of child physical and sexual abuse. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

In the 2nd episode of 'Ok, but is it racist,' Kenny and discuss how Trump revealed the ugly truth about our neighbors, why mundane things now feel racist, black cowboys, and how to make pizza. We cancel cable news and explore the whitewashed history of the American West - plus a pizza sauce recipe! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

In this week's episode I sit down with my friend and colleague of 5 years, Kenny, to discuss The Talk, Trump's impact on race relations, and what it means to call someone a racist. We talk about raising kids and how we were raised in the south, construction, police interactions, and Trump's long history of not-so-subtle racism. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

The thrill ride of global plastic imperialism comes to a not-so-satisfying conclusion. We discuss Kenya's Dandora landfill, ChemCycling, plastic found in the most remote places on earth, and the history of inflatable sex dolls. What does Nazi Germany have to do with inflatable sex dolls? Turns out, well - something? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

The world is drowning in plastic waste and I have no solutions. It's hopeless. To cope, I bring in a childhood friend, Corey, whose in-depth knowledge of literally everything helps talk me off the ledge of hopelessness. Can you recycle plastic? Should you? Long story short, it isn't and you shouldn't. Long sold as a recoverable and, at times, environmentally responsible and - yikes - natural material, very little of the world's 8 billion tons of plastic (and counting) has been recycled. Instead, it winds up on the shores and in the open dumps of impoverished and developing countries. It's garbage colonialism. Come, dive into the garbage pit with us, it's FANTASTIC. Music sample in this episode: "Cutthroat" produced by SYNDROME on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntR6aoL53rY&list=PLeA4iia333Q06sxq7gE90XjYG0dZIwl9j --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/uftp/support

We revisit the most popular UFTP topic to date: abortion. Ahead of midterm elections, we're zeroing in on the importance of reproductive health here in the US. In this episode, we take an extensive - but not exhaustive - deep-dive into how abortion went from a Republican-praised fundamental right of individual freedom to a vilified and criminalized social ill. Americans are having fewer abortions than ever before thanks to crucial access to early reproductive healthcare, thanks in no small part to the federally funded Title X program. There is no "bad" reason to have an abortion, but we're not here to make that case. We explain how reproductive healthcare and abortion access has benefited millions of Americans and saves lives. Conservative arguments against abortion are lazy, boring, and full of lies. We break down the lies and build up the truth. Audio montage music provided by Casey @ White Bat Audio In the montage you will hear: Jerry Falwell speaking at UCLA in 1983, Cecily Strong as Goober the Clown on SNL, snippets of abortion stories, and bullshit spouted by Kanye West, Doug Mastriano, and Donald Trump.

Detained and arrested for wholly unclear reasons - was it tight pants or an improperly placed headscarf? - Zhina (Mahsa) Amini died from injuries received from Iran's morality police two days after being taken to the hospital. In the wake of Amini's death, Iran's youth - predominantly Gen Z and younger - have staged protests against the morality police, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and the oppressive Islamic Republic. In spite of violent government crackdowns and over 150 deaths, the protests continue. Adept at circumventing internet restrictions, young Iranian women and men are sharing their story of revolution with the world. We take a look at the conditions in Iran that make the rallying cry, 'Woman, Life, Freedom,' such a powerful sign of feminist strength. To learn more: National Iranian American Council Center for Human Rights in Iran Abdorrahman Boroumand Center Human Rights Activists News Agency Music in this episode: "Shervin Hajiaghapour – Baraye Azadi شروین حاجی پور برای آزادی (English subtitle)" News clips: Democracy Now! Thursday, October 6, 2022

Trigger Warning: This episode contains clips of interviews with Andrew Tate - themes of sexism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, and economic exploitation. In August of 2022, Andrew Tate was deplatformed - YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter have banned him from their sites, citing misogynistic content. The 21st Century's new Alpha Male prototype, Top G has racked up Billions of views and millions of followers. His interviews are long - up to 5 hours in some instances - and all of them left us wondering: o rly? In this episode, we dive deep into the ramblings of Andrew Tate to understand why and how the "King of Toxic Masculinity" resonates with men, young men, and children alike. Part troll, part life coach, part internet-breaking manosphere pseudo-god, Andrew Tate exploits the simmering resentment of men and boys for financial gain. Clips in this episode: "Exclusive Andrew Tate Uncensored Interview with Patrick Bet-David" - PBD Podcast "Andrew Tate Explains High Value Man" - Tate Stories "The KING of Toxic Masculinity - a Conversation with Cobra Tate in Poland" - 21 Studios "Andrew Tate and Chian Do Not Get Along | Grilling S2 Ep 7" - Stand Out TV "Andrew Tate Exposes How He Makes Money, Talks Scamming People and Dating Kylie Jenner!" - Full Send Podcast Samples in this episode: "Yo Gotti - The Art of Hustle" - Yo Gotti

Do Conservatives really care about children? No. No, they do not. From fake outrage over drag queens and distracting narratives on immigration, the conservative stance on abortion stumbles to incomprehensible lows and logical failures when confronted with the Ohio case of a pregnant 10 year-old rape victim. In this episode, I interview my 11 year-old daughter to get her input on conservatives' insistence that a 10 year-old being forced to give birth is totally cool. We also discuss periods and drag queens and determine that conservatives intentionally misrepresent their beliefs and then double down on them to save face. A little light listening for your Sunday. Royalty free montage music from Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio: https://whitebataudio.com/

We're wrapping up our coverage on the war in Ukraine. The civilian death toll continues to climb, and the international community has completely failed in preventing civilian casualties. Expect periodic updates, but for the sake of our mental health we must move on.

As Russian troops left Kyiv and its surrounding villages, they left behind evidence of war crimes and brutality. The Bucha massacre and the systematic rape of women and children by Russian soldiers will leave a legacy of trauma for future generations of Ukrainians. For rape victims who have become pregnant and then fled Ukraine, access to abortion can be a crime. Poland has some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe.

For this episode, we interviewed a volunteer at Helping to Leave, Yury, a Russian expat who now spends 20 hours a day gathering information to help coordinate evacuation routes for Ukrainian citizens. Yury hasn't lived in Russia for 15 years, but still has friends and family there. His only goal at the moment is to help as many people survive as possible.

We left off wondering what the hell Russia thinks it doing poking around in Ukraine's business. Was the inner chaos during the Maidan Revolution somehow Russia's concern? No. It was just a handy story that Putin likes to tell people. Putin has also made clear that Ukraine doesn't exist. In the battle of Western/Russian propaganda, the story that never gets told is the real story. Maidan got messy - like, real messy - but nothing within Ukraine's borders has ever amounted to an offense worthy of intervention. The story that's being hidden now, in real time, is the story of Ukrainian sovereignty - not as a nation, but as a people.

We came across some hot takes on Twitter disparaging Ukraine, its government, and its people. Unsurprising. We took a break from regular reporting to think about how Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine is understood in the West. Do we understand it? Do we provide the Ukrainian people any justice by trying to view this war through a geopolitical lens? Surprisingly, some folks on the Far Left and Far Right of US politics see the war as something of a lost cause - is President Zelinskyy selfishly leading Ukrainians to their deaths? Some think so. This thought completely undermines the sovereignty of Ukrainians as individuals, who have not been led to the slaughter, but have found slaughter descending upon them. Over two parts, Poking the Bear dissects the hot takes on social media to make up the difference between geopolitics and the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people. Slava Ukraini!

War In Ukraine: Update for March 22, 2022. 27 Days of War. Of the 3.5 million refugees who have left Ukraine, 1.5 million of them are children. UNICEF has issued a warning that these children are at high risk for abduction and trafficking. The last reporters in the destroyed city of Mariupol have fled. Mstyslav Chernov and Evginiy Maloletka, who had been covering the war from inside the city, were on Russian soldiers' hit-list, literally. Ukrainian troops helped them escape to tell the story of Mariupol to the world. Greek Diplomat Manolis Androulakis compares Mariupol to Grozny, Aleppo, Coventry, Guernica, and Leningrad. More Russian reporters are leaving their roles in state-run media - is it too little, too late? Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelinskyy spoke with public broadcast media today about his WW3 comment on CNN, what he would say to Putin, and has advice for the rest of the world as they watch the war in Ukraine unfold: Be Ukrainians.

March 21, 2022. 26 days of war. Today was a hard day in Ukraine. Protesters in Kherson were shot by Russian troops. A holocaust survivor was killed in Kharkiv. Lviv, once a safe haven, faces a new reality of air raid sirens and bombings. Today in Vilnius, Lithuania, activist and politician Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya - the democratically elected president of Belarus in exile - spoke at the second annual Kalinowsky Forum, where she called for recognition of Belarus as a country under temporary occupation by Russia. He opening remarks at the Forum demonstrates solidarity with Ukraine and highlights the reach of Russian oppression. Her powerful address makes up the bulk of today's show.

March 20, 2022. Last week, we met with Russian activist and public historian Sophia Shirogorova to tell us how Russia came to its final form - an authoritarian state hellbent on wrecking former Soviet republics. We discuss the rise of Putin from Yeltsin's blessing to the brutal crackdowns of the 2011-2013 protests, to the annexation of Crimea, to the present war in Ukraine. Behind everything, Putin is afraid of losing power. A riot police force of over 500,000, consolidated state media to control the public narrative, laws against protesting, eliminating public elections in favor of appointed mayors and representatives, and even the annexation of Crimea were all efforts to tighten control and boost his popularity. The moves against Ukraine play to a much deeper Russian sentiment about their Western neighbor. We discuss Pussy Riot, Maidan, and political opposition in Russia.

March 18, 2022. 23 days of war. 1,300 Ukrainians are still stuck in the Mariupol Drama Theater, an unknown number are stuck in the shelter of Mariupol's Neptune Pool, where mostly pregnant women and women with children were sheltered. Mariupol is basically destroyed. 80% of its residential buildings are now uninhabitable. Russia does not stop shelling the city's corpse. Wherever Russia's missiles land, they claim it was exactly where they wanted. They say there were soldiers there. But no soldiers have emerged from the rubble of the Drama Theater. No soldiers were carried away from the maternity hospital that was bombed last week. Everywhere Russia strikes, the enemy is curiously absent. Is it war if you bombard a ghost?

March 16, 2022. 21 Days of War. If you want to see how Putin's war will play out, you have only to look at Russia's past. When Russia backed the Syrian military in 2011, we saw cluster bombs, thermobaric weapons, chemical weapons, and Putin's penchant for victim blaming. That the war in Syria devolved into utter chaos only played into Putin's hands. Now that the West has largely shunned all things Russia, Putin's ploy is sputtering out in Ukraine, but he won't give up. We explore how The White Helmets, a humanitarian-aid organization that has accumulated hundred of videos documenting the atrocities in Syria, fell victim to the Kremlin's disinformation apparatus. With the bombing of a maternity hospital in Ukraine, we're seeing the same tactics play out again. In Odessa, Russian naval vessels appear to be preparing for a landing. In Mariupol, citizens are held hostage in a hospital, trapped in a theater and a public swimming pool, the humanitarian crisis worsens. In Moscow, Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova was given the chance in court to refute her criticism of Putin's war. She refused. CORRECTION: We need to make a correction to our reporting for this episode. We did not have a clear understanding of the circumstances that resulted in the release of Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov. We incorrectly stated that his release was due to a special military operation and not negotiations. That was incorrect, and actually the opposite is true. Ivan Fedorov was released from custody in exchange for 9 captured Russian conscripts.

March 13, 2022, 18 days of war. We take a step back and get you caught up on where we are in Ukraine - what cities have fallen to Russian forces, what exactly is an oblast, and what is Russia trying to accomplish? This episode is also about the international press - namely, those journalists inside Ukraine who risk their lives to bring us firsthand accounts on the war. Today, it was announced that American journalist Brent Renaud was shot and killed by Russian troops. The photographer accompanying him, Juan Arredondo, was also shot but survived. Two active journalists have been killed in Ukraine, several more have been shot, attacked, and robbed by Russian troops. We appreciate the work they do, the stories they tell, the risks they take.

Daily update on the war in Ukraine, March 12, 2022. Calls for a No-Fly Zone intensify as Russian shelling escalates. The UN has released a new report putting the total number of Ukrainian refugees at 2.5+ million, with over 12 million Ukrainians stuck in the hardest hit areas. 400,000 Meriupol residents have been trapped in the city without food, water, and heat for nearly 2 weeks, a situation the Red Cross calls "apocalyptic." Today's Editorial: The sudden international furor over biological weapons - do they exist? who has them? - marks a major success for Russian propaganda. Talking points from easily debunked conspiracy theories that originated in Russia have begun to splinter Western support for Ukraine. Keeping us distracted from the atrocities of the Russian assault is the whole point.

March 9, 2022 - Updates on the war in Ukraine. Mariupol is devolving into a humanitarian nightmare. A maternity and children's ward at a Mariupol hospital was struck by Russian artillery - destroying it and injuring 17. Intense shelling has reportedly killed 1,170 in Mariupol, with images emerging of a mass grave. Civilians, residential areas, and civilian infrastructure are constant targets by the Russian military. Today we reflect on Truth - what it means to be able to collect and disseminate information and ideas in a relatively open and connected world. We reflect on the precious significance of truth at a time when Russia both restricts what information is allowed to be shared and is cut off from global communication.

Ukraine and the United States are inextricably linked in terms of national security. Whether the US gave Ukraine "assurances" or "guarantees" as part of the denuclearization deal, the US owes Ukraine a strong hand in its fight against Russia. That could be in the form of planes and weapons, or it could be in the form of brokering peace. There's a third option, but that ends the world. This episode explores in glorious detail the complicated tale of Ukraine's need for US security from Russia. Spoiler alert: Russia has always been kind of a jerk.

7 March 2022. Vinnytsia International Airport is destroyed by Russian bombs - exactly as Zelinskyy warned. The International Red Cross reports an evacuation route made by Russians was littered with mines. Russia offers clear passage to all fleeing Ukrainians...as long as they flee to Russia or Belarus, which has been aiding Russia's war effort. As Europe, the UK, and the US watch the war in Ukraine unfold, President Zelinskyy and fellow Ukrainians grow frustrated with the hesitation to help. The US and UK agreement to offer protection to Ukraine when it gave up its nuclear weapons has left them a sitting duck, which was exactly their fear in the first place. We are now complicit in the ongoing slaughter of Ukrainians. It reeks of Stalin and Hitler. The Ukrainians have already lived through this once, so why are we sitting by as they relive it all over?

6 March 2022. Ukraine's Day of Forgiveness. Maybe one day there will be forgiveness, but not today. Somehow, Ukrainians have managed to break our cynicism. They show us hope in tragedy, humor in despair. They show us Hell and limitless bravery. This episode celebrates you, Ukraine, as you weather the worst of what this world offers. Slava Ukraini, Heroiam slava! The daily recap returns tomorrow.

5 March 2022 - The war in Ukraine is 10 days long. A YouTube video from a Ukrainian television broadcast appears to show an interview with three Russian POWs. They are battered, remorseful, they speak plainly and openly. It might be real. It might go viral. In the Fog of War, the truth is hard to verify. Updates on Odessa, Kharkiv, and Kyiv. We look at Russia's 20-year plan to shape the world in its own way - where geographic location, not economics, determines who will rule the world. It's called geopolitics. It's a dirty game, and Putin is very good at it. Unfortunately, Putin never planned for President Zelinskyy.

Updates on the ongoing war in Ukraine for March 4, 2022. The first reports of rape by Russian soldiers have made it to the news. Rape is a war crime.

Reporting on the 8th day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, March 3, 2022. Kherson has officially fallen to Russia. Mariupol is surrounded by land and sea forces. One million refugees have fled Ukraine for neighboring countries. And Putin has a Nazi problem. Ukraine's Azov Battalion is a white-nationalist regiment that has been folded into Ukraine's military, but Putin's aim of "denazification" comes with some major problems for Russia and the international community - namely, several international right-extremist and white nationalist organizations have received money funneled from Putin's Russia. Within Russia itself, Putin has a Nazi problem all his own - those Russian-backed Ukrainian separatists? Yeah, white supremacists.

UFTP has put together an update on the war in Ukraine as of March 2, 2022 - Updates on Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, and Kherson. We debunk Russia's claim of "De-Nazification" and dig deep into Putin's obsession with NATO. Is the US to blame for the whole thing? We broadly cover misinformation and the history leading up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We've dug up magazine interviews with Mikhail Gorbachev, the half-Ukrainian, half-Russian former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to get an historical perspective on NATO, Ukrainian independence, and Ukraine's relationship with Russia and the West. Mikhail Gorbachev was born 91 years ago today, March 2, 1931. He is still alive and is an advocate for peace and reconciliation between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe.

UFTP was written and recorded between 2020 and 2021, and as we close in on 2022, I've looked back on all that was written, recorded, and that has since transpired in the world and have decided I was right all along. Go figure. At the heart of everything is animosity toward those with less. As we push for equitable shares of wealth and power, remember that a compromise of half measures is a win for those in power. It just kicks the can a little farther down the road. We can fight this by doing something every day. It doesn't have to be a public display of protest, it doesn't have to be attention grabbing or anything extreme. We can read, we can write, we can talk and support and organize, and we can back those who engage in the things we don't. That's free association. That's autonomy. Of course, you can and should protest, collectivize, and spread dangerous ideas like equality and anti-fascism. The important thing is to not just sit back and wait for others to get started.