Political Commentator Dara Starr Tucker talks about why many white Americans hide behind “politeness” as an excuse for not confronting racism. She also discusses the January 6th insurrection, the song “Try That in a Small Town,” and the damage done by nostalgia for the Confederacy. Dara is a social commentator and vocalist. Following the January 6th insurrection, Dara was inspired to educate others about the political and social issues facing our country. Her video commentaries have garnered wid...
Sep 05, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 136
Representative Jason Crow is a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and represents Colorado’s Sixth Congressional District. He was in the Capitol building during the January 6th insurrection, and has been hailed as “one of the heroes of that day” for guiding fellow members of Congress to safety. In this interview, Rep. Crow discusses Space Command remaining in his state, right-wing extremism, and the lack of political courage shown by Republican politicians. GreenCh...
Aug 29, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 135
Denver Riggleman is a former representative for Virginia’s 5th congressional district, and an ex-Republican. He served as a technical advisor to the January 6th committee, and now he’s partnered with Hunter Biden’s legal team to provide data analysis in the face of congressional inquiries and the GOP’s claims about Hunter’s conduct. Denver’s new podcast, The Mighty Peculiar, takes a deep dive into conspiracy theories. In this episode, he describes the appeal of conspiracy theories, and the damag...
Aug 22, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 134
In this interview, Dr. Crayton discusses gerrymandering, supermajorities, the impact of the courts, and voter suppression. Dr. Kareem Crayton is an attorney, law professor, and academic whose work explores the effects of state-sanctioned racial discrimination on campaigns, elections, and governance. He recently joined the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, where he manages efforts to implement pro-voter reforms. Head to MANUKORA.com/BOATS or use code BOATS, you’l...
Aug 15, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 133
Mark J. Lindquist is an Air Force Veteran who has been providing non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian Army since late March of last year. In this interview, he describes being a mile from the front lines, his efforts, and how Americans can help Ukraine win the war. To shop plant based bags and replace single use plastics all over your home, visit holdonbags.com/BOATS or enter BOATS at checkout to save 20% off your order. Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senolytic with code BOATS for ...
Aug 08, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 132
Anne discusses the corruption within the Supreme Court and how certain “grassroots” conservative organizations have ties to powerful shadow networks. Anne is an award-winning war correspondent and author. Her newest book, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right, details the influence of the Council for National Policy, a powerful right-wing political coalition. To hear more from Anne, listen to her previous two interviews on Burn the Boats here and here. Also, make ...
Aug 01, 2023•49 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Back in 2018, Miles Taylor anonymously authored a New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.” At the time, Miles worked in a senior role in the Department of Homeland security. Eventually, after Trump asked him and other officials to break the law, Miles quit. He decided to author a book, again anonymously, titled A Warning, which described the morally gray, and sometimes blatantly illegal orders that came from the President. In the lead up to the 2...
Jul 25, 2023•57 min•Season 1Ep. 130
Rep. Seth Moulton discusses right-wing extremism within Congress and the dangers to American Democracy Representative Seth Moulton is a former Marine Corps officer who has represented Massachusetts’s 6th district since 2015. He appears in the upcoming documentary film, Against All Enemies, where he delivers a prophetic warning about the threats to American Democracy posed by extremist organizations that target and recruit military veterans. Go to https://neurohacker.com/BOATS to try Qualia Senol...
Jul 18, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 129
Olivia Julianna is a 20-year-old abortion-rights advocate and the director of politics and government affairs at Gen-Z for Change. With the help of her substantial TikTok following, Olivia initiated the takedown of an anti-abortion website that encouraged Texans to inform on their neighbors, and raised over $2.3 million after a twitter battle with congressman Matt Gaetz. She’s also a Senior Advisor to Lose Cruz, an organization dedicated to defeating Ted Cruz’s reelection bid in 2024. Rocket Mon...
Jul 11, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 128
Ryan Busse is a former executive of a major firearms manufacturer. During his 25 years at the company, he was nominated for multiple industry awards and became a prominent player in the industry. He saw the number of mass shootings grow exponentially during his tenure, and eventually this prompted him to quit. Ryan’s book Gunfight exposes the gun industry’s “McCarthyesque” internal policing, and its shift away from safety and ethics to fear, conspiracy, and intolerance. Neurohacker: Go to neuroh...
Jul 04, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 127
Sarah Posner is a journalist who has been covering the religious right for decades. Her most recent book, Unholy, explores how race and xenophobia have long been at the core of evangelical Christianity in America. In this episode, Sarah reveals how many evangelicals have adopted and executed a platform of extremism, citing their support for white supremacists, the corruption of the church, and their attempt to roll back the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community. Go to GreenChef.com/Ken60 and ...
Jun 27, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 126
Brynn Tannehill is a columnist, author, LGBTQ+ activist, and former Navy pilot. Her book American Fascism details how the GOP has been undermining democracy for decades. In this episode, Brynn draws comparisons between Nazi Germany and modern America, citing successful attempts to undermine elections and persecute minorities. Brynn also discusses common myths about Trans people, and her books Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trans, and My Child Told Me They’re Trans… What Do I Do?. Head ...
Jun 20, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 125
In this special Father’s Day episode, Ken is joined by Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting. Since then, Fred has become one of the most impactful, and inspiring, advocates for gun safety. His new book, American Carnage, dismantles many of the myths we hear today about guns and gun violence. In this interview, he shares some of those myths, and explains how the NRA has prioritized profits over people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Jun 18, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 124
Kristin Kobes Du Mez describes how Evangelism has transformed, and its relationship to masculinity, oppression, and nationalism. Kristin is a pastor and a professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. Her book, Jesus and John Wayne, reveals “how evangelicals have worked to replace the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism.” This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to ...
Jun 12, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 123
General Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general and former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command who led counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, General McChrystal discusses the weaknesses in American democracy, and how insurgents within our country are using them to erode democracy. He also warns against dismissing these threats: “There is an idea that it can't happen here, that our society can't break down, that we can't have an autocratic ...
Jun 06, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 122
Stacey Abrams talks about her new book, Rogue Justice, and the systems that influence American life from the shadows. Stacey Abrams is a politician, author, and voting rights activist. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 10 years, she fought two closely contested gubernatorial races, and has been at the forefront of expanding voting rights in Georgia and beyond, with her organization, Fair Fight Action. Head to https://TryFum.com and use code BOATS to save 10% off when you get...
May 30, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 121
Mary Trump is a clinical psychologist and host of the podcast The Mary Trump Show. She is also a bestselling author, and her most recent book, The Reckoning, talks about national trauma and finding ways to heal. Her first book, Too Much and Never Enough, analyzes how the toxic Trump household created the Donald Trump we know today. Here’s the mashed potatoes story that Mary and Ken reference during the episode. Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel pac...
May 23, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Mila Atmos is the host of Future Hindsight, a podcast about civic engagement that gives listeners action items so that they can better participate in our democracy. In this episode, Mila discusses voter engagement and persuasion. Go to magicspoon.com/BOATS to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code BOATS at checkout to save five dollars off your order! Go to FastGrowingTrees.com/BOATS NOW to get FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF your entire order. Learn more about your ad choic...
May 16, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 119
Angela Denker is a Lutheran pastor and journalist. Her book Red State Christians takes a hard look at White Christian Nationalism and the evangelicals who voted for Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 09, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Sarah Longwell discusses the 2024 presidential race and its potential candidates. Sarah is a longtime Republican political strategist who has broken with her party to defend democracy. She is the publisher of The Bulwark, and has been monitoring the opinions of voters for years by hosting weekly focus groups. She discusses these groups on her podcast, The Focus Group. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/BOATS and get on your way to being y...
May 02, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 117
Fred Wellman is a Senior Advisor to Voters of Tomorrow, an organization dedicated to building political power for Gen-Z. He’s also an Army combat veteran, a West Point and Harvard graduate, a former republican, the former Executive Director of the Lincoln Project, and the host of the podcast On Democracy. Fred was on the show back in 2021, and you can find that interview here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 116
Mike Breen is the President and CEO of Human Rights First. He’s been on the ground in Ukraine documenting Russian war crimes, and he joins us from Kyiv. Human Rights First is an organization that defends human rights and democracy around the globe. They’ve been active in Ukraine since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and now after Russia’s invasion, have provided technical and logistical support, training, and other aid. They’ve issued dozens of reports and commentaries, and work to hold Russia...
Apr 18, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 115
Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan talks about the quality of American life, divisions within both parties, and how American culture has made a turn for the worse over the last few decades. Tim spent 20 years in the House of Representatives, rising to a prominent leadership position. He ran for president in 2020, and recently lost a tough Senate race during the 2022 Midterms. Head to https://rhone.com/BOATS and use code BOATS to save 20% off your entire order! Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Apr 11, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 114
Brett Jones served as a Navy SEAL during ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’. He was forcefully outed, and was subjected to an interrogation and investigation about his sexuality. He fought back, and was given the opportunity to continue to serve as a SEAL, but he left in fear of further discrimination. Brett continued to serve in the CIA, but was the victim of vicious harassment. He’s spent the last three years as a police officer in Alabama, where he lives with his husband and son. In Pride: The Story of t...
Apr 04, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 113
Former leading Republican Bill Kristol discusses media echo chambers and anti-democratic enablers within the Republican Party Bill served in two presidential administrations and founded The Weekly Standard, an influential conservative magazine. After leaving the Republican Party, he helped launch Defending Democracy Together, an organization created by Republicans with the goal of preserving democratic institutions. He also is the host of Conversations with Bill Kristol, a video and podcast seri...
Mar 28, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 112
Will Sommer is a political reporter for The Daily Beast and host of the podcast Fever Dreams. His new book, Trust the Plan, details QAnon’s journey into the mainstream, the threat it poses to democracy, and how we can reach out to those who have embraced the conspiracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 111
Former Navy SEAL and founder of Veterans for Responsible Leadership Dr. Dan Barkhuff discusses the relationship between toxic masculinity and gun culture. Dan is a former Navy SEAL with multiple combat deployments. After returning home, he attended Harvard Medical School and became an Emergency Medicine doctor at the University of Vermont. Dan is a conservative, but was appalled by Trump’s comments and messages during the 2016 election. Dan did not vote for Trump in that election, but decided to...
Mar 14, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 110
Lucas Kunce talks about his run against Josh Hawley for the 2024 Missouri Senate Seat. Lucas is a Marine Corps veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and eventually went on to become an international negotiations officer at the Pentagon. He ran for Missouri’s open Senate seat in 2022, but lost the primary to multi-millionaire Trudy Busch Valentine after her last-minute entrance into the race. She went on to lose the general by 13 points. Lucas believes he’s the right person to take on...
Mar 07, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Joe Walsh represented Illinois’ 8th district in the house from 2011 to 2013, and ran against Trump in the 2020 presidential race. He hosts the podcast White Flag with Joe Walsh and has been increasingly critical of the extremism within his former party, as well as the part he played in stoking that extremism. You can find Joe on Twitter at @WalshFreedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld discusses political violence, the possibility of a Civil War, and extremism. Rachel is an expert on democracy, security, and international relations. She’s currently a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, where she regularly briefs the governments of the United States and allied democracies on issues of conflict, the rule of law, and policing and security sector reform. Her most recent book, A Savage Order, examines ‘why democracies are cr...
Feb 21, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 107
