On Offense: Taking Action to Prevent Further Assaults to Democracy

With Kristofer Goldsmith

As the United States experiences the first round of direct assault on our government’s personnel and infrastructure from the Trump Administration, many are asking what more can be done, who is in danger of being targeted, and what decisions should factor into individual or group actions. Our guest on Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum this week is Kristofer Goldsmith, and he brings a lot of light to this topic. He is an Iraq combat veteran, accomplished public policy advocate, nonprofit leader, and expert on the threats posed by domestic extremist organizations that work against Democracy. He is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit group Task Force Butler Institute, which trains veterans in research and operations to counter extremism. The group focuses on gathering intelligence on dangerous individuals and hate groups while also teaching the skills and context necessary to keep veterans and communities safe.

Goldsmith has a Substack newsletter called On Offense and is focused on creating gathering places for thousands of veterans, activists, and community leaders nationwide to fight against authoritarianism and extremism. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post. He states in his newsletter, “I’ve spent my career shaping federal policy as a veterans’ advocate with organizations like High Ground Veterans Advocacy and Vietnam Veterans of America. Now more than ever, we need journalism and activism that cut through disinformation and inspire action.”

Actions Individuals and Groups Can Take