It was the 24th anniversary of Sept. 11, and the ‘TrueAnon’ podcast was, as usual, not following the script. Instead of solemn tributes, the hosts declared the liberal state was in decline, becoming ‘more brutal, more agile,’ with ‘permanent war’ giving way to ‘permanent governance.’
But then, ‘TrueAnon’ also veered from its *own* script. The ‘global war on terror’? Co-host Liz Franczak pronounced it ‘GWOT’ like ‘gee what,’ prompting incredulous laughter from her colleague, Brace Belden, and the 800-strong crowd at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.
The evening was a whirlwind of faux hysteria, with Mr. Belden deadpanning about Zohran Mamdani’s Muslim faith and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth being dubbed a ‘drunk freak.’ Comedian Sarah Sherman, in a hot pink Juicy Couture tracksuit, even performed a rendition of Creed’s ‘With Arms Wide Open.’
This was a typical ‘TrueAnon’ event: an irreverent political podcast hosted by Mr. Belden, 35, Ms. Franczak, 40, and produced by Steven Goldberg, 40 (known as Yung Chomsky). The show, a playful nod to the right-wing QAnon movement, has cultivated a devoted following by fearlessly exploring subjects like the Jeffrey Epstein case, the opioid crisis, and Hunter Biden’s laptop. It’s a unique blend of absurd humor, meticulous research, and incisive left-wing commentary.
Ms. Franczak articulated their core belief to the audience: the liberal state is ‘decomposing,’ transforming into something new, a process she believes began with 9/11.
This provocative tone resonates deeply in a culture saturated with politics. As right-wing influencers and ‘manosphere’ streamers gain traction online, Belden and Franczak assert that cynicism, paranoia, and discontent aren’t exclusive to the far-right. They gleefully lampoon centrist politicians, billionaires, and tech executives, yet they steer clear of cheap rage-bait or celebrity endorsements. Their most notable guests have included the late Marxist writer Mike Davis and political scientist Norman Finkelstein.
The podcast launched in 2019, just before the seismic shifts of the pandemic and the George Floyd protests. As the initial clarity of social justice movements and the early Biden administration gave way to anti-‘woke’ backlashes, widespread conspiracy theories, and a pervasive distrust of institutions, ‘TrueAnon’ found its footing.
Belden and Franczak, who bonded during San Francisco’s punk scene in their teens, reconnected over their shared fascination with the Epstein case. The idea for a ‘true-crime sort of thing, but our version of that’ podcast quickly took hold, snowballing into a phenomenon.
Six years and over 500 episodes later, ‘TrueAnon’ is now grappling with what they call the ‘mass onboarding event’ – the pandemic-driven era when millions moved their lives online, seemingly radicalizing everyone from centrist liberals to conservative voters. This ‘content political ecosystem,’ as Ms. Franczak describes it, overflowing with ‘infotainment,’ is proving to be their most complex subject yet, especially as ‘TrueAnon’ itself operates within these very dynamics.
Ms. Franczak believes this ecosystem far surpasses the ‘Rush Limbaugh talk-radio revolution’ in its pervasiveness. ‘It’s devouring everyone and feeding on itself,’ she stated.
‘TrueAnon’ has cultivated a fervent audience of young leftists, media insiders, and those navigating a world defined by overlapping crises. With over 40,000 paid Patreon subscribers, the show generates roughly $180,000 in monthly revenue for its hosts.
While often grouped with the ‘dirtbag left’ – podcasts that advocated for democratic socialism with coarse language – ‘TrueAnon’ rejects the label. They aren’t pushing a specific political agenda; instead, they offer a space for wrestling with complex, ideologically challenging questions.
Joshua Citarella, host of the leftist YouTube show ‘Doomscroll,’ praises ‘TrueAnon’ for fearlessly delving into ‘fringe theories’ and ‘accelerationism,’ offering relevant and radical analysis without resorting to ‘soapbox stands.’
Their political convictions are deeply personal. Mr. Belden, a self-described Marxist, has a diverse background as a florist, union organizer, and merchant marine. In 2017, he gained online renown for fighting with Kurdish rebels against ISIS in Syria.
Ms. Franczak’s political awakening began early, attending 2003 Iraq war protests with her mother. She later immersed herself in discussions surrounding the 2008 financial crisis, Occupy Wall Street, and critiques of the Obama-era Democratic Party, developing a deep understanding of monetary policy.
These experiences fuel their obsessive, ‘gonzo’ approach. In 2021, they produced a 19-part series on Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial, attending every day of the proceedings.
“So much of what we do is grappling with the world we live in in a rigorous and serious way,” Ms. Franczak said. “But so much of it is also just how our friendship works, and I think people really respond to that.”
Days after their Central Park event, the trio gathered in their Williamsburg studio to record an episode on the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Mr. Belden, vaping casually, and Ms. Franczak delved into the deluge of conspiracy theories, political accusations, and myth-making that followed Kirk’s death. Mr. Goldberg quietly filmed them.
They observed that the left seemed to underestimate Kirk’s significance to the conservative movement. Mr. Belden noted that some far-right accounts were already calling for Kirk’s killer to be publicly executed.
“See, this is such a prime example of this information ecosystem we live in,” Ms. Franczak reflected. “There’s the networked reaction, the reaction to the reaction. There’s all the various forms of psychosis happening all across the political spectrum. It’s a major event.”
“It’s just weird, weird times, man. Things are getting weirder by the week,” Mr. Belden added, shaking his head.
They concluded there was a dire need for ‘more theorizing’ to make sense of the current chaos—but simultaneously, too much theorizing, too many books, too much content already existed. In other words, it was the perfect moment for another ‘TrueAnon’ episode.