Q&A: Fred Wellman | The War After the War

In this issue of the issue., we talk with Fred Wellman about what it means to see the flag weaponized by fascists, why Democrats still don’t know how to talk to red-state America, and what some active and retired veteran military think of the current administration. No softball questions. No polite euphemisms. Because Fred Wellman didn’t train for war to sit quietly through an ongoing coup.

Most of the people in Washington tweeting about patriotism wouldn’t last five minutes in a uniform, let alone in a cockpit under fire.

But Fred Wellman did both.

And now, he’s fighting a different kind of war. An online war with one of the largest platforms across social media, Meidas Touch Network, and with Unite for Veterans, a grassroots coalition.

Fred isn’t your average retired military officer. He’s also one of the nicest people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. If you’re already following him on X, Bluesky, listen to his podcast or read his Substack, you’ll know he comes armed with facts wrapped in the American flag and you’ll be hard pressed to win a battle with him. After two plus decades in the Army - from Desert Storm to Iraq, from combat missions to press briefings, Fred stepped out of uniform and into the battlefield of public discourse. He’s worked with veterans, advised PACs, steered The Lincoln Project through one of the most volatile political cycles in modern history, and emerged as one of the sharpest, most unflinching voices in the pro-democracy movement. He’s a real badass!

Thank you for your service — and for your continued love and dedication to America.

Personal & Military Experience

Q. You spent over two decades in the Army, including four combat tours. What lessons from war have most informed your political worldview today?

A. A lot of my views about today were shaped sitting in a mud hut talking to my local sheik. Hearing the stories of life under Saddam, how people would disappear in the night, villages would be raided on a fake tip from a rival, and the corruption I often found myself saying I was fortunate to live in the United States. Now I see men in masks disappearing people off our streets, I see tip-lines to turn in neighbors, and a wannabe fascist in the White House joking about never leaving office. I've never wavered from my passion for representative democracy and the Constitution. It just seems the country has instead.

Q. As both an aviator and a public affairs officer, you saw war from the cockpit and the press room. How did those dual roles shape how you view truth in politics now?

A. That's a great question. A key was when I became General Petraeus' spokesman in Iraq. In the schoolhouse we were taught to read media stories as 'positive, negative, or neutral' when presenting them to our commander. Petraeus didn't want that. He wanted me to look at stories about us as 'accurate, inaccurate, or false.' Just because a story about our organization is negative doesn't mean it's wrong. If a story is positive it doesn't mean it's accurate either. I approach politics the same way. Our government has a duty to do what's best for the American people as do our elected officials. I will call them out when they get it wrong or actively work against us. Today that means I also call out Democrats which makes them mad or means I don't get invited to the cool kids table but I'm not here to rub elbows with insiders. I'm here to fight for our democracy.

Q. You served in Desert Storm and Iraq. How do you process watching politicians now who never served, speak so casually about war, and when Trump talks about the military?

A. This moment is horrifying. My family line has served in nearly every war this nation has seen, starting with the French and Indian War before we were a free nation and continuing through the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror. I know the consequences of military action personally. I have seen men die. I have buried friends. I am 100% disabled from my service. The casual way in which men like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz declare that Iran or others must be attacked with no skin in the game infuriates me. To them we are props to be used and symbols to be idolized without action to back it up.

Q. When you left the military you launched a PR firm for veterans. What do you think civilians still fundamentally misunderstand about veterans and their politics?

A. Most people like to put veterans in buckets. Mostly a MAGA bucket. The military is by its nature a "conservative" business so it attracts patriotic focused people. It's often a family business as it is for my family as children follow their parents into service. However, the all-volunteer military is a direct reflection of our society. It's diverse both racially, sexually, and politically. We saw a large amount of liberal leaning young men and women join during the GWOT as they saw people like me building clinics, supporting local civilians, and trying to make lives better. Today while polls say the "majority" are Republican voters they leave out a vast array of diverse perspectives like me. We are as diverse as society. Good and bad.

Q. Tell us about your time in the army and can you please answer the question that I’ve frequently seen asked for years: is right-wing media, like Fox News, really that influential on base culture? Do they blast it over loud speakers? Is liberal media given the same access?

A. That excuse makes me a little crazy. Fox News is played a lot but you're talking about waiting rooms at clinics or such. The idea that our troops are sitting around all day and night being fed Fox News and it's making them MAGA is patently absurd. They are working most days in motor pools, on helicopters, on the range, doing physical fitness, or in the field. They don't sit around and at night they are home with their families or in the barracks doing what every American does from watching sports to going out to parks. Giving credit to the military's conservative bent to Fox News is simplistic and an excuse to not ask harder questions.

Q. You’ve spoken out about the military’s relationship with politics. Why do you think active-duty service members and veterans support Trump?

A. As I mentioned it's a conservative business but there has always been the anti-liberal propaganda. Calling them communists, the myth they don't support the troops, the lies about who actually legislates in support of the military and veterans. The fact is that for the last decade or more it's been Democrats passing the hard legislation like the PACT Act and reducing veteran homelessness but we have to overcome myths and lies. Throw in a culture of essentially toxic masculinity as part of the ethos and you find yourself with young men and women attracted to the tough guy swagger and dick swinging of Trump and so many Republicans. Democrats are often afraid of using power even when they have it. It's a constant frustration for me as well.

I've been urging elected officials to use the power they are given like the Republicans do in power such as blocking nominations. We are seeing progress but this odd culture of fearing power is persisting. Military folks train their whole careers to fight. It's our nature.

Democracy, Authoritarianism & the Fight Ahead

Q. You’ve been one of the loudest voices warning about creeping authoritarianism in America. When did you first realize this threat was real?

A. I often point to when Trump smeared John McCain that he didn't "like people that were captured" as a turning point for me. I was a veterans advocate and fully expected a cascade of condemnation from veterans, veterans organizations, and politicians. Instead there was silence and worse, excuses for it. Just months later he was invited to speak at the finale rally for the Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride through DC on Memorial Day that was created by Vietnam veterans to remember the Missing and Prisoners of War. That was when I realized that something dark was building in our country and Trump would be at the head of it all. Nothing that has happened since has assuaged my concern. In fact it's a thousand times worse.

Q. As someone who took an oath to defend the Constitution, what does it feel like watching Trump tear up that very document, and to not have his hand on the Bible when he took his?

A. It's absolutely appalling. Even more so seeing people I thought were decent be so eager to accept it and ignore it. We all swear almost the exact same oath to the Constitution and the way they treat it so selectively is like they interpret their favorite parts of the Bible. We are seeing an outright assault on our fundamental rights laid out in that document and amended as time passed. It's sickening and infuriating.

Q. Do you think America is already in a constitutional crisis? And if so, what’s the flashpoint most people are ignoring?

A. Yes. They are ignoring all of them. Two key parts is the absolute abdication by the Republican Congress of their Article 1 responsibilities. Not just in checking the Executive but in their failure to even do the most basic parts of their job like the budget or provide oversight of the government. Then you've got a partisan Supreme Court that has empowered Trump to pursue his worst instincts. Those two together mean that we have already given Trump all but dictatorial power and he is going to use it. But things aren't always a "flash." Wars rarely end with a flag being raised over the enemy capital. They also rarely start like Pearl Harbor. Most times you just stumble into them. We are stumbling our way to fascism.

The Lincoln Project & Political Strategy

Q. During your time at The Lincoln Project, what was the most effective message or tactic you used to reach voters that traditional Dems weren’t even trying?

A. That was a unique moment. It's pretty common to see these hard-hitting ads today where people are shocked or taken aback by the brazenness. LP was truly unique in their lack of fear of "going there" like the 'Mourning in America' ad that launched them into the stratosphere where they directly tied COVID deaths to Trump. That triggered Trump and was a key early lesson. He was soft and sensitive. I tell people all the time they must understand his psyche and get in his head. It throws him off. No one wanted to do that. They were using standard issue ads and arguments. He is not standard. His followers don't like his 'policies' - they like his hate and lack of adhering to norms.

We are fighting like he is a normal politician. Frankly, Harris did the same thing. Walz was in their head with the "weird" stuff and they stifled him when they brought him on. It was a massive mistake. They went to a normal campaign "What about abortion!" What about eggs?!" No...what about his weird obsession with looking tough and wearing the same clothes every day?

Q. The Lincoln Project ruffled feathers on both the right and the left. Looking back, what’s one criticism you think was fair, and one (if there was) that was total BS?

A. There was absolutely fair criticism of the founder's bios and goals. What happened after the campaign certainly showed how those challenges undermined so much good they had done. Absolutely unfair were the attacks saying that the money that went to them was wasted and would have helped candidates more. Marcus Flowers raised over $16 million against Marjorie Taylor Green and lost by 30+ points. Money isn't the only key to success in a campaign. The goal was simple. Move 3-4% of former Trump voters to vote against him. When it all shook out, over 6% did. Was that all us? No, but to dismiss that mission as unimportant or a failure is foolish. We say an over 6% shift in veterans and military members alone. We weren't trying to move Democrats. Our messaging was never for them.

Q. With the second Trump regime in place, what are Democrats still getting wrong in how they communicate with voters in red and purple areas?

A. I have had the chance to talk to several of our elected members of Congress and state party chairs and I keep telling them they need to get on board with the grassroots. I am amazed how DC is so out of step with what is happening across the country. From No Kings day to my own work with Unite for Veterans average Americans are fed up. They are angry. They are protesting and demanding people fight back. Far too few are still worrying about norms and traditions, procedure, and nuance. There is no nuance. A perfect example is the votes for Trump nominees. Too many are supporting his awful Administration picks. Or a "nuanced" view of tariffs. I am seeing way too many Democrats trying to thread the needle "well...not all tariffs are bad so I commend Donald Trump on working to deal with this imbalance...but this ONE is not very good." NO...stop! You don't in fact have to "hand it to him." Learn from our opposition. Use their tactics. It's uncomfortable but the moment calls for bravery and faith that the voters will reward you. Josh Hawley sat on all of Biden's diplomatic nominations for a year...oddly he won easily. Fight.

Q. You’ve worked behind the scenes on campaigns - what’s one brutal truth about political strategy the public would be shocked to learn?

A. Those annoying emails work. Money is everything...and too much money isn't a guarantee of victory. There is a happy middle ground where a professional average campaign for Congress can be run, and won, for around $250,000 or so. The fact is that even as we all hit "STOP" and mutter about those annoying emails they work to desperately needed cash to run a professional campaign.

Q. Have you ever had to fight back against campaign advisors more obsessed with optics than outcomes even when democracy was on the line?

A. Hah. Yes. Every single time I work on a campaign. Probably the biggest ongoing fight I regularly have in both campaigns and working with PAC's is the idea that we should pile on things popular in "polls" and avoid things popular in polls for our opponent. For example, would you believe the biggest issue that Democrats decided was number one last cycle was abortion? I know. Seems quaint now doesn't it when it was just 8 months ago we were absolutely piling on with the danger to abortion.

Another fight I have waged since the election is immigration. I had several Democratic strategists say that we should avoid taking Trump on surrounding immigration because his policies and plans were very popular in polls. My response was simple..."you mean they are now. It's our job as strategists and communicators to change that." I knew he would overreach. I knew his numbers of 21 million illegals were fake. Stephen Miller set outrageous quotas to meet that number that meant they wouldn't go after criminals. Federal agents are lazy.

Low hanging fruit is the easiest. So, raiding Home Depot parking lots. Hanging out at immigration courts. Meet those numbers. Now we are just 6 months in and his immigration numbers are under water. I can't stand how often Democratic strategists are willing to surrender to polls instead of changing people's minds. Yes, it's harder but we are fighting for our nation's future. Hard comes with the deal.

Media, Disinformation, & the Information War

Q. You’ve become a fixture on national media. What’s the biggest flaw in how legacy media is covering this political moment?

A. I believe they are still thinking that there is a normal mindset to our opposition. They simply can't wrap their heads around the fact that the Trump Administration and their Republican toadies are not a normal political movement. A great recent example is our fights with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Wonderful reporters are on that beat. Good friends. They have always had a friendly and collegial relationship with the VA. Sure, they caught them screwing up or uncovered corruption but in the end the leadership was always willing to talk somewhat. As soon as Doug Collins came in he attacked the media viciously. One of the most shocking things was they would bring long time respected journalists in for a sit down on camera and Collins would pull out one of their old stories and attack them. They would barely get a question in and he was even yelling at them about scaring veterans, lying about the VA, and essentially declaring them the enemy. His goal was to scare them. They simply weren't ready for it. This isn't "normal." This is a march to fascism and so many simply can't grasp how bad it is.

Q. You ran a PR firm and now run a newsletter and podcast. Which do you believe is more powerful today: traditional media or personal platforms with real voices?

A. Yes. LOL. I think they can run in formation but clearly the independent media and personal platforms are rising as a source of information. But, keep in mind...I get my "news" for the most part from traditional media. I can't compete with their deep bench of sources, access, and money. However, I can compete with my deep sources and ability to act on rumors or single pieces of evidence. A good example is that I got the email invite for Pete Hegseth's Christian Prayer meeting in the Pentagon almost as soon as it was sent. My source is irrefutable so I published almost immediately and was able to frame it in a way as a military veteran about how dangerous it was. The media got it from me then used their ability to dig up more info to cover it once it occurred. I think of it as me throwing the grenade into the room and seeing if there is a secondary explosion. Sometimes there isn't but I haven't missed in months. So, it's sort of a team in many ways.

Q. You’ve spoken about the danger of propaganda. What specific piece of right-wing propaganda in 2024 scares you the most in its effectiveness?

A. I am not sure if there is a piece as much as a tactic. One thing that Donald Trump who is a singular product of TV and visual mediums. What the Trump Admin is doing that is so insidious and effective is filming everything. Sure, Joe Biden removed more immigrants than Trump but we have video of Marines flying into the border and tactical trucks rolling up to "take control." We have sickening video of them duck walking chained prisoners onto planes. We have an entire Cabinet of cosplayers doing photo shoots...and their audience loves it. "Wow...Kristi Noem is really working hard!" Common sense tells us she should be in meetings but the visual story is different. Democrats just don't get it at all! They are oblivious to how effective visuals are. There was some hope when things like Andy Kim arriving at USAID to demand access and being denied. Mayor Baraka pounding on the gate of the ICE facility and then getting arrested but they still don't understand you have to SHOW and tell.

The Present Danger & What Comes Next

Q. What does “fighting for democracy” mean to you in real life, if not as a slogan?

A. It means getting up every day and showing my fellow Americans the danger we face. Explaining complex issues like military regulations to average Americans so they understand how dangerous these actions are and what it means in the larger picture. It means going head to head publicly even when there is risk. I've been doxxed at least 5 times that we know of. Received credible threats of harm that have been reported to the police and was sued for $150M by Mike Flynn. They want us scared and they want us to shut up. I won't. I won that lawsuit because from Day One I said, "You will get nothing. I will not settle. I will not shut up. I will not stop until Mike Flynn is sitting across from me giving a deposition on how he makes his money." He dropped it when it was obvious he would never win. It means as nerve wracking as it can be you get up and do it again.

Q. Project 2025 is currently being implemented, what was (is) the first major domino to fall and to affect the military and veterans alike?

A. The firing of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and all of the service Judge Advocates General. You don't fire the lawyers unless you have nefarious goals in mind. I was right and the lawlessness and politicization of the military is in full swing.

Closer / Call to Action

Q. For those reading this newsletter who feel scared, paralyzed, or overwhelmed by what’s happening, what’s the first thing you’d tell them to do right now?

A. I understand why you feel like that. Our opponents want us scared and paralyzed. I've flown a helicopter into combat being shot at. I get it. You want to hide but you have to work through it. As the saying goes, bravery isn't the absence of fear; it's acting despite feeling afraid. I always tell people to assess the amount of risk you can take in your life and then decide what course of action you can support. A dear friend and former subordinate of mine called me not long ago. He wanted to get in the fight like me. We talked about his work and his family situation and I told him that the risk of losing his job or danger of threats to his family should preclude him from going as crazy as me. Find your own way. So, he has been writing letters to his members of Congress. Attending protests. Supporting campaigns and initiatives. Find a path that supports your desire to fight and you can do within your capabilities and means. But, get in the fight.

Fred’s main show: Too Late to Cancel

Fred’s Socials: @ Bluesky | Instagram | YouTube I Twitter

Fred’s Substack: On Democracy

In Closing: I would love to hear from you! So please don’t just sit with this in your inbox. Click through to leave me a comment and to start a conversation. Engage and share away.

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Coming soon: More Q&A’s with some of the most fascinating people you think you already know.