RFK Refugees Podcast

DC United grind out a 0-0 draw in Atlanta and are somehow seven points from five games. The defense is excellent. The offense is not bringing anyone to the yard. Renée Wilder knows it, admits it, and is playing the hand he's been dealt. Jon and Ted break it all down — plus a full Washington Spirit recap after a 2-2 draw against Louisville Racing.In this episode:DC United 0-0 Atlanta United: defensively stout, offensively anemicRenée Wilder admits the team can't score right now — and this is what he must doSilvan Hefti: early season MVP conversationMatti Peltola: another big gameBrandon Servania: quietly his best performance of the seasonGabriel Pirani: still the problem, still startingPeglow and the right wing situation — time for a change?Caden Clark and Hosei Kijima off the bench: immediate differenceJackson Hopkins as an eight — is Dax McCarty right?Gavin Turner's debutAaron Herrera and Louis Munteanu: both back after the international breakHakim Karamoko: still listed as illness, still no updateIs this the good version of Benny Ball?Would you rather be DC United or Atlanta right now?Listener Q&A: did we learn anything? Bunkering vs Dallas?Washington Spirit 2-2 Louisville Racing: so close, yet so farSofia Cantore screamer from 25 yardsTrinity Rodman concussion sub — will she start against Utah?Sandy McIver under the microscopeLucia de Guglielmo: the Silvan Hefti of the SpiritHal Hirschfeld, Andy Sullivan's return, and the Croix Bethune discussionClaudia Martinez impressing earlyExtended analysis and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.

DC United pick up a fortuitous but very welcome 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire. Jon and Ted break down the result, what it means for the season, and the rare good problem of having two right backs competing for a starting spot when Aaron Herrera returns from injury. Note: tonight's show was briefly interrupted by a storm in Fredericksburg — thanks for bearing with us.In this episode:DC United 2-1 Chicago Fire: fortuitous but we'll take itMatti Peltola scores his first DC United goal — and was man of the match againSilvan Hefti continues to impress — early season MVP conversationGabriel Pirani: nine to twelve listener questions can't be wrongKeisuke Kurokawa and set piece delivery looking sharperJackson Hopkins' worst professional game — the handling callLouis Munteanu picks up an injury — Romanian media breaks the newsNikola Markovic late scratch — two keepers on the bench explainedAaron Herrera returning: does he start over Hefti?Caden Clark off the bench — still searching for impactBrandon Servania: a quietly better performance this weekThe racist/homophobic chant incident involving Tai Baribo — what happened and what should have happenedWashington Spirit 0-1 Portland: opening day blues, Lucia de [confirm spelling] impresses, Gift Monday disconnectedTrinity Rodman back healthy for a full 90Croix Bethune's absence felt in the attacking thirdExtended analysis and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.

70,000 fans in Baltimore. Lionel Messi. Wale at halftime. DC United falls 1-2 to Inter Miami, and the circus is officially over. Jon and Ted break down the spectacle, what it means for the club long-term, and whether the next two road games against Chicago and Atlanta are where this team finally finds its footing.In this episode:DC United 1-2 Inter Miami: business success, soccer disappointmentRenée Wilder's postgame: he's not rude, he's just SwissLucas Bartlett and the first goal — this one's on himMessi's goal: what can you doGabriel Pirani: borderline invisible, days as a starter may be numberedNikola Markovic comes on and immediately looks like he belongsLouis Munteanu: best performance yet — Jon says he starts next weekCaden Clark off the bench: he's aliveJackson Hopkins semi-assist on Tai Baribo's goal — and should DC extend him now?Brandon Servania fading — is Markovic overtaking him?Supporter section issues in BaltimoreListener Q&A: the Baltimore charade, will Messi ever play at Audi Field, and moreChicago and Atlanta previews — over/under on points from the next two gamesExtended analysis, full Patreon listener Q&A including the Aaron Herrera question, and more at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.

DC United fall 1-0 to Austin FC on the road in Week 2 and Jon and Ted are back to work through it. The good vibes from Opening Day are on a temporary hiatus. Jon may have a concussion. Ted refereed youth soccer this weekend and called his first penalty kick. We're all fine.In this episode:DC United 0-1 Austin FC: Renée Wilder's postgame explainedThe lineup change: Jared Stroud and Hosei Kijima in, Jackson Hopkins out, Caden Clark not even on the benchMatti Peltola and Silvan Hefti: the only two bright spotsTai Baribo: frustrated, limited service, still workingLouis Munteanu: 13 minutes — when does he get his first start?Sean Johnson: elite shot stopping, crosses a growing concernEastern Conference check: DC United in playoff position, the East is a messBe More United in Baltimore: Wale at halftime and the deleted commentsTrinity Rodman knee scare vs. ArgentinaDiscord Q&A: Sean Johnson, Hosei Kijima and Keisuke Kurokawa, and moreExtended analysis, Inter Miami preview, and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.

Ted and Jon break down Jason Levien's big Baltimore press conference — a 12-15K seat stadium, public money asks, Carmelo Anthony, and zero interim plan for MLS Next Pro. Plus DC United is giving away free tickets to the home opener after spending $11 million on the roster.On the pitch: another 0-0 preseason draw against Minnesota, rookie Markovic emerging as a potential starter, and the team beating St. Louis 3-1 behind closed doors — because they can only score when nobody's watching.Then: the Washington Spirit trade Bethune to Kansas City. It stings, but this roster is deep enough to handle it.Want the extended show? Ted and Jon sit down with Todd Lewis from the Free Kick Pod for a full Philadelphia Union preview ahead of Saturday's home opener — Tiburcio scouting report, the Kai Wagner hole, Champions League in Trinidad against a team literally made up of the defense force, and a score prediction DC fans will like. Available now for $5+ Patreon subscribers at patreon.com/rfkrefugees.