RFK Refugees Podcast

Zero shots on goal. Four days after beating Columbus 2-1, D.C. United went to work against an Atlanta side sitting below them in the table and produced nothing. Sloppy, disjointed, no cohesive attack. Nathan Ordaz's effort from wide was the closest thing to a chance the Black-and-Red created all night. Sean Johnson's saves and a Miguel Almirón miss from close range are the only reasons this finished 0-0 instead of as a loss. Jon and Ted dig into why this keeps happening. João Peglow was suspended on yellow-card accumulation, leaving a midfield of Andre Dozzell, Ordaz, Kimito Nono and Brandon Servania that broke up play competently and created absolutely nothing going forward. Tai Baribo and Louis Munteanu score goals — they don't make them. Nobody on this roster makes them. That's not a bad night, that's the shape of the squad. This was a must-win against a team below them, and everyone below D.C. gained ground. It's mid-September. Table watch officially begins. René Weiler admitted the performance was poor, then returned — by the guys' count, roughly the fifth time — to comments about what the club spends. Jon has run out of patience with that line, given Weiler helped pick this squad. A question from Bluesky asks whether Weiler keeps his job if D.C. miss the playoffs. Both hosts say yes, and probably should: the last five D.C. head coaches have landed at roughly a 43% win rate regardless of who was in the chair. Weiler's contract runs through December 2027 and he's the highest-paid coach in club history. The real pressure arrives in the winter window, not in October. Plus the Matti Peltola question. Benched against Atlanta, on in the second half, and the broadcast's man of the match against Columbus four days earlier. Ted's read: he doesn't fit Weiler's 4-3-3 and he's gone in January. Jon's objection: if he isn't a fit, you sell while the value is high — not after half a season rotting on the bench. Roster movement: Conner Antley has been recalled from his loan at Tampa Bay after four starts, with no announced injury behind it. Caden Clark has been loaned out to Tacoma Defiance. Then the story that put D.C. United on TechCrunch. The club is reported to be in talks to sell a stake in both the team and Audi Field to Collaborative Fund, the venture firm led by Craig Shapiro. MLS has not approved anything, and the league is still working out how large a private equity position it will even allow. Floated in the reporting: in-stadium placements for the firm's portfolio companies, and AI-managed fan entry times. Jon's skepticism is straightforward — an equity sale puts money in the current owner's pocket. It does not put a player on the field. On the Spirit side: a loss to Boston Legacy FC at Audi Field, conceding twice in the final four minutes while pushing for an equalizer. Washington are still second overall. Jon's theory is a cohesion problem — a roster of stars and no club servants, which is a hard job for any coach when ownership signs everyone available. And there's a goalkeeper question waiting when Aubrey Kingsbury comes back. Up top, Jon played inline hockey for the first time in 25 years, won, scored, then had his flight cancelled and Ubered home — turning 41 and picking hard sports on purpose. Ted refereed all weekend and is still proud of playing an advantage and then coming back for the yellow. And the closing question: any buyer's remorse on the season tickets after a night like that? No. Now he can really yell at people.

Nobody predicted a 0-0. Jon said so on air, repeatedly, and he'd like the record to reflect that he's aware of it. DC United held LAFC to a single shot on goal in a sold-out Audi Field, and Kimito Nono is the reason why. He took Son Heung-min out of the match so completely that LAFC eventually gave up on the matchup and moved him centrally to find him space. Keisuke Kurokawa did the same job on the other side. Between them, DC neutralized LAFC's two most dangerous attackers and dared everyone else to solve the problem. Nobody could. The other half of the story is the one this show has been telling for months. Jackson Hopkins put the best chance of the night straight at the goalkeeper. Louis Munteanu cracked one from range that deserved better placement. And without Tai Baribo in the box, every cross DC delivered had nowhere to land. Then there's the roster. Gabe Segal's season is over without a single DC appearance. Caden Clark's move to New York was reported as done right up until it wasn't. Nikola Markovic got two minutes and won't be trusted to start anywhere until next year at the earliest. The transfer window closes tomorrow and DC are, as Jon put it, getting thin on dudes. Plus: every MLS team is returning to the US Open Cup, Jon buys season tickets roughly a week after telling you not to, and the guys disagree sharply about whether the Sprint Season should be a youth showcase. The full FC Cincinnati preview is on the Patreon show. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS DC United hold LAFC to one shot on goal — and it came off a deflection Kimito Nono keeps Son Heung-min in his pocket for ninety minutes Keisuke Kurokawa's much-improved shift, plus a goal ruled offside Andre Dozzell keeps looking like a center back nobody predicted Matti Peltola's strong run and what happens when Kye Rowles returns Patreon question from Jacob Schultz: how did Nathan Ordaz look on his first start? Four chances created, a 7.1 rating — the Ordaz numbers vs. the eye test Jackson Hopkins' 0.64 xGOT miss and the finishing problem Louis Munteanu as a standalone nine without Tai Baribo Silvan Hefti suspended, Sean Nealis in the doghouse, contract confusion Nikola Markovic's two-minute cameo and No. 1 draft pick expectations Gabe Segal's season ends through injury The Caden Clark move to New York collapses U22 slots, international slots and the supplemental list, explained Deadline day predictions: one in, one out Why MLS moved its window behind the European window Every MLS team returns to the US Open Cup — round of 64, December final Folarin Balogun's Everton move falls through Jon becomes a season ticket holder days after telling everyone not to Bluesky question: how hard is it to sit on rumors you can't report? Should the Sprint Season be a youth development showcase? Jon says yes, Ted says absolutely not

The vibes are not great. DC United dropped back-to-back games — a 3-0 home loss to New England Revolution and a 3-1 loss at Charlotte FC — and Jon and Ted are here to make sense of it all. They break down the same defensive breakdown that killed DC three times against New England, Jack Harrison's one-million-dollar destruction of DC's left side, and a Charlotte game where Louis Munteanu's goal briefly made things interesting before the wheels fell off. Kye Rowles' injury is the common denominator. The rotation — or lack of it — is the bigger conversation. And then there's Renée Weiler's post-game press conference telling fans to be more patient and more objective. Jon and Ted respond. Also: Jacob Murrell heads to Falkirk, the transfer window's extra day, Nathan Ordaz's strange lack of minutes, and the new MLS 20-team playoff format explained. Extended breakdown — more on Weiler, fan questions, and deeper roster talk — at the $5 tier. IN THIS EPISODE Jon goes to the Richmond Kickers game solo — the River City Red Army "farts of pine" banner Ted bought LAFC tickets when the vibes were good. The vibes have shifted DC United 0-3 New England Revolution: the same breakdown, three times Jack Harrison: one million dollars, two assists, completely torched DC's left side Kye Rowles out injured: the common denominator between both losses Keisuke Kurokawa trending downward after playing almost every minute Hosei Kijima: the week's standout DC United 1-3 Charlotte FC: Louis Munteanu scores, DC wake up their opponents Three games in a week with barely any rotation — Renée Weiler's call Sean Nealis: hasn't looked strong, under contract through next year Nikola Markovic: why isn't he starting over the midfielders at center back? Nathan Ordaz: did the coach even want him? Renée Weiler tells fans to be "more patient and more objective" Does Weiler have the rope to survive a playoff miss? Jacob Murrell heads to Falkirk — a victim of no MLS Next Pro affiliate The transfer window closes a day after the European window MLS 20-team playoff format: how it works and why they're doing it Relegation as the logical companion piece 🎙️ Extended breakdown at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees Vamos. 🔴⚫

Storm week in Fredericksburg and Stafford pushed the show a day — power outages, spooked dogs, and flickering internet. Fitting preparation for a DC United draw. DC picked up a point on the road against CF Montréal for their ninth draw of the season. Jon and Ted break down a game that probably should have been a loss if not for an eight-save performance from Sean Johnson. They dig into the backline setup with Kye Rowles injured and Lucas Bartlett suspended, Matti Peltola's center back experiment, Keisuke Kurokawa's rough night, Hosei Kijima's debut, and the ongoing Jackson Hopkins question. Plus the Baltimore stadium deal, DC's brutal remaining schedule, and the goalkeeper depth picture with Grant Leveille in the pipeline. Extended breakdown — roster moves, upcoming match preview, and Patreon questions — at the $5 tier. IN THIS EPISODE Storm week: power outages, spooked dogs, show pushed a day DC United 1-1 CF Montréal: nine draws on the season Was this a point earned or two points dropped? The backline setup: Kye Rowles out, Lucas Bartlett suspended Matti Peltola at center back — pros, cons, and why it's not his natural role Keisuke Kurokawa's worst game in a DC United uniform Hosei Kijima's debut — first impressions and open questions Jackson Hopkins on the left: the dribbles, the decision making, and the dive Sean Johnson: eight saves, best performance of the year Grant Leveille and the goalkeeper depth picture The Baltimore stadium deal: dead or just resting? DC's brutal remaining schedule LISTEN & FOLLOW 🎙️ Extended breakdown at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJf1fdSLUx0 Vamos. 🔴⚫

Something is different. After a 2-1 win over Toronto FC and a comeback draw against Nashville SC, Jon and Ted are feeling something unfamiliar — genuine optimism about DC United's 2026. They break down both results, dig into what Louis Munteanu and João Peglow are bringing to the team, talk through the new signings and the competition they're adding to the squad, and get into stadium changes at Audi Field. Then it's the big league news: Don Garber riding off into the sunset after 25+ years, Larry Berg as the next MLS commissioner, Inter Miami reportedly closing in on Kevin De Bruyne, and Jon's chaotic proposal to blow up the DP rule entirely. The extended breakdown — more DC United detail and Patreon questions — is at the $5 tier. IN THIS EPISODE Solo dad life: Jon waited for a small child to fall asleep to record this Ted catches the Black Keys at the Allianz Amphitheater in Richmond DC United 2-1 Toronto FC: strong first half, Sean Johnson man of the match The Nashville SC comeback draw and what it says about this team's mentality Louis Munteanu and João Peglow — the improvements turning heads New signings and the competition they bring to the squad Stadium changes at Audi Field Don Garber's legacy: from ten teams nearly folding to thirty with stadiums everywhere Larry Berg as next MLS commissioner — what it means for spending and the salary cap Inter Miami reportedly closing in on Kevin De Bruyne Jon's proposal: unlimited DPs, but lose three roster spots per signing