Truth with a Left Hook.
Unapologetic commentary. Smart satire. Middle America’s common sense — with a punch.
Let’s Punch Up — Together.
Welcome to Punching Up — where sharp wit meets grounded truth. From the Dakota plains to your inbox, Trygve Hammer delivers daily doses of political sanity, social clarity, and biting humor for those tired of elitist takes and partisan noise.
In a world of hot takes and hollow headlines, this is where substance punches through the static. Because sometimes, the truest blows are delivered with humor and a whole lot of heart.
Punching Up is more than a voice, it’s a gathering place. For thinkers, skeptics, and stubborn optimists who still believe common sense has a shot. Let’s trade noise for nuance and start punching up with purpose.
WHO & WHAT I’M FOLLOWING NOW
Updated weekly — the media, minds, and madness I’m tuning into
Social
Substack
The Atlantic
September 2025
The New Yorker
September 1 & 8
Reading
The Atlantic
September 2025
The New Yorker
September 1 & 8
Listening
What it is album
by Hayes Carll
Who’s Throwing the Punches?
Trygve Hammer is a Marine veteran, science teacher, helicopter pilot, and lifelong North Dakotan with zero tolerance for bullshit—and a sharp pen to prove it. He’s worked in war zones, classrooms, cornfields, and Capitol buildings. After watching politics get hijacked by cowards, chaos agents, and elitist nonsense, he picked up the mic.
Raised by working-class parents who valued decency, duty, and doing the damn work, Trygve brings a rare mix of lived experience and sharp observation to every post. No think-tank lingo. No performative outrage. Just grounded truth and a solid left hook.
Your Daily Dose of Punchy Perspective
Missed the latest round? Catch up on recent Punching Up posts here. From Supreme Court takedowns to flyover-state philosophy, the archive is always open.
The Message is Getting Louder
From local TV to national podcasts, Punching Up has sparked conversations across the country. Trygve Hammer’s bold, grounded voice has become a go-to for sharp commentary, authentic takes, and no-nonsense analysis of today’s political and cultural landscape.
Key Stats
As of July 2025
Total Subscribers
30-Day Views
(+230K month-over-month)
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30-Day Open Rate
Subscriber Retention
(after 6 months)
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