Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
315 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 559 ratingsIndependent Americans is a weekly news show hosted by Paul Rieckhoff. He’s a fighter, a patriot, and an independent political and media force to be reckoned with. After serving as a soldier in Iraq in 2004, Rieckhoff emerged as one of the most dynamic political and social leaders in America. In every episode, he breaks down the most important issues facing our country. And he interviews the most influential and compelling people. He’s taking on Republicans, Democrats—and everyone in between. If you’re in the angry middle, Independent Americans reminds you that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. Join the Independent Americans movement and subscribe now. Produced by Righteous Media.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
189. Matt Zeller & Afghan Activists. 24/7 Firewatch Outside the Capitol To Support the Afghan Adjustment Act. Ukraine’s Roll Continues. Biden Says Pandemic is Over. Trump Again Threatens Violence. Puerto Rico Slammed. Marcus King: Musical Freight Train.
September 22, 2022 07:01 - 38 minutesFall is here. And it’s crazier by the day. Trump drama, Ukraine war news, natural disasters, political dysfunction, election campaign warfare. It’s something new and terrible every day. But there’s one important issue you’re not seeing in the news. Important enough that it has dedicated citizens sleeping outside the US Capitol in Washington tonight. It’s called the “firewatch”. And Matt Zeller (@MattCZeller) is leading it. Matt has been a regular on this show. He’s an activist, an author and...
188. Christine Todd Whitman. Inside the Forward Party. Why Should Independents Trust It? Is There More Than Andrew Yang? Ukraine Running The Table. The GOP National Abortion Ban. “MAGA Republicans”. 9/11, 21 Years Later. Train Strike Gaining Steam.
September 15, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourSilly season is here. It’s less than two months until the midterms elections. And it’s on. Politicians are doing all kinds of crazy things. And the stakes have never been higher. Republican Senator and Sellout-in-Chief Lindsay Graham introduced a national abortion ban bill this week. Texas Governor Greg Abbot shipped busloads of undocumented migrants into so called “sanctuary cities” like New York, Chicago, and DC. And just when you thought things couldn’t get dumber, this week, Florida Gover...
187. The 9/11 Episode. The Stories Behind the Day with First Responders Rob Serra, Richard Naviasky, Joseph Cammarata, Al Barry and Survivor Lila Nordstrom.
September 08, 2022 07:01 - 33 minutes9/11 is the single most influential moment of the 21st century. It was terrible and tragic and it was a moment that will remain etched in our country’s history forever. It was a moment that redefined the trajectory of the entire world and will continue to shape the future for decades to come. 9/11 was a moment that changed everything for the entire world. And it’s a moment that is engrained in the DNA of Righteous Media. Host and founder Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) was there at Ground Ze...
186. Congressman-Elect Pat Ryan. Inside The Political Win of the Summer. A Case Study In Appealing to Independents. Fighting Gas Prices, Trump, Abortion Rollbacks, & His Own Party. An Army Intel Vet on Trump’s Classified Docs. A Where Is Yang Update.
September 01, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourDemocrat Pat Ryan (@PatRyanUC) just won a special Congressional election in upstate New York that has the entire political world talking. Few picked him to win in the traditionally Republican-leaning area. But against the odds, the combat veteran pulled it off. And inspired people of all backgrounds nationwide. And now, analysts and strategists nationwide are rushing to understand how he did it. We’ll take you inside the historic victory in a way no other conversation with Ryan has. Our Paul...
185. Dan Lamothe. Washington Post Exclusive: Inside the Carnage at Kabul Airport. Afghanistan 1 Year Later. New Airstrikes in Syria. Month 6 of Russia's Ukraine Invasion. Taiwan, The Arctic & Where War Could Come Next. Andrew Yang Ghosts on Our Show.
August 25, 2022 07:05 - 44 minutesOne year ago this week, the great American betrayal of Afghanistan culminated with a total debacle of a withdrawal that ended in death and carnage. On Aug. 26, 2021, 13 US troops and 170 Afghans were killed when a bomb ripped through the crowd at the Abbey Gate. The blast took only seconds, but the devastation will live on for decades. And in this pod, we’ll go deep into it with new reporting from The Washington Post’s intrepid defense reporter, Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe). Dan joined us on ...
184. Buck Sexton. The Conservative Talk Radio Star Who Replaced Rush Limbaugh. What Will Trump Supporters Do After Mar-a-Lago? How Serious Is the Threat of Violence? When Will Trump Announce He’s Running? Can the GOP Attract Any Independents in 2022?
August 18, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourAfter her defeat this week, Congresswoman Liz Cheney said Tuesday's primary is "certainly the beginning of a battle that is going to continue to go on. And as a country, we're facing a moment where our democracy really is under attack and under threat." The battle is on. It’s actually been on for years. We’ve covered it on this show. It’s the battle for the soul of America. But now, that battle is intensifying. And it’s going beyond political fighting. Things are getting nastier, move divided...
183. Sec. Pete Buttigieg. Infrastructure & National Security. Will He Run Again? Afghanistan Now. How Fatherhood Changed Him. Can DOT Projects Fight Extremism? PACT Act Reactions. Mar-a-Lago Raid Sparks Domestic Threats. Plane, Train or Automobile?
August 11, 2022 07:01 - 54 minutesJust when you think things in America can’t get any dicier, they do. And now is definitely a time to stay vigilant. And in this episode especially, we’ve got you covered. Unless you’ve been sleeping on the beach for the last week, you know that the Feds delivered a search warrant at the Mar-a-Lago residence of former President Trump. And what you may not know, is that Trump supporters of all kinds, (and especially the most radical kind), are activated. They are threatening. And things in thi...
182. Matt Zeller. Inside The Inspiring PACT Act Victory. Rolling With Jon Stewart. Veterans Protest On The Capitol Steps. The Opposite of Jan 6th. Afghanistan Withdrawal: 1 Year Later. Al-Zawahiri Is Dead. Why Independents Don’t Want Yang’s New Party.
August 04, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourSometimes, the good guys and gals win. Sometimes, the bad guys lose. This is one of those times. The historic SFC Heath Robinson PACT Act for veterans passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11. But it was wild, it was emotional, it was dramatic, it was infuriating, and it was inspiring. It showed what is still possible in America if a group of concerned citizens are united, focused and motivated. And in this episode, we’ll take you inside one of the most dramatic and important political dramas in...
181. Senator Jon Tester. The Montana Maverick. PACT Act Fuckery. Roe’s Impact on Veterans. Will the VA Ever Change Its Sexist Motto? Dr. Ronny Jackson Then and Now. Farmers, Basketball, Yellowstone, French Toast and Choco Tacos.
July 28, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourSummer is supposed to be a time to chill, relax and enjoy life. And we’re all trying to do that. But the threats and challenges and wars and insurrectionists and viruses don't take summers off. As our host, Paul Rieckhoff @PaulRieckhoff) just found out the hard way. After two years of dodging it like Neo from The Matrix, COVID finally got him. He shares what that’s been like, flies through the political landscape, explains the controversial demise of Choco Tacos, and lands on a breakdown and...
180. Bradley Whitford. Milo Ventimiglia. Arian Moayed. The Stars Of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale‘, ‘Succession’ and ‘This Is Us’ Up Close and Personal. Special Summer Bonus Content Episode.
July 21, 2022 07:01 - 31 minutesThis is a time for stars to shine. And the biggest stars of all, are also the helpers. The helpers continue to emerge. After Uvalde. After Highland Park. After every Jan 6 hearing. The helpers are out there. And we’ve had some big stars of our own on this show. Sarah Jessica Parker. Steven Colbert. John Bernthal. And three in particular that are at the top of their game on three of the biggest shows in America. Last week we heard from some of the country’s leading voices on what it means t...
180. Bradley Whitford. Milo Ventimiglia. Arian Moayed. The Stars Of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale‘, ‘Succession’ and ‘This Is Us’ Uncensored. Special Summer Bonus Content Episode.
July 21, 2022 07:01 - 31 minutesThis is a time for stars to shine. And the biggest stars of all, are also the helpers. The helpers continue to emerge. After Uvalde. After Highland Park. After every Jan 6 hearing. The helpers are out there. And we’ve had some big stars of our own on this show. Sarah Jessica Parker. Steven Colbert. John Bernthal. And three in particular that are at the top of their game on three of the biggest shows in America. Last week we heard from some of the country’s leading voices on what it means t...
179. Defining Independents. Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Tavis Smiley. Michael Smerconish. Evan McMullin. John Opdycke. Lindsay Church. The Search for a New Direction for America.
July 14, 2022 07:01 - 51 minutesOver the years we’ve brought you some of the best voices on the biggest subjects. From Stephen Colbert to Pete Buttigieg to Rachel Maddow the guests have been important voices to hear from at critical times for our country. And this year we’ve taken some time away from the usual dumpster fire of partisan news to focus on the issue that is nearest and dearest to our hearts. The stick that stirs our drink. Independents. And specifically why we think independents are not only an important consti...
178. Amy McGrath. Former Marine Corps Fighter Pilot and Senate Candidate on Top Gun: Maverick vs The Original, Gun Violence, Roe’s Impact on Troops & Vets, Operation Liberty, Ukraine’s Air War, Rand Paul and Kentucky Politics, Rex Chapman for Senate?
July 07, 2022 07:03 - 58 minutesAs the summer heats up and we all plummet headlong into the danger zone, we’ve got the real Top Gun. The real Maverick (actually, call sign Krusty). The fighter pilot that went head-to-head with al Qaeda and the Taliban, and then came home to go head-to-head with Mitch McConnell. Marine Corps fighter pilot Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) flew 89 combat missions. And ran one of the most-watched 2020 Senate races in America. She is a trailblazing combat veteran, a former Naval Academy professor and...
177. Lindsay Church. Roe’s Impact on the Military & Veterans. Independents/Independence Day. Pride 2022: LGBTQ Americans Under Attack. Jan 6 Hearings Get Crazy. The Supreme Court Gets One Right for Vets. Sean Penn, NATO & Rage Against The Machine.
June 30, 2022 19:31 - 1 hourOn this Independence Day 2022, everything is different now. It’s a very dark moment in American history. And Friday, June 24, 2022 was a very dark day. So this July 4th, after the overturning of Roe vs Wade, hundreds of millions of Americans aren’t feeling like they have much independence right now. In this episode, we’re gonna talk about Roe from an angle you won’t get anywhere else. How will the Roe decision impact the military and veterans? How will it impact our national security, milita...
176. Joe Walsh. GOP Tea Party Congressman Turned Anti-Trump Independent. The Republican Base is Radicalized. Beating Trumpism. Why Democrats Suck. Who is the Independent Trump, Obama or Zelensky? Populism: Good or Bad? The Gun Bill and The Midterms.
June 23, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourThis is a fiery episode. Veterans lungs are on fire. America’s forests are on fire. Our conversations are on fire. Children and black people and LGBTQ people are UNDER FIRE. The United States is on fire. Our country is burning… in ways big and small. And the country is dying, literally, for leaders who can run into the fires, put them out with solutions, and help us find a path through the damage and through the smoke to better days. That’s what the Ukrainian people have now in Zelensky. And...
175. Summer Situation Report Special. The January 6 Hearings. Ukraine Plays Mother-May-I. Democrats Popularity Tanks as Inflation Soars. 23 Senators Vote No on Veterans. More Closed Primaries. Squid Game America, March For Our Lives and John Cena.
June 16, 2022 21:28 - 38 minutesThe battle on January 6th, 2021 was one that the good guys and gals won. Thankfully. Heroes like Officer Caroline Edwards sacrificed their bodies, their futures, and their lives, to win that battle. They successfully defended The US Capitol that day. They defended our country. And after the first few hearings held by the bi-partisan January 6th Committee, we can all see the truth now. It was a brutal, extended, coordinated, unprecedented battle. And it was a battle that the good guys and gals...
174. Admiral James Stavridis. Gun Violence As a National Security Issue. How Long Will Ukraine’s War Last? Our Enemies Celebrate The Jan 6 Hearings. McConaughey’s Bullseye. Is America’s Next War In The Arctic? Are Vets the Future of Independent Politics?
June 09, 2022 07:01 - 1 hour“There is no constitutional barrier to gun responsibility. Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous people is not only the responsible thing to do, it is the best way to protect the Second Amendment. We can do both.” That’s from legendary actor Matthew McConaughey. Born in Uvalde, Texas. Speaking for America. And finally, a powerful, reasonable, likable voice for responsible gun owners. This time is different. And he is different. Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckho...
173. Fred Guttenberg. Losing a Child in a School Shooting. Is Uvalde Different? “Good Guy with a Gun” Myth Implodes. Should We See Photos of The Dead? Raising Gun Buying Age. What Biden Can Do. The Pain of The Survivors. Will Fred Run For Office?
June 02, 2022 12:31 - 1 hourAfter the recent mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas, and seeing Fred Guttenberg share his heartbreak and outrage on TV over and over again, our host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) asked an important question: “How many more times are we going to do this to Fred?” And sure enough, it happened again. And again. And again–with multiple shootings occurring the same day as this recording–including one at a healthcare facility in Tulsa with multiple fatalities. This is America’s new fo...
172. Bonnie Carroll. How Do We Make Sense Of All This? 19 Kids Massacred In Texas. Our Nightmare Normal. Ukrainian Children And Families Of The Fallen. Finding Hope In Tragedy. Memorial Day 2022 In A Broken America.
May 26, 2022 07:01 - 55 minutes"They f***ing failed our kids again." How many more times? How many more times? That’s our friend and a conscience for America, Fred Guttenberg. His 14-year-old daughter Jaime was murdered in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 14, 2018. Fred is again a conscience for America, a hero, a helper. But he shouldn’t have to keep doing this. It’s just not fair. To our children, to our fellow citizens, to him. He joined us back in Ep99 for one of our most powerful pods ever. Fr...
171. John Opdycke. Opening Primaries For Independents. Who Are Independents? Millions Blocked From Voting. Taxpayers Are Funding Closed Primaries. New Maine Law Opens Primaries. Is Nebraska The Future? Massacre in Buffalo. Ukraine Wins Eurovision.
May 19, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourHuge primaries happened this week in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Oregon and Kentucky. And millions of independent voters (the fastest growing segment of the electorate) were shut out completely. Just like they’re shut out of primaries in dozens of states across America. And will be shut out of the Presidential primaries in 2024. Democrats and Republicans are squabbling and battling and our children and neighbors continue to be slaughtered in mass shootings. This is America in 2022. Putin i...
170. Nolan Peterson. Former US Special Forces Pilot Turned War Reporter. Final Stand at Azovstal. Inside the Ukrainian Air War. Are Foreign Fighters Making a Difference? Bono Stands By Ukraine. Remembering Oleksandr Makhov. The American Dream 2.0.
May 12, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourWitnesses are calling the Avostal plant in Mariupol a living hell. There are reports that the massive complex has been bombarded 34 times in just the past 24 hours. The Russians continue to attempt to storm the plant. But the Ukrainians aren’t backing down. 100 civilians, more than a thousand soldiers, and 500 wounded remain at the Azovstal plant. The city and plant were supposed to fall weeks ago. But like with so many other moments in this war, Ukraine has defied the predictions. The Azovs...
169. Iryna Solomko-Bonenberger and Adrian Bonenberger. A Ukrainian-American Love Story. Evacuating Your Parents From Ukraine. American Initiative vs American Bureaucracy. The War on Women Rages On. The Roe v Wade Decision Rips Through Mother’s Day.
May 05, 2022 07:06 - 1 hourRight now in America, there’s a war being fought. A war on women. And right now, we’re losing. And losing sucks. So maybe the Democrats could learn a thing or two from the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians that are fighting — and winning — against overwhelming odds. And maybe we could all learn something from them. Something important. Something we all need to be reminded of. The value of freedom. The value of democracy. And of the horrible price of tyranny when that freedom is taken away. As we pas...
168. Evan McMullin. Independent Candidate for Senate. The Democrats Just Endorsed Him. Can Utah Save America? Taking on Mike Lee, Trump & Putin. The Intelligence Fight in Ukraine. Gut Check Time for Mitt Romney. Trevor Reed, Mike Zacchea and The General.
April 28, 2022 07:47 - 1 hourGarry Kasparov said, “easy is over.” And it’s more true by the day. The war in Ukraine is grinding on, inflation is dragging down wallets, Jan 6 revelations continue to pour out, Biden is failing to find traction, and Trump is rising again. Easy IS over. And the fight will be long. The fight in Ukraine–and the fight in the US. The war for the soul of America continues. And in 2022, the most pivotal battle for that soul is also the most important battle for Independent Americans in a generatio...
167. UKRAINE WAR REPORT: Steve Schmidt. The Politics of Ukraine. The Political War Behind the War In Ukraine and the War Over Masks. Why Leave the GOP to Become a Democrat? Malcolm Nance Joins the Fight. Celebrating 420.
April 21, 2022 07:04 - 46 minutesWhat’s the political landscape like now? How will Ukraine impact the midterm elections? And the 2024 presidential? Will there be a viable independent candidate to provide an alternative to Biden and Trump? Or to capture enough votes to swing it one way or another? On this week of 420, the day where the world celebrates cannabis. Joints aren’t the only thing being burned down. Our norms, our unity, elements of our founding values are being torched. In 2020, it’s all on fire. For two months o...
166. UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Behind the Scenes With Frontline Leaders on Ukraine. Matt Gallagher. Quan Nguyen. Joe Cirincione. Chris Fussell. Seth Harp. Bonus Content.
April 14, 2022 07:01 - 38 minutesWe’ve been focused on the War in Ukraine since before it started. But you’ve never heard our bonus content, that has until now been Patreon exclusive. It’s a little lighter than our regular stuff—and will help you get an idea of how the people on the front lines and in the center of the pressure cooker are keeping themselves sane and focused. From the food they miss back home, to the drinks they’re looking forward to, to memories of times that seem like a million years ago, these clips will t...
165. UKRAINE WAR REPORT: Seth Harp. Investigative Reporting in Ukraine. Inside the Radical, Far-Right Azov Battalion. The Ukrainian Foreign Legion Doesn’t Exist. Is Bucha Just the Beginning? Why Did 97 Soldiers Die at Fort Bragg in Two Years?
April 07, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourUkraine remains under attack. Civilians are still dying. Bucha, a suburb of Kiev, is the first of what could be many that reveal the scope and scale of war crimes. And it could get worse. Russian chessmaster Garry Kasparov said it–and I’ve been repeating since the war began. EASY IS OVER. The tide may have turned. But the flood is just starting. The flood of pain and loss. And flood of sadness and need. The flood of weapons. The flood of blood. Wartime is here. Not just for Ukraine. But for e...
164. UKRAINE WAR REPORT: Chris Fussell. Former Navy SEAL DEVGRU Commander Analyzes The Battlefield. All Hail Saint Javelin. What Do the Dead Russian Generals Mean? Ukraine’s Military Leadership Advantage. Putin’s Judo Background. Sean Penn vs Will Smith.
March 31, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourMillions of civilians are caught in an unimaginable hell that continues to unfold in Ukraine. But what’s really happening on the battlefield? What weapons are making a difference? How are the Ukrainian and Russian militaries critically different? What critical missions in/around Ukraine might American Special Forces get tasked with? We’ve all seen lots of retired generals on cable news. And we’ve all seen quick videos on social media of tanks getting blown up. In this episode, we’re going de...
163. UKRAINE WAR REPORT: Joe Cirincione. The Russian Nukes Episode. Understanding the Reality. From Nuke Strikes to Nuke Plants to Loose Nukes. Biden in Poland. US Allows 100k Ukrainians—Slights Millions of Afghans. RIP Madeleine Albright, Taylor Hawkins.
March 28, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourThe war in Ukraine has shifted into a new phase. Putin is quickly becoming more and more isolated. And more and more brutal. But Ukraine is on the offensive. And more and more by the day, the mighty Ukrainians are looking like they can win this thing. Almost single-handedly. On behalf of the world. But make no mistake. It can get worse. MUCH worse. Especially in Ukraine. Worse than the targeting of schools and churches. Worse than the shelling of civilians flying. Worse than shooting missi...
162. UKRAINE WAR REPORT EXCLUSIVE: Quan Nguyen. American Veteran in Kyiv. From Refugee in Vietnam, to Marine in Iraq, to Humanitarian in Ukraine. The Humble Hero Leading Task Force 824. What He’s Doing to Help. 4 Marines Killed in Norway Osprey Crash.
March 24, 2022 07:33 - 1 hour“We can’t help everybody…but just knowing that you were able to be part of somebody’s future and helping them escape. Who knows, that person could be the person that cures cancer.” - Quan Nguyen Quan Nguyen is a leader of action. And a true helper. And when the war in Ukraine started, the American combat veteran left his family in Utah, got on a flight, and linked up with a friend in Lviv to do what he could to help. He’s put down his rifle, risked his life, and is now helping children who ar...
161. UKRAINE WAR REPORT EXCLUSIVE: Matt Gallagher. The American Veteran and Author Went to Ukraine to Support the Fight. Why Did He Go? What Did He See? What Do Ukraine Forces Need Now? What’s His Message for Biden? What Does He Tell His Kids?
March 18, 2022 23:06 - 1 hourAn unknown number of American veterans have heard the call and boldly volunteered to join the fight in Ukraine. Matt Gallagher (@MattGallagher0) is one of them. Utilizing what he learned as a US Army Scout Platoon Leader in Iraq, Matt spent the last few weeks training Ukrainian civilians in how to fight and survive in Lviv. But Matt is not just any veteran. He is the internationally-recognized author of the novels Empire City and Youngblood, the class Iraq war memoir Kaboom, and a finalist fo...
160. UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Jason Dempsey, PhD. Remembering Brent Renaud. Putin is the Bully at the Bar. Zelensky Challenges Congress. A Defense of Biden’s Strategy. The Kids Are Not Alright. The Battle for Kiev. The War Story Behind The Cranberries’ Zombie.
March 17, 2022 07:01 - 1 hourAs the war in Ukraine rages on, and just days after American journalist Brent Renaud was killed, President Zelensky delivered a historic address to the United State Congress. He again called on America and President Biden to enforce a no-fly zone. And to send MiG fighter jets. And our government has said they still will not. That may change. But for now, today, after the standing ovation from Congress, Zelensky got a big fat American NO to his top requests. But he didn’t leave empty handed. H...
159. UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Rep Adam Kinzinger. America’s no-fly zone stiff-arm. Will Congress vote to declare war on Russia? US veterans join the fight. WTF is up with the MiGs to Poland? NOW will he leave the Republican Party? The new test of the AUMF.
March 10, 2022 15:44 - 1 hourThere are only hard choices left now. Not just for Ukraine. But for everyone who cares about freedom, liberty and humanity. President Zelensky and the people of #Ukraine are crying out for a no-fly zone. But the US government and NATO are giving them the stiff-arm. While Putin continues to slaughter civilians and commit war crimes. The time for talk is over. And our guest in this episode is a man of action. A combat-tested pilot. A political dog fighter. And a political Maverick. He’s back. ...
159. UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Rep Adam Kinzinger. America’s no-fly zone stiff-arm. Will Congress vote to declare war on Russia? US veterans join the fight. WTF is up with the MiGs to Poland? NOW will he leave the Republican Party? How Putin is like LeBron.
March 10, 2022 15:44 - 1 hourThere are only hard choices left now. Not just for Ukraine. But for everyone who cares about freedom, liberty and humanity. President Zelensky and the people of #Ukraine are crying out for a no-fly zone. But the US government and NATO are giving them the stiff-arm. While Putin continues to slaughter civilians and commit war crimes. The time for talk is over. And our guest in this episode is a man of action. A combat-tested pilot. A political dog fighter. And a political Maverick. He’s back. ...
158. UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Malcolm Nance. Easy is Over. Behind the Frontline With the Ukrainian Army. NATO Rejects a No-Fly Zone. MWRs (Men With Rifles). American Vets Join Zelensky’s International Legion. Will Someone Kill Putin? Should Someone Kill Putin?
March 05, 2022 01:29 - 1 hourUkraine remains under siege. Putin’s forces continue to advance and kill countless civilians. And Russia is going dark. Today, Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media were shut down by Putin all across Russia. We have the latest. And now is definitely a time to stay vigilant. Because Putin must be stopped. But how? Garry Kasparov explained it better than anyone should have to when he said, “If Putin is not stopped now, not prevented from destroying Ukraine and committing genocide ...
158. Malcolm Nance: UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Easy is Over. Behind the Frontline With the Ukrainian Army. NATO Rejects a No-Fly Zone. MWRs (Men With Rifles). American Vets Join Zelensky’s International Legion. Will Someone Kill Putin? Should Someone Kill Putin?
March 05, 2022 01:29 - 1 hourUkraine remains under siege. Putin’s forces continue to advance and kill countless civilians. And Russia is going dark. Today, Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media were shut down by Putin all across Russia. We have the latest. And now is definitely a time to stay vigilant. Because Putin must be stopped. But how? Garry Kasparov explained it better than anyone should have to when he said, “If Putin is not stopped now, not prevented from destroying Ukraine and committing genocide ...
157. UKRAINE WAR REPORT. Bianna Golodryga. Are We Already at War with Russia? How to Talk to Kids About Ukraine. Is NATO Obsolete? American Vets Join the Fight. No-Fly Zone No-Go. State of the Union Fail. Biden’s 9/11. Can America be Counted on Anymore?
March 03, 2022 08:13 - 1 hourThe fight of our time is here. For Ukraine, for Europe, for the US, for our collective future. Now, more than any other time in our lifetime, is a time for us all to stay vigilant. And now is also a time for us to fight. In whatever way we can. The war in Ukraine is the most significant global moment of conflict since 9/11. Maybe since World War Two. And we will focus on it on this show until further notice. We’re going to talk to analysts, politicians, fighters, and leaders. And we’re going...
156. Russia Invades Ukraine. Jehriko Turner and Don Elivert. Introducing The B Dorm Podcast. Race, Politics, Culture, Friendship, Fun. White People Saying The N Word. Joe Rogan, Trevor Noah, MLS and Notorious B.I.G.
February 24, 2022 08:01 - 59 minutesYesterday was the last day of peace on the European continent for a long time to come. We are on the brink of world war. And will be for some time to come. This is the dawning of a new day of war in Europe. War between a dictator and an alliance of free nations. A war between Russia and the world. And a war between Russia and the US. A new kind of war the likes of which we’ve never seen (because it’s not “cold” if they wage cyber attacks and attack our elections). Meanwhile, earlier today. I...
155. Ana Marie Cox. Everybody’s Not OK. Pandemic Drinking. The COVID Mental Health Crisis. Alcoholics Anonymous As a Model for Governing America. The Church of Media Personalities from Rogan to Maddow. Sober Questioning & Self Care. Austin, Texas, USA.
February 17, 2022 08:01 - 1 hourWe are all tired as hell right now. After the last few years of….ALL OF IT….we’re all depleted. From the pandemic, to the political drama, to the possible new world war with Ukraine…it never seems to end. And mid-February can be the hardest time of year–even in the best of times. So here we are. The no-shit is that these are definitely not the best of times. Many of us are exhausted, beaten-down, and wounded. None of us is unchanged. And the global post-COVID mental health crisis is just gett...
154. Dan Lamothe. Damning New Reporting on the Afghanistan Debacle. Military Leaders Clashed with the State Dept as Kabul Fell. Biden Blocks Media Embeds for Ukraine. Where Are The Whistleblowers? The Washington Post Military Reporter On His Latest Work.
February 11, 2022 08:01 - 44 minutesThere is breaking news that you need to hear about. And so we’ve got a special episode to tear into it. Because especially in this already wild winter of 2022, now is a time to stay vigilant. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was filled with carnage, tumult and political spin. But after months of denying the facts on the ground, the truth about what really happened in those fateful days is finally starting to come out. New documents reveal the U.S. military was intensely frustrated with the ...
153. Molly McKew. Ukraine In the Crosshairs. Cyberwar with Russia Has Already Started. Putin’s Love of F&*%ery. Red Dawn 2022. Redefining War. The Klitschko Brothers On The Front Lines. The Russian Influence & Information Warfare Expert Is Back.
February 10, 2022 08:01 - 55 minutesAmerican diplomats are boycotting the Olympics, the Cincinnati Bengals are in the Super Bowl, and Russia is threatening war. It kinda feels like the 1980s again. And it is very much a time to stay vigilant. Especially with regard to Ukraine. While the world watches to see if Putin will invade the country, the attacks have already begun. But not the conventional kind with bombs and tanks. Cyberwarfare is the new forward edge of modern combat. And Russia has already started waging it against Uk...
152. JW Cortés. A Bloody January For Law Enforcement. 30 Cops Shot in One Month. Inside the NYPD Officer Ambush. Police As a Political Chew Toy. Cops of Color in the Middle. Fatal Funnels, Punxsutawney Phil, Roger Waters & The Washington Commanders.
February 03, 2022 08:01 - 1 hourIt was a very bloody January in America for law enforcement. At least 30 cops were shot nationwide. From California to Montana to NYC. It feels like Groundhog Day every day. And in 2022, police are the hottest political chew toy in America. A space previously reserved for troops and vets. In a powerful new #IndependentAmericans, we dig into it. Hard. With a guest who’s been on all sides of the issues. We look deeper, we look with experience, and we look for solutions. Beyond the partisanship...
151. Michael Smerconish. Defining “Independent''. Analyzing Independent Candidates From Gary Johnson to Bloomberg to Schwarzenegger to Yang. How To Be Independent in Media. How F*#ked is Biden with Independents? Neil Young vs Joe Rogan. NFL OT Sucks.
January 27, 2022 08:01 - 1 hourAs we all saw this weekend, NFL overtime sucks. A score on the opening drive should NOT end the game. It’s just not fair. The system is broken. Badly. But it’s not just the NFL OT system. The American political system is broken too. Badly. And so is the media. Badly. And the stakes there are so much higher than in football. And in this episode, we’re staying focused on the media (like we did last episode with Soledad O’Brien). But we’re also zooming out into the bigger picture of where this ...
150. Soledad O’Brien. The Stupid Has Infected the Media. Shooting Fireballs At Everyone From CNN to Fox to MSNBC to Joe Rogan. The Naughty Centre: Now Open for Boris Johnson, Madison Cawthorn, Joe Biden. Laura Ingraham and more.
January 20, 2022 08:01 - 1 hourThe stupid is rampant in America. It continues to be the only thing in America more contagious and rampant than the omicron variant. And it’s especially widespread in the media. So this episode, we’re digging into it. We’re overdue for a conversation on the state of the American media. The American media that far too often fails the American people. And especially Independent Americans. We often feel politically homeless. We’ve covered that early, often and with regularity on this show. But ...
149. Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Is He Running for President? Will He Leave the Republican Party? Are We Facing an American Insurgency? What Is He Naming His Baby? Ted Cruz, Ray Epps, Ukraine & Afghanistan. Diapers vs Bottles.
January 13, 2022 08:01 - 48 minutesIt’s a dark, cold time in America. In many ways. But even in the darkest, coldest times, there are always helpers. Sources of light to warm our spirits and guide us out of the cold. And one of those sources is our guest in this episode: Congressman Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger). The 43-year-old Illinois Republican Congressman, Air Force combat veteran, political maverick, and fighter of the good fight is the man of this moment in American politics. He’s catapulted to the forefront of Americ...
148. EXCLUSIVE: Noah Shachtman. Rolling Stone’s Editor-in-Chief. January 6: One Year Later. Navarro’s 100 Congressmen to Overturn the Election. Reviving Rolling Stone. Exposing Eric Clapton, Marilyn Manson, Joe Manchin. Music, Politics and Independents.
January 06, 2022 08:01 - 1 hourIt’s a new year. It’s a new variant. It’s a new winter. And a new anniversary. It’s the first anniversary of the January 6th insurrection. And it is definitely a time to stay vigilant. Army vet, activist and host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) digs into all of it. And we’re joined by Rolling Stone’s new Editor-in-Chief, Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman). He’s tasked with reviving the iconic American magazine founded by Jann Wenner and built by the legend of Hunter Thompson. The former bass pl...
147. NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL. THE BEST GUEST ADVICE OF 2021. BRADLEY WHITFORD, ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, BROOKE BALDWIN, REX CHAPMAN, MONTEL WILLIAMS AND MORE.
December 30, 2021 08:01 - 26 minutesOver the years of hosting Independent Americans and Angry Americans, host Paul Rieckhoff has had the extremely rare opportunity to ask a lot of the world’s smartest people a lot of really important questions. And maybe no question is more important than asking each one, “What is your best advice?” And as you look back on a wild 2021 and forward towards an uncertain 2022 we thought this would be a good time to put it all together. It’s a rare glimpse into some of the brightest minds in enterta...
146. COVID Christmas & Festivus Special. Inside NYC As the Variant Hits. The Winter of Omicron Is Here. Jason Alexander (Rewind)
December 23, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourIt’s a COVID Christmas. Again! Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the latest on the variant: how it’s finally hit his home, how NYC is again under siege from the virus, and how the US Army might deliver a Christmas miracle we all need right now. And we’re resharing a hugely popular, classic conversation for you to enjoy as you travel over the river and through the woods, if you’re in isolation with COVID, or if you’re hard at work while everyone else is celebrating. It’s a rewind to a fan favorite ...
145. Chuck Todd. Why Does The Media Suck? Affirmation vs Information. Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro & the Hyper-fragmentation of News. Predicting 2024 Nominees. Four Parties vs Two. January 6th Subpoenas. Hosting Meet The Press From Home. SFC Alwyn Cashe’s CMOH.
December 16, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourYeah…Santa is coming very soon. But before he does, we’ve got some pretty wild political news happening in America. And we wanna give you an early holiday gift of great content. And a very high-profile guest. Unless you haven’t already read the title, you know who it is. He’s the host of Meet The Press, one of the most influential and iconic political shows in America. He’s the host of Meet The Press Daily on MSNBC, and he’s the Political Director at NBC. On this show in the last year, we’ve ...
144. Tavis Smiley. Race, Politics and Media in America. What is “Progressive”? Sympathy vs Empathy. Dr. King’s Message for 2021. The Doors That Carlos Watson’s Ozy Media Closed. Remembering Bob Dole.
December 09, 2021 08:12 - 1 hourIn the last 11 months especially, it’s been easy to lose hope. From the pandemic, to the racial injustice, to the betrayal of Afghanistan, to the disintegration of the Republican Party, to the ineptitude of the Democratic Party. From coast to coast, there’s a loss of hope across America this holiday season. But in this moment, when the enemies of America seem to be chomping at the bit, we’ve got to keep the hope. And like Bob Dole, who overcame almost dying on the battlefield in Italy in Wor...
143. Dr. Vin Gupta. The Omicron COVID Variant. What We Need to Know and Do. Preparing Yourself For a Tough Winter. The Military’s Struggle to Fully Vaccinate. National Guard Units Refuse the Shot Order. Handling Stress in the Pandemic.
December 02, 2021 08:01 - 44 minutesIn just a few weeks, Santa will be back. The lights are up, the sales have started, and the elves are on the shelves--and hanging from light fixtures, dangling from curtains and zip lining across living rooms around the world. And Santa will soon be here. But not before we all prepare to receive a very different kind of holiday visitor. Yes, Santa is back. But so is the coronavirus. And it’s new and improved in the form of the omicron variant. Throughout this pandemic and our war against the...