NEW EPISODE · SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 · EP 621
621 EPISODES SUBSCRIBE →
Vol. V · No. 621Monday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 126

Simone Biles Wins Beyond Tokyo

It’s August and it’s hot. Things are heating up everywhere.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Paul tells his 9/11 story in full for the first time on the show. from quitting Wall Street the week before to linking up with his New York National Guard unit

02

Searching the Winter Garden and the shattered base of the to. Searching the Winter Garden and the shattered base of the towers, with truck horns signaling possible collapses

03

“I’m not from the 82nd Airborne. We live here.”. the citizen-soldier reality of that first week

04

“The worst thing I’ve ever seen. And the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”. Paul on what unity actually looked like

It’s August and it’s hot. And getting hotter. Things are heating up everywhere. From the Delta virus spreading like a wildfire, to the real wildfires burning down the West, to all firefights across a crumbling Afghanistan, to the Olympics burning up our screens as World Records are torched daily. It’s as hot as it gets right now. And of course we can’t forget the dumpster fire that burns perpetually in Washington D.C. as a memorial to our failed political parties.

But we like to keep it cool here. We stay frosty. We’re bringing light, not heat. And this episode is no different. It’s a flashback to July, 2019 and Episode 16 with Soledad O’Brien. It’s a fun, witty and thought provoking conversation that explores the intersection of sports, politics, race and the media–perfect as the Olympics roll on. If you’ve never heard this episode, you’re in for a treat. And if you’re a long time listener, you’ll enjoy hearing this Gold medal winner again. 

From Episode 16 – July, 2019:

Racism is ripping American apart right now. As President Trump doubles-down on his Tweets, and the parties remain deeply divided, Army veteran and renowned activist @PaulRieckhoff breaks it all down from a unique perspective. He adds light to all the heat and brings the 4 I’s: integrity, information, impact and inspiration–and explores the history, the bigger picture and the way forward. He digs into the urgently important stories in the news you missed–like the troubling leadership situation at the Pentagon and the contentious Senate hearings this week focused on the potential new Secretary of Defense. And the latest on the First for 9/11 First Responders support. And we sit down for a candid, firey and fun conversation with media powerhouse Soledad O’Brien (@SoledadOBrien). She drops bombs on Trump and the media–and drops knowledge on politics and race relations in America. Soledad is fresh off hosting a BET forum with 4 of the candidates for President and makes a surprising whiskey choice. It’s a timely, real and inspiring conversion that takes you behind the scenes of the highest levels of media and politics.