NEW EPISODE · SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 · EP 629
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Vol. V · No. 629Tuesday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 245

Dan Lamothe

  Halloween is right around the corner. And things in Washington DC, and the world, couldn’t be any spookier.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Andrew Yang’s CNBC warning that AI researchers are freaked o. Andrew Yang’s CNBC warning that AI researchers are freaked out because models are “breaking containment” — and Congress is gone until November

02

Why Trump makes his biggest moves when Congress is on break. Why Trump makes his biggest moves when Congress is on break and his poll numbers are underwater

03

Reaper drones being repositioned to Southern Command and why. Reaper drones being repositioned to Southern Command and why Cuba is still on Trump and Rubio’s vision board

04

Joint Chiefs chair Dan Cain telling troops to prepare to wag. Joint Chiefs chair Dan Cain telling troops to prepare to wage and win wars “on and around the moon”



 

Halloween is right around the corner. And things in Washington DC, and the world, couldn’t be any spookier. It’s a scary time. There’s still no Speaker of the House. Congress is an epically disgraceful mess. Ukraine is still deep in the fight. Israel is about to unleash hell on Gaza. And Putin and Hamas couldn’t be happier. 

And this is an episode that is not afraid to meet the moment. Army veteran and national security and politics analyst Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) hosts another insightful and rapid-fire episode of the best independent politics, news and culture show in America. And one that sits uniquely on the intersection between politics and national security. 

The world is on fire. Parts of the world are smoldering low and parts are raging loudly. And when the world of national security heats up, there’s no better guest to turn to than Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe).

The Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) is one of the best military and Pentagon reporters in America. He has written about the US Armed Forces for more than a decade, traveling extensively, embedding with each service, and covering combat in Afghanistan numerous times. 

Dan joined us for appearances in Episode 96 in January of 2021, Episode 154 back in February 2022 and Episode 206 in January 2023. And he’s back now to break it all down fresh off of an overseas trip with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General CQ Brown—a trip which coincided with the attacks on Israel by Hamas. It’s a compelling, insider’s view that you’ll only hear here.

Every episode of Independent Americans is independent light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that call themselves independent. And delivers the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and vets issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics and inspiration. 

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