NEW EPISODE · SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 · EP 620
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Vol. V · No. 620Saturday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 279

Shelane Etchison

Welcome back to our groundbreaking “Meet The 2024 Independent Candidates” series—highlighting independent candidates of all kinds, for all levels of office, from all across America.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Rob Serra on why the newly released 9/11 documents matter. and why civilians, not just first responders, got the “royal deal”

02

Stuyvesant High School students eating lunch in what had bee. Stuyvesant High School students eating lunch in what had been a morgue three days earlier, covered in dust

03

Why there is still no formal 9/11 curriculum in New York schools 25 years later. and what kids are learning from TikTok instead

04

The 13-year-old in a hockey locker room shouting “nobody died on 9/11”. and the burden of being the keeper of the flame

Welcome back to our groundbreaking “Meet The 2024 Independent Candidates” series—highlighting independent candidates of all kinds, for all levels of office, from all across America. In our second episode in the series, following independent Jared Young running for Senate in Missouri, we have our first independent VETERAN candidate. 

Meet inspiring combat veteran, Shelane Etchison (@ShelaneEtchison). She’s running for Congress in North Carolina’s 9th District against a career politician who’s never served in uniform and likes to vote against veterans benefits named Richard Hudson. Shelane is an independent and Army Special Operations combat veteran that used to jump out of planes into battlefields for a living. She’s got a tough race ahead of her against an entrenched, incumbent, extreme GOP Rep who has raised millions. But as Shelane says, she’s not afraid to do bold things and lead. She’s got the grit and independent spirit that drives this show and the growing independent movement. 

You’ll hear about her harrowing time in the military, why she is running for Congress, why she thinks she can overcome the odds and beat an incumbent in a deeply red district, how she defines independent, and whether or not she’ll endorse RFK Jr, Trump or Biden. 

If you’re interested in independent politics—or American politics in general—this is a can’t miss. If you’re an independent, you’ve found your home. And an inspiring one at that. 

And your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) rips into all of it in this all new episode of Independent Americans. And, he tears into the college campus protests spreading across America, RFK Jr’s latest “big” announcement and why Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson might have a career in politics when he’s done with basketball. 

Because on Independent Americans, we’re focused on not just what’s happening now, but also on what’s happening next.

Every episode is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. And delivers the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope.