The summer of 2025 has been a time of chaos. A time of confusion. And a time of distress for many Americans. But for independent Americans it’s been a little bit different. In between all of the moments of turmoil have been glimmers of hope, a chance at a better future. And that better future is being driven by independents. From Jim Walden’s upstart mayoral campaign in New York City to the Badlands of South Dakota and Brian Bengs’ renegade Senate run, to last episode’s guest from the great state of Idaho, Todd Achilles — there’s been a lot coming from independents to get excited about.
And now there’s more! Independent Navy vet Dan Osborn (@OsbornForSenate) is back in the fight. And this time, he’s running against Nebraska’s other MAGA Republican Senator billionaire: Pete Ricketts. It’s the ultimate David vs Goliath showdown. And this time, Dan’s got some experience, a network, name recognition and is hitting the ground running.
Dan served in the Navy and later joined the Army National Guard. He’s a steamfitter, industrial mechanic, and a badass labor union leader. He led a successful strike at Kellogg’s Omaha plant in 2021. And ran for Senate in 2024–narrowly losing to incumbent Deb Fischer. But at the same time, Dan laid down the foundation for this run while inspiring a new generation of independent leaders across the country. His race was a direct challenge to the party system and it showed everyone a new way to run—and offered a new vision for what a political race can look like. If you’ve listened to the show for a while now, you’ll know Dan and what he’s meant to the movement. If you’re new here, get ready to get fired up. In the immortal words of Vin Diesel, “We live for this….” Stuff.
And there’s more as your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) rips into Ukraine, Waltz, SignalGate, Hegseth and all of the latest national security news that you need to stay on top of. And a megadose of inspiration with a quick hit on Youman Wilder—a New York City little league coach that stood up to ICE and has inspired millions.
Because Independent Americans is built on the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. And this episode has it in spades. Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. It’s the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s built for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent and we’re proud to stand with you.
