NEW EPISODE · NOVEMBER 2, 2026 · EP 665
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Vol. V · No. 665Tuesday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 368

Jim VandeHei

Your host Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) welcomes dynamic, influential and highly-successful (yet humble) Axios CEO Jim VandeHei ( @JimVandeHei ) for an unfiltered look at the election aftermath, democracy’s crossroads, and how Americans can

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Ty’s thesis. the national Democratic Party uses Black voters in Mississippi as sacrificial lambs to juice presidential-year turnout — and has since 1982

02

The receipts. Musgrove 2000, Childers, Barria, Espy 2018, 2020, Presley 2023 — the same “it’s this close” playbook every cycle

03

“The only group that’s offered me money to drop out is Democrats”. the summer-long pressure campaign nobody’s reporting on

04

Why the DNC asked Democrats to clear the field in South Dako. Why the DNC asked Democrats to clear the field in South Dakota, Idaho, and Nebraska for independent veterans — but refused to do it in Mississippi

Your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) welcomes dynamic, influential and highly-successful (yet humble) Axios CEO Jim VandeHei (@JimVandeHei) for an unfiltered look at the election aftermath, democracy’s crossroads, and how Americans can reclaim control from broken institutions and divisive algorithms. And they also dig into the potential expansion of Trump’s military strikes on Venezuela, whether a vote this week from Congress on a War Powers Act bill can stop him, and how the government shutdown is hitting the Pentagon dangerously and especially hard. Whether discussing congressional failures, presidential overreach, what it means to be a modern man, or how to “clean up your algorithm” for sanity and truth, Jim delivers candid advice and hope for a more resilient America. Packed with moments of wisdom on leadership, service, patriotism, and the media’s future, this episode is a must for independent thinkers everywhere.​ 

Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories–and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. Its independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve–and stay vigilant.

–WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Follow Jim VandeHei on social media and support his work at Axios.