Retired Brigadier General Shawn A. Harris is back on the front lines—this time in politics. From his grass-fed cattle farm in Rockmart, Georgia to the halls of the Pentagon, Harris joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) to break down SignalGate, the deadly US boat strikes, the War Powers fight and the growing danger of sloppy, politicized military leadership.
Running as a Democrat in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District—the open seat Marjorie Taylor Greene is abandoning—Harris explains why leadership, integrity and service still matter in a district that’s been defined by chaos, extremism and cable hits. He talks candidly about why he chose not to “change t‑shirts,” what it’s like to have two sons still in uniform, and why independent and Reagan Republicans are lining up behind his campaign.
Rieckhoff and Harris also explore whether Congress is quietly edging America toward another war in the Caribbean, whether the boat strike could rise to a war crime, and what real accountability for the current Secretary of Defense should look like. They dig into the Pentagon press rules fight, the New York Times lawsuit, the arrest of the January 6 pipe bomb suspect, and what “dead men don’t talk” really means for intelligence and national security.
Then, in a powerful “something good,” Harris salutes his hometown Early County Bobcats and the high school football coach who helped turn hopes and dreams into a life of service—sparking a heartfelt conversation about how sports, mentors and community can literally save young lives.
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. It’s 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.
