390. Barbara Starr. Hegseth is SecDef Drama. “This is Someone Who is Afraid.” Trump’s New National Defense Strategy is Awesome…For Putin. Signalgate & the Pentagon Propaganda Corps. Pearl Harbor Lessons. Manosphere Monday, World Cup, *NSYNC & The Dodgers.

This episode goes straight to the heart of Trump’s chaotic Pentagon with one of the most respected national security reporters in America, Barbara Starr. In this all–new Manosphere Monday, Paul and Barbara dig into the debate around the boat strikes off Venezuela, war crime allegations, “Signalgate,” Trump’s new defense strategy and what happens when the guardrails that protect U.S. troops start coming off.

Barbara explains why she’s never seen anything like Pete Hegseth’s drama-fueled Pentagon, how the new “propaganda press corps” replacing traditional reporters in the briefing room is changing the flow of truth, and why Trump’s walk-back from NATO looks like a gift-wrapped present to Vladimir Putin. They connect the dots from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, January 6th and today’s surprise-attack risks—from Venezuela to China and Taiwan—and lay out what real vigilance and leadership should look like in 2025.

Paul takes listeners through the latest on the controversial boat strikes, the escalating partisan fight on Capitol Hill, the National Guard deployment hearings, and the 3,000-page defense bill barreling through Congress while Trump hands himself a FIFA “peace prize” on Fox Sports. Barbara breaks down what’s at stake for apolitical troops, the dismantling of military legal and diversity safeguards, and the danger of turning the Secretary of Defense into a full-time video performer instead of a wartime leader.

They also zoom out to the bigger cultural moment—from Pearl Harbor remembrance and World War II’s “greatest generation” to the rise of women’s flag football and the Dodgers’ World Series run—and close with “something good,” including Paul’s unapologetic love for *NSYNC’s holiday album and Barbara’s countdown to spring training.

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.

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