NEW EPISODE · SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 · EP 621
621 EPISODES SUBSCRIBE →
Vol. V · No. 621Monday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 97

SPECIAL DISPATCH: Wayne Smith

We finally have a new president. A president who wants to be a uniter.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Paul tells his 9/11 story in full for the first time on the show. from quitting Wall Street the week before to linking up with his New York National Guard unit

02

Searching the Winter Garden and the shattered base of the to. Searching the Winter Garden and the shattered base of the towers, with truck horns signaling possible collapses

03

“I’m not from the 82nd Airborne. We live here.”. the citizen-soldier reality of that first week

04

“The worst thing I’ve ever seen. And the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”. Paul on what unity actually looked like

We finally have a new president. A president who wants to be a uniter. A president we all hope can reach beyond partisanship. No matter how hard it will be. 

This post-inauguration special of The Dispatches features an important conversation with a leader who is a national voice of reason — Wayne Smith—a man we call, “The Oracle.” He joined us back in Episode 63 of Angry Americans in June of last year, and he’s here again to help us get some perspective on one of the most turbulent times ever. What do we make of this week? What is our place in history? What’s next? How do you reconcile with someone who tried to kill you?  

They’re heavy questions and the solutions aren’t easy, but helpers like Wayne Smith can help us all find the way. 

We made it through the election. We made it through the inauguration. We made it through 4 years of Trump. And we made it through an insurrection attempt and domestic terrorist attack on our Capitol. But we made it through. And our flag is still there. 

The war is on. This is your update. This is The Dispatches.

Our host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is an Army infantry and Military Police (MP) veteran, he’s fought an insurgency in Iraq, he’s guarded against violent mobs and terror attacks, and he’s set up check-points in New York City after 9/11. 

The Dispatches is powered by Righteous Media.

See video of this conversation with Wayne Smith and a range of music, political, business and media players from Chuck D to Jeffrey Wright to Medal of Honor Recipient Flo Groberg to Sarah Jessica Parker to Stephen Colbert to Meghan McCain to Mayor Pete Buttigieg on the Righteous Media YouTube page. It’s political, social and industry diversity like no other show in America. 

Righteous Media is your trusted, independent source for news, politics, culture and inspiration. It’s a smart, fun and no-BS perspective like nowhere else in the media.