NEW EPISODE · AUGUST 12, 2026 · EP 598
598 EPISODES SUBSCRIBE →
Vol. V · No. 598Thursday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 135

Milo Ventimiglia

Milo Ventimiglia ( @MiloVentimiglia ) is an actor, director and producer. And one of the hottest stars in America.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Joe Manchin on being the one vote that made the 117th Congress work. and why setting hard parameters forced both parties to negotiate

02

Heather Manchin's "canyon chart". billions on the left, billions on the right, and a politically homeless sensible majority in the middle

03

Why 47 states run partisan primaries and 16 states shut inde. Why 47 states run partisan primaries and 16 states shut independents out completely — and why taxpayers are funding elections they can't fully participate in

04

The Montana breakdown. Seth Bodnar needs 220,000 votes, out-raised both party candidates, and now has a true three-way race

Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) is an actor, director and producer. And one of the hottest stars in America. He’s also a really nice, hard-working and fascinating guy. And a guy with very strong opinions about everything from Afghanistan, to Senator Joe Manchin’s obstructionism, to a strike in Hollywood by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union. Milo is a fighter who stands up for what he believes in–not just in the roles he plays–but also in real life. And this is Milo the fighter as candid as you’ll ever hear him. 

After early recognition for roles with Sylverstor Stallone in Rocky Balboa, on Gilmore Girls and the NBC series Heroes, Milo went on to star as Jack Pearson in the massively popular NBC drama, This Is Us. Now, the humble son of a Vietnam vet is a household name. He has received three Emmy nominations and won a Screen Actors Guild Award. But over a decade before that, Ventimiglia toured Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan with the USO in support of US troops. And he’s done it multiple times since. 

Now, he’s using his star power to help veterans and to stand with working people. He’s supported veterans charities, and for the last month, has been making phone calls to US Senators to help a generation of men and women who’ve served since 9/11 create a Global War on Terror Memorial on The National Mall in Washington

Milo’s been a friend of our host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff), for many years. They’ve worked together on issues, appeared together on political talk shows, and spent late nights hanging out in Hollywood getting pancakes. Milo shares the inside scoop on what’s to come on This Is Us, he’ll take us behind a red carpet with Nicole Kidman, and he’ll talk about creating a super action hero movie with past Independent Americans guests like, Bradley Whitford, Jeffrey Wright, Wes Chatham, Jon Bernthal, Jane Horton and Henry Rollins. You will be entertained. And inspired. 

It’s another conversation that keeps it real. The kind to help you stay vigilant. Because 

eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. Our host, national security and political analyst and Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff takes you behind the scenes for candid conversations with top leaders from all backgrounds. It’s a bold and blunt perspective you won’t find anywhere else on the media landscape.