NEW EPISODE · AUGUST 11, 2026 · EP 597
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Vol. V · No. 597Wednesday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 490

The Military Is Not a Loaded Gun

Trump warns Iran the military is 'loading up' while 381 troops are already wounded, Hegseth feuds with his own Army Secretary, and Joe Rogan joins the politically homeless.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Why the primary is the election. 95% of U.S. House races across Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin are uncompetitive in November

02

The hard number. 935,892 unaffiliated Connecticut voters — 41.5% of the state — locked out of today's closed primary

03

Connecticut's real registration breakdown. independents 935K, Democrats 792K, Republicans 489K — independents are first

04

129,563 Connecticut veterans caught in the lockout, with an. 129,563 Connecticut veterans caught in the lockout, with an estimated 63,000 identifying as independent



Is the American military a tool for national defense or a private army for global conquest? Host Paul Rieckhoff breaks down a volatile week as Donald Trump issues a chilling “warning” to Iran, claiming our military is “loading up” and looking forward to its next conquest. Coming to you from Los Angeles before his appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Paul drills down into why this rhetoric makes our service members less safe and more hated, and why we must reject the idea that American troops signed up to be a “loaded gun” pointed at anyone’s oil.

This episode also exposes the mounting human cost of the Iran War, with 381 U.S. service members wounded and survivors of the Kuwait attack now bravely disputing the Pentagon’s “unprepared” account. From the Pentagon’s bizarre threats against Pope Leo to the ongoing “turf war” between Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, we are tracking the chaos and the helpers. Plus, we look at Ukraine’s dazzling drone success in the Middle East and why Joe Rogan—and 45% of the country—is now officially “politically homeless.” Stay Vigilant.