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Trump has struck nine foreign countries in the past year and just opened a new front in Ecuador—while thousands of Americans remain stranded near Iran with no clear evacuation plan. From Times Square after sparring with Democrat Senator Blumenthal on MSNow, Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff blasts a Congress acting more like “mall cops” than a check on Trump’s runaway war powers. In this quick‑fire solo pod, Paul unpacks the escalating Iran conflict, honors fallen troops by name, and exposes a bipartisan “Chickenhawk Club” eager to send others to fight while keeping their own families safe. He also breaks down how Trump’s team has left bases worldwide on edge, why the Pentagon is scrambling for munitions, and how Washington still lacks a plan for the new generation of veterans it’s creating. Plus, Paul dives into America’s broken primary system, key Texas primary shifts, and a surge of independent veteran candidates like Montana’s Seth Bodner proving that independents are the needle. And for some balance after the battle talk, he hits sports and culture—from the World Baseball Classic and Paralympics to the Oscar‑nominated short Armed Only with a Camera, honoring journalist Brent Renaud and those who show the real cost of war. -WATCH full video of this episode here. As mentioned on the show:  -To help the families of our fallen servicemembers in this time of unimaginable pain and loss, support the heroic work of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): https://www.taps.org.  -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It’s a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff breaks down Trump’s fast‑escalating war with Iran, the rise of deadly drone warfare, and what it all means for American troops, families, and civilians worldwide. Then, regular guest and legendary CNN Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr joins Paul to cut through the chaos, dissect the Pentagon’s long‑delayed press briefings, and explain why “air power alone” won’t deliver victory in Iran—or anywhere else. From unprotected American troops killed in a makeshift Kuwaiti trailer, to embassies under threat and chaotic evacuation warnings, this episode exposes how badly Washington has prepared for the conflicts it helped ignite. Paul and Barbara also spotlight the now 6 American troops killed in action, the viral story of the downed American F‑15 pilot, the courage and professionalism of women in combat, and the mental‑health toll on service members, vets, and families now bracing for a long, uncertain war. If you care about the troops, the truth, and the future of American democracy in a time of permanent crisis, this is a must‑listen. -WATCH full video of this episode here. As mentioned on the show:  -To help the families of our fallen servicemembers in this time of unimaginable pain and loss, support the heroic work of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): https://www.taps.org.  -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It’s a show of strength. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •onnect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  The war is on. The U.S. and Israel are continuing major strikes against Iran in what the Pentagon is calling Operation Epic Fury—killing the Ayatollah and triggering a cascade of drone attacks, friendly fire incidents, and four American service members killed in action (so far), while Trump threatens boots on the ground and Congress was home for the weekend and never even bothered to vote on it all. This is not working, America.  In this episode of Independent Americans, Paul Rieckhoff explains and makes sense of the choas–and is joined by returning champion Nolan Peterson—Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, former Air Force Special Operations pilot combat vet, war reporter, Pentagon defense consultant, and co-founder of American Veterans for Ukraine—to explain what is really happening in the skies over Iran, the drone war already reshaping modern combat from Kyiv to Tehran to Tel Aviv, and what could be coming to our own shores from an aviation and drone expert who has spent over a decade living in Kyiv through full-scale war. Paul and Nolan unpack the three ways drones are transforming warfare: tactical battlefield dominance; unconventional strategic operations like Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web (which you need to know about), and the reimagining of strategic air power via cheap, mass-produced drones. They confront the nightmare scenario generated by the Iran war of an adversary using that same technology to strike the American homeland and examine what it means that the Pentagon just kicked AI company Anthropic out for refusing to put AI into the kill chain—right before launching a new war. This is the show for people who refuse to zone out, digging into the failures of Congress, the human cost borne by military families, and Nolan’s emotional reflections on welcoming home the next generation of veterans; Episode 453 is raw, urgent, and essential listening.  Skip the corporate and partisan media. They can’t be trusted. Especially in times like this. Hook into Independent Americans, declare your independence and stay vigilant.  -WATCH full video of this episode here. -See Nolan’s Bio and follow him on X.  -To help the families of our fallen servicemembers in this time of unimaginable pain and loss, support the heroic work of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): https://www.taps.org  -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  Trump launched an unauthorized, unpopular war with Iran, and Independent Americans host and national security expert Paul Rieckhoff joins MSNOW’s “The Weekend” to break down what it means for our troops, our Congress, and our future.  In this special episode, Paul shares a searing on‑air conversation about three fallen American service members, Trump’s choice to hit eight countries in a year, and a Congress that can’t be bothered to hold an emergency session as a new war unfolds. He lays out why this is the worst‑case scenario of an unchecked Trump presidency, why the Constitution is failing as a guardrail, and why both parties—especially House Republicans—must finally step up. Paul explains how Trump is “all gas, no brakes,” wielding the most powerful military on Earth with almost no oversight—and what could happen if he decides to hit Cuba, Mexico, or anywhere else next.  He connects the dots between foreign policy, domestic politics, and public that’s stunningly silent on issues of war as Trump keeps piling up the targets.  -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  War with Iran could happen this weekend — and that’s not hyperbole. In Episode 451 of Independent Americans, Paul Rieckhoff brings in nuclear policy expert Joe Cirincione to break down what U.S. intelligence actually says about the Iran threat (spoiler: it doesn’t back Trump’s claims), the terrifying intersection of AI and nuclear weapons, and why removing humans from the kill-decision chain isn’t just bad policy — it’s existential. Plus: the jaw-dropping standoff between Anthropic and the Pentagon, where one of America’s top AI companies is refusing to let the government use its technology for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. This episode also covers Pakistan declaring open war on Afghanistan, a U.S. military laser accidentally shooting down a CBP drone in El Paso, Hegseth’s culture war on the Boy Scouts while real wars loom, a draft executive order seeking expanded presidential control over elections, and ICE’s continued lawless rampage — including the death of a blind Buffalo refugee abandoned in the cold. Episode 451 is essential listening for anyone trying to understand the most dangerous national security moment since the Cold War. Subscribe, share, and stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  Paul Rieckhoff is stuck in Florida — airports shut down, snowstorm paralyzing the Northeast — but he’s not going quiet. In this special episode, Paul breaks down Trump’s State of the Union address in real time, delivering the sharpest analysis you won’t hear anywhere else. The speech clocked in as the longest State of the Union ever delivered. Trump spent exactly three minutes on Iran — roughly 90 minutes in. Paul calls it what it is: a missed opportunity, a half-made case, and a failure of presidential responsibility. The core issue isn’t whether military action against Iran is on the table — it clearly is. The pieces are in place. The forces are arrayed. Paul knows what that looks like firsthand; he was in Iraq when the U.S. went to war in 2003. What’s missing from Trump’s address is the one thing every commander-in-chief owes the American people before pulling the trigger: an honest accounting of the cost. No mention of consulting Congress. No coalition of allies. No preparation for what a long conflict — with real American casualties — could mean. Trump’s approval rating among independents sits at 26%, down ten points from last year. That number tells the story. Then there’s Ukraine. The United States just abstained from a United Nations vote affirming support for Ukraine — standing alongside Saudi Arabia. On the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Paul, who founded American Veterans for Ukraine, doesn’t mince words: it’s a black mark on America’s record, a moment that demanded moral clarity, and a president who chose silence instead. Finally, New York City. Paul weighs in on the viral NYPD snowball incident — where officers were pelted with ice by a mob — and the new mayor’s stunning failure to stand with his police department. Paul breaks down why this moment matters far beyond one incident, and what it signals about a mayor who came into office with the lowest trust from the NYPD in recent memory. This is Independent Americans: straight talk, no party loyalty, and the five I’s to keep you connected. Stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  The State of the Union is over — but the real story is what Trump didn’t say. In Episode 449, Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the longest SOTU in American history: two hours of pageantry, 103 standing ovations, and a president who gave 20 seconds to Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion while quietly beating the war drums on Iran. Paul cuts through the noise to find the moments that actually mattered — including a 100-year-old Korean War hero finally receiving his Medal of Honor, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer honored for saving 169 lives, and Army veteran George Redis, detained by ICE and then released without a phone call or a lawyer, sitting in the chamber as a living indictment of an out-of-control federal agency. While most Americans tuned out before 11 PM, Paul stayed locked in. He breaks down the Democratic response — led by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer who delivered arguably the strongest opposition address in recent memory — and the organized Democratic boycott that sent dozens of members to a counter-programming event on the National Mall. He also zeroes in on the Epstein files, where Representative Thomas Massie is asking the question millions of Americans want answered: why are there still no arrests in the United States while resignations pile up worldwide? Then it’s below the radar: breaking news out of Cuba, where the Cuban government shot four Americans aboard a Florida-based speedboat. Paul connects the dots — Trump’s pressure campaign, Rubio’s long-stated goal of regime change, and how this incident could become the pretext for the next military strike. Back at home, he doesn’t let up on ICE, playing the raw interview with Elia Rahmet — the woman dragged from her car in Minneapolis, both shoulders torn — and demanding accountability by name. Plus: Mayor Adams failing the NYPD in Washington Square Park, Tommy Tuberville earning his “Senator Redneck” title again, and something good: the Obama Presidential Library’s basketball court and Bruce Springsteen bringing Tom Morello on every stop of his tour. Paul also shares big news — he’ll be appearing on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the coming weeks, and Sebastian Junger is confirmed for next week’s episode. If you believe America’s future belongs to independent thinkers, not party loyalists — this is your show. Country over party. People over politics. Stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  For decades, Mike Duggan was a Democrat. He ran Detroit, guided the city through bankruptcy, cut crime to 60-year lows, and built 6,000 housing units in one of America’s most storied cities. Then he looked at what was happening in Lansing — Republicans and Democrats unable to speak to each other, state budgets arriving three months late, schools opening without funding — and made a decision that’s shaking up Michigan politics: he declared his independence. Duggan joins Paul Rieckhoff on Independent Americans for an extended conversation about why he walked away from the party that shaped his career, what it actually takes to run as an independent, and why the latest polling has him in a dead-even three-way race for governor of Michigan — tied with both the leading Democrat and Republican. He talks about the unions that crossed over to endorse him, his decision to build a campaign on house calls rather than party machinery, and why he believes the Democrat and the Republican are the real spoilers in this race — not him. Paul and Mike also go head-to-head on the hardest issues: tariffs devastating Michigan’s auto industry, ICE operations in Detroit and across the country, the State of the Union, and how an independent governor deals with a president who has picked fights with governors of both parties. Duggan’s answers aren’t always what you’d expect — and Paul doesn’t let him off the hook. This is what independent politics looks like in real time. Hard choices and hard questions. But if the independent wave hits this fall on Election Day, this race in Michigan will be the forward edge. And you probably heard it here first.  -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •onnect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  Stuck in Tampa while a historic snowpocalypse buries much of America, Army vet and Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff rips through a wild 48 hours in politics, national security and sports—and what it all means for you. From a bomb-cyclone shutting down the Northeast to Trump boasting he can “destroy countries” while massing U.S. firepower around Iran, Paul tracks rising risks of war with Iran, unrest in Mexico after cartel boss El Mencho’s killing, and covert strikes off Venezuela in a dangerous new phase of unchecked presidential power.​ He digs into ICE’s culture of impunity—from the killing of a U.S. citizen in Texas to an 80-year-old lawyer slammed to the ground in California—and why he believes the agency’s broken culture can’t be fixed and must be shut down, while exposing FBI Director Kash Patel’s Olympics “boondoggle,” beer-chugging locker-room photo op, and Trump’s “boondoggliest” cabinet. Paul also spotlights real pushback: veterans forcing the VA to halt a radical benefits rule, lawsuits to stop Trump’s absurd 250-foot arch that would block the view from Arlington, and Ukraine’s three-year fight against Russia and drone warfare that’s reshaping modern combat.​ And there’s still room for hope: Alysa Liu’s joyful figure-skating gold, dominant U.S. women’s hockey, and a legendary U.S. men’s overtime win offer a powerful alternative face of America—and a reminder of the toughness and leadership of American women athletes under political pressure. No guests, no fluff—just a rapid-fire, independent briefing to start your week, whether you’re digging out from the snow or under the Florida sun, with the independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact you expect from Independent Americans—and a call to look out for your neighbors, stand with veterans and Ukraine, and stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: •Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms •Read more at Substack •Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  •Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network! 

  Wisconsin’s 6th District hasn’t elected anyone but a Republican to Congress since 1967. But Mike Thurow — a union fire captain, hazmat team commander, and father of four — thinks the district isn’t red or blue. It’s fed up. Thurow recently declared his independent candidacy for Congress, and his message is simple: Washington is burning, and politicians from both parties are watching. As a trained firefighter, he says his job is to show up, do the work, and never ask who you’re going to save before you save them. That’s the exact opposite of what he sees in Congress right now — and he’s running to change it. Paul and Mike cover the top stories shaking the country this week. ICE and the line between good public safety and trust, masked agents without badges destroying community trust that makes any law enforcement possible — and that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s disqualifying conduct. With ships moving into position and Trump threatening strikes on Iran, the Constitution requiring a congressional declaration of war, and Trump’s broader record: “I think we’ve dropped bombs on seven different countries at this point. That’s not no more foreign wars.” Thurow is running in a district that went hard for Trump — and he gets why. He understands the rage, the frustration with a two-party system that’s been bought and paid for by corporations and billionaires while working people get left behind. He’s not taking corporate PAC money. He’s not interested in party bosses. He’s a union firefighter who taught hazmat response to every fire department in the district and says signatures will come easy because the people already know him — and they’re ready for an off-ramp. As he puts it: “The most patriotic thing you can do is call out when we’re falling short of our principles.” This is the latest in IA’s ongoing Meet the Independent Candidate Series. Mike Thurow represents the kind of leader this show and millions of Americans have been calling for — someone with real-world experience, real accountability, and zero interest in which jersey you’re wearing. If you want a firefighter in Congress, head to thurowforcongress.com to donate, volunteer, and help get him on the ballot. Signatures open in April — Wisconsin voters, your moment is coming. -WATCH video of this episode on our YouTube channel. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. Connect with Independent Americans: • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms • Read more at Substack • Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  • Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky –Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  –And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!