241. Zelensky Comes to NYC. Democrats Finally Grow A Spine to Run Over Traitor Tuberville. DeSantis Doesn’t Care About White People. Why Biden Should Dump Harris To Attract Independents. Auto Workers Strike. Coach Prime is the Leader America Needs.

September is a busy month. School is back. Football is back. Fall is here.  And so is Zelensky.  Your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) breaks it all down. From the Ukrainian President’s visit to Ron DeSantis latest buffoonery to Senator Redneck’s continued hold on military promotions—now is definitely a time to stay vigilant. 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.  -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14th Amendment Push a Bad Move for Democrats, America

by Chris Rosenthal There’s been a lot of recent buzz on cable news and podcasts and discussed in articles and columns, primarily on the liberal side of things, about the idea of Trump being disqualified automatically under section 3 of the 14th amendment. The concept was advanced by Professor Lawrence Tribe and received the backing of the conservative former Judge J Michael Luttig. It states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. It’s exactly the sort of maneuver you’d expect would get legal scholars excited. It’s an extremely rare instance where they get to test the limits of the law. To push the boundaries and theorize about new and novel applications of our legal codes. And so they argue that this clause creates an opportunity to disqualify the former President from running for office again. Automatically. Without need for any sort of conviction. Simply as a result of his own involvement. While the law may allow for this, it is a horrible idea. The results of this theory do not seem to have been thought through thoroughly — if they had it’s hard to think that the authors of it wouldn’t have recognized it as a bad and dangerous idea that can and will be subverted to be used against the Democrats in the future. Applied with a felony conviction of some sort it makes sense and becomes plausible, but without the weight of a felony conviction it feels un-American, a cheat or hack to work around Trump, and will enrage the right wing while creating a precedent that we will all surely come to regret. How hard is it to see a scenario where a bunch of far right Secretaries of States get together and say, “We’re going to keep Biden off of the ballot because we have credible reason to believe he supported his son’s criminal enterprises with a foreign country (China) and thus has given aid and comfort to our enemies?”  The same legal precedent applies and there is no burden of proof for a conviction so end of story. Quasi legal, sure. But do you really think that matters to people who would storm the capitol? Do you really doubt that they would hesitate to use this to get or maintain power? In the end it is a move we will all come to regret. But liberal media outlets are pushing it without thought of the consequences to fill air time while once again creating false expectations of its actual chances of success at the same time.  I’d love a magic pill that could make Trump go away. I think almost the entire country would.  But the reality is that until he is convicted of a felony the way to beat him is with the ballot. Not legal trickery. Not technicalities. The ballot.

240. Missing John McCain. Romney is Out. The Many Hypocrites That Forgot 9/11. Elon Musk Meddles with Ukraine—and Putin Loves It. Zip Tie Guy and His Mom Get Prison. Aaron Rodgers Goes Down. Stronger at the Broken Places.

John McCain’s life of service is an example always. Especially around 9/11. And given the state of the world, America, and our politics, we miss him now more than ever.  He showed us that after tragedy there can be triumph.  McCain showed us how to be, as Hemingway described, “Stronger at the broken places”.  But some things break beyond repair. And that might be the case now for the GOP. As it continues to disintegrate, falling further and further away from the party of McCain. And the party of Colin Powell. And the party of Bob Dole. And the Party of Mitt Romney, who this week announced is not running for Senate again.  Everything is different now. And every 9/11 is different. And 9/11/2023 was no exception. Lots of people still say never forget. But others, far too many in power, they did forget.  Your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) was there to remind us all on 9/11: “Today is a day about coming back after adversity and becoming stronger in the broken places. NYC did it. The Pentagon did it. America did it. Rodgers will too.” 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.  -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

239. 9/11: 22 Years Later. More Prison Sentences for More for Jan 6 Leaders. Tuberville vs Every Leader of the Military. Larry Hogan is Not Independent. Football and School Are Back. Jimmy Buffett and #NeverForget. REPLAY: 9/11 HEROES SHARE THEIR STORIES.

22 years after 9/11, our host and 9/11 First Responder, Paul Rieckhoff reflects on where we are as a nation, how far we’ve come, what we’ve gained, and what we’ve lost. And–if after all these years–America is now forgetting about 9/11.  He’ll also dig into parallels with the January 6th attacks, new sentences handed down to key leaders of the Proud Boys, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville’s ongoing and terribly damaging blocks on the promotions of military leaders, how the Biden Administration is/isn’t responding, the loss of Jimmy Buffett and the return of NFL football and school for kids. And more.  And we replay some of our most unforgettable 9/11 conversations with 9/11 heroes and survivors Rob Serra, Richard Naviasky, Joseph Cammarata, Al Barry and Lila Nordstrom. 9/11 was a moment that changed everything for the entire world. And it’s a moment that is engrained in the DNA of Independent Americans and Righteous Media.  So at least here — we will never look away. We will never forget. We will honor those sacrifices and we will share the stories of the heroes that survived and the heroes that didn’t. Never forget is more than just a hashtag at Righteous Media. It’s what we do. It’s who we are.  Every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) 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.  Go Deeper: Hear Paul’s full conversation with Rob Serra from Episode 2 of Independent Americans. Hear Rob’s full conversation with Richard Naviasky from Episode 1 of The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, FDNY (Ret.). Hear Rob’s full conversation with Joseph Cammarata from Episode 2 of The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, FDNY (Ret.). Hear Rob’s full conversation with Al Barry from Episode 15 of The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, FDNY (Ret.). Hear Rob’s full conversation with Lila Nordstrom from Episode 14 of The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, FDNY (Ret.). -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

238. End of Summer Madness. Eminem Slams Ramaswamy. Christie’s Strategy To Reach Independents in New Hampshire. Senator Redneck Continues to Lie. An Epic Little League World Series Ending. Don’t be like Giuliani. Be like Ohtani. Work Hard and Be Nice.

Summer is almost over. But the hits just keep on coming. Bad ones. Like a new school shooting at the University of North Carolina, Senator Redneck’s ongoing blocks on military promotions, and a hurricane hitting the south. But some good hits keep coming too. Like Simon Biles winning a record 8th gymnastics championship, the return of football, and the epic end to the Little League World Series. It’s been a summer of highs and lows. Jerks and heroes. And our host, Paul Rieckhoff’s got a quick summer installment of the pod hitting on the GOP infighting to be #2 to Trump, why Chris Christie thinks independents are key to winning the New Hampshire GOP primary, how Senator Tommy Tuberville continues to screw our military, how this summer has been full of examples of role models–and full of examples of the opposite–and MUCH more. This might be the only show in America to cover (and contrast) Rudy Giuliani and Shohai Ohtani. No. We’re not like other political and news podcasts. And proud of it.  Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by author, activist and social entrepreneur Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope.  –Check out Saint Javelin’s Javelin case coffee table auction Paul talked about on the show.  -Read the piece Paul talked about by Marc Polymeropoulos, John Sipher and Adam Kinzinger: Why Biden Must Send Ukraine the ATACMS It Needs — Now -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

237. GOP Debate Breakdown. Trumpism Is Like COVID. Independents Ain’t Having Any Of It. Senator Redneck Wins a New Award. Prigozhin Goes Down in Flames. The American Insurgency Strikes Again. Little League World Series Summer Magic.

Well, the first GOP debate is now history. And if you were on vacation or watching baseball, our Paul Rieckhoff has a quick and uniquely independent recap. He watched it so you didn’t have to. He sizes up the field—and Trump’s continued dominance in the polls. And how/if it all appeals to independents on any level.  He’s also got a quick update on Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville’s latest efforts to weaken our military, the breaking news out of Ukraine, the domestic terror attack you may have missed, why the Little League World Series shows the best of the summer (and America, and his favorite album of the summer. Take a break and get your quick independent hit on the news, politics and culture you need to know about. Without all the spin, blather and BS.  Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by author, activist and social entrepreneur Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope.  -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

236. Afghanistan Two Years Later = Forgotistan. Rep Peter Meijer REPLAY. Our Summer of Chaos Continues. Another Week, Another Indictment. An American Insurgent in Utah Killed by the FBI. The Tide is Turning Against Senator Redneck (AKA Tuberville).

  August is steamy hot—and so is the news. Trump is indicted again, Senator Tuberville is making dumb moves again. And extremist domestic terrorists are threatening our peace and politicians’ lives again. So much for summer downtime, people. This is a time for focus. And as it all unfolds on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. And this summer is still, definitely a time to #StayVigilant.  Paul Rieckhoff is quickly breaking it down—so you can get up to speed, and head back to the beach.  And we flash back to a powerful and foreboding conversation from right after the fall of Afghanistan—two years ago this month. With Afghanistan war vet, humanitarian and then-maverick Republican Congressman Peter Meijer—who had just returned from a trip inside Afghanistan. He described the harrowing situation he saw on the ground, the policy failures that were unfolding, and predicted much of the dark future Afghanistan exists in today. This an inside look into how the decisions of two years ago created the Great American Betrayal of Afghanistan that continues to compound today.  Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by author, activist and social entrepreneur Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope.  Original episode: Congressman Peter Meijer – Episode 130 – September 2, 2021 -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

235. Summer Dispatch. Musk vs Zuck in a Fight? For Vets? WTF. The Crisis of Masculinity. Christie Meets with Zelenskyy. FINALLY F-16s to Ukraine. Trump’s Month of Meltdowns & Poll Surges. US World Cup Women Are a Reflection of America. Forward Turns One.

The women’s World Cup is over for the US. But the summer is not. Hawaii is on fire. Billionaires are fighting each other. Trump has more indictments than any podcast has time to cover and finally President Biden has approved F-16s for Ukraine. This summer especially is a time to #StayVigilant. 
Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by author, activist and social entrepreneur Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. 
-Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know. 
As mentioned by Paul on the pod, check out The Gray Area with Sean Illing – The new crisis of masculinity.
-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. 
-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 
-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season. 
-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 
Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company.

234. The Trump Indictment (The Latest One). Senator Tuberville’s Temper Tantrum Costs Alabama Space Command. The Alt-Right Media Attacks Rieckhoff. Independent Growth In Arizona. The USA Women’s World Cup Team Survives and Inspires.

Our wild and crazy summer of 2023 continues.  In case you haven’t heard, Trump has been indicted again. And that means it’s again, very much a time to stay vigilant. Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by author, activist and social entrepreneur Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 42% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope.  -Join the movement. Sign up to get our regular breakdowns of the independent news you need to know.  –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.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get a cool, new IA hoodie sweatshirt just in time for the start of the cold season.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

233. James LaPorta. American Vet Trevor Reed Wounded in Ukraine. US Soldier Runs into North Korea. Tuberville’s Holds Are Hitting Troop Morale. Nazis Trying To Infiltrate the Military. DeSantis’ Attacks On The Pentagon. Are UFOs Real? Work Hard, Be Nice.

  We’re going inside some of the wildest and most important defense and national security stories of the summer with National Security Reporter for The Messenger and Marine Corps combat veteran, James LaPorta (@JimLaPorta). James joins us to take us inside the wild story of Marine Corps veteran Trevor Reed, released from a Russian prison in 2022, and recently wounded fighting in Ukraine. He’ll take us inside the VERY wild story of the American soldier who snuck inside a civilian tour group and ran across the demilitarized zone from South Korea into North Korea–vanishing like a UFO. He’ll take us inside the Pentagon, for a look at how Senator Tommy Tuberville’s antics are impacting real troops and families. And he’ll take us inside the military’s internal fight against nazi’s and other violent extremists trying to infiltrate our forces—to train up for dark things—and how his reporting led to him being added to a Nazi kill list and why the FBI came knocking at his door. James is one of the most hard-working and respected military and national security reporters in America.  James joins host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff), for another fun and fiery episode of the best independent politics, news and culture show in America. And he joined us for appearance in Episode 31, back on October 31, 2019 And Paul rips into the wild Congressional hearing on UFOs, the passing of World War Two Veteran and music legend, Tony Bennett, what it’s like to be in the crosshairs of baseless attacks from radical, right-wing media, and why he loves the music of Michael Franti.  Every episode of Independent Americans is independent light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 49% of Americans that call themselves independent. And delivers the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and vets issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics and inspiration.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, events, merch discounts and support this podcast that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -WATCH video of Paul and James’ conversation on YouTube. -Find #LookForTheHelpers on social media. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. –Watch Paul’s latest weekly segment on MSNBC’s Deadline White House with Nicolle Wallace.  -Watch Paul’s latest segment on NewsNation LIVE with Marni Hughes.  -Hear other Righteous pods like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel – The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices