Category: Episodes

Witnesses are calling the Avostal plant in Mariupol a living hell. There are reports that the massive complex has been bombarded 34 times in just the past 24 hours. The Russians continue to attempt to storm the plant. But the Ukrainians aren’t backing down. 100 civilians, more than a thousand soldiers, and 500 wounded remain at the Azovstal plant. The city and plant were supposed to fall weeks ago. But like with so many other moments in this war, Ukraine has defied the predictions.  The Azovstal plant in Mariupol has become the latest symbol of Ukrainian strength, defiance and toughness. This is their Alamo. And they will fight to the last man or woman to defend it. Like they will for every other inch of their land. And we dig into the latest.  EASY is over. This is the long haul now.  The artillery and trench battles in the East are grinding into what could devolve into a stalemate that could last months, even years. This is where the war could turn into an even more brutal and horrfying grinder. You will want to turn away. You will feel a need to turn away. Putin WANTS you to turn away.  But you can’t. Ukraine is the fight of our time. A fight for all times. And Memorial Day, summer break in America, Roe vs Wade, The NBA playoffs, the midterm elections—none of that is a good enough excuse to turn away from the fight of our time. The fight for all time. It’s not just the people of Ukraine who must stay focused. It’s not just just our leaders in Congress and our president that must stay focused. Every single independent American who loves freedom must stay focused. This is a time to stay vigilant.  And in this high-impact episode we’ve got a guest who is changing the past, present and future not only of Ukraine, but of America. Another leader who knows both worlds–the US and Ukraine.  He has spent the last 8 years of his life living in Ukraine. And has spent the last 3 months on the front lines of the war helping us all stay connected—and stay vigilant.  He’s an American special forces veteran, a combat journalist, and the husband of a Ukrainian–who is telling the story of this war—-through his life in it: Nolan Peterson (@NolanWPeterson).  A former U.S. Air Force Special Operations pilot and veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Nolan Peterson is Senior Editor for Coffee or Die Magazine, an acclaimed war correspondent, and a globetrotting travel writer whose adventures have taken him to all seven continents.  And he breaks down what’s happening now in Ukraine now: in the skies, among families, inside Mariupol, inside the units of foreign fighters–and into the future. He tells us all how to Stand by Ukraine. Check out all his recent articles from the war in Ukraine.  Every episode of Independent Americans is independent light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 42% 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 show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -WATCH video of Paul and Nolan’s conversation. -Check #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. -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

Right now in America, there’s a war being fought. A war on women. And right now, we’re losing. And losing sucks. So maybe the Democrats could learn a thing or two from the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians that are fighting — and winning — against overwhelming odds. And maybe we could all learn something from them. Something important. Something we all need to be reminded of. The value of freedom. The value of democracy. And of the horrible price of tyranny when that freedom is taken away. As we pass the grim milestone of one million dead from COVID here at home we mourn. As we lose more of our rights, we mourn. And despite the mourning, we will continue to fight. This is a time for fighters. This is a time for vigilance. And as the first rumors of a Russian troop build up swirled this winter, writer and Army veteran Adrian Bonenberger (@AdrianBonenber1) knew this was also a time for action.  After experiencing the killing of his translator by the Taliban during the fall of Afghanistan, and with his wife and fellow journalist, Iryna Somolko’s (@Iryna_Solomko) family squarely in the crosshairs in Kyiv, he knew that there was no cavalry coming to the rescue. So together with Matt Gallagher (@MattGallagher) and Ben Bush they formed a plan and went in to help evacuate her parents and to train and organize the local civilians so they could protect themselves. They join your host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) for a hard look at the realities of war. Some of them are things you want to look away from. But there are also moments of inspiration and beauty and even hope that can spring out of even the worst conflicts.  We heard from Matt Gallagher in Episode 161 back in March as they’d just left Ukraine crossing the border into Poland before returning home. And now, with their parents safe and out of harm’s way, they’re back home to tell their story and share what it’s really like to be in a war zone in the 21st century. Every episode of Independent Americans is independent light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 42% 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.  Support the people of Ukraine and refugees of the conflict: Razom for Ukraine — https://razomforukraine.org/  Ukrainian Freedom Fund — https://ukrfreedomfund.org/  IRIS CT (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services) — https://irisct.org/  -Get extra content, connect with guests, events, merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -WATCH video of Paul, Iryna & Adrian’s conversation. -Check #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. -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

Garry Kasparov said, “easy is over.” And it’s more true by the day. The war in Ukraine is grinding on, inflation is dragging down wallets, Jan 6 revelations continue to pour out, Biden is failing to find traction, and Trump is rising again. Easy IS over. And the fight will be long. The fight in Ukraine–and the fight in the US. The war for the soul of America continues. And in 2022, the most pivotal battle for that soul is also the most important battle for Independent Americans in a generation. And it’s in Utah.  Utah is a tough place for anyone but Republicans. Trump won it in 2020 by 21 points. No Democrat has won statewide since 1996. No Dem has won a Senate seat since 1970. A Dem hasn’t received even a third of the vote in any statewide race in almost two decades. And it’s been four decades since it happened in a Senate race. Democrats can’t win in Utah. But can an independent? This fall, we’ll all find out.  Evan McMullin (@EvanMcMullin) is a patriot. And an independent. He worked in the CIA, in business, and in Republican politics. In 2016, he ran for President as an independent and got over 20% of the vote in his home state. Now, Evan’s running for Senate against Trump-supporting Republican Senator Mike Lee. And it’s gonna be a hell of a fight.  February polls showed Lee at 34%, McMullin at 24% and Dem Kael Weston at 12%. But, now, Weston is out. In an exceptionally rare move last week, the Utah Democratic party endorsed McMullin–rather than their own Dem candidate. McMullin now has a chance to win. This year, he is the face for independents everywhere.  After joining us in Ep 101, he’s back. Now as the independent with the best chance of winning a Senate seat, dealing a blow to Trump, and changing the face of American politics, he’s back to chop it up with our host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff). They go deep, breaking down Evan’s strategy to win, Lee’s ties to Putin, and why you should care if you don’t live in Utah. He shares his thoughts on Ukraine as a former CIA intel officer and if he wants Mitt Romney’s endorsement. You can only get this kind of candid conversation here. And speaking of content you’ll only get here, we’ve got a quick round up of national security news that the legacy media won’t touch. Like Marine hero Mike Zacchea losing his fight to cancer, Marine Trevor Reed being freed by the Russians, and Dispatch singer Chad Stokes supporting Ukraine. They’re helpers. And we salute them. Every episode of Independent Americans is independent light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 42% 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 show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -WATCH video of Paul & Evan’s conversation. –Get the cool St Javelin t-shirt Paul mentioned (and wore in this pod) and support Ukraine.  -Check #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. -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

What’s the political landscape like now? How will Ukraine impact the midterm elections? And the 2024 presidential? Will there be a viable independent candidate to provide an alternative to Biden and Trump? Or to capture enough votes to swing it one way or another?  On this week of 420, the day where the world celebrates cannabis. Joints aren’t the only thing being burned down. Our norms, our unity, elements of our founding values are being torched. In 2020, it’s all on fire.  For two months on this show; we’ve looked at the military and foreign policy developments, strategies and tactics. And we’ve looked at the geopolitics. But what about domestic politics? If the outcome of the war in Ukraine is dependent on American support, nothing could change that support more than the election of Donald Trump. So could it happen? What’s happening now?  In this episode, we focus on the American politics of the war in Ukraine with one of the most well-known political analysts in American politics. And one of the most controversial. He’s a Republican, turned Democrat, turned independent? Honestly, we don’t know what he is. But our Paul Rieckhoff will ask him.  Our guest is Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES). He’s a top strategist who worked on top Republican political campaigns, including President George W. Bush, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Senator John McCain. Schmidt was the campaign strategist and advisor to McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. And pushed McCain to select Sarah Palin Schmidt is also a founder of The Lincoln Project, a controversial group founded to focus against Trump. It raised $90M, became the darling of the left and MSNBC, reportedly got a call from Biden after his victory to thank them for their help, then imploded after reports swarmed of its handling of sexual misconduct allegations against one of its co-founders, John Weaver, and of the management of its finances. From the war in Ukraine, to the American wars over masks, the fighting is non stop, the pace is exhausting, the stakes are high, and the casualties are mounting. It’s all burning down.  And maybe that’s another example of why this is a moment for independent Americans in particular. Maybe we can quell the fires and stop the burning.  We also talk about our friend and frequent guest, Malcolm Nance—who is now putting his own ass on the line to #StandWithUkraine.  Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by Paul Rieckhoff is the truth beyond the news–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. 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 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 and inspiration.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -WATCH video of Paul and Steve’s conversation here. –Get the vey cool Saint Javelin t-shirt Paul mentioned (and wore in this episode) and support Ukraine.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. -Hear other Righteous podcasts 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

We’ve been focused on the War in Ukraine since before it started. But you’ve never heard our bonus content, that has until now been Patreon exclusive. It’s a little lighter than our regular stuff—and will help you get an idea of how the people on the front lines and in the center of the pressure cooker are keeping themselves sane and focused. From the food they miss back home, to the drinks they’re looking forward to, to memories of times that seem like a million years ago, these clips will take you behind the scenes and deeper into conversations with fascinating and impactful leaders at the epicenter of the most important elements of the war in Ukraine. A Navy SEAL Commander on tactics and weapons of the war, a best-selling author just back from training Ukrainian civilians to fight, to the Professor of Nukes. These are real leaders and real talk about the biggest news story of our time.  Join us on Patreon and get even more great extra content just like this, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and more, all while supporting this show and community.  Go deeper and listen to the full Ukraine War Report episodes with these dynamic guests here: Matt Gallagher – Episode 161 – March 18, 2022 Quan Nguyen – Episode 162 – March 24, 2022 Joe Cirincione – Episode 163 – March 28, 2022 Chris Fussell – Episode 164 – March 31, 2022 Seth Harp – Episode 165 – April 7, 2022 Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by Paul Rieckhoff is the truth beyond the news–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. 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 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 and inspiration.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. You can also see video with every guest.  -Hear other Righteous podcasts 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

Ukraine remains under attack. Civilians are still dying. Bucha, a suburb of Kiev, is the first of what could be many that reveal the scope and scale of war crimes. And it could get worse. Russian chessmaster Garry Kasparov said it–and I’ve been repeating since the war began. EASY IS OVER. The tide may have turned. But the flood is just starting. The flood of pain and loss. And flood of sadness and need. The flood of weapons. The flood of blood. Wartime is here. Not just for Ukraine. But for everyone who cares about freedom. And now, more than any other time in our lifetime, now is a time for us all to stay vigilant. We all need to help Ukraine. And understand the flood of pain they’re in right now. And do more to help.  Welcome to another Ukraine War Report. Seth Harp (@sethharpesq) was a sophomore at UT-Austin when the Iraq war started and his Army Reserve unit got called up. He went over there as a simple truck-driving private and did a 15-month tour from 2003 to 2005. And the first piece he wrote for Rolling Stone was about an ambush that befell one of his detachments.  After college he went to NYU Law and spent five years practicing law, first as a corporate lawyer, later as an assistant AG at the Texas AG’s office. While he says there were a lot of things he liked about the profession, a strong desire to write led him to quit and go to Columbia Journalism School. He graduated in 2016 and started writing for Rolling Stone. They sent him to Syria a couple of times, as well as Iraq, and to Mexico on three or more occasions. He developed a specialty covering the intersection of the military, armed conflict, and organized crime, reporting not only for Rolling Stone but also Harper’s, The Intercept, The New Yorker’s News Desk, The NY Times Magazine’s At War, Columbia Journalism Review, The Texas Observer, and The Daily Beast.  Now, he’s in Ukraine on assignment for Harper’s and digging deep, running down leads, and gathering material for a number of stories. And he’ll preview them in this episode.  He’s on the inside and he takes us there with him. Into Ukraine. Into Kyiv. And into one of the most controversial units in the fight. The notorious, far-right Azov Regiment. Seth talked to it’s founder, visited its Kiev headquarters and shares what he found. He also shares new reporting and how few foreign volunteers are actually joining the fight. And, explains why, back at home in the US, so many elite soldiers are dying mysteriously at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. It’s a deep and insightful look into the conflict—and the Ukrainian and American militaries—that you can’t get anywhere else. Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by Paul Rieckhoff is the truth beyond the news–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. 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 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 and inspiration.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -WATCH video of Paul and Seth’s conversation here. –Get the Ghost of Ukraine t-shirt Paul mentioned (and wore in this episode) and support the folks there now deep in the fight. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. -Hear other Righteous podcasts 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

Millions of civilians are caught in an unimaginable hell that continues to unfold in Ukraine.  But what’s really happening on the battlefield? What weapons are making a difference? How are the Ukrainian and Russian militaries critically different? What critical missions in/around Ukraine might American Special Forces get tasked with? We’ve all seen lots of retired generals on cable news. And we’ve all seen quick videos on social media of tanks getting blown up. In this episode, we’re going deeper in a way you haven’t heard before. With a guest who knows more about 21st century battle than just about anyone. He doesn’t just know it academically, he knows it personally. He’s a returning guest and a true leader. Former Navy SEAL DEVGRU Commander, Chris Fussell.  Chris (@FussellChris) is a man who knows war. Steeled by leadership roles in the most selective Special Operations units in the military, he understands the chaos of modern combat. He led the most elite unit: the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) and Navy SEAL Teams 2 and 8 on some of the most critical missions of our generation.  He joined us back in Episode 50 in March, 2020–right before the pandemic exploded. And a month later for a special Dispatches. Chris spent 16 years at the tip of the spear for America’s most complex national security challenges and as Aide-de-Camp to Gen Stanley McChrystal as he commanded the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in Iraq. He teaches leadership at Yale, speaks to packed audiences, and coaches top leaders worldwide.  He’s the author of the bestsellers, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World and One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams and now serves as President of McChrystal Group–an elite management consulting and leadership development firm in Washington.  A former wrestler and with a degree in philosophy, Chris is a true warrior philosopher. He has a Master of Arts in Irregular Warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School, and received the Pat Tillman Award for highest peer-rated Special Operations Officer. His thesis focused on the interagency collaboration and intelligence sharing processes that drove effective, cross-silo collaboration during the peak of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Chris knows modern warfare. And he’s gonna break down the strategic and tacticial. The political and psychological. Almost nobody you see on TV or hear on the radio has the depth of personal experience in combat that Chris does. Or the mind to pull apart what’s happening beneath the headlines. Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by Paul Rieckhoff is the truth beyond the news–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. 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 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 and inspiration.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -Check out Chris’ book: One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams   –Here’s the video of the dancing Ukrainian troops that Paul’s mentioned.  -WATCH video of the Paul and Chris conversation here. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. -Hear other Righteous podcasts 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

The war in Ukraine has shifted into a new phase. Putin is quickly becoming more and more isolated. And more and more brutal. But Ukraine is on the offensive. And more and more by the day, the mighty Ukrainians are looking like they can win this thing. Almost single-handedly. On behalf of the world. But make no mistake. It can get worse. MUCH worse. Especially in Ukraine.  Worse than the targeting of schools and churches.  Worse than the shelling of civilians flying.  Worse than shooting missiles that kill kids. Worse than that? Yes. Worse than that.  What’s the worst that could happen? One word: NUKES. Yep, nukes.  We’re getting to the ground truth about what the real nuclear threats are, what the most dangerous nuclear threats are, and what the most likely nuclear threats are.  Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) is back. He worked on nuclear weapons policy in Washington for more than 35 years and is one of the top experts in the field. He was the Director for Non-Proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Threats, and co-author of Universal Compliance: A Strategy for Nuclear Security. He was the president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation. Taught at the Georgetown University Graduate School of Foreign Service. He’s one of America’s best known weapons experts, appearing frequently in print and on FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, PBS, NPR and occasionally on Comedy Central. After joining us for Episode 141 – Nov. 18, 202, he’s back to drop knowledge bombs about nukes. And it’s an episode you don’t want to miss. Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by Paul Rieckhoff 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. 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 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.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  -Read Joe’s latest article in Responsible Statecraft: Let’s curb loose talk of using lower-yield nuclear weapons – WATCH video of Paul and Joe’s conversation here. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -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 Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​​“We can’t help everybody…but just knowing that you were able to be part of somebody’s future and helping them escape. Who knows, that person could be the person that cures cancer.” – Quan Nguyen Quan Nguyen is a leader of action. And a true helper. And when the war in Ukraine started, the American combat veteran left his family in Utah, got on a flight, and linked up with a friend in Lviv to do what he could to help. He’s put down his rifle, risked his life, and is now helping children who are refugees from war like he once was long ago. He’s founded a new non-profit, called Task Force 824, named in honor of Ukraine’s Independence Day (8/24). Led by Quan, Task Force 824 is a non-profit of non-sanctioned individuals working together to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian citizens affected by the recent Russian invasion. They are transporting refugees to safety and delivering supplies to safe houses in Ukraine.  Quan Nguyen has had an amazing life journey. As a young boy, he fled Vietnam and lived in a refugee camp for over a year. He and his family would find refuge in America. And Quan would grow up and go on to serve in the Marine Corps as an infantryman with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning home from combat, he built his own small business and worked in technology for two decades. And he continued his life of service. He supported his fellow veterans as a Deputy Director for the Western Region for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and with other nonprofits. When IAVA kicked off a groundbreaking national tour to combat suicide with legendary rock band Linkin Park, it was Quan that led the way. For an entire national tour with Mike Shinoda and the late Chester Bennington and the band, in dozens of cities, he worked with the crew to promote awareness, host veterans, share mental health resources, and save lives.  Quan is an old friend and colleague of our host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff), and joins us for a session just recorded from inside Kyiv-–as the city continues to await an imminent Russian assault. Quan spoke to us as artillery rounds fired off behind him, and air raid sirens and the threat of missile attacks swirled all around. It’s a brave, riveting and inspiring conversation unlike anything else you’ll hear in American media. It’s the kind of ground truth you can expect from Independent Americans and Righteous Media. Every episode of Independent Americans (@Indy_Americans) hosted by Paul Rieckhoff 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. And delivers the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. –Learn more about Task Force 824 and how you can help support their vital work.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.   -WATCH video of Paul and Quan’s conversation here. –See the Linkin Park video for Wastelands that Quan and Paul helped create with LP.  –Support The Brent Renaud Journalism Foundation here.  –Tell your member of Congress to support HR 987 – Expressing gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States to the journalists and news staff who are risking injury and death, are subject to grave threat, and have sacrificed their lives, to chronicle and report on the ongoing war in Ukraine resulting from Putin’s invasion. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -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 Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An unknown number of American veterans have heard the call and boldly volunteered to join the fight in Ukraine. Matt Gallagher (@MattGallagher0) is one of them. Utilizing what he learned as a US Army Scout Platoon Leader in Iraq, Matt spent the last few weeks training Ukrainian civilians in how to fight and survive in Lviv. But Matt is not just any veteran. He is the internationally-recognized author of the novels Empire City and Youngblood, the class Iraq war memoir Kaboom, and a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. His work has appeared in Esquire, ESPN, The New York Times, The Paris Review and Wired. He’s also co-editor of the short fiction collection Fire & Forget: Short Stories from the Long War. He’s a popular, funny and insightful voice—including on Twitter–on everything from politics and war to his beloved Cleveland Browns.  Matt just left Ukraine, and joined our host, Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) for an exclusive interview via Zoom from just across the border in Poland. Matt is an old friend of Paul’s, a former Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) colleague, and one of his favorite voices in the public square. This is Matt’s first extended media interview after his harrowing experience and brief appearance on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 with fellow American vets Adrian Bonenberger and Ben Busch. He shares what it was like to train brave local students, lawyers and police officers from ages 16 to 60 to kill Russians–using antiquated weapons and no body armor. Matt is part of the first wave of American veterans that have entered Ukraine and could have a profound impact on the way America and the world views the war.  Why did he go? What did he see? Who were the people he was training to use AK-47’s and kill enemy tanks? What do the Ukraine forces he trained need? What’s Matt’s message for Biden? And for you? History is unfolding all around us and Matt will be a voice to help us understand it. He’ll also share ways that you can take action–by supporting Razom–a support non-profit in Ukraine.  Matt was featured in Vanity Fair as one of the voices of a new generation of American war literature. In 2017, Senator Warren read Matt’s Boston Globe op-ed “Trump Rejects the Muslims Who Helped Us” on the Senate Floor.  A graduate of Wake Forest and Columbia, Matt is a 2021-23 fellow with the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, based in Oklahoma. He lives with his wife and sons in Tulsa and works as a writing instructor for NYU’s Words After War program– devoted to bringing vets and civilians together to study conflict literature.  Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by Paul Rieckhoff 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. 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 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.  -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend events, get merch discounts and support this show that speaks truth to power by joining us on Patreon.  – WATCH video of Paul and Matt’s conversation here. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -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 Righteous Media. America’s next great independent media company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices