State of the Union Reaction. Trump Makes His Iran War Pitch. Two Medals of Honor Awarded. Dem’s Spanberger Response Better Than Usual. Cuban Government Shoots 4 Americans on a Speedboat. Obama Legacy’s Signature a Slam Dunk.

  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! 

Can This Independent for Governor Win Michigan? w/ Mayor Mike Duggan. Trump’s Approval Hits New Low with Independents Ahead of State of the Union. Whistleblower Blasts ICE Training. 4 Years of the Ukraine War.  Women’s Hockey Declines Trump Invite.  

  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! 

Snowpocalypse Hits. USA Hockey Wins Gold. Kash Patel is a Ridiculous Poser. Iran Attacks Still Loom. Vets Sue Trump Over His Stupid Arch. More ICE Violence. Lessons from Ukraine’s Drone War for Europe. Vets & VFW Blast Collins. Celebrating the Olympics.

  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! 

Can This Independent Win a Deep Red District the Democrats Can’t? Firefighter Mike Thurow Independent for Congress in Wisconsin’s 6th. Tackling ICE Accountability. Trump’s Latest Iran War Could Happen Any Minute Now. Tariffs Harm to Wisconsin Farmers. 

  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! 

War with Iran Looms. Colbert vs Trump & the FCC. ICE, Noem and The War on Free Elections. Ukraine Won the Olympics. Prince Andrew Arrested in England Over Epstein Ties. Hegseth, Tuberville Continue to Embrace Dumb Ideas. Spring Training a Homerun.

  The drumbeats of war are growing louder. In this solo episode of Independent Americans, host Paul Rieckhoff reports that President Trump has signaled the U.S. military could strike Iran within ten days — with zero congressional authorization, zero public debate, and zero accountability. Congress is rolling over, America’s sons and daughters are in harm’s way, and the American people deserve a vote. Meanwhile at home, Paul holds nothing back on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who reportedly pulled a Coast Guard search-and-rescue aircraft away from a missing 21-year-old service member to prioritize a deportation flight, and on ICE’s escalating cruelty — including a nine-year-old girl detained in San Antonio for eight months and the heartbreaking death of Ophelia Torres, a 16-year-old who fought cancer while her father was held by ICE. These are not statistics. Paul refuses to let their stories disappear. Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth’s culture war rages on. Paul breaks down Hegseth’s move to block military members from enrolling at Harvard, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and dozens more elite universities — followed by the VA’s decision to strip veterans of their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at those same schools. Denmark, one of America’s most steadfast NATO allies, now views the U.S. as an adversary, with 60% of Danes saying so. Paul also covers Venezuela strikes without congressional approval, the staggering losses in Ukraine, and a personal word about the courage of Stephen Colbert and the growing chorus of ordinary Americans pushing back. Paul closes on something good: spring training. He was at Yankees practice in Tampa Bay this morning, where his boys got balls signed by Aaron Judge — proof that community, access, and joy are still very much alive. Episode 445 ends with a clear mission: country over party, people over politics. If you’re among the 45% of Americans who call themselves independent, this is your show. Stay vigilant. -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! 

Can the State Guard Save Our Democracy? w/ Adrian Bonenberger. Independent Veteran for Governor of Connecticut. Reviving the Citizen Soldier Ethos. War Face vs Society. Remembering the Founder’s Vision. Lessons Learned in Ukraine and Afghanistan.

  Army Ranger Adrian Bonenberger has just thrown his hat in the ring for Governor of Connecticut — as an independent. In a wide-ranging conversation with host Paul Rieckhoff, Bonenberger unveils the centerpiece of his campaign: reviving the Connecticut State Guard as a voluntary, citizen-soldier force that would decentralize defense, create meaningful service opportunities for ordinary Americans, and counter the overreach of a federal government that has increasingly turned law enforcement into a militarized tool against its own citizens. The two combat veterans pull no punches on ICE — comparing its enforcement culture to the military’s “warrior ethos” and explaining why deploying a kill-or-be-killed mindset against civilians is not just dangerous, but a fundamental betrayal of the founders’ vision. Bonenberger draws on his experiences training troops in Afghanistan and volunteer fighters in Ukraine to make the case that America’s civil-military divide is a national security vulnerability — and that a voluntary state guard is the constitutional remedy hiding in plain sight. Bonenberger also reflects on post-industrial New England, why Congress is effectively unfixable, ballot access hurdles facing independent candidates, and why he believes the governor’s office is where real change can happen on day one. About Adrian Bonenberger: Adrian Bonenberger is an Army Ranger, Afghanistan combat veteran, journalist, and author. He co-founded American Veterans for Ukraine alongside Paul Rieckhoff and Bonnie Carroll and has lectured at Springfield College in Massachusetts. He is now running for Governor of Connecticut as an independent. -WATCH video of this episode on our YouTube channel. -Learn more and support Adrian’s candidacy for Governor of Connecticut 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! 

Open Primaries Presents: Independent Veterans Are Spoiling For A Fight. w/ John Opdycke, Paul Rieckhoff, Ty Pinkins and Todd Achilles.

  This is a special collaboration between Independent Americans and Open Primaries, featuring two of the most compelling independent Senate candidates in the country. Todd Achilles is a former US tank commander, Idaho state representative, and tech executive now running for US Senate in Idaho. Ty Pinkins served over 20 years in the Army including three combat tours in Iraq where he earned the Bronze Star. After earning his law degree from Georgetown, he returned to the Mississippi Delta to fight for his community—and now he’s running for US Senate. Both are running as independents. Both are military veterans who put country over party. And both have a strategy that goes far beyond just winning their own races. The conversation tackles the biggest questions facing independent candidates: How do you counter the “spoiler” narrative? How do you compete against unlimited party money? Why won’t the media cover independent campaigns? And most importantly—what happens when you actually win? The answer to that last question is where it gets interesting. With four independent veterans running competitive Senate races in 2026 (Todd in Idaho, Ty in Mississippi, Dan Osborn in Nebraska, and Brian Bengs in South Dakota), they have the potential to create an independent “fulcrum” in the Senate—denying either party a majority and forcing both sides to negotiate with principled independents on issues like campaign finance reform, stock trading bans, and open primaries. Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America (IVA) and host of Independent Americans, explains why veterans are uniquely positioned to lead this movement: they’re country-first, they understand sacrifice, and when they served, they wore America’s jersey—not a red or blue one. This episode also features insights from John Opdycke, founder and president of Open Primaries, who has been fighting for election reform for decades and sees independent veterans as the breakthrough this movement needs. 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 -WATCH video of this episode on our YouTube channel. -Read the entire op-ed here and share this episode with someone that needs to hear it. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. –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! 

Gallup: Independent Voters Hit 45% – So Why Does the Political Establishment Keep Pretending They Don’t Matter? The Lessons of Ross Perot’s Legacy. 

  In this special episode, Paul Rieckhoff reads an op-ed he co-authored with John Opdycke that challenges the narrative that independent voters don’t matter. Despite new Gallup polling showing independents now represent 45% of all American voters—the highest number recorded in modern history—the political establishment continues to dismiss them as “leaners” who are really just partisans in disguise, or “spoilers” who siphon votes from legitimate candidates. Paul unpacks why this dismissive narrative persists and traces it back to Ross Perot’s explosive 1992 presidential campaign, when 20 million Americans went off-script and forced both parties to pay attention. The Perot movement produced a balanced budget, the Contract with America, and Clintonian triangulation—and terrified the DC establishment in the process. Today, 10,000 Americans switch their registration from Democrat or Republican to Independent every single week. Five independents are running for U.S. Senate this fall, with over 100 independent candidates expected across all levels of government. A majority of Americans now support open primaries that allow non-party voters to participate in publicly funded elections. The independent movement isn’t just growing—it’s ready to lead. Because 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. 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 -WATCH video of this episode on our YouTube channel. -Read the entire Oped here and share this episode with someone that needs to hear it. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. –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! 

BONUS POD | 2028 Presidential Preview, The Veterans from Both Parties (and No Party) That Could be President. The Most Dangerous Thing Trump Can Do. Why Paul Takes Cold Showers, Coaches Youth Football and Watches FallOut

  From Paul: “Chuck gave me the time and space to really lay it all out. From Trump’s plans for ICE and the Pentagon, to the legacy of Vietnam in politics, to what I’m building for independent vet candidates with IVA and in independent media with my show. And, we talk football, morning routines, FallOut, and if I’ll ever run for office. It’s smart, fast and fun. And if you dig my show, I think you’ll enjoy and appreciate it.Happy weekend people!” We’ve got a great bonus episode for you, featuring Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff’s appearance on the Chuck Toddcast. You know Paul from this show and probably cable news, but you might not know that for the past twenty years he has been one of America’s most fierce advocates for veterans since founding Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Now, as host of the Independent Americans podcast, he’s mobilizing a different kind of army—independent veterans ready to run for office and reject both major parties. In this wide-ranging conversation, Chuck and Paul explore why over 50% of veterans identify as political independents, how Pete Hegseth is transforming military culture in dangerous ways, and why the Pentagon was Trump’s first strategic target for a reason. They discuss the troubling parallels between ICE recruitment tactics and military messaging, the chilling effect on dissent among military retirees, and why veterans like Mark Kelly are uniquely positioned to push back. Paul breaks down his Independent Veterans of America initiative, which is recruiting 100 candidates this fall—including potential Senate runs in Nebraska, Montana, Idaho, and South Dakota. He argues that one independent veteran senator could become the most powerful member of the Senate, and explains why breaking the two-party stranglehold starts with veterans who already wore camouflage instead of red or blue. They also dig into the Vietnam generation’s political scars, why no Vietnam veteran ever became president, and how the all-volunteer military has disconnected most Americans from the human cost of war. Plus: football as democracy, cold showers as discipline, and why Fallout on Amazon Prime might be the most relevant show for understanding corporate power in 2026. Because 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. 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 -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. –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! 

Special Report: Trump & ICE’s War on Kids w/ Anya Kamenetz. School Phone Bans. School Vouchers & Home School’s Dark Side. COVID’s Damage to Students. Epstein & Trump’s Broken Culture Where No Means Yes. Australia’s Social Media Experiment. LGBTQ Kids in the Crosshairs.

  These are really wild and stressful times for everyone. And if you have a child in your life, or care about kids, or just care about yourself, this is a special pod that you need to hear or watch.  Trump has been at war with the media, the Pentagon, and Democrats—but there’s also been a secret war on our children. And it’s been supercharged by ICE. One in four kids in American public schools has a parent who’s an immigrant, and right now those children are afraid to go to school. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has gotten little scrutiny while moving forward with plans to totally dismantle the Department of Education. Meanwhile, our kids are still processing COVID trauma, navigating an unregulated tech landscape, and coping with mental health challenges, suicide risk and basic day-to-day stress that touches every family. Especially if you’re a parent—and an especially if you’re about to head out on winter break with them—you should check out this show and take it with you. In this vital conversation, Paul Rieckhoff sits down with Anya Kamenetz—author of The Stolen Year: How COVID Changed Children’s Lives, writer of the Substack newsletter The Golden Hour, and one of America’s leading voices on child well-being. They discuss the impact of ICE enforcement on school attendance, the strategic attack on public education, cell phone bans in schools, Australia’s social media age restrictions, youth suicide trends, and how parents can cope while raising kids in a political combat zone. And how kids are surviving in real combat zones like Ukraine—and how we can all better cope with all that is coming at us right now.  Anya brings clarity, compassion, and actionable wisdom to one of the most underreported crises in America: the well-being of our children. From mental health first aid to collective resilience, this episode offers both a stark wake-up call and a roadmap for staying vigilant and hopeful. And it’s a must for every parent in America especially.  Guest: Anya Kamenetz is an award-winning journalist, author, and thought leader on education, parenting, and child development. She is the author of multiple books including The Stolen Year, and writes The Golden Hour on Substack. She has served as an advisor to the Aspen Institute and the Climate Mental Health Network, and her work has appeared at NPR and beyond. Learn more at https://www.anyakamenetz.net and subscribe to her Substack at https://thegoldenhour.substack.com. Be sure to check out her books: The Stolen Year, The Art of Screen Time, The Test, and DIY U. Because 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. 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 -WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders like Dan with Independent Veterans of America. –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!