With ICE, Trump, Hegseth, election threats, and national security atop the headlines, Paul sits down with rising star, possible 2028 presidential candidate, and Senator Ruben Gallego. The Marine Corps combat veteran and Democratic senator from Arizona joins the show for a 4th time, for a blunt conversation about power, accountability, and the future of American democracy. Gallego answers if ICE is broken, if the command culture is rotten, and if the agency must be overhauled, renamed, and stripped of funding— as one-third of its agents are veterans like him and immigrant communities he represents no longer trust it. Gallego and Rieckhoff also dive into Trump’s rising desire to invoke the Insurrection Act, Gallego’s call for a coordinated national strike if Trump interferes with the fall elections, and his push to confront veteran suicide and failed VA leadership from Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins.
The episode widens out to culture, foreign policy, and the road ahead. Paul and Gallego break down Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show as a moment for Latino America, discuss Puerto Rico’s political future as a 51st state, spotlight unequal benefits for veterans there, and celebrate Arizona legend Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction. They connect the war in Ukraine, drone innovation, U.S. strikes abroad, and Elon Musk’s Starlink decisions to the dangers of rising authoritarianism at home, while exploring how AI and drones will drive our future. And, Gallego walks us through how he’s won over independents in Arizona, why independents are the key to any national victory for Democrats, and what it would take for his party to earn their trust in 2028 and beyond. This is an urgent and important conversation at the center of everything.
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.
–WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.
-Watch the Senator’s past appearances: Episode 113 • Episode 211 • Episode 333
