Charlie Sykes sits down with Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, for a wide-ranging conversation about America’s mass shooting crisis, the culture of grievance fueling extremism, and the dangerous consolidation of presidential power. Rieckhoff highlights the role of isolation and disconnection among young men, the failures of political leadership, and the urgent need for new role models. It’s not all bad news though. The two also discuss the rise of independent veteran candidates as a possible antidote to partisan dysfunction.
To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes: Paul Rieckhoff – Grievance, Guns, and Power
The Brief
→ Four things from today’s episode
01
Matthew McConaughey’s weekend message and why Paul’s phone w. Matthew McConaughey’s weekend message and why Paul’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing with people asking if he’ll run
02
The math on a McConaughey 2028 independent run. and why 20% like Ross Perot may be the floor, not the ceiling
03
Brian Bengs ties Mike Rounds 43-42 in South Dakota. the first independent senator who won’t caucus with either party is within reach
04
The Guardian report that Elon Musk asked Trump to throttle S. The Guardian report that Elon Musk asked Trump to throttle Starlink in Ukraine, and what it means when a defense contractor has that much unregulated power
