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
Why Susie Wiles’ exit matters. and whether she’ll ever speak out about what she saw inside Trump’s White House
02
Hegseth posts a meme with Stephen Miller. “Stand, fight, defend the republic.” The circle is closing.
03
Paul’s blunt verdict. Pete Hegseth is the most destructive force on the American military since the Iraq War, maybe since Vietnam
04
Thomas Massie files eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth. and why the vote should happen on Veterans Day
