NEW EPISODE · AUGUST 11, 2026 · EP 597
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Vol. V · No. 597Wednesday Edition
Righteous MediaSince 1776. Est. 2019

Episode 467

Trump: I’ll Take Cuba

On a wild and weird St. Patrick’s Day, Paul Rieckhoff breaks down Trump’s expanding war in Iran and his shocking talk about “taking Cuba,” and explains why once you kick a hornet’s nest, the hornets—not Trump—decide when it’s over.

The Brief

→ Four things from today’s episode
01

Why the primary is the election. 95% of U.S. House races across Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin are uncompetitive in November

02

The hard number. 935,892 unaffiliated Connecticut voters — 41.5% of the state — locked out of today's closed primary

03

Connecticut's real registration breakdown. independents 935K, Democrats 792K, Republicans 489K — independents are first

04

129,563 Connecticut veterans caught in the lockout, with an. 129,563 Connecticut veterans caught in the lockout, with an estimated 63,000 identifying as independent



On a wild and weird St. Patrick’s Day, Paul Rieckhoff breaks down Trump’s expanding war in Iran and his shocking talk about “taking Cuba,” and explains why once you kick a hornet’s nest, the hornets—not Trump—decide when it’s over. From 50,000 U.S. troops in harm’s way, growing drone threats, and a widening conflict across the Middle East, to MAGA insiders breaking ranks like Joe Kent and an unraveling Pete Hegseth, Paul calls out dangerous weakness at the top, a feckless Congress, and the newest inductees into the 2026 Chickenhawk Club. No guest, no spin—just Paul, like your political pint of Guinness, giving you the independence, information and integrity you won’t get anywhere else.

Paul also focuses on the human cost of war: more than 200 wounded troops in seven countries, grieving Gold Star families like Cheryl Simmons, and the vital work of helpers like TAPS and Bonnie Carroll supporting survivors long after the cameras are gone. He connects that pain to a powerful story of a young quarterback opening up about depression, using his platform to fight stigma and prove that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 

From St. Patrick’s Day in New York and Dropkick Murphys on the playlist, to mental health, March Madness and a packed slate of upcoming guests like Ken Casey, General Mark Hertling, Seth Bodnar, Tim Mak and more, this episode will help you stay informed, stay engaged—and stay vigilant.