Is the American military a tool for national defense or a private army for global conquest? Host Paul Rieckhoff breaks down a volatile week as Donald Trump issues a chilling “warning” to Iran, claiming our military is “loading up” and looking forward to its next conquest. Coming to you from Los Angeles before his appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Paul drills down into why this rhetoric makes our service members less safe and more hated, and why we must reject the idea that American troops signed up to be a “loaded gun” pointed at anyone’s oil.
This episode also exposes the mounting human cost of the Iran War, with 381 U.S. service members wounded and survivors of the Kuwait attack now bravely disputing the Pentagon’s “unprepared” account. From the Pentagon’s bizarre threats against Pope Leo to the ongoing “turf war” between Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, we are tracking the chaos and the helpers. Plus, we look at Ukraine’s dazzling drone success in the Middle East and why Joe Rogan—and 45% of the country—is now officially “politically homeless.” Stay Vigilant.