He Strikes Venezuela & Snatches Maduro. Blows Past Congress and the American People. Welcome to 2026.
In this special QRP (Quick Response Pod), Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff rips into Trump’s New Year’s strike on Venezuela, the snatching of Maduro, and the dawn of America’s Forever War 2.0. He breaks down how Trump blew past Congress, flaunted his power, and opened a new and dangerous chapter in American foreign policy—while U.S. troops once again carry the burden on the ground.
Paul takes you inside the breaking news of Trump’s surprise New Year’s raid on Venezuela, the Delta Force capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and Trump’s declaration that America will “run the country” and take the oil. He draws sharp parallels to Iraq—without the full-scale invasion—and explains why this is a whole new 2026-style mess with Trump unleashed, Congress sidelined, and the American people kept in the dark.
From Somalia to Yemen to Syria to now a likely occupation of Venezuela, Paul lays out the growing map of Trump’s first-year strikes and why this moment marks the launch of Forever War 2.0. He calls out the failure of imagination in Washington, the hollowing out of media like CBS, and the dangerous consolidation of power that lets Trump do whatever he wants with the most powerful military in the world.
Speaking as a combat veteran, Paul separates pride in our troops from outrage at the politicians who deploy them, reminding listeners that they execute orders no matter who is president. He warns that Cuba or even Greenland could be next, connects the dots to China watching and waiting over Taiwan, and urges independents everywhere to stay vigilant as 2026 kicks off with “Happy New War.”
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.
