ICE is Tracking Protestors. Vance Tells Olympians To Shut Up. Chaos At El Paso Airport. Strikes In Mexico Next? Grand Jury Won’t Indict Kelly & Co. 

With AG Pam Bondi testifying before Congress and shamefully defending Trump’s Epstein connections and ICE’s lawlessness, and a major US airport shut down potentially due to drones from Mexico invading Texas airspace, Paul Rieckhoff and independent veteran running for Senate in Nebraska Dan Osborn dive deep into the issues the establishment wants to ignore: the urgent demand for the full release of the Epstein files, the lack of accountability for ICE’s "dark prisons" and domestic incursions, and the "surge pricing" of groceries that is crushing American families. From the FAA halting flights in El Paso due to cartel drones to the "un-American" politicization of the Olympics by JD Vance, this episode is a masterclass in staying vigilant against chaos, corruption, the super rich and demanding transparency from those in power

Nebraska’s independent surge is no longer just a "tip of the iceberg" story—it’s the tip of the spear.  Dan Osborn returns to the show to break down his statistically tied race against GOP incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts. As Ricketts spends millions to protect his seat, Osborn is fueling a "paycheck populism" movement powered by 25,000 individual donors and a refusal to take corporate PAC money. This is the ultimate David vs. Goliath battle in the heart of the country, and the stakes for the Senate have never been higher. This is perhaps the most important Senate race in the country—because it’s more than about Nebraska—it’s the people vs the ultra-rich, partisan and powerful. 

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Learn more and support Dan’s campaign for Senate here.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders like Dan with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

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<14% Detainees Have Criminal Record. Should VA Sec Collins Resign? National Strike vs Trump. Bad Bunny. Chappell Roan Stands vs Wasserman & Epstein. Lindsey Vonn & Ukraine Olympic Controversy

With ICE, Trump, Hegseth, election threats, and national security atop the headlines, Paul sits down with rising star, possible 2028 presidential candidate, and Senator Ruben Gallego. The Marine Corps combat veteran and Democratic senator from Arizona joins the show for a 4th time, for a blunt conversation about power, accountability, and the future of American democracy. Gallego answers if ICE is broken, if the command culture is rotten, and if the agency must be overhauled, renamed, and stripped of funding— as one-third of its agents are veterans like him and immigrant communities he represents no longer trust it. Gallego and Rieckhoff also dive into Trump’s rising desire to invoke the Insurrection Act, Gallego’s call for a coordinated national strike if Trump interferes with the fall elections, and his push to confront veteran suicide and failed VA leadership from Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. 

The episode widens out to culture, foreign policy, and the road ahead. Paul and Gallego break down Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show as a moment for Latino America, discuss Puerto Rico’s political future as a 51st state, spotlight unequal benefits for veterans there, and celebrate Arizona legend Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction. They connect the war in Ukraine, drone innovation, U.S. strikes abroad, and Elon Musk’s Starlink decisions to the dangers of rising authoritarianism at home, while exploring how AI and drones will drive our future. And, Gallego walks us through how he’s won over independents in Arizona, why independents are the key to any national victory for Democrats, and what it would take for his party to earn their trust in 2028 and beyond. This is an urgent and important conversation at the center of everything. 

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Watch the Senator’s past appearances: Episode 113 • Episode 211 • Episode 333

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

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Lawmakers to View Unredacted Epstein Files. Hegseth vs The Boy Scouts and Harvard. JD Vance Booed at Olympics. US Olympians Speak Out Against ICE. Super Bowl Monday Should be a National Holiday. 

It’s Super Bowl Monday and Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff is unpacking a wild 24 hours in America—from a politically charged halftime show and Seattle’s gritty win to dangerous ICE raids, new 9/11 revelations, and the most political Olympics yet. Every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) 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 a time when trusted news, politics, inspiration, and hope are in short supply.

In this all‑new solo “Manosphere Monday” episode, Paul ties together Bad Bunny’s historic halftime performance and its “the only thing more powerful than hate is love” message, Trump-world backlash, and the NFL’s bet on Latino and Puerto Rican culture as a preview of America’s demographic future. He launches “Manosphere Monday” with real talk on male leadership, raising boys, and men’s health—spotlighting prostate screenings via that unforgettable “Relax Your Tight End” Novartis ad. Along the way he exposes chilling ICE abuses, honors murdered Minneapolis VA hero Alex Preti, and reveals a newly surfaced 9/11 memo showing New York City officials quietly worried about toxic air and legal liability while first responders and residents were told it was safe.​

Paul also tracks Trump’s war on the free press, Pentagon stonewalling, Pete Hegseth’s escalating culture war against the Boy Scouts and Harvard, JD Vance getting booed at the Olympics, and why Ukraine’s athletes are now the spiritual center of the Games. He highlights the growing movement for open primaries, new polling showing Americans are fed up with partisan primaries, and why veterans and independents are leading the charge to reclaim our democracy—before closing with some sports hope in college hoops, March Madness, and his surging St. John’s Johnnies. If you’re exhausted by partisan spin, corporate media, and performative “manosphere” grifters, this is your alternative, independent briefing on Super Bowl Monday—packed with politics, culture, sports, and honest conversation about health, masculinity, and American leadership.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

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ICE Kicks Puppies. DHS Black Site Prisons. JD Vance is Garbage. A New Boat Strike. 17.5 Veteran Suicides Per Day. Super Bowl Picks and Bets, Ice Fishing, Chloe Kim Rocks Olympics.

Trump is all gas, no brakes on this Super Bowl Friday—from posting a racist video from the White House depicting the Obama’s as apes and escalating his war on the press, to unleashing ICE’s culture of cruelty with gassed protesters, kicked‑in doors, kicked puppies and plans for giant warehouse‑style detention centers that could function as domestic black sites. In this all‑new episode of Independent Americans, Paul Rieckhoff welcomes back the iconic Rachel Maddow for a sharp, extended, urgent and surprisingly hopeful breakdown of what she calls a “mad king” moment—and why the real work now is taking away Trump’s tools of power, from the Justice Department and ICE to the Pentagon and the Insurrection Act.​ Rachel rarely does podcasts, but she does this one hosted by her old friend.

They chop it up on how authoritarians depend on institutional cowardice and public exhaustion, and why disciplined, non‑violent, mass resistance and strategic shaming still work—even against a president who seems beyond embarrassment. They highlight ICE’s evolving archipelago of dark sites, Congress finally “getting up on its hind legs” with a “don’t obey illegal orders” push, and the catastrophic failure of imagination that could come if Americans don’t prepare now for an Insurrection Act deployment to crush future protests.​

It’s not all darkness: Rachel gets personal and takes us to her ice‑fishing happy place in Western Massachusetts and explains why chasing pike through thigh‑deep snow is her metaphor for stubborn joy and resistance, while Paul salutes Chloe Kim’s Olympic patriotism and life with a Jets‑fan kid. They close with a Super Bowl Football Friday segment—debating Patriots–Seahawks, Drake May’s jitters and Sam Darnold’s late bloom—and a cross‑jersey bet that will leave either Paul in Pats gear or Rachel in Seahawks colors. It’s a fierce and fun way to end a crazy week and prep properly for the Super Bowl. 

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Listen to Burn Order, Rachel’s latest amazing podcast.

-Be sure to watch the documentary Rachel referenced as Something Good: Field Generals: History of the Black Quarterback. 

-Check this out. You can follow ICE’s Black Site efforts with this tracker. See if one is coming to your city or town. 

-If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. Resources are available. Call or text 988 for immediate access to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available nationwide, 24/7, for mental health, suicidal thoughts, or substance use issues.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

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Washington Post Wreckage. Bezos the New Bad Guy? Independent Media’s Moment. US Russia Nuke Treaty Expires. Nancy Guthrie Rivets Nation. Fallout & Rising Hatred for Corporations. NBA Trade Madness.

The news is flying. And we’re keeping you ahead of it. And focused on what matters most. Paul is joined by the venerable Chuck Todd—host of the Chuck Toddcast and former moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press and more— for a raw, candid, often funny kitchen-table conversation America needs right now that takes you behind the curtain on media, news and politics. They break down ICE agents leaving “death cards” with white supremacist history, detaining citizens, and now, local cops; Jeff Bezos’s gutting of the Washington Post and layoffs hitting reporters in war zones; and how billionaire power—from Bezos and Musk to Trump—is hollowing out the Fourth Estate and putting our democracy, national security, and truth itself up for sale. They also unpack the TV show Fallout’s dystopian world of bunkered elites and abandoned wastelands, and what it reveals about America’s rapidly-growing anti-corporate mood cutting across all political lines. 

Together, Paul and Chuck go hard at the rise of independent voters and candidates, the promise of open primaries and mayors, and the pivotal role veterans and independent leaders will play in the next political realignment. They talk Jesse Ventura, Ross Perot, Bill McRaven, The Rock, Mark Cuban, Matthew McConaughey, Dan Osborne, Todd Achilles, and the real possibility that a celebrity or billionaire like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos could hijack—or turbocharge—the independent movement. If you’re furious at ICE, worried about the attacks on the press, disgusted with both parties, and hungry for independent, patriotic analysis that refuses to bow to the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Trump, Bezos, Musk or any corporate overlord, this episode is for you—and a call to declare your independence, stay vigilant, and choose country over party, people over politics, and light over heat.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Check out Chuck Todd’s The Chuck ToddCast. 

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

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700 ICE Agents Out of Minnesota. Navy Downs Iranian Drone. Brutal Testimonies of ICE Abuses. Huge Layoffs at Washington Post. Measles Outbreak at Texas ICE Jail.  

Strap in! Former INDEPENDENT Minnesota Governor, pro wrestler, actor, Navy SEAL and all‑around badass Jesse “The Body” Ventura is finally on the pod—and he’s not holding anything back. In this news-making new episode of Independent Americans, Ventura joins host Paul Rieckhoff for an extended, uncensored and exclusive conversation about Trump’s ICE crackdown in Minneapolis, the raid on his own Roosevelt High School, January 6th, and why he believes America chose “the criminal over the Constitution.” He shares raw stories about his Vietnam service and his parents’ World War II heroism, explaining why that family history gives him license to call Trump’s ICE “the Gestapo” and accuse them of trampling core constitutional rights in his hometown.​

Ventura also pulls back the curtain on his personal history with Donald Trump—from Trump flying to Minnesota after Jesse’s 1998 upset win, to their surreal New York dinner in NYC with a movie star that will surprise you, to how Trump “stole” Jesse’s outsider playbook to capture the GOP instead of building a truly independent movement. He blasts Trump’s WWE Hall of Fame spot, calls out fake tough‑guy politics, reacts to a planned UFC event at the White House, and warns about the danger of Trump invoking the Insurrection Act and turning the U.S. military on American citizens. At the same time, he highlights rising resistance in Minneapolis and beyond, as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Morello and artists, young people and veterans of all kinds push back against ICE abuses and democratic backsliding.​

Looking forward, Ventura breaks down exactly how he won the governorship as an independent against the two major parties, the two things he thinks are key for independents to win, and how independent vets can follow his blueprint today through Independent Veterans of America. He talks about recruiting big‑name independents, the explosive growth of independents nationwide, and even floats a wild scenario that could send him to the U.S. Senate to confront Trump world from the inside. 

If you’re part of the 45% of Americans who are independent—or just independent‑curious—and you miss hearing Jesse Ventura tell stories like only he can, this is your must‑hear episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Get the full transcript here.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Please take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis. Read his story here.-Check out MOH recipient Thomas Norris’ amazing and courageous story as well.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

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Dems Eat Their Own in Texas. Clintons to Testify on Epstein. Elon’s GROK Loves Porn. Jill Biden’s Ex Charged w Murder. Savannah Guthrie’s Mom. Liberals Buying Guns. ICE at Super Bowl?

It’s only Tuesday–and this week is already on fire. From ICE stalking kids and now Haitian caregivers, to Trump openly musing about “taking over” the fall mid-term elections and flirting with the Insurrection Act, Paul kicks off this all‑new daily episode with a blistering run through the wildest news of the day: Jill Biden’s ex‑husband charged with murder, Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, a delayed moon mission, and another massive Russian barrage on freezing Ukraine.​

Then, Democratic strategist, nonprofit advisor and attorney Kaivan Shroff joins Paul from New York to get extremely reasonable about a Democratic Party that seems determined to eat its own. They dig into why the Democrats can’t get out of their own way, overly focus on identity politics, and continue to hemorrhage voters nationwide. And they focus on the headline-snatching Texas Senate Democrat primary food fight between James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett, Colin Allred’s “mediocre Black man” moment, and how very online identity wars and racial politics are distracting the Dems from from attracting independents, beating Republican Ken Paxton, winning back Texas, and actually stopping Trump.​ What the hell is wrong with the Democrats? So much. 

Paul and Kaivan also break down why so many liberals are suddenly buying guns, what that means for suicide risk and public safety, and how Trump’s ICE crackdown and gun restrictions have even hardcore Second Amendment advocates furious at the government he now runs. They explore whether this crisis could finally force a new, common‑sense unity and breakthrough national conversation about guns, civil liberties, and what real “law and order” looks like in Trump’s America.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Check out Kaivan’s SubStack and also his podcast Extremely Reasonable.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

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Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Shaboozey and a Grammy Tsunami Slams ICE and Trump. Danish Veterans March Against Trump. Groundhog Day is VERY 2026. Super Bowl Week Begins.Girl Scout Cookies!

This Groundhog Day 2026,Paul emerges from the cold of the weekend like the Puxatawny Phil of news in an episode 431 to barrel into the start of February and off a freezing trip to Philly that reflects a growing, nationwide fury at ICE’s abuses. He lays out why he believes ICE’s culture is rotten to the core, details ProPublica’s naming of the federal agents involved in the killing of Alex Pretti, and explains how expanding warrantless raids from Minnesota to Utah are shredding the Constitution in real time. Paul connects this crackdown to Trump’s escalating war on protest and the press, where peaceful protesters are smeared as “domestic terrorists” and “communist insurrectionists” to justify possible use of the Insurrection Act and even active-duty troops against American citizens.​

The episode also hits Trump’s broader assault on the free press, from reports of gagged MAGA-friendly media to relentless attacks on ProPublica, NPR, Jimmy Kimmel, and others, while Paul shares a chilling example of violent threats he receives on Elon Musk’s X for speaking out. 

Abroad, he highlights thousands of Danish veterans marching against Trump in Copenhagen over his disrespect for NATO, Iran’s brutal execution of former soccer star Mojtaba Tarshid after protests, the fragile ceasefire and reopened Rafah crossing, and Ukrainians fighting to keep a 51-year-old gorilla named Tony warm amid freezing Russian attacks.

Back home, Paul spotlights a political shocker in Texas, where Democrat and Air Force veteran Taylor Remit flipped a deep-red congressional district that Trump carried by 17 points, powered by independents and disaffected Republicans. He uses the upset to explain how independents are surging and are now the decisive needle in American politics, previews a virtual town hall with Open Primaries and independent veteran Senate candidates Ty Pickens and Todd Achilles, and weaves in culture and sports—from the Grammys’ anti-ICE tipping point and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show to Seahawks–Patriots, Knicks magic, and OKC’s rise—and closing as always with “Something Good good”.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Join the Open Primaries Zoom “Independent Veterans are Spoiling for a Fight”

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

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Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff joins NewsNation Now with Connell McShane and Republican leader Tiffany Smiley for a fiery, no-notes live TV showdown—and this all-new episode brings you the full, unfiltered audio. They clash over Trump’s dramatic move in Venezuela, regime change talk in Cuba, and what Paul calls a “vision board” foreign policy that now stretches from Venezuela to Cuba to even Greenland. At stake are core American values, the role of Congress, the risks of regime change wars, and whether our military and allies are being overextended in ways most Americans—and especially independents and veterans—do not want.​

From there, the debate shifts to ICE, immigration, and recent shootings in Minnesota, as Paul raises alarms about secretive, aggressive enforcement tactics and the blowback they are creating among Republicans, Second Amendment advocates, and independent voters. Tiffany counters that voters will ultimately judge Trump on their pocketbooks, pointing to tax cuts, rising wages, and a strong stock market as proof that his economic agenda will win out as people “start to feel it.” Paul pushes back that Trump’s approval is collapsing with independents, and that Americans care not only about their wallets, but also about feeling safer and more respected in the world.​

Connell steps back and lets the sparks fly as the two battle over who really represents the rising independent majority. It’s fast, unscripted, and raw, capturing the real fight over foreign policy, immigration, the economy, and the future of independent political power in America. If you’re sick of canned talking points and partisan echo chambers, this is the front-row seat you’ve been waiting for.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

Ways to listen:

Ways to watch:

Social channels:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trump Ready to Hit Iran Again. Putin/Ukraine Energy Cease Fire? ICE Beating Up Old Ladies. Sen Redneck Hates the Super Bowl. Friday Football: Pro Bowl Edition. 

This rapid fire episode is an intense real‑time situation report from Times Square on one of the wildest Fridays of 2026 so far. Paul Rieckhoff digs into the federal arrest of Don Lemon and Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort after church protests, and why Trump’s push to criminalize journalism and protest crosses a dangerous new line in his war on the free press—making clear that if they can be targeted, so can any podcaster, reporter, or citizen who dares to speak out.​​

Rieckhoff lays out Trump’s playbook: stoking protests to justify invoking the Insurrection Act, deploying the 11th Airborne and National Guard, and using ICE as an unaccountable strike force against immigrants, veterans, kids, and even elderly women, backed by disturbing new videos from Minneapolis, Maine, Colorado, and beyond that show a culture he argues is rotten beyond repair. He tracks how Trump is repositioning the military for a potential strike on Iran while dropping Epstein files, naming a new Fed chair tied to those documents, and counting on chaos and fear to keep him in power—all as Ukraine hangs on a fragile energy‑strike “ceasefire” and over a million independents in Maryland fight for open primaries.​

Amid the mayhem, Paul still delivers the five I’s—independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact—honoring the legacy of Catherine O’Hara, previewing the Pro Bowl’s flag football future, the coming Super Bowl “woke bowl” culture war, and why flag football’s Olympic debut matters for the next generation. Through it all, he centers what really counts: the courage of protesters freezing in Minneapolis, the fear and resilience of kids living under ICE, and the power of joy and community as a form of resistance—arming anyone who’s angry with the context, clarity, and fuel they need to push back and stay vigilant.

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

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Freedom Caucus Cofounder on the Insurrection Act. DJT Losing Independents. ICE Violated 100 Court Orders. Reps Fleeing GOP. Dems Defunding DHS. Gun Advocates Triggered. The Boss  > Nicki Minaj.

Former Republican Congressman, conservative talk host, and one-time presidential candidate Joe Walsh is back—and he’s not holding anything back. In this raw, unfiltered conversation with Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff, Walsh explains why he left the GOP, why he took the controversial step of actually joining the Democratic Party, and why he still considers himself an independent at heart. Together, they dig into the Republican Party’s embrace of Trump, the fracture among conservative gun owners, and what it means when a lifelong conservative believes his former party is now an “existential threat” to American democracy.

Rieckhoff and Walsh break down the unfolding ICE and Alex Pretti crisis in Minneapolis, including new video, a judge’s blistering rebuke of ICE for violating nearly 100 court orders, and why the culture inside ICE is, as Rieckhoff puts it, “broken to the core.” They examine Trump’s inflammatory comments on guns, the backlash from responsible gun owners, and what real conservative values look like in 2026. They also wrestle with a big question facing millions of politically homeless Americans: Do you join a party to stay in the fight—or reject both parties and go fully independent?​

From health scares and aging to staying in the daily grind of political combat, Walsh talks candidly about why he’s still out there “raising awareness every day for where this country is at”—and why he thinks this moment demands courage, clarity, and a refusal to look away. Rieckhoff pushes hard on what it would take for Walsh to leave the Democrats and rejoin the growing independent movement—and what breaking with your old political tribe really looks like in real life. This is a fiery, funny, and deeply serious conversation for anyone who’s fed up with both parties but refusing to give up on America

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.

-WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.

-Check out Streets of Minneapolis by Bruce Springsteen here.

-Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America.

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. 

-Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. 

-And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. 

-Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. 

Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. 

And now part of the BLEAV network! 

Ways to listen:

Ways to watch:

Social channels:

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