Jack Smith Testifies. ICE is Snatching Kids & Hits Maine. JD Vance Goes to Minneapolis. Elon Trolls Davos. 44% of NFL Players are Independents.  Mark Kelly for President?

On this special bonus episode of Independent Americans, host Paul Rieckhoff cuts through a blizzard of news and chaos with retired four-star General Barry McCaffrey. From Trump at Davos mocking allies and floating military action toward Greenland, to ICE crackdowns stretching from Minneapolis to Maine and talk of deploying the 11th Airborne toward American cities, it is a deep, unflinching look at a country on the brink of something very dangerous.​

McCaffrey details how the Trump White House has shattered global trust, why he believes NATO as we knew it is effectively dead, and how turning ICE and federal law enforcement into camouflaged, armored shock troops erodes vital trust between cops and communities. He explains the real-world implications of Trump’s threats to “wipe Iran off the face of the earth,” his pirate-like seizures of Venezuelan oil, and his efforts to use the Army-Navy game, the National Guard, and active-duty forces as partisan political props. Paul and the General also dig into the quiet end of the U.S. troop presence in Iraq, the lessons of Vietnam and the War on Terror, the danger of believing war can be easy or bloodless, and the collapse of once-strong national security institutions.​

You’ll hear McCaffrey’s blunt assessment of Trump as a lawless, destabilizing commander in chief, his concern that the United States now looks like a “predator nation,” and his warning that law enforcement and the military are being dangerously politicized in ways that will take at least a decade to repair. Paul weaves in his own on-the-ground perspective—from CNN and NewsNation hits to his work with American Veterans for Ukraine and his fight against ICE abuses that are traumatizing kids like five-year-old Liam Ramos—alongside moments of hope, from Randy Newman’s music to stories of French allies who promise to “be there” when America is in trouble. It is a conversation that embodies the five I’s—independence, integrity, inspiration, information, and impact—at a time when Americans are increasingly independent and hungry for trustworthy voices and real perspective.

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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Independent Americans host and Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff joins Connell McShane on NewsNation Now for a rapid-fire breakdown of Trump’s shocking threats to “blow up” Iran, his escalation over Greenland, and what it all means for America’s security and standing in the world. From NATO nearly considering Article 5 over a possible U.S. attack on Greenland, to protests in Greenland against America, to civilians literally freezing in the dark in Kyiv, this special bonus episode pulls back the curtain on the real costs of Trump’s foreign policy chaos.​

Paul explains why Greenland actually matters strategically, how Trump’s bullying approach is driving a dangerous wedge between the U.S. and NATO, and why the biggest winner so far has been Putin. He digs into why the smartest way to check Russia is in Ukraine—not in the Arctic—and why threatening to obliterate an entire country like Iran is reckless, unnecessary, and terrifying to allies and adversaries alike.​

The conversation also hits Congress’s disappearing role in questions of war and peace, the crushing of protests inside Iran, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine as hundreds of thousands flee a frozen Kyiv without power or heat. If you’re tired of hot takes and headline-chasing, this is a clear, unflinching sitrep on America’s place in the world—and what independent Americans should be watching now.

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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Snowpocalypse is Coming. Explaining White Nationalism. ICE is Now Snatching Cops & Vets. MLK’s Hidden Message. JD Vance is Having a Baby. Fallout (The Show) & How We Save America.

Trump’s “America First” has become Trump against the world—and the stakes for democracy, justice, and basic decency have never been higher. In Episode 420 of Independent Americans, Paul Rieckhoff sits down with Princeton scholar, author, and public intellectual Eddie Glaude to break down white nationalism and white Christian nationalism in Trump’s America, what they’re doing to our institutions, and what it will really take for courageous everyday people to fight back. Glaude explains why he believes white nationalists have effectively captured the executive branch, how “great replacement” panic is driving ICE and immigration policy, and why liberty in America has been twisted into a synonym for selfishness and greed.​

Against the backdrop of MLK Day and a brutal political winter, Paul and Eddie go deep on the distortion of Christianity into a political weapon, the rise of white Christian nationalism in the military and VA, and how theological extremism is shaping everything from culture war battles to U.S. policy in Israel. They unpack what it really means to call America a “white republic,” how Klan‑era thinking still shapes immigration policy, and why ICE’s expansion is best understood as a project to “make America white again.” Eddie also challenges the sanitized version of Dr. King, reconnecting us to the exhausted, radical King of 1968 who warned that “we have some difficult days ahead” and died with the heart of a 60‑year‑old.​

This conversation is a master class in moral clarity and civic courage—and a call to action. Rieckhoff and Glaude spotlight the everyday leaders already stepping up, from Bishop William Barber and Poor People’s Campaign organizers to local housing and education activists, independent veterans, and unlikely neighbors who find shared humanity in the middle of shared suffering. If America is going to make it to its 250th birthday in one piece, it won’t be because politicians saved us—it will be because regular people chose truth over denial, courage over comfort, and community over collapse

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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Dow Drops 700. Don’t Protest Inside a Church. Oil From Venezuela Ships. Chris Pratt or Lindsey Vonn for MN Gov? Impeach Trump. Indiana an Example for America. Measles Is Back. ICE Crosses Another Line.

Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff returns with an unfiltered conversation cutting through the turmoil of Trump’s America, a Greenland crisis, and a shaken NATO to focus on a pivotal political battle: Mississippi’s independent U.S. Senate candidate, Ty Pinkins. From New York to the Mississippi Delta, Rieckhoff explores how this historic campaign could disrupt Washington’s balance of power—without a Democrat or Republican label.

Pinkins shares what he’s heard across all 82 Mississippi counties, where voters are rejecting “the same two parties saying the same things.” A Black combat veteran and Delta native, he’s emerging as a serious challenge to an entrenched MAGA incumbent. He shatters the myth of “splitting the vote” in a state where Republicans have dominated for decades and argues that independents now represent the most energized political force in the country.

Rieckhoff and Pinkins also connect the global stakes—from Trump’s destructive foreign moves on Greenland, NATO, and Venezuela—to local crises like hospital closures, job losses, and political neglect across Mississippi. Drawing from his deployments and three-year grassroots tour, Pinkins outlines an independent message built on courage, accountability, and inclusion, aimed at uniting a multiracial, multigenerational coalition ready to redefine Mississippi—and America’s—political future.

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.

-Support Ty Pinkins run for Senate in Mississippi. And check out his last conversation with Paul 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! 

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More Shameful Attacks by Trump on Greenland. Protests at ICE-Leaders’ Church. DOJ Puts Don Lemon “On Notice”. MLK’s Example. President Mayhem Politicizes Army Navy Football. CFB Championship Tonight. 

Paul Rieckhoff rips through the biggest stories in America and around the world in this hard-hitting solo episode of Independent Americans. From President Mayhem’s threats to seize Greenland and troll NATO, to the looming danger of the Insurrection Act and troops on alert for possible deployment to Minneapolis, Paul breaks down what matters, why it matters, and what might come next—connecting the dots between ICE abuses, DOJ weaponization, and attacks on the free press so you can stay ahead of the chaos, not crushed by it.​

It’s Manosphere Monday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Paul digs into what real, strong, modern American manhood looks like—and how MLK’s courageous, disciplined, peaceful protest stands in absolute contrast to Trump’s escalating forever war at home and abroad. He hits the latest from Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Ukraine, and our NATO allies; explains why tariffs on key partners and the obsession with Greenland make America less safe; and exposes how Trump is trying to normalize domestic troop deployments and label dissenters as “domestic terrorists.”​

Then Paul shifts gears to break down the NFL playoffs, wild divisional-round finishes, coaching shake-ups, and the college football national championship—explaining why decision-making under pressure matters just as much on the field as it does in the Situation Room. He takes on Trump’s new political stunt around the Army–Navy game and why real patriots should resist turning it into propaganda instead of a unifying tradition, before closing with a powerful “something good” on teaching his kids about Dr. King and honoring MLK’s independent, moral, unflinching leadership. If you’re one of the 45% of Americans who now identify as independent—or just someone who wants information, integrity, and inspiration instead of fear and spin—this solo episode is your briefing, your wake-up call, and your shot of hope

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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Explaining Posse Comitatus and Martial Law. Will He Do it on MLK Day? Trump’s New Nobel Prize: Yuck. Friday Football Playoffs. Kyle Tucker, Kyrsten Sinema and Why The Dodgers Are Like Trump. 

Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most urgent threats to our democracy with returning champion Asha Rangappa, former FBI Special Agent and Yale national security law expert, in an all–new Football Friday episode recorded January 16, 2026. From Venezuela to Venezuela-style tactics at home, they connect the dots on how Trump’s use of military force, deportation crackdowns, and legal maneuvers feed a larger project of power and conquest across the Western Hemisphere, and why the Insurrection Act is now a “circuit breaker moment” for American democracy.​

Because every episode of Independent Americans breaks down the most important news—and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows—this conversation delivers sharp, accessible explanations of the Insurrection Act, the Posse Comitatus Act, and why using active-duty troops as “bodyguards for ICE” could turn American cities into occupied zones. Paul and Asha lay out how Trump telegraphs his punches, how he could flip the language of “insurrection” and “domestic terrorism” onto his political enemies, and what happens when illegal orders collide with the oaths of military leaders and service members.​

They also go beyond the headlines to track a Western-hemisphere “sphere of influence” strategy that looks imported from Moscow and Beijing, the Supreme Court’s looming tariff decision, and the chilling symbolism of Venezuelan opposition leader María Machado handing her Nobel Prize to Trump—while tying in Ukraine’s brutal winter, the assault on Stars and Stripes, and the erosion of U.S. credibility as France steps in to provide two-thirds of Ukraine’s intelligence. And because it’s Football Friday, Paul closes a heavy episode with playoff picks, wine, the new “Independent is an Attitude” anthem from producer Chris Rosenthal, and Asha’s shout-out to indie band Mates of State—reminding listeners that staying vigilant also means protecting joy, culture and community.

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.

-Listen/watch Asha’s podcast It’s Complicated and check out her Freedom Academy on Substack and follow her on social media.

-Check out her SubStack post: Your Guide to What the $#&*! Trump is Trying to Do with the National Guard

-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, Army veteran and 9/11 first responder Paul Rieckhoff joins Katy Tur Reports to dig into the human and political fallout of America’s broken immigration and border system. From front-line agents to families and communities, he explains how putting ICE in an impossible position is “harming our national security” and eroding trust at home and abroad.​

Rieckhoff calls this a “circuit breaker moment for America” and lays out why independent-minded citizens must push past the partisan noise to demand real solutions. He connects the dots between border policy, global instability and the daily lives of listeners, while offering concrete ways to stay engaged, informed and constructive—not just angry

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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A Top Cop Breaks Down the Minneapolis Murder. And Another ICE Shooting. 500 Pushups a Day. Iran, Greenland, Ukraine, Venezuela. Verizon Fails. Harbaughs for the Win.

Here it is. A defining moment for America. For the world. And for history. As America stares down the possibility of Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act to send federal troops into Minneapolis—and maybe Detroit next—Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff for an urgent, no-bullshit conversation about power, policing, and how we stop this runaway train before it jumps the tracks. From ICE raids that are “a weapon, not a tool,” to masked federal agents, to what happens if active-duty troops roll into your town, this episode is a frontline briefing from a cop, medic, professor and now Democratic candidate for governor of Michigan who has literally walked protesters away from the brink of violence. Sheriff Swanson breaks down how ICE is cannibalizing local law enforcement, what real police accountability looks like after George Floyd and January 6, and why he still chose to run as a different kind of Democrat in a state where independents and disillusioned voters may decide everything.​

Rieckhoff and Swanson also go deep on leadership, discipline and what it takes to be a “choose your fighter” kind of public servant in 2026—covering Swanson’s bodybuilding and Ironman mindset, his near-vegan lifestyle, daily gratitude practice, and how “command presence” can calm a city or light it on fire. They dig into Michigan’s high-stakes governor’s race, the surge of independent voters, how Democrats lost the working class, and why Swanson is “burning the ships” with no Plan B. And they still find time for something good: youth sports, Lions heartbreak and hope, and a shot of inspiration for anyone feeling beaten down by the news but still ready to get off the couch and get in the fight.

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 Sheriff Chris Swanson’s campaign for Governor of Michigan 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! 

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Plus a Stupid Milk Press Conference, America’s Role, and Harbaugh to the Giants—Paul Rieckhoff with Connell McShane. 

What’s really happening on the streets of Iran? Is the regime conducting executions or not? Reports say yes. Trump says no. During a crazy press conference at the White House about changing the rules for milk in schools. Will Trump hit Iran again? Will Congress do anything?? What does it mean for America and the world? Rieckhoff explains why the protests feel like a potential tipping point, why organic, grassroots uprisings matter, and why the best move for President Trump may be to avoid military escalation while supporting those risking their lives for freedom.​ From reports of snipers on rooftops and internet blackouts to questions about executions, regime brutality, and U.S. intelligence, Rieckhoff and retired General Richard Newton dig into the realities on the ground and the risks of miscalculation. They explore how regime change in Tehran could ripple across Russia, North Korea, and beyond—and what true American leadership should look like in 2026.​

Rieckhoff also calls out Congress’s responsibility to reassert its war powers, lays out non-military ways the United States can stand with Iranian protesters, and warns against turning a democratic uprising into a Trump-branded intervention. They examine how shifting U.S. assets, Israeli calculations, and a fraying global coalition reveal that America is no longer automatically trusted to “quarterback” world events—and what independent Americans should demand from their leaders now.

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.

-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. 

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How Dems Rig the System. Chicago the Next Minneapolis? Non-binary is About Freedom. Trump Sics FBI on Wash Post. US Troops to Iran? RIP John Forte.

Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff has an exclusive first media interview with Lindsay Church—Minority Veterans of America founder, disabled post‑9/11 veteran, queer non-binary parent, and now independent candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 4th District. This all-new episode dives into what it means to take on ICE in Chicago, confront a rigged Democratic party primary, and run as an independent veteran in the middle of Trump’s escalating war on democracy and the free press.​ Lindsay’s campaign is already historic—as they’d be the first non-binary candidate on a federal ballot in American history. 

From the streets of Berwyn and Cicero—where ICE raids have become an everyday terror—to the halls of Congress where Lindsay has already helped pass landmark reforms like the PACT Act and the Deborah Sampson Act, this is a raw, unfiltered conversation about power, courage, leadership and accountability. Paul and Lindsay break down the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis from a combat veteran’s perspective, the weaponization of ICE and PTSD, and how this shooting exposes the consequences when discipline and democracy break down.​

You’ll hear why Lindsay believes the corrupt Democratic Party machine in IL‑04 “coronated” a successor behind closed doors, how an independent needs more than 10,000 signatures just to get on the ballot, and why they are running for office in the face of hate and danger—because people deserve a real choice in November and a representative who’s earned their vote, not inherited it. The episode zooms out to Trump’s broader authoritarian overreach—ICE raids, FBI raiding the home of a Washington Post journalist, threats to NATO, escalation toward Iran, Greenland and Venezuela—while Paul also honors the late musician John Forté, celebrates his wife’s new independent film “The Florist,” and reminds listeners that from Tehran to Kyiv to Chicago’s Southwest Side, hope and resistance are still alive.

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/hear previous appearances on the show by Lindsay - Episode 324 and Episode 177.

-Learn more about Lindsay’s work at Minority Vets as well as their campaign for Congress here.

-Support John Forté’s family through GoFundMe 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! 

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What City Will Trump, ICE, Noem Target Next? Trump is an Authoritarian Strongman. Is Martial Law & The Insurrection Act Coming Soon? Senator Kelly Sues Hegseth. Poll: New High of 45% in US Identify as Political Independents. Bye, Aaron Rodgers!  

In this all-new episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff, host Paul Rieckhoff sits down with NYU historian and author Ruth Ben-Ghiat for a powerful, no-BS briefing on Trump, ICE, the “forever war” at home, and the global authoritarian threat. From Minneapolis to Venezuela, from the Insurrection Act to propaganda and personality cults, Ruth explains how strongmen operate, why so many Americans still underestimate the danger, and what every listener can do—right now—to defend democracy.​

Paul also opens the show with his trademark rapid-fire rundown of the day’s chaos: ICE raids turning American cities into “ghost towns,” war-crime questions in Venezuela, a brutal new death toll in Iran, and another deadly night in Ukraine. He breaks down a new Gallup poll showing a record 45% of Americans now identify as political independents—and why that makes this community more important than ever.​

This is a must-hear episode for independents, veterans, national security pros, and anyone who feels that helicopters sound different now, that black vans mean something new, and that America is in a fight for its soul. As always, Paul brings the five I’s—independence, integrity, information, inspiration, and impact—and Ruth brings the historical receipts.

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 Ruth’s work at ruthbenghiat.com and follow her on Instagram or X.

-Subscribe to Ruth’s SubStack Lucid here.

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

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