Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

As America emerges from the pandemic, we’re taking a little break. But never fear, we’ve got a lot of good stuff in the archive. And if you’ve never heard this episode you’re in for a treat. And if you’re a long time listener, we think you’ll enjoy hearing this gem again.  From Feb. 29, 2020: With America disrupted and divided like never before in our lifetime, what better time to sit down with th...

Sebastian Junger is one of the most important authors, thinkers and public intellectuals in America. And one of the most interesting guys you’ll ever hear. He’s also a true badass and adventurer—the spirit of Hemingway—who joined us in Episode 100 and is back to talk candidly about his highly-anticipated, sure-to-be-best-selling new book, Freedom .    Throughout history, humans have been driven by...

We’re finally winning the war against the coronavirus. But what about the next war? While many in Congress want you to breeze past the pandemic failures, or the failures to stop a predictable and preventable insurrection attack, new attacks are happening right now. And have been happening for years. And as the summer comes and Americans get less vigilant, our enemies are attacking.  Russian-backed...

“Liz Cheney is 1 of only 10 Republican House members who voted to impeach President Mayhem over his role in inciting the deadly January 6 insurrection and attack on America at our Capitol. And never forget--even as time passes--almost 6 months later--it was an insurrection. It was an attack on America.  But too many in the media are still weakly mincing words and calling the events of January 6 a...

Mortal Kombat is a new movie based on the old video game. And now, it’s the #1 film in America. If you don’t know, it’s about fighting. And it’s also the state of affairs in Washington. In 2021, every day in Congress is a kind of mortal combat.  But the violence and fighting in Washington that we’ve seen in the last year--and on the January 6th attack--is not the first violence American has seen i...

“Thank you for your patience.” That’s how President Biden ended his historic and unusual address to the joint session of Congress. After all we’ve been through over the last four years. And after the last year especially, America was in the roughest place of our lifetime. And we hit rock bottom on January 6, 2021. That was the low point of our lifetime. And damn, it was low. But America is now bou...

The biggest verdict of or time is in and Officer Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder. Is America guilty of celebrating too much? Is this a turning point--or just a one-off? Did American political leaders do enough? What are the parallels between the 2020 George Floyd murder video and 2002 beheading video of journalist Daniel Pearl? What happens next? Baratunde Thurston ( @Baratunde ) is back to help...

President Biden has declared the war in Afghanistan over. The George Floyd murder case continues to unfold. Coronavirus variants are spreading fast. And the J & J vaccine is on pause. It’s still a tough time in America. 100 days into the Biden presidency, things remain pretty damn turbulent. And Americans are still deeply divided. But millions are vaccinated, our troops are coming home from the lo...

The marijuana reform movement is on fire. In the election last year, beneath all the Biden and Trump drama, every single state-level cannabis ballot initiative passed--from New Jersey to Mississippi to South Dakota. And now, New York state has legalized the green stuff. Federal legalization is gaining steam, the industry is exploding and everyone wants in on the weed movement. Marijuana is no long...

It’s spring break this week for millions of kids across America. School’s out, Passover, Easter, and March Madness are also here, and millions nationwide are spending extra time with family. And so are we. In this special episode, we are thrilled to introduce you to two new members of our media family: the captivating hosts of the newest Righteous Media production: Everybody and Their Mother Has a...

Things are warming up in America. And hope is finally spreading faster than the virus. It looks like the second half of 2021 will be a whole lot better than the last year. That’s thanks to the dramatic increase in focus, coordination and teamwork. It’s also thanks to courageous leaders like Jake Wood ( @JakeWoodTR )--social entrepreneur, Marine Corps combat veteran, author and CEO of the disaster...

As we finally spring ahead and March Madness begins, Independent Americans is the #1 seed in your bracket for fresh, independent news, politics, culture and inspiration. It’s a no-BS perspective you won’t find anywhere else in the media. One that always dominates the paint on national security, foreign affairs, leadership, and social impact.  March Madness is here. But not just the basketball tour...

As spring finally nears, Independent Americans blooms as your fresh, trusted, independent source for news, politics, culture and inspiration. It’s a smart, dynamic perspective you won’t find anywhere else in the media. And one that’s always grounded in a focus on national security, leadership and social impact.  The weather is getting warmer. The vaccine is coming. Spring is coming. And Wes Moore...

Independent Americans is your trusted, independent source for news, politics, culture and inspiration. It’s a smart, fresh, candid perspective you won’t find anywhere else in the media. And we’ll always be grounded in a focus on national security, foreign affairs and domestic threats.  Despite the lack of media coverage, America is still very much at war. While the rest of the media obsesses over...

Independent Americans is your trusted, independent source for news, politics, culture and inspiration. It’s a smart, fresh, candid perspective you won’t find anywhere else in the media.  Winter is dragging on, but we’re bringing light to warm things up. Our host, Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) is tearing into a pivotal week in the quest for accountability after the Jan 6 attack, Biden’s first m...

Independent Americans is your trusted, independent source for news, politics, culture and inspiration. It’s a smart, fun, candid perspective you won’t find anywhere else in the media.  Guest Ken Feinberg is a master of disaster. He’s a leader who has been asked multiple times, by multiple Presidents, to do the impossible: to determine the dollar value of a human life after an unimaginable tragedy....

Welcome to Season 2. Yep, we’ve changed the name of the show.  For 100 episodes, we were united in our understandable anger. We were united in highlighting for others issues that had us angry--and should have everyone angry. And we were united in turning that anger into positive impact. That positive impact inspired action, supported legislation, elevated courageous voices, united people of all ba...

Before he was slain serving as a Capitol Hill Police officer, Brian Sicknick served in the Air Force. Officer Sicknick survived multiple deployments to the Middle East, only to be killed at home by his fellow citizens inside his own nation’s capital. He was the first casualty in America’s new war with itself.  Our Congress, our military, the Republican party, and families nationwide are being torn...

Just when you think things can't shock you anymore, politics in America finds a way.  We now all know about Q Anon. And we’re learning more and more about the role it/they played in the January 6 terrorist attack on our Capitol. And over the next few weeks, as the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump unfolds, we’ll all learn more about the conspirators, ringleaders, supporters — traitors — who...

Maybe you’ve slept better recently knowing that Trump no longer has access to our military. And to our nukes. But stakes are still high. As high as ever. And we’re gonna continue to break it down. This is not the time to rest---or even celebrate. That time is over. This is the time to stay focused and to stay vigilant.  In this fiery episode, our host Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) is again joi...

We finally have a new president. A president who wants to be a uniter. A president we all hope can reach beyond partisanship. No matter how hard it will be.  This post-inauguration special of The Dispatches features an important conversation with a leader who is a national voice of reason — Wayne Smith—a man we call, “The Oracle.” He joined us back in Episode 63 of Angry Americans in June of last...

This pre-inauguration special installment of The Dispatches features an urgent conversation with a leader who is covering maybe the most important story in America right now: our national, military response to the rising, imminent domestic threat at the inauguration and beyond.  As 25,000 National Guard troops envelope Washington, DC, The Washington Post is now reporting that 12 members of the Nat...

Most of the American media is looking back. In this episode, we’re looking forward.   We are now truly a country at war. At war with the domestic terrorists. At war with the coronavirus. At war with a racist legacy. In 2021, America is at war with ourselves.  The Dispatches is a quick-hit series of breaking news podcasts hosted by Iraq war veteran, author and activist Paul Rieckhoff  that gives yo...

We are now truly a country at war. At war with the domestic terrorists. At war with the coronavirus. At war with a racist legacy. In 2021, America is at war with ourselves.  The Dispatches is a quick-hit series of breaking news podcasts hosted by Iraq war veteran, author and activist Paul Rieckhoff that gives you information and analysis you need to protect yourself and the people you care about....

America is under attack from within. Domestic terrorists invaded the Capitol. President Mayhem is blowing it all up on his way out. For months on Angry Americans , we warned that this could happen. It’s a dark time for all Americans. But this episode will help you understand it, unpack the causes and failures, and prepare for what comes next.  Chuck Hagel is back to break it down with our host: Ar...