Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

In this groundbreaking episode, you’ll hear a side of Ambassador Susan Rice that you’ve likely never heard before. This is Rice uncensored, frank and with the gloves completely off. She candidly shares her thoughts on the recent attacks on US troops in Iraq and the Trump impeachment, but also on the Grammy Awards, the death of Kobe Bryant, her first car, her favorite drink and what music makes her...

Fires engulfing Australia. Friendly fire on the 2020 campaign trail. Government forces firing on protestors in Hong Kong, Iran and Iraq. The fire of rocket attacks and enemy infiltrations hitting our troops from Kenya to Kabul. Tense protests in Richmond, Virginia continue to raise the heat--but thankfully, no fire. This time. And in Washington, the political fires of the last few years have grown...

The regular season is over. The Iowa caucuses are almost here. And the Super Bowl is coming soon. It’s time for the playoffs! For football--and for politics. There are only four teams left in the NFL. And only six Democratic candidates left on the debate stage. Especially during the playoffs, if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention. Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) breaks down the latest...

With America locked in a global face-off with Iran, Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) breaks down the latest news with his trademark independence, experience, and humor. This episode, we approach the enormous stress of this precarious time in history with light, rather than heat. Angry Americans ( @AngryAmericans ) goes deep into an extremely human side of the issue with one of the most successful...

Happy New decade! The new year is picking up right where 2019 left off. Mayhem is our new normal. The American embassy in Iraq is under siege, Trump is again threatening war with Iran and North Korea is promising a new year of missiles and madness. Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) breaks it all down with his trademark independence, extensive experience, and a dash of humor. And he takes the pod t...

Whew! We made it. Christmas is over. Hanukkah is almost over. Festivus is done. And host Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) has one last holiday gift: a special and quick end of year episode with some of our best guests from an incredible year of pods. It’s a short one. And a happy one. We’ll hear from a few of our best guests from an amazing 2019.  After every conversation with an important, iconi...

This episode, we have a very special Festivus gift for all you good little boys and girls! Jason Alexander ( @IJasonAlexander ) joins Angry Americans for an extended and extremely candid conversation. Following our massive episode with Mayor Pete Buttigieg, we’ve got a huge change of pace. The man himself! The legend. The iconic actor who played George Constanza on Seinfeld is here to tell us abou...

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg ( @PeteButtigieg ) is a political sensation, now topping polls in Iowa and New Hampshire. If elected in 2020, the Democrat will be the youngest President in American history and the first war veteran since George Bush Sr. Before a live audience, [26:19] Mayor Buttigieg sits down for one of his most candid, most hard-hitting and most extended public conversa...

Harry Smith ( @HarrySmith ) [39:25] is an American media legend. The inspiring and beloved journalist has been a fixture in living rooms all across the country for decades. At NBC, CBS and A&E , Harry has told the stories of America. As the holiday season approaches, we’ll take a tour through the heart of our country with a wise and learned guide that’s driven the roads, climbed the mountains, row...

In this fun and inspiring special Thanksgiving episode, we go through the best of the “What makes you happy?” question. Paul has asked that same question of every single guest on the pod so far. And he picks out the best—after quirky and independently summarizing a wild week of important news. It’s a perfect pod to download for your holiday season travel or chill time.  Sarah Jessica Parker will e...

In 2005 in Iraq, the assault vehicle Marine Corporal Aaron Mankin [56:40] was riding in was hit by a devastating improvised explosive device. Four Marines died and eleven others were injured. Aaron survived, but was seriously wounded when his body caught on fire in the blast. He suffered intense burns on over 25 percent of his body. His ears, nose and mouth were essentially gone, he lost two finge...

David Bellavia @DavidBellavia2 [54:17] is the sole living Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient to have served in the Iraq War. One fateful day in Iraq would forever change history. It also happened to be his birthday and the day before Veterans Day. On November 10, 2004, while serving as a squad leader in support of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, David experienced brutal house-to-house and...

Bob Woodruff ( @BobWoodruff ) is a true American hero. A walking miracle. And one of the greatest advocates in America for troops and veterans. In 2006, Bob was reporting for ABC News from the front lines of Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. Woodruff sustained massive shrapnel wounds to his head and body. He was evacuated and kept in a medically induced coma for 36...

What’s it like to be the reporter who broke the story that US Special Forces had killed ISIS leader Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi? How does it feel to be the first to know the identify of American troops killed in action before the President does? What’s it like to go from serving in the US military to serving as a journalist and being called the “enemy of the people” by your Commander-in-Chief? For this H...

Inspirational leader or political spoiler? Super Hero or Bond villain? How you see controversial Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard ( @TulsiGabbard ) depends on where you sit. Fresh off a headline-grabbing clash with Hillary Clinton, Gabbard sits down with Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) for a no-holds barred, extensive and uniquely candid conversation. [28:50] Gabbard is the first female combat vetera...

This episode is really fun. And important. Samantha Bee ( @iamsambee ) [34:19] has taken on the rich, the powerful, the crooked and the wrong. She’s been a voice for the voiceless. And a true patriot. After 12 legendary years at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart , the trailblazing comedian, writer and producer launched her own groundbreaking satirical news show on TBS. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee...

Marc Roberge ( @MarcRoberge ) is the thoughtful, sincere, brilliant, fun and tenacious lead singer of the massively successful band, O.A.R. ( @OfARevolution ). Together, with his bandmates and childhood friends from Rockville, Maryland, Marc has built one of the most successful bands of the last two decades. O.A.R is successful because of the concerts they’ve sold out and the hits they written lik...

With the American political landscape facing a new bombshell every few hours, host Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) takes Angry Americans deep into the intersection of entertainment and politics with a man who has uniquely lived in that intersection for the last four decades. [27:50] Legendary actor and activist Bradley Whitford ( @BradleyWhitford ) has starred in The West Wing , won an Emmy for...

Dean Kamen [22:32] is one of the greatest inventors of our time. He invented the Segway, the first drug infusion pump , and the Slingshot--a water purification device that requires no filters, can turn almost any kind of water into drinking water and can operate using cow dung as fuel. He also invented the LUKE ( L ife U nder K inetic E volution) prosthetic arm for the Department of Defense’s DARP...

Legendary tattoo trailblazer Scott Campell is more than an artist. He’s a storyteller, he’s an oracle, he’s an entrepreneur, he’s an innovator, he’s a tastemaker. He’s a father, he’s a traveler, he’s an activist. He’s a great American success story--and a true creative visionary. Starting at the lowest levels, sweeping floors and scraping to eat, he learned to become a master of the craft at Pictu...

18 years later, America is still processing 9/11. And 9/11 First Responder Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) digs into all of it. From Trump’s plans to meet with the Taliban at Camp David to the Department of Defense making cuts to pay for the wall, to how to talk to your kids about 9/11. It’s a time that should be about unity. And Angry Americans is here to unite all Americans around the 4 I’s: i...

Nearly three out of every four homes in the Bahamas are underwater. The airport is gone. Countless people are homeless. And recovery from the catastrophic damage will cost billions of dollars. And now, the storm is headed straight for the United States. And straight for the Carolinas. No matter where it hits, it’ll be bad. But don’t worry, our President thinks we can nuke hurricanes. And Marienne...

As storm season hits America, Angry Americans digs in. Get your sandbags out and your shovels ready. Our fearless host, Paul Rieckhoff ( @PaulRieckhoff ) reads the radar, checks the wind patterns, and predicts the rainfalls as a crazy summer of politics and news rolls into the fall hurricane season with a fury. Hurricanes of all kinds (real and political) are rampaging across America and the world...

Chris Cuomo ( @ChrisCuomo ) grew up in the political and media crossfire. He knows how to mix it up with the world’s most powerful people in politics and media. And in the last week, the Emmy-award-winning journalist has found himself in the middle of the headlines like never before. The controversial host of CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time and SiriusXM’s Let’s Get After It sat down exclusively with Paul R...

It’s the dog days of summer in America. And there is LOTS happening you need to know about. From the aftermath of the El Paso and Dayton massacres, to the evolving shooting situation in Philadelphia, to attempts to change the meaning of The Statue of Liberty, to the wave of veteran suicides happening in VA parking lots, Paul Rieckhoff ( @Paul Rieckhoff ) breaks down what you need to know--and what...