Podcasts about Hook

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brendan Kaminsky.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brendan Kaminsky.

Iran Deal is the Worst Deal Ever. DSA Runs the Table, WIll it Cost the Dems? The story of the Real SAV Act. Who Do You Trust in  Post-Truth Era? America has a primary problem, and New York City is ground zero. Less than 500,000 voters showed up to decide who runs a city of five million, while a million independents — Paul included — were shut out by the most closed primary in the country. That's not democracy. That's a rigged two-party system handing the keys to whichever faction can mobilize the most insiders, while the angry middle stands on the sidelines watching the country drift. In this special episode cut from two recent CNN appearances with Erin Burnett, Paul breaks down the seismic NYC shakeup, the Senate's overdue spine on Iran, the worst ceasefire ever, and a White House so packed with sycophants that the president's own assistant leaves him love notes. He digs into why Trump is fixated on the Save Act — because free and fair elections are America's circuit breaker — and why Democrats keeping Barack Obama on the sidelines is political malpractice. It's quick-fire, intel-grade analysis for the angry middle. No jersey. No spin. No-BS. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Primary Fallout. Trump Blows Up Housing Bill for SAVE Act—Because He's Focused on the Elections. DJT Thinks He's a UFC Fighter. Hegseth's Pentagon Purge Continues. Good News for Independents in DC.  Flu Outbreak Sickens Hundreds of Troops.  Mamdani is the new king of the Democratic Socialists, and he didn't get there by accident. He understood that closed primaries are a rigged game where the players are also the referees — and he played that game to perfection while more than a million New York City independents were locked out of the vote that actually decides who represents them. Paul Rieckhoff breaks down what happened in NYC, in Maryland, and in Utah, why Brad Lander worked so hard to kill the open primaries ballot initiative, and what the rise of the far left in safe-blue cities means for the angry middle that has nowhere left to go. From there, the briefing widens out. The Senate finally voted to check Trump's Iran war powers — with an asterisk worth knowing about. Hegseth forced the retirement of General CD Donahue, the last soldier out of Afghanistan, and the patriotic purged are starting to file for office. Trump botched a Medal of Honor ceremony, fixated on UFC fighters' muscles, and pushed a SAVE Act designed to scare Americans away from the ballot box. Paul also flags some good news: DC just funded open primaries, retired Navy Admiral Nancy LaCore won her South Carolina primary, and a six-tour combat veteran named Kate Connolly is coming for Mike Lawler in the Hudson Valley. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Stitch Please, Lisa heads to Belgium to chat with fiber artist and content creator Deborah Butera of Unraveled Studios. What started as a series of failed attempts at knitting and sewing as a kid eventually turned into a full blown love affair with fiber arts and thankfully, Deborah finally stopped running from the yarn.Deborah and Lisa discuss creativity, finding your path after a disastrous first year studying politics, and building a life centered around making beautiful things. Packed with inspiration, laughs, and crafty wisdom, this episode is a reminder that your creative journey doesn't have to be perfect it just has to stick.=====Hosted By: Dr. Lisa WoolforkSenior Producer: Krystal HillProducer: Mike Bryant=====Where You Can Find More Deborah!============Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

Iran Now Costs $80B! Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. Will Trump Jinx World Cup Fever? The MAGA machine is cracking. Tucker Carlson — a 35-year Republican defender — just announced he won't support the GOP in the midterms. Marjorie Taylor Greene piggybacked within hours. Shawn Ryan, Joe Rogan, and others have already signaled the same. So what comes next? A more extreme Republican spinoff? A fake-independent rebrand in the RFK Jr. mold? A Tucker run with Tulsi Gabbard? Paul Rieckhoff delivers a hardcore Tuesday solo briefing on what the fractures inside Trump's base actually mean heading into the midterms — and why the angry middle has to be ready for what's coming. It's also primary day in New York, Maryland, and Utah — and more than 5 million independents are locked out of elections they pay for. Paul breaks down the math, the public polling showing 40% of New York Democrats aren't really Democrats, and which governors are stepping up on open primaries and which ones are ducking. Plus: the Pentagon quietly asking Congress for an additional $80 billion to cover the real cost of the Iran war that Hegseth told you was $29 billion, the Giannis trade shaking up the NBA, and why little Cape Verde at the World Cup is the kind of Cinderella story this exhausted country needs right now. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In today's episode, Brock Johnson breaks down the real driver behind Instagram's algorithm: shares. While most creators focus on likes and comments, shares — what Adam Mosseri calls "sends per reach" — generate significantly more reach per interaction than any other engagement type. He covers the data behind why shares matter, including figures from an Insta Club study comparing the reach value of each engagement type, and explain what a share actually represents at a human level.From there, Brock walks through the five types of shareable content using the SHARE framework — Simple, Hook-driven, Authentic, Relatable, and Entertaining — and then go deeper into five specific content categories that consistently drive shares: motivational, call-to-arms, relatable, controversial, and timely content. He also covers why purely educational content tends to get saved rather than shared, and concludes with two practical tips for making any piece of content more shareable, including why telling your audience to share — and giving them a reason — is one of the most underused tactics on the platform. Watch On YouTube 

What About an Arc de Healthcare? Trump's Destruction of Our Shared Symbols is an Attack on All of Us. World Cup Joy, Living in the New South, Friendly, Helpful Neighbors and Driving Across America.  Henry Rollins doesn't do small talk. The punk icon, author, USO road dog, and longtime friend of the show returns from Nashville to deliver one of the most blistering hours we've recorded this year. He keeps dragging the conversation back to the number no cable network wants to sit with: 13 dead American service members, and countless wounded, from a war in Iran the president picked and can't justify. Rollins walks through what a USO trip actually sounds like — young troops telling him the mission is simply "get to D-FAC" — and asks the only question that matters from the resolute desk: how do I get every one of them home? From there it's a wide-open briefing on the state of the republic. Rollins on Tennessee's generational shift and the independents rising inside a red state. Rollins on Operation Ajax, the JCPOA, and why no previous president pulled this trigger. Rollins on a White House that paved over Jackie Kennedy's rose garden, demolished the East Wing, and put MMA behind a paywall on the people's lawn. And Rollins on what's still good — neighbors who shovel each other out, strangers who change your tire in the rain, and a country whose arc, even now, still bends toward better. If you're in the angry middle, this one will hit a nerve and put some fight back in you. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every great teacher has something students can't find in a textbook: themselves. In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, Jacob sits down with educator and author Jay Wamsted to discuss how teaching becomes transformational when we stop trying to fit a mold and start embracing our own originality. While Jay's latest novel, The Lockdown Artist, serves as the backdrop for the conversation, the heart of this episode is about the people behind the lesson plans. Jay shares why he chose fiction as a way to wrestle with the questions that have followed him throughout his years in the classroom—questions about belonging, curiosity, relationships, and the kind of schools we're creating for students. Together, Jacob and Jay explore an idea that every educator needs to hear: your personality isn't separate from your teaching—it is your teaching. The stories you tell, the passions you share, the music you love, the way you laugh, and the way you see the world become the "hook" students attach to. Long before they remember your content, they remember you. The conversation is a reminder that students don't need another perfect teacher. They need authentic adults who are willing to bring their whole selves into the classroom. Because when teachers embrace what makes them unique, they create spaces where students feel permission to do the same. If you've ever wondered what truly makes a classroom unforgettable, this episode offers a simple answer: it starts with the courage to be yourself.

Peter Hook reflects on 50 years of music, the emotional weight of performing Joy Division and New Order live, and the many memories and ghosts of his past. Tickets for Peter Hook & The Light, Australia 2026 Topics Include: New Order toured Australia as early as 1982, helped by Factory Australasia's local support. Hooky calls Australia the only place he never wants to leave — he still suffers leaving every time. Peter Hook and the Light played their seventh-ever gig in Melbourne on their first Australian tour. He is now working through every New Order and Joy Division album ever recorded live. Get Ready features songs never played live as New Order, with Steve Morris largely absent during recording. The band's Grammy came from Orgy's heavy metal cover of Blue Monday — Hook loves the weird covers most. He revealed a plan to stage a full New Order classical concert, eyeing the Sydney Opera House. Ian Curtis performed with absolute conviction every single night — something Bernard Sumner couldn't match early on. Hook recalls first seeing Ian smash up a venue at 2:30am, dancing through broken tables — terrifying and electrifying. That chaotic Stiff/Chiswick talent show led directly to Rob Gretton becoming Joy Division's manager. Ian's lyrics, Hook says, are heartbreaking up close — Love Will Tear Us Apart masks devastating words in euphoric music. Singing Ian's words himself has given Hook a profound new insight into what Curtis was actually expressing. Tony Wilson signed them with a handshake — no contracts — while other labels arrived with thick legal documents. Bernard Sumner found the Unknown Pleasures pulsar image in a textbook; nobody planned the iconic sleeve. Hooky was actually sued for bootlegging the Unknown Pleasures artwork — which Factory themselves had originally stolen. Ian Curtis reportedly wrote a letter complaining about how Closer sounded — a detail Hook only learned years later. During Closer sessions, Curtis was being torn apart: marriage collapsing, new love, epilepsy worsening, the band pushing forward. Hook deeply regrets not seeing Ian before his cremation — but a gravedigger privately told him where Curtis is actually buried. The inquest into Ian's death so disgusted the band they decided on the spot to continue as New Order. Joy Division was deliberately boxed away for 30 years; Bernard called playing those songs "miserable" and refused to continue. Bobby Gillespie suggested the album playback concept so Hook could faithfully recreate Martin Hannett's studio sound live. Watching his son learn Joy Division bass lines at the same age Hook was then felt like staring into the past. Performing these songs, Hook says he is "living surrounded by ghosts" of collaborators now gone. The K-93 sessions saw Killing Joke's Geordie Walker move into Hook's Manchester home for six weeks, causing complete chaos. Those lost K-93 tapes mysteriously surfaced after the label went bankrupt — and Jaz Coleman promptly went silent again. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

0:00 Intro 0:09 Rich parents 3:44 False theory 5:32 Hook up 7:40 AI scam 10:48 Pringles cans 12:27 Lunch thief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Rieckhoff and journalist David Rhode rip into the wreckage of Trump's Iran operation — a campaign sold as an existential fight that ended with sanctions lifted, frozen assets returned, the nuclear program intact, and the regime still in power to keep slaughtering its own people. Thirteen American troops are dead. Forty percent of the Navy was tied up. The defense budget is ballooning past $1.5 trillion to paper over the costs. And the optics on the world stage? A checked-out president, alone in the G7 photo, looking weak while our adversaries celebrate. This is a solo briefing on what the angry middle needs to understand right now: every objective Trump set was missed, the Iranian people who risked their lives waiting for America have been hung out to dry, and the president is already telegraphing Cuba as the next target. Paul makes the case that Congress needs to invoke the War Powers Act before the next strike, not after — and that the working-class Americans who were promised their lives would change are footing the bill for Trump-class battleships the Navy says it doesn't need. If you're tired of being lied to by both parties about what strength actually looks like, this one is for you. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are officially in full rehearsal mode for the musical, and things are already completely off the rails. While Dan was away trying to record his backing tracks, we sent Carl into the recording studio to spy on him, and let’s just say his high-register vocals are something you truly have to hear to believe. Between pranking Dan’s tracks and exposing Meg for being a bit too gassy in her own sessions, we are spiralling fast.

Movie Mike ranks his Top 10 Steven Spielberg movies he has seen the most. He talks about how Spielberg may be the most influential filmmaker ever, but why this ranking isn't just about "best”…it's about the movies he can't stop rewatching. From Jaws and Jurassic Park to underrated gems like Hook and Ready Player One, Mike breaks down the 10 Spielberg movies that have had the biggest impact on him and on the movies we watch today. In the Movie Review, Mike gives his thoughts on Spielberg’s new movie Disclosure Day. It’s about a meteorologist and a cybersecurity expert who find themselves at the center of a movement to expose the government's cover-up of extraterrestrial secrets. Mike shares why the movie let him down, what he feels Spielberg missed the boat on, and why Emily Blunt was the best part of the movie. In the Trailer Park, Mike talks about Ridley Scott’s new film The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley coming out later this summer. The movie tells the story of survivors of a deadly pandemic traversing a post-apocalyptic landscape to find the origin of a mysterious radio transmission. New Episodes Every Monday! Watch on YouTube: @MikeDeestro Follow Mike on TikTok: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on Instagram: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on Threads: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on X: @mikedeestro Follow Mike on Letterboxd: @mikedeestro Email: MovieMikeD@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Comic Source Weekly covers the biggest comic-book news for the week of June 17, 2026. Jace breaks down DC's expansion of the Next Level line with new Legion of Super-Heroes, Teen Titans and Doom Patrol series, Barbara Gordon becoming The Bat in the Absolute Universe, Marvel pulling an Amazing Spider-Man #1000 cover, José Luis García-López's new Artist's Edition and the debut of Spawn '77. Also covered are Minor Threats: Welcome to Twilight, DC's new Gotham titles, Wolverine: Paradise, Alex Ross' Marvel Dimensions, Superman: The Stranger, The Trillion Dollar Kid, Crowbound, Tales of Wonder and the reported Deniz Camp exclusive deal with DC. The episode also looks at what appeared to hit during the June 17 release week, counts down the Prana Top 10 Bestsellers for the week of June 9 and finishes with books approaching Final Order Cutoff on June 22. The Comic Source Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource #ComicBooks #ComicNews #TheComicSource   00:00 Hook and Introduction 01:18 DC Expands Next Level 06:01 Barbara Gordon Becomes The Bat 09:53 Marvel Pulls Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Cover 14:35 José Luis García-López Artist's Edition 17:24 Spawn '77 21:01 Minor Threats and New Gotham Series 25:58 Wolverine: Paradise, Marvel Dimensions and Superman: The Stranger 29:21 Trillion Dollar Kid, Crowbound and Tales of Wonder 32:12 What Hit — Week of June 17 39:25 Prana Top 10 — Week of June 9 47:14 Final Order Cutoff — June 22 58:01 Closing Thoughts

IVA showcase: Veterans Meeting the Moment: Todd Achilles on His Idaho Senate Run & Ridgecrest, CA Mayor Travis Endicott. Father's Day 2026.  The Iran operation is being called the biggest American strategic loss in a generation, and the receipts are damning. Thirteen service members dead, billions unaccounted for, forty percent of the Navy tied up, sanctions lifted, assets returned, the nuclear program left intact, and the brutal regime in Tehran emboldened. Meanwhile the president is publicly floating Cuba as the next target, and Congress still hasn't invoked the War Powers Act. Paul Rieckhoff sits down with World War Z author Max Brooks to cut through the spin and ask the harder question: what do citizens actually do when the institutions designed to protect them are this badly broken? This conversation goes deep on the cost of forever wars, the morale and recruiting crisis inside the military, the betrayal of brave Iranians who believed America would have their backs, and the generational damage of watching two octogenarian presidents flail on the world stage. Brooks brings the same survivalist clarity that made World War Z resonate — preparation, community, civic muscle — and Paul translates it into marching orders for the angry middle. This is not despair content. It's a no-BS briefing on how veterans, independents, and working-class Americans can adapt, improvise, and overcome a political class that has earned exactly zero trust. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when youtrade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Absolutely packed episode to send us into a critical Father's Day weekend. The guys discuss how they feel about recent reporting around Luka Doncic's demands, Isaiah Stewart being made available, which A-list centers fit Luka's standard and their confidence Rob Pelinka can pull off everything he needs to this summer.

Anthony and Pete react to word coming out of Luka's camp that he's done waiting. They're happy to see this pressure.

Anthony and Pete set the table for a critical weekend likely filled with all kinds of action, reports and speculation by talking about their love of Beef Stew.

For many Native people, the version of California history taught in school does not tell the whole story. For Brad Munoa, a citizen of the Pechanga Band of Indians, the inspiration for “People of the West”, a new ten-part docuseries came after learning about a California history presentation at his son’s school. Munoa says Native American history received only a brief mention, while much of the focus was placed on a version of California history that overlooked Native voices and experiences. That moment sparked an idea. “So I wanted to make a series that would reach the youth in a compelling, cinematic way. Dramatic recreations, beautiful animations when we couldn't depict something in real life. One of the biggest archival libraries of stills and videos of California history that I think exists on the planet. We put that all together in 10 1-hour episodes. I'm telling you, it's amazing.” Munoa says the series, which took over two years to create, also touches on his family's own experiences. One scene was inspired by the love story of his grandparents. He says his grandfather was afraid to tell his future wife that he was Native because of the prejudice Native people faced at the time. Years later, watching actors bring that story to life on screen left him in tears. “I just started crying and sobbing. I explained that story was from my family history specifically. It was an honor to have them portray it.” Munoa says the series is not just about the past. He hopes Native youth see themselves reflected in stories that have often been overlooked and that viewers leave with a deeper understanding of California’s first peoples. View this post on Instagram A post shared by People of The West (@peopleofthewestseries) While the project has generated interest, Munoa says it has not yet been picked up by a streaming service. He says that is intentional. “We made the whole thing on spec without preselling it to a studio ahead of time. When you do that, yes, you get funding, but you also get oversight. And the studios get to determine final cut and get to suggest taking things out, adding stuff in. We wanted to tell the story without those handcuffs. So we made the whole thing on spec without preselling it. Now that we have it, we're trying to find distribution. “I just want everybody who watches the series to come away with a new profound understanding of history from a native perspective. I'm almost 100% sure that if they just watch with an open mind, it will inform all of their decision making going forward in a good way, so that we can build a better future for our kids.” Completing the project came with sacrifices. Munoa says work often took him away from his family. Now that the series is finished, he says he’s looking forward to making up for lost time and being more present with the people who supported him throughout the journey. “My wife has shouldered a lot of the responsibilities at home in her effort to support me, but she's been neglected, my kids have been neglected. They call me the dad from Hook as a joke. You know before he goes to Neverland in Hook, he's consumed with work and on his phone, he's missing baseball games and stuff. So I want to balance that all back and be there with my kids and wife, and tend to my land on the reservation.” The ten-part series makes its world premiere June 20 at Hollywood’s famed Chinese Theatre as part of the Dances With Films festival. Munoa says he hopes audiences leave the theater with a deeper understanding of California’s Native peoples and the stories that helped shape the state. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, June 19, 2026 — Native Playlist: Kalyn Fay and Logan Staats

On this episode, the guys talk ALF, Spider Noir, Send Help, Ocarina of Time, and much more. Enjoy.

In this episode of Music Matters, host Darrell Craig Harris sits down with actor, choreographer, singer, and songwriter Shedrack Anderson to discuss his exciting new album "Let It Fall" (available now) growing up with his legendary musician father, and his journey through a successful career in entertainment. From acting being directed by Steven Spielberg to music and longevity in the industry, Shedrack shares personal stories, valuable insights, and the experiences that have shaped his remarkable path as a performer and creator. About Shedrack Anderson Many fans remember Shedrack from his role in Steven Spielberg's beloved film Hook, but his creative journey didn't stop there. From acting on screen to developing his voice as a recording artist, Shedrack shares the experiences, challenges, and lessons that have shaped his path through the entertainment industry. We also dive into his exciting new album release, exploring the inspiration behind the music, his songwriting process, and what listeners can expect from this latest chapter of his career. Along the way, Shedrack reflects on working in Hollywood, balancing multiple creative passions, and staying true to his artistic vision. www.shedrackanderson.com www.Instagram.com/shedrackanderson About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Sports Illustrated photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry. Currently, over 1.2 million global downloads in 40 countries. Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh  Instagram: www.Instagram.com/musicmatterspodcastofficial For inquiries, contact: musicmatterspodcastshow@gmail.com Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell  Voice intro by Nigel J. Farmer of Voice Wrap Studios Representation:  Yvette Morales | YM & Associates PR Beverly Hills, CA YM-PR.com Email: YMoralesY@ym-pr.com                          

It was a split-screen American day. In New York, two million people packed the Canyon of Heroes for a Knicks parade that felt closer to VE Day than a basketball celebration — kids out of school, FDNY Ladder 10 in the crowd, fans flying in from Sydney. In Washington and overseas, the president was busy selling an Iran deal that even Mike Pence and Nikki Haley are calling a loss. Ballistic missiles intact. Regime intact. Strait of Hormuz still under their thumb. Thirteen dead Americans still unaccounted for in the moral math. Paul Rieckhoff calls it what it is — a sucking chest wound for our military posture and our economy, dressed up as diplomacy. From there the conversation widens with Dr. Nazi Monyan and Princeton's Dr. Lauren Wright into the machinery underneath: a Fed signaling rate hikes while the president pretends he loves inflation, a blown-up DNI nomination, a Georgia split decision, and a primary system rigged so tightly that the extremes pick the nominees while 45% of the country watches from outside the tent. New polling confirms what the Angry Middle has felt for years — people are leaving both parties in numbers that should terrify every party boss in America. This is the no-BS briefing on why joy and fury can live on the same block, on the same day, in the same country. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The B-Side! Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between. Today we discuss one of the greatest film directors to ever live: Steven Spielberg! Our B-Sides are 1941, Hook, Amistad, and The Adventures of Tintin. Our guest is dear friend and incredible writer Bilge Ebiri! As of this writing, he just published his piece The Raider of a Lost Art, an oral history about Spielberg in conjunction with the release of his new film Disclosure Day. He's also discussed Spielberg with The Film Stage before! We chat about Spielberg's early start and the difficult production of 1941, his stratospheric ‘80s, the successful failure of Hook, and his underrated Amistad. There's a celebration of Spielberg's improbable millennium run of films, from Saving Private Ryan through Munich. The three of us dig into why Bilge loves Hook so much, he speaks on some additional, unpublished gems from his oral history piece, we appreciate the genius of John Milius, and the impossible camera that injects so much energy into The Adventures of Tintin.

Last 4 days before regular tickets sell out at AI Engineer World's Fair - this is the single biggest gathering of AI Engineers, Founders, Leaders, and Researchers in the world. Attendees get >$5000 worth of sponsor credits and talk tracks are looking FANTASTIC. Join us!The AI scaling debate always focuses on the question of “how do we get more GPUs?” but the better question may be: how do we make the most of ones we already have.The fact that a frontier lab like xAI could be running at sub-10% MFU (Model FLOPs Utilization) is just a hint at what the real problem may be.For context, older frontier-scale training runs were already much higher than 10%. GPT-3 was around 21% MFU. Gopher was around 32%. Megatron-Turing NLG was around 30%. PaLM reached around 46%. And our guest Anjney says best-in-class MFU today is closer to 60–70%.It's not necessarily that xAI is uniquely incompetent (it's clear they have talented folks) but rather the priorities may be flipped in the GPU arms race.While GPU access is a bottleneck, simply increasing CapEx won't automatically translate to better models as frontier AI is increasingly a systems problem: scheduling, utilization, networking, kernels, frameworks, data pipelines, parallelism, cluster reliability, and the thousand small decisions that determine whether your theoretical FLOPs become real training progress.From building Discord's developer platform and backing frontier AI companies like Anthropic, Mistral, Black Forest Labs, and Periodic Labs to now building AMP's independent compute grid, Anjney Midha has spent years close to the real bottlenecks of AI scaling. In this episode, Anjney joins swyx at Periodic Labs to unpack why the AI race is not just about buying more GPUs, why 95% utilization would have been considered an outage at Google, and why the next era of AI infrastructure has to be more aligned, more efficient, and more responsible.We go deep on AMP's vision for a compute grid that makes FLOPs flow like megawatts, the difference between full-stack AI labs and horizontal pooling, why AI data centers need community buy-in, and how compute markets could evolve into something closer to an independent system operator. Anjney also explains why DeepMind's unpublished research points to a market failure, why end-of-life prediction remains one of the most important AI applications he has thought about for fourteen years, and why “output maxing” may become a new discipline for frontier systems.We also discuss Anthropic's culture, why “luck favors the prepared mind” in coding models, how Claude cracked coding, why too much capital too early can make AI labs fragile, what Periodic Labs is trying to do with science and superconductors, why great researchers can become great CEOs, and why Silicon Valley is both deeply missionary and deeply mercenary.We discuss:* Why 95% utilization was considered an outage at Google* Why AI infrastructure waste compounds at frontier-lab scale* Why “move fast and break things” does not work for AI data centers* How data center backlash, power grids, and community incentives shape AI scaling* AMP's vision for making FLOPs flow like megawatts* Why compute needs an independent system operator* How interruptible demand and dynamic prioritization worked inside Google* Why DeepMind research hoarding creates negative externalities* AMP's 1.2GW base-load ambition and the need for 6GW of spike capacity* Why end-of-life prediction could become one of AI's most important healthcare applications* Frontier Systems, output maxing, and full-stack alignment* Why APIs and abstraction layers become lossy as organizations scale* Superconductors, standards, and the dream of lossless systems* SF Compute, open protocols, and the future of compute marketplaces* Why non-NVIDIA chips can still benefit from NVIDIA's reference architecture* Trust boundaries and why chip startups need visibility into future model architectures* Why VCs often underestimate researchers as CEOs* Scientists as star athletes of the mind* Why great CEOs need to be confrontational up and down the stack* Why leading the frontier matters more than “winning”* How Anthropic cracked coding* Why culture is fragile, not a permanent moat* Why hardship was a feature, not a bug, for Anthropic* Why Anthropic's P0 was coding from day one* Periodic Labs, physics as the constraint, and technical reality* Silicon Valley mercenaries, missionary teams, and what happens after a breakthroughAnjney Midha* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjney* X: https://x.com/AnjneyMidhaAMP PBC* Website: https://amppublic.com/* X: https://x.com/amppublicTimestamps00:00:00 Introduction00:00:09 Why AI Compute Is Being Wasted00:03:17 Responsible Infrastructure and Data Center Backlash00:06:07 AMP Grid: Making FLOPs Flow Like Megawatts00:12:41 Foundry, Frontier Labs, and Research Hoarding00:14:42 Gigawatt-Scale Compute and End-of-Life Prediction00:24:08 Frontier Systems, Output Maxing, and Alignment00:27:38 Compute Markets, SF Compute, and Non-NVIDIA Chips00:32:57 Trust Boundaries, Co-Design, and Researcher CEOs00:38:17 AI Coachella and First-Principles Thinking00:42:43 Leading vs Winning in Frontier AI00:45:54 How Anthropic Cracked Coding00:48:25 Culture, Hardship, and Anthropic's P000:54:03 Periodic Labs, Physics, and Silicon Valley Mercenaries00:56:26 Rishi Valley, Singapore, and Money as a Measure00:58:47 Closing ThoughtsTranscriptIntroduction: Anjney Midha, AMP, and Compute WasteSwyx [00:00:00]: We're in Periodic Labs with Anjney Midha, CEO, founder of AMP. Welcome.Compute Utilization: Node Allocation, MFU, and AlignmentAnjney [00:00:09]: Thanks for having me. At Google, there are two types of utilization usually, right? That you're measuring in these clusters. One is node allocation, and then the other's MFU. Node utilization is usually like what percentage of cards in the data center are just, used, and that, if it's not at, 95%-Swyx [00:00:29]: There is no excuseAnjney [00:00:29]: There's no excuse, right? I think 95% at Google, which is where my co-founder, Seb, came from, he built the Borg, PBorg/GQM scheduler at Google, and there I think 95% was considered an outage, so 96% node utilization is, should be standard. And most single-tenant clusters are not running at that. So that's one. And then MFU should be, I would say the best in class today is somewhere between 60 and 70%. I think this is a leadership question, right? Fundamentally it's an alignment question, which is are the people who are funding the cluster and then deploying the cluster actually aligned? And sometimes theoretically they are, but in practice the number of people in the chain, the supply chain between, the capital and all the way to whoever's managing the cluster and then whoever's measuring what the output is, are just so many, degrees of separation away that, the, The Have you ever heard the radian metaphor, which is at the beginning of an arc, if you have two arcs that are two lines that are just off by a few degrees, that-Swyx [00:01:33]: It spreads outAnjney [00:01:34]: It spreads out, right? Or at scale. And I think what's happening is a lot of cluster implementations and infrastructure, a lot of frontier labs and other teams, that's what's happening, is they're, they initialize the plan, which is kind of like North Star with a team that wants to do good, but then they're, required to scale so fast instead of iteratively that the wastage just compounds really fast at scale. And so I think we know the answer, which is just do iterative bring ups. If you spend time with people who've been in the semiconductor industry or the DSN industry for a long time, this is not new, and I don't think AI should be an excuse. Sure. Something What is new? Okay. We have a lot of new capabilities, but that doesn't mean just abandon common sense. Common sense should always be in fashion. ? AI scaling doesn't change the in fact, if anything, AI scaling should be putting a premium on the value of common sense and infrastructure because the margin of error now is so much lower and the costs of wastage are so much higher. And the cost of wastage, by the way, is not just economic. I'm, obviously I'm, I'm an investor, or I'm an investor by background. Over the last few years now we're running an AI infrastructure business called, AMP. And I think that it's okay to say this time is different on the capabilities front. We are genuinely getting capabilities at, of the, of a kind we haven't had before. That doesn't give you an excuse to say this time is different for everything, especially infrastructure. So look, I love the hacker mindset and the hustler mindset. Now, that's great for the startup mindset, but you remember this moment where Zuck went from saying, “Move fast, break things” to, move-Responsible Infrastructure and Data Center BacklashSwyx [00:03:10]: Fast and stable infrastructureAnjney [00:03:11]: Move fast with stable infrastructure. I think now we need to move fast with, responsible infrastructure. People are going to ask where the impact is. There was a really In our class yesterday, Scott Nolan, who's the founder of General Matter, came by at Stanford to speak about energy bottlenecks. And he had a phenomenal idea. He said, “if you look at the marginal unit economics of compute per hour,” he goes, “let's call it, $4 an hour. If you're having to bring up a new data center in a new community, why not just say we're going to charge 4.50 an hour, and that marginal impact or that marginal increase, we just literally take that and give it to the local community as cash?” I can tell you as a customer of that compute, I would love that. I'd be happy to pay an additional 50 cents per hour at scale.Swyx [00:03:57]: Wow. Yeah.Anjney [00:03:58]: Because if that means the public benefit is so clear to the communities that the data centers are coming up in, I'm going to feel like that compute is much more reliable. Up to 20% of all data centers this year in the US, my understanding is are at risk.Swyx [00:04:13]: Of community backlash?Anjney [00:04:14]: Correct. Of not getting the community support they need to get brought up.Swyx [00:04:19]: Wow. That's a huge number.Anjney [00:04:20]: Yeah. Now, we, I think we should dig into what that number is. I think it's a little bit of overstated. These things can get over-reported, but it-Swyx [00:04:27]: They don't just care about jobs. They care about all the other stuff around it, right? They care about power grid, they care about environments-Anjney [00:04:33]: Power grid, permitting, and so on. And imagine I think if you said there's a new AI deal. If we're bringing up a data center in your community, we're actually going to reduce the cost of your electricity bill. Okay, now we're talking. Right? The community's going, “Okay. Now this is a deal. I feel like a partner in this.” Right now that's not happening. There will be audits, there will be investigations, and when the, when the regulators come, I don't know when it's going to be, the folks who are moving fast and breaking things in the name of AI progress better be prepared. That's certainly not how we're procuring compute. Or we're, we're trying as much as we can to work with partners who have long-term track records. Many of whom, by the way, are not, AI providers. I think this whole idea of neoclouds being somehow this new category is a lot of marketing speak. There are really good, reliable, trusted data center providers in America who've been around 20 plus years. I love those folks. They know how to Sure. Are they sponsoring happy hours at NeurIPS? No. Are they legibly listed in Build? No. Are they hanging out in my, in, situational awareness parties? No. But they're adults. I trust them.Swyx [00:05:44]: They can run LAN. They can run power.Anjney [00:05:45]: They can run LAN, power, and shell. They have credit histories. We sit down, we have a conversations. Many of them live in Silicon Valley. They've, they've had to deal with the boom and bust cycles of the internet, and I love those folks. They are stable infrastructure partners and thinkers. And I think there's a lot of short-term thinking going on in the compute layer, and it's going to catch up to us. It's not going to be good.AMP Grid: Making FLOPs Flow Like MegawattsSwyx [00:06:07]: You talk about aligning incentives, and, I would think that aligning incentives means you have the full stack in one company, which is xAI and OpenAI, right? So you as a standalone infrastructure layer, why are you somehow more aligned to your portfolio companies than people who just own the whole thing?Anjney [00:06:28]: In systems design, right, there's, there's two regimes of, architecture, right? You have integration, and then you have pooling and utilization, right? So the Or rather, the way to increase utilization often is you can do systems integration where you collapse a lot of process into one node, or you can pull out a process from a node and share that amongst various That resource amongst several different nodes. And so we see the AMP grid, which is, the, what, the system we're building here, which is basically a compute grid. We're trying to do for compute what the electric grid-Swyx [00:07:02]: PowerAnjney [00:07:02]: Yeah, what the power grid did for electricity. It-- this is a pooling and utilization layer across clouds, And so we're actually the opposite of a full stack integration like approach.Swyx [00:07:12]: Super horizontal.Anjney [00:07:13]: Where it's much more horizontal and it's, it's multi-cloud, it's multi-silicon. The goal is to try to make FLOPs flow like megawatts, and that is very hard to do today for many reasons. There's stranded pools of compute all over the place and there's no fungibility. And so right now we do it at the level of scheduling, and we often do it at the economic layer. But as we start to announce what we're working on, it's extraordinary like how many folks are coming out of the woodworks and saying, “Hey, I'm actually working on a way to make compute fungible at this part of the stack and that part of the stack.” And as a grid, we'd like all of these folks to participate on the grid. There's, people often ask me, “Andra, are you a new cloud?” And I go, “No, actually neoclouds are suppliers.” sometimes they'll ask, “Are you a venture capital firm?” I go, “No, actually they are, they are demand like sort of off-takers of the grid.” We see ourselves as what's called an independent system operator. So if you study the history of the electric grid, once it became legible to a lot of factories and industrial sort of participants that, hey, actually it turns out pooling is a good idea. We should pool our generators instead of all having a generator running at half capacity in our backyard. There was a need for an independent entity who could coordinate all these parties. Transmission line, power generation, facilities, transmission lines, factories, and that neutral coordination mechanism is very critical. In order-- If you study like the history of grids, the most enduring ones were those that never owned their own assets. They were ones that had, or often started with long-term anchors who are uncorrelated sources of demand, a steel factory, a shoe mill or whatever in a particular town who weren't competitive, where the steel factory want to spike up at night, the shoe mill wanted to spike up during the day. So then you pool and you share, right? So each of you is guaranteed some base load, but then you kind of schedule your spikes to drive a peak utilization across the town. The gold standard, so to speak, historically, has been these utility companies like PJM Interconnect in the northeast of America, where they, over many years became this what's called an ISO, an independent system operator of the grid. So that's how we see ourselves. Economically, that's what we are. From a technical perspective, we started at the scheduling layer because Seb and Mihai, who, run engineering here, built that at-Swyx [00:09:28]: Did your schedulingAnjney [00:09:28]: They did that at Google. And, -Swyx [00:09:32]: And you have infra shops from Discord as well.Anjney [00:09:35]: I have some.Swyx [00:09:35]: I don't know, I don't know if Discord is like the primary identity, but what-whatever, I'm just kind of-Anjney [00:09:39]: No, D-Discord was-Swyx [00:09:40]: Choosing a well-known name.Anjney [00:09:42]: Well, I So I was running the developer platform there. The internal infrastructure I was not responsible for. That was actually a guy by the name of Mark Smith, who was extraordinary. And yes, Discord did pool So Discord is actually a counter example. I had the chance to learn a lot about fully, full stack infra there because-Swyx [00:09:56]: It's the same thing, yeahAnjney [00:09:57]: It's the, it's the other architecture which is, Discord built its own WebRTC vo-voice and video infra. So like Discord did not use-Swyx [00:10:08]: For the calls, yeah.Anjney [00:10:09]: Yeah, did not For communication, Discord did not use third party infra. It was all built in-house. And then the way you maximize utilization was you pool demand from the world's 200 million plus monthly active gamers, right? And so that's, that's how those stacks were constructed. Again, in systems design, the two concepts that keep coming up over and over again are abstraction and composition, right? And-Swyx [00:10:31]: Bundling and unbundlingAnjney [00:10:33]: Bundling and unbundling, abstraction, composition, like verticalization and-Swyx [00:10:36]: HorizontalAnjney [00:10:36]: Horizontalization. So in that sense, AMP is an independent system operator of the grid. We pool demand, we pool supply from a number of partners we trust At about 1.3 gigawatt scale over four years. And then we pool demand from some of the world's best, research labs and so on. We're sitting at one, periodic labs who need extraordinary long-term demand. And the idea is that, each of them is guaranteed base load on the grid, but they can spike up and down flexibly on, for compute, with much shorter timelines as needed. That was roughly the design of the program I came up with at a16z called Oxygen. The same-- That was the same design of the GQM, BorgX, Borg GQM implementation at Google that Mihai and Seb had built. Which was that how do you allow, teams inside of Google, on the internal infrastructure to be guaranteed capacity, for their base workloads? But when they need to spike up on research, how could they ensure that was sufficiently there? And of course, the big innovation that was not discovered, but kind of implemented in the space, this infra space maybe three, four years ago at Google was the idea of interruptible demand, right? Where you just queue up a bunch of jobs and through this like sort of credit system, there can be a bidding mechanism.Swyx [00:11:53]: Like priorities.Anjney [00:11:54]: It's a dynamic prioritization Basically. And jobs can get interrupted based on somebody else who's saying, “what? I have 10 tokens, 10 credits I want to spend on this job.” Another like team lead, research lead is “Genie 3 or whatever is only worth five, credits, and NanoBanana2 is worth 10 credits,” and so the NanoBanana job gets priority. That's a, that's a made up example.Swyx [00:12:15]: It's very real. Brain Marketplace was real. And, we've, we've covered this on the pod with David Luan, who was-Anjney [00:12:20]: Oh, great. OkaySwyx [00:12:20]: Was there. And the criticism is that, well, actually sometimes you need central command to go all in on a thing. And actually sometimes capitalism via credits doesn't work. Not, this is not a criticism of AMP. I'm just saying, this is a thing that has been tried, internally within Google, and it led to Google missing GPT.Foundry, Frontier Labs, and Research HoardingAnjney [00:12:41]: Like, we structured ourself essentially very similarly to Google. We are structured as a holdings company. So, Alphabet holdings is Alphabet holdings, and then they've got these subsidiaries called Google and-Swyx [00:12:51]: Other betsAnjney [00:12:52]: Other bets and so on. We've got, AMP holdings, and we've got our infrastructure business, and then we've got a capital business called Foundry that incubates new frontier AI labs or invests in them as venture capital, like Periodic. We put a few hundred million dollars into Anthropic from our fund earlier this year. So wherever we feel like teams are making progress, especially researchers and so on who've pushed the frontier inside of existing labs like DeepMind, I find, there comes a point where they feel misaligned with the dictatorship of Alphabet holdings. And at that point, sometimes the dictatorship doesn't want them anymore. And they're “Thank you. You've done your job here. You've kind of helped us through the zero to one phase, and for whatever reason, we're going to deprioritize your amazing, omni model or whatever it is, and instead we're going to prioritize coding.” And, I think that's a tragedy, but I get it. They're Sergey and team are running their own business there. But that doesn't mean we the rest of us should sit around waiting for that progress to get unlocked for the rest of the world and humanity. If you think about how much extraordinary research has happened inside of DeepMind over the last 10 years, I, Demis and Sergey and those guys did such a great job. But at the end of the day, so much of that has never seen the light of day?Swyx [00:14:00]: Or they're like papers only, but they never actually shipped it to production or-Anjney [00:14:03]: What's worse is the paper is actually not even being published anymore ‘cause there's a six-month embargo inside of DeepMind, right? We've heard about this where a paper comes out, and then I think there's a six-month embargo window where if anybody on the business team says, “This could be interesting” It's embargoed for life.Swyx [00:14:18]: Exactly. So the stuff that gets published is the stuff that's not good enough.Anjney [00:14:21]: There's an adverse selection problem, basically. Yeah. At this point-Swyx [00:14:25]: It's, it's a common complaint at NeurIPS, by the way, that's “Well, why would I look at the papers that are the trash of GDM?”Anjney [00:14:31]: Again, I think it's a tragedy. I get it. They're running their business, but the rest of the I think there's negative externalities of research being hoarded, and so that'there's a market failure. And somebody needs to unlock that research, and we can't do it on our own. We only have 1.2 gigawatts of compute. That's nothing. That's about $40 billion of cloud spend. We're going to need a lot-Gigawatt-Scale Compute and End-of-Life PredictionSwyx [00:14:51]: By the way, is that's a new number. I haven't, haven't come across that gigawatt number. That's huge.Anjney [00:14:56]: Yeah. And to be clear, we haven't secured all of it. That's how much demand we have started to secure. I think publicly we haven't actually confirmed how much we have for this year. In order-Swyx [00:15:04]: Where do you want to get to?Anjney [00:15:06]: I think the steady state would be that we have a base load pool Of 1.2 gigawatts at all times Of base load capacity. For spike capacity, right now my estimate is we need roughly six gigawatts over the next four years for all our teams to feel like they were able to keep moving the frontier, whatever they're working on, whether it's, like superconductor discovery over here. There's a new investment we're working on right now, which is in the end of life prediction space in healthcare. It's extraordinary how much you can, you can give this was actually my graduate school work. I went to grad school for bioinformatics at Stanford Med. And I know we-Swyx [00:15:40]: Econ, MCS, bio.Anjney [00:15:41]: So my-- I was this really weird cat where, I was never satisfied with my major options. So at one point I was an econ major, then I was a CS major, then I was a MCS major called mathematical computational science, and they decided they were going to end that major. So I took all that coursework, and I applied it to grad school, my graduate degree in bioinformatics, which was the master's program, and then I thought I was going to do a PhD. I never ended up doing it. I dropped out and went to work at Kleiner. But I was lucky enough to apprentice with this professor at, Stanford Med. His name is Nigam Shah, and he was working on end of life prediction. Stanford is one of the only research facilities in America that has a longitudinal patient data set that's larger at scale. I think it's at least 12 million patient lives. The only larger data set is at the VA, the Veterans Affairs, of America. And to do research, like do any deep learning and so on that data set, it was called the STRIDE data set at that time, you had to be a Stanford Med School affiliate, which is why I went and enrolled in the bioinformatics department. End of deep learning was early. Nigam Shah had the visibility-- the vision to see that, you could do end of life prediction to help palliative care. In America, the, over 30% of all Medicare, Medicaid spend, at least at that time, was spent on end of life care. And what's we grew up in Asia, so we all-- Yeah, at least I won't speak for you, but I have A very different relationship with death than I find folks who grew up in America do. In America, spiritually and culturally, especially in Western societies where Christianity, the Christian tradition sort of frames death as this terminal point, there's often a judgment day and so on. The way we view death is with a finality. In Indian culture, in Hindu culture, death is one-Swyx [00:17:35]: Also, he's Buddhist as well.Anjney [00:17:36]: You're Buddhist, yeah. So it's one, it's one step in a journey of many lives, right? And so, I grew up in this city called Chennai in the south of India, and when people die, you dance on the street. There's like a procession where your body is carried to be cremated and your family, like celebrates and there's drums and so on. It's this huge thing. And, It's because the idea is that you're going to be reincarnated. You've been liberated from the responsibilities of this life, and now you're onto your next. It's a new It's like going off to a new college or whatever, right? And so it was so alien to me when I got here as an undergrad- That the medical system works backwards from that assumption that we have to view death as this terminal thing and delay it, postpone it's a bad thing. And so at the time, clinical decision support in the United States was this very primitive field. Even to this day, physicians in the United States often will tell you when you have a terminal disease, this is your, we've diagnosed you, which is great. Our ability to diagnose you is extraordinary. You have somewhere between six months to six years to live. What do you do with that information? The error bars are so high that then you In times of uncertainty, we default to culture, and when the culture is let's-- this is a bad thing, I've got to prolong my life, then you start doing things like And just to, just sort of from a systems perspective, what's going on there is Physicians often feel like they need to provide such high error bars because there's always some uncertainty in end of life diagnosis, and if you provide the wrong Diagnosis or recommendation to your patient, you can be sued for medical malpractice. And then your license can be taken away. It can be catastrophic for your career. In contrast, if in countries where that's not the case, what you often observe is that patients, physicians are quite prescriptive with their recommendation. They say, “Hey, this is your condition. The literature says that you probably have this much time on Earth left. My expert opinion is that you are an outlier or whatever.” And they try to be more prescriptive, and that empowers a patient, right? ‘Cause then a patient can say, “I trust my doctor. They said on average, I have six months to live, but if I do these things, I may have a shot because of my particular predispositions or my genetic history or whatever.” And that empowers you to go about your life in a actually more scientific way than leaning on religion, culture, spirituality, and so on. In contrast, here, because of that medical malpractice sort of thing looming over your head, a physician never gives you a clear recommendation. So instead you say, “Okay, Doc, well, let's try it all.” And then you start a whole regime of drugs and therapies, and then you often spend weeks and weeks in the hospital, and that deteriorates your quality of life. And when that deteriorates your quality of life, you instead of spending your last few days doing the things you love with your family, you're spending it on a hospital bed. And that ends up being thirty percent of Medicare and Medicaid. So it's worse for the patients. The doctors feel terrible. The American taxpayer is paying a huge amount of money. And so this is why Nigam Shah, who was this professor at Stanford, said, “Anjney, if there's “ I kind of sat down with him. I was this young, I'd, I was twenty-one, and I was “I want to work on a big problem.” He's “The big problem is end of life care.” And so we tried to do deep learning to say, to-- So we started trying to run deep learning on these tried patient data sets to say, “Could you have an AI system make a recommendation that is orders of magnitude more precise about how much time you have left once you've been diagnosed with a terminal condition than a human?” And then if we can get that precision to be high enough, then you can empower the patient. And it turns out the tech works. Like it's-- Once you get the data set, like RL works. Honestly, even regression models work. You don't need to get that fancy. At the time, we were just trying, doing like very simple neural nets.Swyx [00:21:54]: Simple solutions, yeah.Anjney [00:21:54]: Today, what we can do with RL is extraordinary. The problem remains then and now is regulatory, because you actually can't shift the burden of the wrong clinical diagnoses from the physician to the AI system. And so at that time, I got quite disillusioned ten years ago for, twelve years ago where, ‘cause I felt I just didn't have the resources to influence regulation. Today, I'm very lucky. I'm in a different place. I've, I'm a lot older, and so I've been spending a lot of time on my next incubation, which is how can we unlock the, patient empowerment by training AI models to do end of life prediction much, with much more precision and ac-Swyx [00:22:37]: Oh, wow. You're still focused on this the whole time.Anjney [00:22:40]: The-- I haven't been able to get, this out of my mind a single day for the last fourteen years. This is the hill I want, I would like to die on. There's two, I would say. What? I actually, I'd prefer not to die.Swyx [00:22:51]: Yeah, exactly.Anjney [00:22:52]: But I think two bipartisan issues, I think two issues that should be bipartisan in America are how do we empower patients to make the right clinical decisions at the end of their life, such that we're reducing the taxpayer burden with science? It's just good old science, and AI can help here. And the second is, net positive data centers, ‘cause I think that's the biggest critical bottleneck on training and good enough AI models to help people at the end of their life. So there's sort of two sides of the, of the same scaling bottleneck curve, but those two, we formed AMP as a public benefit corporation. My wife and I, who you've met, you've met Viv. Her passion is education. Her family is a long line of educators and so on, and, of physicists. And so this class is my attempt to stop being the black sheep of the family and be a, an educator. But if I'm not educating, the thing I would be doing is working, on these two problems, whether on the political spectrum or as a researcher back at, in some lab. And my hope is if anyone's listening to this podcast, if they're passionate about either of those two topics, I'd love to hear from them. We'll, we'll we can share the contact in the show notes, but, we're looking for people to join both of those missions on the, on the political side as well as on the medical side, on the research side.Frontier Systems, Output Maxing, and AlignmentSwyx [00:24:08]: You said, this is a discipline that you want to form. You call it's called variously called Frontier System. It's variously called One Person Frontier Lab. What is the ideal name or shape of this? Like the, what is the mission?Anjney [00:24:24]: Of the class?Swyx [00:24:26]: Of the discipline that you're, exploring, right? I The class is called Frontier Systems. But like for me, maybe one phrase is you're, you're just anti-waste, right? Which is wasting GPUs, wasting in human and Medicare. But is there, is there a broader theme that I'm, that maybe you can encapsulate more succinctly?Anjney [00:24:45]: Yeah. The, from an engineering perspective, it's very simple. It's output maxing. It's the, it's the department of output maxing.Swyx [00:24:51]: Making the most of what we have.Anjney [00:24:52]: Exactly. I'm a huge believer in optimal outcomes. I think both in America and other countries, we are losing our appreciation for nuance, and this is the thing of And AI is the same case, right? Oh, the bitter lesson holds. Okay, fine. But that doesn't mean you just like throw 500 GB300, 500,000 GB300s at your suboptimal model scaling and you waste a bunch of compute. It also doesn't mean that, the most optimal is to have like 50 different architectures where there isn't enough standardization. One of the reasons Anthropic has had extraordinary sort of velocity is ‘cause they picked the transform architecture and said, “This is simple. Let's double down on it,” right? And now luckily there's enough investment going to the space that we can afford other architectures, but at the time, investment was just too fragmented into other architectures, so that arguably unlocked scaling. So I think there's a philosophy. I think we all owe it to ourselves to do output maxing with a new capability called AI on a global level. I think if I was starting a new department at Stanford, depending on how fuzzy or technical I wanted to be, I'd probably call it the Department of Alignment. Like-Swyx [00:25:59]: It's an overloaded termAnjney [00:26:01]: But it is, But alignment really Is a hard problem. And I think when you unlock it, full stack alignment is super hard in any organization and in any system. Like in a, in a venture capital firm, if you can have full stack alignment between your limited partners and your, the founders who are creating the value and ultimately the public that owns the IPO stock, that is a gift that keeps giving. And when you study the history of these systems, when they start off, they usually start out small scale where the feedback loop is actually so tight that there's alignment. And then the more you try to scale, the more division of labor happens, the more specialization happens, and at each step you add abstractions. And wherever there's an API interface, there's like loss. There's communication loss. And so I think a really cool thing would be for us to figure out is there a way for us to have our cake and eat it too as an engineering discipline? Is there a way to actually scale up and scale out Without losing any alignment, without lossy transmission?Swyx [00:27:01]: You mean standards?Anjney [00:27:02]: So standards is one way. The other way is you just have net new capabilities. So like what we're trying to do here is discover new superconductors. A room temperature superconductor would be a lossless transmission mechanism for energy. We would have flying cars. We are right within a few years of having a new room temperature superconductor. So I think those are the two. You either have to standardize On protocols or API specs that allow lossless communication, or you can come up with a whole new capability that unlocks so much abundance, the standardization doesn't matter ‘cause you just unlock net new capacity. This, the, so this is what I spend my days thinking about these days.Compute Markets, SF Compute, and Non-NVIDIA ChipsSwyx [00:27:38]: No, I think every infra person at, who wants scale and wants to output max does eventually end up thinking about this. We don't have time to go into it, but we have done an episode with SF Compute-Anjney [00:27:50]: Oh, coolSwyx [00:27:50]: That is trying to standardize The futures contract for compute. I don't, I don't know how that's going by the way, but like at some point this will be public.Anjney [00:27:57]: Oh, I think Evan is awesome and SF Compute is the kind of effort that I hope we can accelerate because what often happens is these exchanges are very hard to get, they, it's hard to bootstrap them, right? Because they often require-- There's many inefficiencies between parties. There's trust boundary inefficiencies in infrastructure because you don't trust, one part of the stack doesn't trust another part of the stack to give them visibility. There's capital markets inefficiencies, there's operational efficiencies. So if you can inject like a single shock to the system of a ton of compute demand or supply, then you can accelerate, these new flywheels. And so my hope is one day, or soon, if SF Compute needs extra like has excess capacity, they just hook it up to the grid and they get flooded with demand from us. And on the other side, if they have a ton of demand but they don't have supply, they just again hook up to the grid and it's a two-way protocol where they can just hook up to our capacity. And I don't think we're too far from that. Today our working implementation of it is mostly through a group of labs, universities, and a few sort of trusted parties who are, who all feel like they're in alignment to borrow an over sort of used word. But our hope is to just have it be an open protocol that anyone can hook up to on-Swyx [00:29:20]: Hook up for demand or hook up for supply? In primarily demand, it sounds like. Like you-Anjney [00:29:25]: No, bothSwyx [00:29:26]: You would want to offer demand.Anjney [00:29:27]: Both. Yeah. Unfortunately, what's happened in the last six weeks is, we thought we'd have a bunch of excess capacity by the end of this year. It's all gone.Swyx [00:29:37]: It's exploding.Anjney [00:29:38]: It, yeah. It's all gone. And so I have, my text messages are full of friends, we know many of these people, these are founders who've raised billions of dollars in San Francisco going, “Oh, any chance you have like 50 nodes in the next few weeks?”Swyx [00:29:51]: What is the scope for, non-Nvidia, right? You have Lisa Su coming and, Rainer Pope as well. And so There is a lot of demand for, more performance Alternative architectures and all that. At the same time, this hurts your standardization.Anjney [00:30:11]: I don't think so. So actually Rainer's a great example, right? Rainer is a CEO and founder of, MatX. I actually had him by for office hours in the class earlier today, and there was an insight he brought up that I hadn't considered before, which is when they decided to pick the standard For their data center, they picked the NVIDIA reference architecture. So the MatX chips Just plug in to any site that has an NVIDIA bring up planned. And, the-Swyx [00:30:42]: It's just software then. It's, it's not the-Anjney [00:30:44]: A-Swyx [00:30:44]: Hardware.Anjney [00:30:46]: Well, from an input and IO perspective It's the same footprint as an NVIDIA rack.Swyx [00:30:52]: That makes sense.Anjney [00:30:53]: Where they have done, innovated a bunch from what I can tell is on systems co-design. Which is where a lot of the gains are to be had. And so he picked He was “Anjney, we, there's just so much work to do when you're building a new chip company.”Swyx [00:31:08]: Can't fight every front.Anjney [00:31:08]: You just can't fight on every front. So my question to him was, “Well, you're working on this new chip. Their tape-out is next year. What, who are you going to partner with to host the chips?” And he said, “Whoever will host them. That's just not, that's not my focus.” And I said, “But how did you “ you decided back to our earlier systems design question, he decided that, he didn't want to be a full, fully integrated chip provider. The bottleneck they're focused on is the logic die, and they, he feels they can crank out a ton of performance gains through co-design there. But then that means you delegate, to our question earlier, it, you he's the data center provider is a different part of the stack, and so then he's dependent on that part of the ecosystem to host his chips to get the performance gains to the customer. So now you have another abstraction, and you might have loss. So I asked him, “How do you prevent loss?” And back to your point, he said, “I just picked the NVIDIA standard ‘cause I didn't want to Like I wanted to piggyback off of an existing protocol.” And that, what's great about NVIDIA is that reference architecture is known.Swyx [00:32:15]: Open.Anjney [00:32:15]: It's open. They've published it. So Jensen's actually enabled someone like Rainer to build a chip company like MatX, and I don't see them as competitive. The compute demand is so high. Like, I don't I think NVIDIA's not able to meet the demands of production, so we just need more chips. And I think it's very smart what MatX has done, which is say, “We're just going to we're not going to innovate on the data center design ‘cause actually, thank you, Jensen, you've done all the hard work. Where we can innovate is somewhere else.” And I think that's, that's very healthy. I think that's how we unblock new bottlenecks. And my view is these, the, chip teams like MatX, who have arrived at the insight that co-design is the way, The primary bottleneck for them is trust boundary. To do co-design well, you need visibility into the next model generation as soon as possible ‘cause it takes two years to tape out. So if by the time I bring my chip to market, your model architecture's changed, I'm host. Now, when he was inside Google, he was sitting next to the Gemini team. He was on Palm or whatever.Trust Boundaries, Co-Design, and Researcher CEOsSwyx [00:33:19]: His co-founder was the, was one, was one of the Palm guys, I think.Anjney [00:33:23]: Yes. Yes, exactly. So when you're inside the trust boundary of Google, then your systems co-design loop is super tight. When you leave as a founder, one of the biggest risks you take is now you're outside the trust boundary. And so what I love doing is helping chip teams who can help us unlock more capacity for the independent ecosystem access to trust. Because when I If I've been, involved with a lab from day one, and I was lucky enough to work with Anthropic, and then I'm on the board of Mistral and helped Black Forest Labs get started. I think at this point I'm on six or seven different teams.Swyx [00:33:57]: Only six? I feel like my mental number was going to be 13, but yeah, it's-Anjney [00:34:02]: No, I go deep with one at a time.Swyx [00:34:04]: You're founding CEO of Arena.Anjney [00:34:07]: Nah, that was an, that was an-Swyx [00:34:08]: Administrative CEOAnjney [00:34:09]: It was an administrative five-month gig where Whalen and Anastasios were graduating from their PhDs, and they didn't need a product team. So I helped recruit the head of engineering product and design. But Anastasios has always been the CEO of that company. I played a pinch-hitting I'm an intern. I was CEO intern For five months. -Swyx [00:34:33]: I interviewed him, and he's he's very well-spoken. I think he's a debate, former debate, champion. But also very quantitative and mathematical, which is-Anjney [00:34:41]: He-Swyx [00:34:41]: Such a unicorn.Anjney [00:34:43]: See, what's amazing about him? If you look at his output, he's an output maxer. By the time he was graduating from his PhD, which he only graduated last year, he had published more work with a citation count than, people twice his age. But at the same time, he'd already started a project called LLM Arena that was being used by millions of people As a side project. And time and time again, what I've realized is venture capitalists suck at seeing human beings as, dynamic agents where-Swyx [00:35:14]: They want to put you in a boxAnjney [00:35:15]: They want to put you in a box.Swyx [00:35:15]: This is your thing.Anjney [00:35:16]: So the first time I got introduced to Anastasios, somebody had told me “Oh, he's amazing, but he's a researcher.” I was “what? What do you mean he's a researcher?” That's what-Swyx [00:35:28]: Like he's not a CEO, not a founder.Anjney [00:35:29]: Not a CEO, exactly. I was “Are you crazy? Do you Have you met Dario?” Dario's a scientist. He's gone from zero to, what will soon be a trillion-dollar company in four years. Being a CEO, nominally speaking, is not that hard. Being a good CEO is hard. Being a great CEO actually requires a level of performance that scientists who have already published at the top of their field have accomplished. It is super hard to be a competitive scientist. To publish in academia over the last 20, 30 years, to make it to the top of your discipline at a place like Berkeley, you are a star athlete. Like, you are an athlete of the mind, and you perform at the highest levels. And to get there, whether you're, Anastasios or Whalen at Berkeley, or you are Robin, who-Swyx [00:36:23]: BFL, yeahAnjney [00:36:24]: With Black Forest, who created Stable Diffusion, or if you're, like Guillaume at Meta, who created Llama before he started Mistral. The amount of human leadership you have to demonstrate to get the resources, like get the trust of the organization, publish it, put it up. I would just fund researchers all day Right? If who have contributed already to the field. If they've, if they've put SOTA out there, they're, they're star athletes already. If they haven't done SOTA Look, they can still be good CEOs, but then I find the failure mode is that they just don't want to be CEOs, they primarily want to publish, and that's okay, too. One of the things we do with the AMP Grid is we donate excess compute. We have two nonprofits, like university labs. We carved out like a couple thousand H100s. But I do think there's extraordinary research being done on university campuses. My father-in-law's a physicist. He's a professor. Extraordinary work in physics, and we need that. But if you want to be a CEO, what you need to be willing To do is be super confrontational, outside of science. Like within the scientific community, some of the best researchers are very confrontational about their convictions, right? This architecture is right. To be a great CEO, you basically have to be willing to be confrontational up and down the stack.Swyx [00:37:41]: To your own team.Anjney [00:37:42]: To your own team-Swyx [00:37:43]: To customersAnjney [00:37:43]: Hiring, recruiting customers. Well, I would say, Yeah, pretty much to everyone Everybody. Of course-Swyx [00:37:50]: I see, I feel a little bit of that in my own work, but yeah, I can't imagine the stakes that Dario has had to go through. It's, it's pretty insane.Anjney [00:37:56]: No, I don't think the stakes are that different From how you're feeling it, right? Stakes are personal scaling vectors, right? The stakes that seem so low to you, like having this podcast where you can talk to somebody and just have a you're an extraordinary communicator, right? Like already in this conversation, you've pulled more out of me than most people, and I've been on 12 podcasts in the last two weeks.AI Coachella and First-Principles ThinkingSwyx [00:38:17]: I think I, we've just seen each other enough that there's some base trust.Anjney [00:38:20]: There's base trust.Swyx [00:38:20]: And I think, and I know that you, that I've done my homework and like I know that trust is a big deal for you, so.Anjney [00:38:27]: I think trust is about consistency, and you and I have seen each other In the community for years, right? Like, I remember the first time we met was at NeurIPS in New Orleans. I don't know if you remember that, luncheon.Swyx [00:38:38]: Oh my God.Anjney [00:38:39]: Reiko had set up this Reiko's amazing, and he set up this luncheon and-Swyx [00:38:43]: Yeah, I was “Who's this Discord guy?” I'm “Okay.” But-Anjney [00:38:45]: No, you weren't-Swyx [00:38:46]: You were just “You made some investments.”Anjney [00:38:47]: You were much less polite. You were “Who's this VC?” You're like-Swyx [00:38:51]: No, I Was I? Oh my God.Anjney [00:38:53]: It was-Swyx [00:38:53]: I'm so sorryAnjney [00:38:53]: It was visible on your face.Swyx [00:38:54]: I'm so sorry. But you weren't, you weren't The introduction was bad. I was I didn't know who you were.Anjney [00:39:00]: The, see, this is the thing about context, right? Like, but then I think I heard your accent. And I was “Are you-”Swyx [00:39:06]: Singapore, yeahAnjney [00:39:06]: “Are you Singaporean?” And you're “Yeah.” And I said, “I went to high school, JC, in Singapore.” And then the ice broke. But This is the there are in the scientific community, sometimes the stakes are very high for people who haven't had the emotional, what is called EQ Coaching and mentorship, right? Which is like to have scientific impact, you often need to be a extraordinary emotional, like emotionally in tune person with the folks you're trying to influence. And so what comes so naturally to you is actually a super high stakes thing to other people. And so I wouldn't assume that Dario's more stressed out than you. These things are you'd be surprised how similar and small sometimes the problems are to you That some of the world's biggest, leaders are facing. And that's what I've learned from this class. The guest speakers are Sam, Satya, Jensen.Swyx [00:40:01]: AI Coachella.Anjney [00:40:02]: Yeah. It's AI Coachella, right? So we got to get all the headliners, and they're I'm very lucky that some of these people have either mentored me over the years or I've done business with them. And when you, take the performative stuff out and any assumptions you may have about these people that you read in the press or on Twitter, We're all just humans. We're all trying to get along. And what's so special about this moment is AI is forcing, like scaling, the bitter lesson is forcing a lot of people to revise their assumptions for how the world works and go back to first principles or go and educate themselves. So the kind of people I was, I won't name who this person is, but I was at an event last week in Texas and, ran to somebody who said, “Anjney, I came across the class. What do you think about real time action prediction models?” And I was, don't know how happy it made me feel when they asked me that question. I know they've done the work. They've challenged themselves. I'm, they didn't ask me, “What do you think of world models?” They said, “What do you think of n-”Swyx [00:41:04]: Real time action predictionAnjney [00:41:05]: “action, real time action prediction models?” World models, don't get me wrong, are cool and everything, but you and I both know that is a layer of abstraction that is sometimes not usefully precise enough. Right? Ours-Swyx [00:41:16]: There's like four different kinds of world models.Anjney [00:41:17]: Yes, exactly.Swyx [00:41:18]: We've done the part with general intuition, by the way, which is very focused on, -Anjney [00:41:22]: Oh, cool. Yes. I love Pim. Pim is great. And this is what I love about people who've done that level of work. They realize they're not in competition with people who the rest of the world thinks they're in competition with.Swyx [00:41:34]: Because they're not in the category, they're in the specific thing they're trying to do.Anjney [00:41:37]: They're focused on their mission, and they have a systems understanding of the bottleneck they're trying to solve. And when somebody else says, “I'm working on real time, action prediction models too,” Pim goes, “Oh, I love that person. I want, I can learn from them.” But the minute they're “Oh, that person's a world model person,” it's “like which type of world model person?” But mostly they're just trying to figure out if it's a waste of their time, because we don't have enough time. So, Pim, for example, is super, loves this other company I work with we've talked about called Black Forest Labs. And he's mentioned to me multiple times that he's so, He thinks what Flux is doing is really cool. Andy Blattman came by and spoke in the class. And what I find over and over again is for people who do the work, who can be usefully precise enough about like what is actually going on in the world of frontier research, The sense of camaraderie is still well and alive, but it gets lost sometimes when you have to like abstract The technical complexities in, business terms And then the VCs are “How are you different from that world model?” I'm going to say Where do I even start to explain this stuff? And then the misalignment creeps in.Leading vs. Winning in Frontier AISwyx [00:42:43]: This is good. Yeah, I think, people listening get a sense of, what it is like to operate at a real level, like yourself, rather than at, the journalist level, where you have to sort of put everyone in, a rough category and create a narrative of competition, and who's winning today, who's behind.Anjney [00:42:58]: It-- this idea of winning is so Weird to me.Swyx [00:43:03]: You do want to win. You want you want competitiveness.Anjney [00:43:06]: No, I think you want to lead.Swyx [00:43:07]: You want SOTA.Anjney [00:43:07]: No, I think you want to lead. Yes, so you want to push the frontier. You want to push the SOTA. You want to do something that hasn't been done before. You want to capture value, but you don't want to capture so much value that, people think you're unaligned with your mission or trying to do what's best for the world. You want to capture enough value that you can keep innovating, right? And I think that people want to lead, they don't really This idea of winning and losing, again, I love Jensen. He's a, he's a leader. The mindset that he talked about on Dwarkesh's podcast, right? He's “I didn't wake up with a loser mindset.” I think that was awesome, right? Because he's, he's an engineer. Dwarkesh has done the work. So there's at least-- even though the, to me, it was very obvious they're talking about the same thing, they just passed each other. They just had to basically, Jensen has this, five-layer cake abstraction of how the industry works. And Dwarkesh had, I think from that podcast, had more of, a pre-training, mid-training, post-training systems loop concept.Swyx [00:44:04]: It's just a factor of who he talks to, right? Again, it's very clear.Anjney [00:44:06]: It's the systems It's the abstraction, the mental models, the It's the whole-- Dude, so much of the problem in the world is reasoning by analogy. And then the assumptions that are held invisibly.Swyx [00:44:19]: Yeah, I've, I've said, this is actually the best time in human history for first principles thinkers. Because everything you think will happen is actually now coming true.Anjney [00:44:28]: Correct. And the venture capital community is, notorious for this, where people look-- In times of uncertainty, they, cling to axioms that ended up being true from the previous era, and they kind of like proclaim them with confidence as if they're truths, but they're not. And it's very important to see the distinction between a heuristic and an axiom. An axiom can be proven-Swyx [00:44:55]: Like from internal consistency point of viewAnjney [00:44:56]: With internal consistency. A heuristic is a way you kind of a shortcut. And my God, the number of people I have had to put up with over the last few years who proclaim-- use heuristics As axioms to judge people, to judge which companies are going to succeed or the number of people who are “Oh, yeah, Anthropic, they're just training models right now,” but this one continue.Swyx [00:45:22]: Because that's a B2B SaaS?Anjney [00:45:23]: Yeah, the, like Which over the fullness of time, if you squint at it, maybe. But the way you arrive there is so important that you can-- you just, you can dismiss people. Here's what happened, right? What happened is Anthropic basically achieved takeoff in October of last year. That training run-Swyx [00:45:41]: Whatever, three seven?Anjney [00:45:42]: I forget the numbers now, but whatever that checkpoint was-Swyx [00:45:45]: We saw the cognition.Anjney [00:45:46]: Yeah. Right? You probably-- The, to those of us in the community, especially once post-training was done and it was released in December-Swyx [00:45:52]: Yeah. Can I sneak a sneaky question in there? I don't know if you have a perspective, maybe you don't, I just The number one question is how did Anthropic crack coding, right? Because Claude One, Claude Two, okay, like it was part of it, but it wasn't a big deal. And the leading hypothesis, it's a lucky dice roll that was then compounded, right? Like it was like Mildly better, but then they saw it and they were “Okay, let's really invest.”How Anthropic Cracked CodingAnjney [00:46:17]: I had this very annoying teacher. I went to this boarding school called Rishi Valley in India, which is like this, bird preserve. It's like three hundred and fifty acres of bird preserve in rural India, and there was no technology for seven years. There was this teacher, I won't name them, but they would have this-- I hated it every time he said this to me. He was “Luck fa-favors the prepared mind,” which is like a common saying, but the way he delivered it, always grated me, ‘cause he was always I was always one of those kids who got, a good grade without trying very hard. ‘Cause like high middle school is not that hard if you, if you're generally, paying attention and so on. And there was this one time where I-- But then I would get an eighty percent grade, and he would keep pushing me to say “The reason you didn't get the ninety-five plus percent is because you're not that lucky.” And I would say, “What do you mean?” ‘Cause I would think that I deserved that grade, and I would sometimes argue with him. And he'd say, “You didn't have a prepared mind. If you want to get lucky again “ There was basically one time where I got like ninety-five or ninety-six on this, on this subject, and I, now that I felt entitled. I was “Okay, I'm going to keep doing this,” and I didn't. And then he was “Luck favors a prepared mind. You got lucky last time, but you got to stay prepared.” And I didn't understand what he meant. Now, as I'm older, I'm okay, these adults actually knew a thing or two. Anthropic has been the most prepared company for four years. And so then when the right, context data comes in, the right developers start sending in, the right context diffs, Sure, you could say you got lucky, but if you ask me, they're pr-pretty damn prepared with paranoia for like four years. And you have to remember, it was so hard for them to get going early on that they had to do so much more with so much less that you just have to be prepared to be so efficient.Swyx [00:48:06]: Yes. There's numbers on their burn compared to OpenAI. I've, I've written about it, but they are so much more efficient in their, in their tech stack.Anjney [00:48:14]: It's not even It's not funny.Swyx [00:48:14]: Not even close.Anjney [00:48:15]: Yeah. But it's so clear, right? Like how to output max for the world. They have been prepared, and you could call that luck, but Luck favors the prepared mind.Culture, Hardship, and Anthropic's P0Swyx [00:48:25]: This is one of those things that I was going over some of your old lectures and, you were data, people think it's a moat and actually it's culture and actually it's team Actually. And I, it's-- there's different levels of moats, and this is the ultimate one that determines everything else. Which you can then compoundAnjney [00:48:43]: You're saying culture is the ultimate moat? Yeah. But the thing about culture is it's very fragile. So moats, I don't think they're-- there's very few moats I found that are actually moats. They're-- It's, it's a nice concept, but in reality, you have to replenish your culture. Ben Horowitz was, the speaker in CS153 on Tuesday, and I asked him this question about the culture bottleneck in teams because, there are several AI teams-Swyx [00:49:09]: His book, Hard Things About Hard ThingsAnjney [00:49:11]: Hard Thing About Hard Things. But more concretely, there are so many AI labs today that have all the cash they need, they have all the compute they need, and they're still not able to ship anything SOTA. And then you start seeing people leave and so on, and my diagnosis, it's, is it's the culture. And so I asked him, Ben, they're-- He's been one of the most aggressive investors in AI labs. He goes back to this thing which resonates in my mind a lot. It-- When I used to work at a16z, I would, book a conference room, and right outside the conference room, which is closest to the toilet ‘cause it was the fastest way for me to go use the bathroom between Zoom meetings-Swyx [00:49:45]: Oh my God, I'll put maxing my toilet optimization. Okay, never mind.Anjney [00:49:48]: It was not healthy in hindsight, but maybe this is TMI. But anyway, outside that conference on the wall was this quote that was printed that said, “Culture is not a set of beliefs, it's a set of actions.” And it's by Bushido, is this, Japanese philosopher. And if you stop taking the actions that demonstrate the mission alignment to what you've said to your team and to your-- the world matters to you, then your culture starts to fray. So it's not actually a moat, I would say. It's a very brittle, fragile thing that requires daily tending to like a garden. But if you figure out the system to keep that garden tended, which I think ultimately comes down to knowing yourself ‘cause you most naturally, if you're authentic and so on, you'll naturally make trade-offs that seem effortless to you, but that reinforce your culture. And then That becomes this very hard thing for other people to catch up to. And at Anthropic, from day one, there was this mission like-- missionary like zeal and belief that, hey, these capabilities will scale. These systems are stochastic, not deterministic. There will be error bars, and until we crack interpretability, there's risk. And at some point, people will go-- stop using Claude just for coding. They'll use it in some mission-critical context where there's-- it'll throw off a bug, and then people are going to come blame them, and they want to be on the right side of history where they said, “Yes, this is a powerful technology. We think it's going to change the world, And we want to be very measured and scientific about the fact that, ‘Hey, guys, these are stats models, statistical models.' That's how statistics works.” ultimately, when you're training neural nets, it is just a statistical system. And I think that Belief that safety is important and that it might seem toy-like in the early days, and sometimes, you could say, “Anjney, they totally over-exaggerated the risk,” like two years ago when they said, “Let's not launch Claude One,” or whatever. Well, okay, maybe in hindsight, but hindsight is twenty/twenty. And at the time, they didn't know how that model would be used, and to them it felt existential if somebody came and said, “You weren't responsible. It-- This wrote a bug.” The liability associated with that is massive. So how do you prevent against that? Well, day in, day out, you say safety. And when you start deviating from that, you have the team hold you accountable, you have the world hold you accountable, and I think that becomes a moat over time. At some point, that moat will get challenged and so on, and then it become fragile. I hope it endures because that's the beauty of having founders run the show, ‘cause they can make really hard trade-offs to do mission alignment. The hardest part is in the earliest days when you don't have a group of people who are going through difficulty, stress, crisis together, then your culture doesn't get defined sharply enough, and that's what I'm worried about right now, is there's so much money going to these labs. There's no hardship. There's no-Swyx [00:52:50]: To anyone who knowsAnjney [00:52:51]: There's no to anyone who knows. And that, in hindsight, was a feature, not a bug for Anthropic. The number of people who said no, the number of people who said, “Sorry, we're all doing investors in OpenAI,” that is competitive difference. It forces you to really understand, what is the hill you want to die on at the expense of everything else. What's the P zero? And there, P zero from day one was coding. The reason, the mechanism system there was if we crack coding, Then we will crack AGI. Our mission is AGI. We want to get there safely. If we focus on codin

Clint, Meg, and Dan kick off an unplanned Friday show while racing toward opening night of “Hook the Musical,” recording new tracks, going off-book on lines, and worrying about Bella’s prep. They chat about darts at Auckland’s Viaduct and a flight attendant’s heavily discounted travel perks, debate whether perks affect friendships, and share Scandal highlights including praise for Ariana Grande’s live vocals and Niall Horan’s Live Lounge cover. A caller road-tripping to Dannevirke spills small-town drama, then the team react to a viral “drunk husband gave his number” apology using AI Winnie the Pooh. Marco gives away 50 free coffees in Christchurch, they cover weekend sport, roast “ex as a store” jokes, discuss “dopamine shopping,” and attempt “Cart Busters” to pay for listeners’ online carts—until the call goes wrong. 02:00 Pizza Night Banter 02:21 Coffee Catch Up Darts 02:50 Flight Perks Debate 06:58 Scandal Ariana And Niall 09:51 First Caller Small Town Tea 13:04 Naughty 640 16:53 Free Coffees Christchurch 19:03 Hook Musical Cringe Preview 24:04 Weekend Sport Chat 25:22 Mum Oracle Retires 28:17 Ex as a Store Game 31:35 Dopamine Shopping Trend 35:13 Cart Busters Calls 37:44 Winner Call Fails

Our summer fun continues as the best of R&B brings you The Party that never stops. The best Rhythm and Blues music. Sit back and get your R&B fix.Hey got a song, maybe dedication, how you like the show or even a thought. Hook me up @oldschoolthrowdowms@gmail.com.

With 2 Million Independent TN Voters 775k Votes is the Magic Number. Where Do Trump Voters Go Next? Reason Over Extremism. Independence Never Goes Out Of Style. Tennessee looks like a red wall on the map. Look closer. Roughly 48% of eligible voters there are unaffiliated — the highest share in the state (34%-R/18%-D/48%-I) — and only a third of them bothered to show up last midterm. That's not apathy. That's the angry middle waiting for someone worth voting for. Lauren Pinkston, independent candidate for governor, joins Paul to make the case that 2026 is the year Tennessee breaks the one-party stranglehold, and she's got the math, the ground game, and the biography to back it up. Pinkston is a seventh-generation Tennessean, a PhD in international development who lived five years inside a communist country watching elections up close, a mother advocating for a child with special needs, and a founder who built a business with survivors of human trafficking. In this conversation, she breaks down the 775,000-vote path to victory, why 60-70% of her incoming support is Republicans looking for an off-ramp from the MAGA machine, the $83 billion road backlog Nashville won't touch, the housing crisis pricing working families out of their own state, and why open primaries are non-negotiable for anyone who actually believes in the Constitution. It's a briefing on what independent infrastructure looks like when it's built right — couch by couch, county by county. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

THE AFTER PARTY IS BACK. And on this one we feature the new girls of Cincy Street. They tell about their bartending journey to Cincy Street, give us their latest relationship tea and our boy Gee asks them some crazy questions! Follow us on social media @AaronScenesAfterParty

I am in absolute shock that we just attempted to run a full theater rehearsal live on the podcast. Dan wrote a musical when he was 15 called Hook: The Musical, and we are performing it to a real, paying audience in a week and a half. We haven't practiced once.

B-52 Bomber Crashes In California. Trump At NYC Parade? Knicks At White House? Primaries Tues In Alabama, Dc, Georgia And Oklahoma. NYPD Rise To The Moment.  Independents have hit 47% of the country. Republicans are at 26%. Democrats at 27%. That's not a trend line — that's a tectonic shift, and the new CNN poll out today confirms what this show has been saying for years: the angry middle isn't homeless, it isn't tribeless, it's free. Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the numbers, what they mean for the 2026 midterms, and why younger voters, male voters, and white voters without college degrees are walking away from the GOP — and not running to the Democrats. From there, it's a full no-BS briefing. Iran has de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz and Trump is negotiating what looks like a surrender. Eight crew members are dead after a B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base — a story buried under the noise. Closed primaries on Tuesday continue to disenfranchise nearly half the electorate. The NYPD is rising to meet a wild week of Knicks, World Cup, and parade security. And the big question hangs over Thursday: will Trump show up and shit on New York's joy, or stay in his tower? It's a sanctuary in a chaotic week — and a reminder that you're not alone in the angry middle. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason discusses some of the changing racing media landscape and welcomes in Thistledown announcer Matt Hook to talk about the Ohio Derby. 

Meg returns to find Clint and Dan mocking Clint’s emotional reaction to Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 win, before Dan reveals his daily “pie guy” habit and being given a free mince-and-cheese pie. The trio play a rapid-fire quiz, react to a Shrek 5 teaser and Tom Holland confirming he and Zendaya are married, and prepare for their upcoming Hook musical—now featuring a controversial Meg-and-Dan kiss approved (mostly) by their partners, including a live call with Guy. They give away “take the edge off my life” cash to listeners, discuss New Zealand’s 2–2 World Cup draw with Elijah Just’s two goals and Christine’s Oracle picks, cover news like a $168k bull sale, the UK under-16 social media ban, and Elon Musk’s wealth, share relationship low points, and swap stories of what people did soon after giving birth, including moving house, netball, and motocross racing post–C-section. 00:00 Meg Returns Chaos 00:24 F1 Tears Debate 01:38 Dan Pie Guy Confession 04:34 Snack Vices Shapes 05:05 Un Themed Trivia Quiz 08:04 Shrek 5 Teaser Talk 09:16 Secret Wedding Rumors 10:08 Musical Kiss Pitch 12:55 Take the Edge Off 16:01 NZ Football World Cup 20:17 Charlie Puth Birth Note 22:55 News Radar Bulls Ban 28:20 Sinus Rinse Disaster 30:50 Relationship Low Points 34:02 Take the edge off call 37:24 Hook Musical Kiss 45:58 World Cup Oracles 50:27 Postpartum Bounce Back 52:29 Kiwi Mum Legends

We have some amazing workshops coming to Picture Book Summit 2026. How do we know they will be so great? Our Founders are our Workshop presenters this year!  Listen in to find out more about these workshops:  Hook, Line, or... Stinker? Discover the Hooks in Your Book with Julie Hedlund Ebb and Flow: The Pull of the Page Turn with Emma Walton Hamilton and Katie Davis We're thinking deeply about hooks and pages so we can inspire you to improve these moments in your own manuscripts. Discover what inspires the PBSummit Team to develop these workshops. In fact, they are learning from each other in this episode! Get your ticket to Picture Book Summit 2026 - Oceans of Possibility: A Deep Dive Into Picture Book Craft. Early Bird Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is open through 8/27/26. Check the website and grab your ticket today!

The people's house is being rented out for a pay-per-view cage match. On his own birthday, Donald Trump is staging a UFC event at the White House — with security and overhead costs that will run American taxpayers an estimated ten to twelve million dollars, on top of a sixty million dollar production tab. This isn't a charity fundraiser. It isn't on broadcast TV. It's a corporate hype machine behind a Paramount paywall while American families wrestle with gas prices, grocery bills, and a brutal summer economy. Paul Rieckhoff — a longtime MMA fan who trained in mixed martial arts in the military — breaks down why even die-hard UFC supporters are recoiling from this one. The deeper story is corruption, and history has a warning. What ultimately toppled Viktor Orbán in Hungary wasn't ideology — it was the rot. The sense that the leader and his family were getting rich while everyone else was suffering. Sound familiar? This episode connects the UFC spectacle to the broader pattern: the president's name on the arch, on Mount Rushmore pitches, on commemorative coins, on a wing of the White House being torn down. The exponential wealth gains for Trump and his children. The foreign money flowing into family funds. This is a no-BS briefing for the Angry Middle on what happens when a head of state confuses the public trust with a personal brand — and why good Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike need to meet in the middle and call it what it is. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Greatest MAGA Military Recruiting Ad Ever. Iran and US Say They Have a Deal. Hegseth: Ecuador and Guatemala Are Next. Fox Gobbles Up Roku. USA Soccer Wins Big! Even Though Trump Called Them.  Sports is our mirror. On Saturday night, that mirror reflected the best of America — a 53-years-in-the-making Knicks championship built on a diverse, humble, durable team led by Jalen Brunson, a man who shook every hand on the losing side because integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody's watching. On Sunday night, the mirror reflected something uglier: a UFC card on the White House lawn, locked behind a Paramount Plus paywall, with no women on the card, fight bonuses paid in Trump-family crypto, and sponsors ranging from Elon's Starlink to Turning Point USA. The White House, Paul argues, was openly for sale — and most fight fans loved it. In this solo Monday briefing, Paul connects the dots between a triumphant Knicks parade week, a wildly effective piece of military-recruiting propaganda dressed up as an octagon, a U.S. World Cup team that just dropped three on its opener, a fragile Iran ceasefire with none of the original objectives met, Hegseth telegraphing Ecuador and Guatemala as next on the “Donroe” Doctrine hit list, and Fox swallowing Roku for $22 billion. He closes where the show always closes — with Brooklyn bikers carrying Narcan, an Angry Middle that isn't homeless but free, and a reminder that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When last we left Glúm, he was enjoying the fruits of his violent labors against the men of Espihóll and sharing an enigmatic verse about his personal body count. When Þorvarð the Troublemaker hears about this, he's quick to set Þórarin on the case, forcing Glúm to swear an oath that he played no part in the killing of Þorvald Hook. Will this oath clear Glúm of any guilt in the matter or will his clever phrasing prove to be his undoing? Listen and find out for yourself (though if you've been listening to the past 5 episodes, you should have a pretty good idea of where this is heading for our story's hero). We may have missed our March deadline for finishing Víga-Glúm's Saga but we got there in the end. Enjoy this grand finale! Listen and let us know what you think on our various socials: Sagathingpodcast on Facebook Sagathingpodcast on Instagram Sagathingpodcast on Bluesky Saga Thing's unofficial official Discord Music Credits Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Poetry Music - "Bittersweet" and "Nerves" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  Thank you for tuning in to Episode 322 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website. This week's segments included:   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins From the Armchair KAL News Events On a Happy Note Quote of the Week   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Miles' Dump Truck Pattern: Dump Truck by by AnvisionCrochet (crochet pattern for sale on Ravelry & Etsy) Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids Hook: C (2.75 mm) Ravelry Project Page   Merry Christmas Kevin Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz, Steel Toes in the Merry Christmas, Kevin colorway Ravelry Project Page   Midnight Orchid Socks Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Midnight Orchid colorway Ravelry Project Page   On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Goldwing Sweater Pattern: Goldwing by Jennifer Steingass ($8 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 6 (4.0mm) for body and US 5 (3.75 mm) for rolled neck Yarn: Valley Superwash DK in Sand (MC) and handspun from Wound Up Fiber Arts for CC (Ravelry page for handspun details) Ravelry Project Page Progress: I'm working on the colorwork yoke   Pollen Party Socks Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Pollen Party colorway + 20g mini (I think it's Legacy Fiber Artz mini) Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Progress: I'm well into the foot of the second sock.   Mine! Socks Yarn:  Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Fingering (90 SW Targhee, 10% Nylon)  in the colorway- Mine! aka A Gull Takes Off with Bluberry Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the Colorway: Nemo Reference- thin white stripes with wider colorful stripes in between Orange, aqua, yellow, navy, light gray. May 2025 Club Colorway. Navy mini Almost to heel of sock 1   From the Armchair   Books Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino. Amazon Affiliate Link. (You may enjoy this- Beautyland Review) Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Amazon Affiliate Link. Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden. Amazon Affiliate Link. Check out this link to a Guardian article about the book. John of John by Douglas Stewart. Amazon Affiliate Link.   Musical: Black Swan at American Repertory Theater   Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.   KAL News Splash Pad Party '26 Details Event runs 5/22-7/31 Splash Pad Party Registration is open as of 5/1 View Stats and/or Verify Registration here. Check out our Sponsor List Splash Pad '26 Official Rules Enter your FOs using the Summer Celebration Form. Then come over to this Ravelry Thread to share pics and let us ooh and ahh with you! Submit something incorrectly? Need help? Fill out this Support Form & we'll be in touch. Find official SPP'26 images you can use on social media in this Google folder.   Splash Pad RAVELRY Links Start Here Thread Pro Shop Exclusive Items Thread Coupon Codes Thread Questions Thread   A few fun highlights from the June Poolside Chat Broken Jack socks knit up by Ravelry user KBamr- Check out the Ravelry Project Page here. PAKnitWit shared a handy video for the Tubular Cast On using scrap yarn in this Ravelry Post. SammichStitches is working on a Persian Tiles Blanket and got all of the pieces done- ready to seam up and wow is it beautiful. Check out this Ravelry Post. Lmecoll shared a test knit sock for Chit Chat Knits- check it out in this Ravelry Post. They're called the Summer Sizzle Socks.   Events July 31-August 1: Flock Fiber Festival in Seattle, WA August 8- FIber Revival in Newbury, MA September 12 & 13: Boston Fiber Festival in Boston, MA (full or half day passes, or 2 day passes) September 19 & 20: Adirondack Wool & Arts Festival in Greenwich, NY October 17 & 18: NY State Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY November 7: Fiber Festival of New England in Springfield, MA   On a Happy Note Seeing Riley off to Prom and attending her high school graduation! Visiting with Vikki, in from Las Vegas. Miles' second birthday party. Aila's voice recital and then a girls shopping trip to follow with Megg, Kris, Riley and Aila. An absolutely splendid birthday! Seeing all the kids in their recitals this weekend. My brother did the father/daughter dance with Riley in her last recital. I blubbered through most of it. We then danced the night away at our twin friends' 50th birthday party. Brunch before Black Swan with Megg and Rose. $18 bottomless brunch (food- not alcohol) at The Painted Burro in Harvard Square is so delicious! Great conversions.   Quote of the Week   "Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back."   ― Jodi Picoult, Second Glance   ------   Thank you for tuning in!   Contact Information: Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon! Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group Instagram: BostonJen1 YouTube: Down Cellar Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Knit Picks Affiliate Link Bookshop Affiliate Link Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada Music -"Soft Orange Glow" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.  

The two parties don't just run the game — they run the refs. In this News Nation panel conversation, Paul Rieckhoff makes the case that America's closed primary system isn't merely broken, it's rigged: party-run, party-refereed, and engineered to push both sides to the fringe while the 90-million-strong angry middle gets locked out. With independents now giving Donald Trump an approval rating in the twenties and an independent senator like Angus King already shaping Maine politics, the 2026 midterms are shaping up to be a referendum the MAGA machine can't spin its way out of. From there, the conversation moves to the powder keg in the Middle East — forty percent of the U.S. Navy in the region, tens of thousands of troops exposed, and what Paul calls 'the worst ceasefire ever' still producing live fire. Add a three-year inflation high, a president openly saying he 'loves the inflation,' fresh Epstein testimony from Bill Gates, and a Maine Senate race that just got a lot more interesting, and you've got the full picture of a summer of violence, volatility, and political pressure. Independents are going to decide what comes next. This is the briefing on why. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yas fills in for Meg on The Edge as the team recaps the weekend,. Dan celebrates Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari F1 win in years, admitting he cried at 2:00 AM. They cross to “correspondent” Sven at the FIFA World Cup ahead of Sweden vs Tunisia, then start a World Cup prediction hunt with Clint’s mum as an oracle. A “Take the Edge Off My Life” cash call is controversially awarded after a voicemail answer, plus another winner gets $200 for car servicing. The crew debates morning sex and tongue kissing stats, plays a musicals-budget game, teases their Hook musical (including talk of a Hook–Smee kiss), and shares partner addiction stories like 80+ pairs of shoes. 00:00 Monday Banter Begins 00:38 Hamilton Win Hype 01:56 Weekend Catch Up Stories 03:18 Garage Clean Chaos 05:07 World Cup Cross to Sven 09:26 Scandal Headlines Roundup 10:49 First Call of the day 14:44 Naughty 640 18:27 More or Less Musicals 23:45 Take the edge off 25:52 Voicemail Controversy 27:45 What Made You Cry 34:05 Celebrity Scandal Roundup 35:40 French Kissing Stats 42:48 Take The Edge Call 45:45 Hook Musical Kiss Pitch 52:31 Exposing Addictions 01:02:30 FIFA Oracles

Ira Ford! Comedian! Friend! Delight! More! Ira hosts the Light em up the Bong Show every third Sunday of the month at the Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge.  Follow him on TikTok, on Instagram, and on Facebook. And enjoy this conversation we have right here right now! And this is only one HALF of our chat!  For the other half, subscribe via Apple Podcasts OR merely click on over here to Patreon! Enjoy!

Clayton as DNI, DOJ/Trump's $1.8B slush fund lives, Trump vs Platner, and Iran and inflation. It has been a wild, weird, harrowing week — Iran, ICE in Minneapolis, a UFC fight at the White House, the Knicks in the playoffs, and a president who keeps telling you out loud what he plans to do next. In this special Friday pop-media episode, Paul Rieckhoff brings you his weekly conversation from MS Now and breaks down what he's calling Trump's Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C: weaponize the National Guard, weaponize ICE, and weaponize the ballot box. It's not speculation. Trump has said it. Steve Bannon has said it. The reporting backs it up. And Congress — by Paul's read — has stopped exactly nothing. This is a no-BS briefing for the angry middle. Paul connects the dots between the resurrected payout scheme for January 6th defendants, the ICE escalation in blue cities, the Iran war driving gas prices through the roof, and the coming primary fights from Maine to Nebraska to Montana where independent veterans are stepping up where Democrats can't. He's blunt about the Democratic brand problem, blunt about the Republican capitulation, and clear about where the circuit breaker actually lives: election integrity, the courts, Congress, and an angry middle that refuses to check out for the summer. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky   -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iran Hits Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan. Trump vs Gov Wes Moore in Golf. World Cup Begins and Team USA Plays Tomorrow!  Trump told a room full of Americans he "loves inflation" — while working families are getting strangled at the grocery store and the gas pump. Meanwhile, Senator Markwayne Mullin is openly fantasizing about siccing ICE on New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, treating federal immigration enforcement like a personal political weapon. This is what the rigged two-party system looks like when the masks slip: a billionaire class that profits from your pain and a MAGA machine that uses federal agencies as enforcers. Paul Rieckhoff cuts through it with a no-BS solo briefing built for the 90 million independent voters who are sick of being lied to by both sides. This episode moves fast — from the economic gaslighting coming out of the White House, to the constitutional alarm bells ringing over ICE being deployed as a political cudgel, to a genuine moment of American unity courtesy of the New York Knicks. Paul connects the dots between cultural touchstones and political rot, lays out what the angry middle should actually be watching, and points to where righteous anger can be translated into real-world impact. If you want intelligence-grade analysis instead of cable-news theater, this is your morning briefing. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris tries out a little Family Feud fast money, the guys rip Jared Leto and praise Kate UptonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

900K Independents Blocked Out. Spencer Pratt is Out in LA. Trump Cries Foul. America 250 is Bigger Than Trump.  Trump showed up at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden and got booed loud enough that he had to lie about it on the tarmac. Hours later, news broke that an Iranian drone shot down a US Army Apache gunship off the coast of Oman — the pilots rescued, in a first-of-its-kind operation, by an American sea drone. And while the MAGA machine drags the NBA, the UFC, and America 250 into its political circus, four states are running primaries today that disenfranchise nearly a million independent voters, including roughly 450,000 independent veterans in Nevada alone. Paul Rieckhoff is solo on the mic for episode 545, delivering the kind of no-BS morning briefing the cable nets won't. This one moves fast and hits hard: drone warfare as the new normal in Iran and Ukraine, the difference between a closed primary, an open party primary, and the all-candidate open primary that actually respects independents, the Graham Plattner problem in Maine, Trump previewing his attack on November's election results, and a French flyover at the Statue of Liberty that's a reminder America 250 doesn't belong to Trump. If you're tired of partisans weaponizing every NBA scuffle and every foreign policy crisis, this is the briefing that meets the moment — righteous anger, rigorous analysis, and a path forward. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Make the switch to Noble mobile and save money the easy way. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky   -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Far Left & Right Dominate Another Rigged Primary Day. Knicks/Spurs Back at MSG. Hilton Beats Steyer in CA. Jimi Hendrix Gets His Way. It's a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wednesday and Paul is sounding the alarm. Game four of the NBA Finals tips off tonight at Madison Square Garden, but the real story is bigger than basketball. A Spurs fan got jumped in New York. Young men across America are jobless, hopeless, and furious. Trump has already named New York and Chicago as cities he wants to send troops into. Steve Bannon is calling ICE airport operations a dress rehearsal for the fall elections. And Pete Hegseth just flew to Gitmo with conspiracy-pusher Laura Loomer in tow — not the Washington Post, not even Fox — because Cuba is next and they aren't even hiding it. Paul connects the dots between a potentially violent summer at home, CENTCOM's ongoing strikes inside Iran, the rigged primary system that just disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of independents in California and Maine, and the open primaries fight quietly unfolding in Lower Manhattan under Mamdani's new charter commission. This is a no-BS warning to the angry middle: stay out of the fistfights, stay out of the extremist groups, look out for the young men in your life, and refuse to give Trump the excuse he's desperate for. Righteous anger, channeled into real impact. Stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Make the switch to Noble mobile and save money the easy way. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL — the clean, zero-sugar, zero-crash energy formula that keeps you locked in for the main event. Whether it's a late-night pay-per-view, a marathon gaming session, or just getting through your day, G FUEL has you covered. Right now, you can save 20% instantly with code TAVERN at checkout at GFUEL.com. Fuel up, save big, and always… keep it Tavern. Turnbuckle Tavern is also proudly powered by the one-of-a-kind Official Dick Lazer — a wild, over-the-top gag gift that's guaranteed to get a reaction. With the flip of a switch, it projects five laser images, and it also features a red-dot laser with over 1,000 feet of range, plus a flashlight and blacklight, all packed into a sleek, USB-C rechargeable pen weighing just 1.4 ounces. It's perfect for pranking coworkers, lighting up parties, college dorm antics, or just being the funniest person in the room. Head to DickLazers.com and use code TAVERN for 20% off your order today. Light up the room, get some laughs, and always… keep it Tavern. Episode 189 is headlined by the wild week of rumors surrounding CM Punk's WWE status. We break down the online speculation, Sean Ross Sapp addressing the "reckless speculation," Fightful Select pushing back on claims that Punk wanted out or was asked to take a pay cut, and PWInsider reporting that Punk is expected back on WWE television in the coming months with new merchandise being prepared. We also discuss Ariel Helwani's blunt criticism of WWE under TKO, including his comments calling the current product "soulless," his issues with WrestleMania, his disappointment in the John Cena retirement tour, and his belief that WWE may have creatively peaked with Cody Rhodes defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. From there, we get into the latest legal and business stories surrounding WWE. A settlement agreement in principle has been reached in the WWE shareholder lawsuit, cancelling the Delaware Chancery Court trial that was expected to feature testimony from Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, Mark Shapiro, Ari Emanuel, and others. We also cover WWE moving Money in the Bank again, with the show now set for October 10 in New Orleans, while September 6 will instead feature a special Sunday edition of Saturday Night's Main Event in Atlanta. The road to Night of Champions is also heating up as the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continue. Je'Von Evans, Dominik Mysterio, and Oba Femi have advanced on the men's side, while Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and IYO SKY are moving forward in the women's bracket. We also discuss Cody Rhodes and Gunther running it back for the Undisputed WWE Championship on the June 19 episode of SmackDown, with Gunther set to choose the stipulation. On the AEW side, we look at All In 2026 ticket sales lagging behind previous Wembley Stadium events, MJF's hyperextended knee injury and why AEW still expects to use him, and the growing movement around the vacant TBS Championship with Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Mina Shirakawa, Harley Cameron, Zayda Steel, and Queen Aminata all declaring for Survival of the Fittest qualifiers. We also dive into Stardom's major presence in North America. Syuri, Hazuki, Ranna Yagami, and Fuwa-chan will miss the 2026 5 Star Grand Prix due to excursions, while Syuri challenges Athena for the ROH Women's World Championship at Global Wars Cincinnati and Hazuki prepares to face Mercedes Moné in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament semifinals. Plus, AAA officially announces Verano de Escándalo for July 25 in Aguascalientes, NJPW finalizes a loaded Dominion card headlined by Callum Newman vs. Yota Tsuji, YOH challenging DOUKI, and Konosuke Takeshita defending against SANADA, TNA confirms Nic Nemeth will call his shot at Slammiversary as Steve Maclin and Myla Grace exit the company, Fetty Wap gets involved in light tube chaos at GCW Tournament of Survival, HOOK prepares for his GCW debut and World title shot, and NXT sets multiple title matches for Great American Bash. Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at Patreon.com/TheTurnbuckleTavern for exclusive content. Follow us on social media @TurnbuckleTavern for all the latest updates. Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and good speed.

In 2020, something got installed in your brain — a switch. And every time the media needs a click, they flip it, because they know it still works. This week it's Ebola. Three weeks ago it was hantavirus. The CDC says the risk to Americans is extremely low. The WHO went on camera and said this is not the next Covid. But that's not what the headlines say… because calm doesn't get clicks. Fear does. In this episode I show you the machine behind the fear — the funnel, the business model, the exact script. I teach a framework called Hook, Story, Offer, and when I looked at how the media covers these virus stories, I realized they're running the same three steps I teach marketers… except they're not selling a product, they're selling fear. Then I bring in two books — a 1962 warning from French philosopher Jacques Ellul, and my friend Ryan Holiday's confessions of a media manipulator — to explain not just how they do it, but why. And as a dad, the part that keeps me up at night is who's paying the price. Key Highlights: ◼️The “Fear Funnel” — how the media runs the same Hook, Story, Offer I teach, except the hook is a scary headline, the story buries the CDC's “extremely low risk” at the bottom, and the offer is a subscription to your own anxiety ◼️”Pre-propaganda” — Jacques Ellul's 1962 idea that the most powerful conditioning happens before the message ever arrives… and why Covid installed the switch the word “virus” still flips today ◼️What Ryan Holiday's “Trust Me, I'm Lying” exposes — the media doesn't sell information, it sells attention, and the cheapest attention is fear and outrage that bypass rational thought (your amygdala clicks before you do) ◼️The numbers behind a dying industry — media trust falling from 72% in the 1970s to 28% today (just 8% among Republicans), and fear as the last lever that still works ◼️The “Disclosure Test” — the one question to run on your own urgency: if your audience knew exactly how and why you created it, would they still respect you? Here's the uncomfortable part: urgency itself isn't the enemy. Deadlines work, scarcity drives action, and I use urgency in my business every single day. The line is whether it's real. A cart that's actually closing is real. “The next pandemic” when the CDC says the risk is extremely low — when fear just happens to pay the bills — is manufactured. Ellul predicted this in 1962, Holiday exposed it in 2012, and we're watching it run in real time in 2026, with the most anxious generation in recorded history footing the bill. So the real question isn't whether the next virus is dangerous. It's this: which is more dangerous right now — the virus, or the coverage… and which side of that line is your own marketing on? ◼️DOTCOM SECRETS: The media stole Hook, Story, Offer and turned it into a fear machine — Russell wrote the book on how to use it the RIGHT way. DotCom Secrets breaks down exactly how funnels really work, so you can build a real business that helps people instead of being manipulated by one. Grab a free copy → https://www.DotComSecrets.com ◼️If you've got a product, offer, service… or idea… I'll show you how to sell it (the RIGHT way) Register for my next event → https://sellingonline.com/podcast ◼️Still don't have a funnel? ClickFunnels gives you the exact tools (and templates) to launch TODAY → https://clickfunnels.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is finally showing a spine. After months of all gas and no brakes, the unauthorized Iran war has become the breaking point — and for the first time in this administration, Republicans, Democrats, and the Angry Middle in between are unified in opposition. The country does not want another regime-change war. The country does not want a new forever war. And the politicians, as usual, are behind the people they claim to lead. Paul Rieckhoff lays out why this moment matters and why the pushback can't stop at Iran when Cuba, Greenland, and Mexico are already in the rhetorical crosshairs. Then there's the deeper rot. The nominee to run the DNI — the traffic cop for every piece of intelligence flowing from our allies and our own agencies — has no experience and, in Paul's read, no intelligence. Scott Bessent is brawling with Bill Pulte on Capitol Hill. Ebola is spreading in Africa. Putin is slamming into Ukraine. Iran is hitting Kuwait. The World Cup is coming to American soil with a national security apparatus staffed by wannabe tough guys and unqualified loyalists. Americans feel less safe because they are less safe — and this briefing connects every dot. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.