Podcasts about veterans affairs

Paul Rieckhoff is on the courthouse steps in Foley Square, filing suit against the state of New York. The question in front of the court is as old as the republic and as urgent as this news cycle: does the right to vote derive from citizenship, or from joining a political party? In New York, 25.4% of the electorate — 3.1 million voters — is shut out of the primaries that actually decide most elections. Public schools. Public workers. Public machines. Private party gatekeeping. It is unfair, un-American, and the plaintiffs argue, unconstitutional. This episode captures the launch of Let Vets Vote, a national effort led by Independent Veterans of America to open closed primaries across the country, starting in the state with the most restrictive rules in America. You'll hear from lead counsel Chad Peace of the Independent Voter Project, New York litigator Sam Gregory, and 32-year Army veteran Kristen Rouse — who served three tours in Afghanistan and was forced to join a party she didn't believe in just to cast a meaningful vote. If you've ever felt like the two-party machine was rigged against you, this is the fight. And it's just getting started. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Let Vets Vote: Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Paul Rieckhoff joins the MSNBC table with Nikki McCann Ramirez of Rolling Stone and former Harris senior advisor Mike Nellis to break down the political sucking chest wound of Trump's Iran war — and how it is bleeding into every corner of the 2026 midterms. From Texas, where Republicans are burning nine figures to defend a state that was never supposed to be competitive, to Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, and Alaska, where independent veterans are running as kryptonite to GOP incumbents, this is the clearest read yet on why Trump is now more unpopular with true independents than Nixon at the height of Watergate. Then MSNBC Pentagon reporter Priya Sridher joins with exclusive reporting on the USS Lincoln, the carrier that just broke a modern deployment record, at least eight suicide attempts in the strike group, and a 19-year-old sailor charged with malingering after jumping overboard. Paul connects the dots: an abused force, an unauthorized war, a Pentagon purging 20% of its generals and admirals, and a political class — in both parties — that still hasn't figured out how to stop any of it. If you want to understand where the midterms actually turn, start here. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Let Vets Vote: Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 number one threat to America isn't Donald Trump — it's AI. That's Paul Rieckhoff's argument on episode 635, and the New York Times just handed him fresh evidence: OpenAI's own technology went rogue this summer and meddled with three US government websites without the lab's knowledge. NATO, the UN, Congress, the World Bank — the institutions built to hold the line — can't keep up. Congress isn't even in session. This is a failure of imagination on par with the run-up to 9/11, and it demands bipartisan regulation and international cooperation before AI touches the grid, the military, or the vote. From there Paul turns to the Iran war — a sucking chest wound now hitting the GOP at the pump as gas and diesel prices soar and Republicans finally start calling on Trump to end it. Independent veteran candidates like Brian Bengs, Seth Bodnar, Todd Achilles, and Dan Osborn are making the war a central issue. Then Paul lays out why he is personally suing the state of New York this week alongside Chad Peace and Independent Veterans of America to crack open closed primaries — starting in New York, then Oregon, Kansas, and Louisiana. 3.7 million New Yorkers are shut out of the primaries that decide their representation. Veterans swore an oath to the Constitution, not to a party. This is how we level the playing field. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 Department of Veterans Affairs has spent the past several years building the governance, infrastructure and workforce needed to scale artificial intelligence across the nation's largest integrated health care system. Now, VA is increasingly focused on turning that foundation into practical applications that improve care and services for veterans. Acting Chief AI Officer Kimberly McManus discussed how VA's AI strategy has evolved and how the agency is measuring its impact. This includes a 22% decrease in opioid overdose mortality and general-purpose tools that employees say save them six hours per week. McManus also outlined how VA is measuring AI's impact on quality of care, access to care, turnaround times and employee productivity.

The Iran war isn't just a foreign policy story anymore — it's the political story that's about to reshape 2026. Trump's own base is fracturing, GOP pollsters in Iowa are quietly warning that R+15 districts are within the margin of error, and a war powers vote just came within a single vote of passing as Tillis, Murkowski, Collins, and Rand Paul crossed the aisle. Meanwhile, John Fetterman lined up with the president. The rigged two-party system is showing its seams, and independents — now the largest voting bloc in America — are the ones deciding where this goes. Paul and the panel break down why this moment rhymes with 2006 (and maybe the late '70s), how gas and diesel prices are welding the war to kitchen-table economics, and why so many House Republicans in safe seats have never run a real general election in their lives. Plus: the dark money tsunami about to hit, the governors' races quietly slipping into play, and the four independent veteran Senate candidates — Tod Achilles, Dan Osborn, Seth Bodnar, and Bob Chew — running disciplined races against unpopular incumbents in both parties. If you want to understand the actual terrain of 2026, start here. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

How one independent could  change everything in the senate. And the 45% of Americans nobody's talking about.  Media Blitz Pod Iran's president is on U.S. soil, giving a UN speech and taking shots at America — while Iran is actively trying to kill Americans in the region. Xi Jinping is inbound to Washington for meetings with President Trump. And at the same UN, the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic are warning the world that AI is racing ahead without guardrails. Paul Rieckhoff joins the show for his weekly hit and refuses to let any of it slide past as normal. Is there any precedent for allowing the leader of a country at war with us to hotel up in Midtown? What actually comes out of a Trump–Xi sit-down when the last three years of "deals" with Putin produced nothing? And why is the industry itself begging Washington for regulation the White House won't give? From there, Paul pivots to the underreported 2026 story: independent veterans running real Senate campaigns in Colorado, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota. Angus King is the only true independent in the Senate today, and he still caucuses with Democrats. If even one of these new veteran independents wins — refusing to caucus with either party — they instantly become the most powerful member of the chamber. This is the rigged two-party system's worst nightmare, and it's coming into view faster than the pundits admit. Rigorous, urgent, and grounded in the ground-truth perspective this show is built on. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Trump and the World Cup, Iran War Blowing up F1, Congress vs Football. Plus: Why AI can't solve chess. Ranch dressing diplomacy. Sports may be the last thing left in American life that everyone watches at the same time. Eight of the top 10 live broadcasts last year were the NFL. That kind of reach is why politicians, presidents, luxury conglomerates, and the MAGA machine have all decided the field is the new front line — and why what happens there increasingly refuses to stay there. Wall Street Journal sports editor Joshua Robinson joins Paul from Montreal, where he's covering the World Road Cycling Championships, to unpack a moment when the White House is reaching down into games, rosters, and referee decisions in ways that used to be unthinkable. They dig into the World Cup — a genuine win for American hospitality that got contaminated the moment Trump inserted himself into the Balogun affair — Ted Cruz getting booed off College GameDay, the Ben Sasse argument that America needs football to build tough men, and the widening gap between SEC business and Ivy League purity. Joshua also breaks down F1 losing races to the Iran war, AI relearning chess from first principles, and why the smartest quarterbacks in the country are still getting up at 5:30 to lift at Columbia and Amherst. Then Paul and Joshua run the Friday Football board: Arch Manning in Knoxville with Trump watching, Georgia thumping Oklahoma, the Rams as the smartest team in football, and whether Jameis Winston can be trusted with anything. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

This week on The Rundown features a fascinating interview with former veterans minister Johnny Mercer, who has just published a bombshell new book - No Way to Run a Country - about his time in politics, and what he sees as the broken system at the heart of it.He spoke to Alain Tolhurst about his own shortcomings as a politician, being lied to by successive Prime Ministers, but despite that helping set up an Office for Veterans Affairs, the mission he had set for himself after leaving the armed forces and becoming an MP in 2015, as well as the absurdity of life in Westminster and the machinations of the Tory psychodrama he became trapped inside.To sign up for our newsletters ⁠click here⁠ Presented by Alain Tolhurst, produced and edited by Ewan Cameron and Lulu Goad for ⁠Podot

Colorado has become one of the clearest case studies in America of what happens when voters lose faith in the rigged two-party system. A mere 25% of the state is registered Democrat. 23% is Republican. The remaining 52% — a majority — reject both. Into that opening steps Bob Chew: former Navy officer on a nuclear submarine during the Cold War, engineer, entrepreneur who grew a company from four employees to hundreds, and now the independent candidate for U.S. Senate challenging John Hickenlooper head-on. Paul Rieckhoff sits down with Chew for the latest installment of the Meet the Independent Candidate series to talk about why a lifelong problem-solver decided he could no longer sit on the sidelines. The conversation moves from the debt bomb — $8 trillion added under Biden, $4 trillion already under Trump's second term — to the unpopularity of the Democratic brand, to the mechanics of running without a party machine behind you. Chew explains why he's putting his own money into the race, why he's writing checks to fellow independent veterans like Todd Achilles, Brian Bengs, and Dan Osborn, and how the Forward Party helped him get on the ballot without the usual gauntlet. This is a portrait of the independent movement as it actually is: a coalition of former Republicans, former Democrats, and never-affiliated Americans who share one conviction — that the American dream is worth defending, and that neither party is doing the job. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Check out Bob Chew's campaign site here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Zelensky brings light to NYC. TrumpTV is Here! Independents vs GOP Dark Money. Giants Crash out in LA vs the Rams. We All Bond in the Suck.  Hurricane season is here, and the biggest storm making landfall this week is Hurricane Trump. Paul Rieckhoff opens episode 630 from New York City as the UN General Assembly turns into a global stage for threats, propaganda, and pressure campaigns. From the UNGA lectern, Trump floated annihilating the Islamic Republic, telegraphed Cuba as the next target, mocked the very concept of artificial intelligence, and kept pushing the rigged two-party system further into authoritarian territory. Then he banned CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House and rolled out Trump TV "a predictable next step in the MAGA machine's propaganda buildout. Paul connects the dots the corporate press won't: why Mamdani cozying up to Trump lacks integrity, why Kamala parachuting into Michigan for Abdul El-Sayed is a losing play, and why the four independent veterans running in Idaho, South Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska are about to get buried in dark money if we don't have their backs. He also honors President Zelensky's return to the 9/11 Memorial, remembers Wells Crowther, and closes with the reminder that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom "even when your quarterback goes down, even when the storms come, even when everything goes sideways. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Hey girl,In this episode, I sit down with Lisa A. Smith for a powerful conversation about eliminating stress instead of simply learning how to manage it. We talk about chronic stress, the beliefs that can keep us stuck, how our health can influence the decisions we make, and what it takes to stop living in survival mode and start making different choices in your life and relationships.BIO:Lisa A. Smith, MBA, is a stress elimination strategist, transformational speaker, coach, and founder of CLARITY™, a platform dedicated to helping gifted professionals and entrepreneurs eliminate chronic stress at the root.She is the creator of Radical Obedience®, her philosophy of complete surrender as an antidote to chronic burnout and overwhelm, and The H.E.R. Method™, a framework that helps people heal, eliminate the root causes of stress, and live with greater clarity and alignment. Lisa is currently writing a book on Radical Obedience®.Over the past decade, Lisa has helped thousands transform their health, mindset, and lives, including helping Eric Thomas, Ph.D., the #1 motivational speaker, eliminate chronic stress. She has spoken for organizations including Microsoft, Intel, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Wayne State University.Lisa holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and an MBA and is currently a student at Princeton Theological Seminary.Links Mentioned:Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok | YouTube | Website | PodcastHere are 4 ways I can help you:​ Pre-Order My Book: Girl, Get Your Guy! - Starting this July, all the way until the official book launch on February 2, 2027, when you pre-order this book, you'll get:

Login-dot-gov now widely accepts mobile driver's licenses for identity verification, partially in an effort to combat artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, according to a General Services Administration press release Tuesday. The agency previewed this capability in December 2025, though GSA aimed to make it available by this summer. However, Login is currently only supporting mobile driver's licenses in Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet, and “is in the process of adding support for additional mDL sources.” “​​The new process grants users greater control over their privacy, as they can preview and share only the specific attributes required for verification rather than their entire document,” the release said. Mobile driver's licenses use “cryptographic verification to confirm that a digital credential is valid and has not been altered,” but using them is not mandatory for Login users, it said. “This approach provides additional protection against fraud techniques such as AI-generated deepfakes and counterfeit identity documents,” the release said. As of March, 20 states and one territory offer mobile driver's licenses, the release said, making them available to about 71.5 million people, with 8 million current users. Over 30,000 veterans' health data was exposed in a June cybersecurity incident at the genetic testing laboratory Baylor Genetics, and the Department of Veterans Affairs said the company didn't meet its notification expectations, according to an email sent by an agency official Monday and viewed by FedScoop. Names, dates of birth, medical testing information, lab test results, health insurance data and partial Social Security numbers were accessed by an “unauthorized third party” around June 15, according to the email from the VA notifying congressional staff. However, Baylor reported that it is “not aware of any identity theft, fraud, or misuse of personal information related to this incident at this time,” the email said. “Upon learning of the incident, VA took immediate actions to ensure that affected Veterans are protected, by evaluating Baylor's notification process and compliance with its contractual and security responsibilities,” it said. VA met with Baylor and determined the company's initial notification and information sharing “did not meet VA's expectations for timely, complete, and appropriately coordinated notifications,” it said, and specifically briefed providers with its Pharmacogenomics and Medical Genetics programs. “VA worked with Baylor to improve the notification process and revised Baylor's Interconnection Security Agreement to address delays in Baylor's sharing of breach-related information with VA,” the email said. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Hegseth Has Been Hiding Iran Dead #s. War on the Moon? Trump Bans CNN, MSNow, Politico. Ovechkin is an Agent of Putin. UNGA Week. Ed Sheeran Speaks Out. Paul Rieckhoff is solo from New York City with Trump, Zelensky and Netanyahu all in town for UNGA, and the news cycle already on fire. AI researchers are sounding the alarm that models are breaking containment. The Pentagon quietly undercounted American military deaths in the Middle East by at least four. Reaper drones are being shifted to Southern Command as Trump and Rubio keep Cuba on the vision board. And the chairman of the Joint Chiefs is openly telling troops to prepare for war on the moon. When Congress is out and Trump is losing in the polls, that is precisely when the most reckless moves get made. Paul also breaks down Trump banning CNN, MS Now and Politico from the White House, Pete Hegseth's "send me" crusade speech at a Texas A&M football game, Alex Ovechkin cutting propaganda alongside Putin, and Kirk Herbstreet's confused version of "independent." Then a rare bright spot: Ed Sheeran's Philadelphia statement on Israel and Gaza, delivered with the tone of reconciliation nobody else in pop culture is willing to try. And a first look at Paul's new lawsuit against the state of New York to end closed primaries and give independent voters and independent veterans a real seat at the table. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 federal government is modernizing electronic health records to give clinicians more seamless access to patient data across agencies and improve the delivery of care. Lance Scott, CTO for the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Office (FEHRM), discussed how the office is coordinating technology efforts across agencies to improve interoperability and standardize health information sharing. Scott explored the state of EHR modernization across the government, including ongoing efforts with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and War. He also discusses how FEHRM is working with additional federal organizations to expand the shared EHR ecosystem and improve the exchange of health information across the government.

The Iran war has cascaded from the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb to your grocery bill, and the president has two bad choices left: capitulate or escalate materially. Paul Rieckhoff runs the ground truth with a sharp panel breakdown of what's actually happening at the pump, in the Freedom Caucus, and inside a House that just adjourned two weeks early while calling itself the most productive Congress since 1789. Seven Republicans just voted for a war powers resolution. Andy Harris is picking public fights over gas prices. Karl Rove says he's voting for a Democrat. This is not spin — this is a party fracturing in real time. From Venezuelan crude that can't even fill the strategic petroleum reserve, to Canada quietly courting associate membership in the EU, to buy-now-pay-later spiking because Americans can't afford groceries, this episode connects the war abroad to the squeeze at home. Then we get to the number that matters most: 45% of American voters now call themselves independent, and candidates like Dan Osborn, Seth Bodnar, and a wave of veteran outsiders are turning red districts into toss-ups. If you've been waiting for proof that the rigged two-party system is finally cracking, this is your briefing. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Is Trump losing control of everything? That's the through-line this week as the system starts pushing back on multiple fronts at once. Paul Rieckhoff breaks down Thomas Massie's articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — a Pentagon leader more obsessed with grooming standards and fitness optics than with getting the job done in Iran or telling Congress the truth. Inside the building, morale is cratering and the leaks are coming from senior officers who want him out. Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh — the man Trump handpicked to replace Jerome Powell and slash rates — did the opposite. He hiked. Because inflation is real, the bond market doesn't lie, and even a Trump loyalist has to answer to Economics 101. From there the show pivots to Ukraine's record defense budget and the long-overdue Graham sanctions bill, the Iran war that's become a sucking chest wound for the military and the economy, and the cultural collision that is Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Bob Kraft, and the free-Palestine chant that split a New Jersey stadium in half. This is the no-BS, intelligence-grade read on a week where the Fed, the Supreme Court, Congress, and the Pentagon all told the president no — and where the most desperate move may still be coming. If you want to understand what actually happened this week without a partisan filter, this is your briefing. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 week's episode of Minnesota Military Radio, we start with a flu shot reminder from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, then explore two Department of Veterans Affairs resources Veterans and families may not know well: Vet Centers and the VA Debt Management Center. Guests: Pat Kelly – Director, Minneapolis VA Health Care System […] The post VA Vet Centers and the Debt Management Center appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

Congress has left the building — for two months. No AI legislation, no check on an Iran war the American people never signed up for, no oversight while Trump threatens Cuba, threatens Greenland, watches the Fed raise rates, and lets his son throw a Russian-funded wedding party. Trump sits at 19% approval. J.D. Vance and Pete Hegseth are already jockeying to succeed him. Republicans are scrubbing him from their own ads. And the Democrats aren't exactly filling the vacuum. That's the opening for independents — and Paul Rieckhoff lays out exactly where the movement is building, from Brian Bengs in South Dakota to Dan Osborn in Nebraska to Seth Bodnar in Montana to Todd Achilles in Idaho. Then Paul goes below the radar on the Ed Sheeran / Macklemore / Bob Kraft blowup he witnessed live at MetLife Stadium — a Free Palestine chant that split a family-friendly crowd and now has Macklemore dropped from Gillette Stadium dates. It's a window into where most Americans actually sit on Israel and Gaza: not neutral, not extreme, but exhausted with blank checks and demanding the leaders of both sides stop bombing kids. Paul closes with Football Friday — college and NFL picks, a shout to Audioslave, and a message from his New York City Lions youth team: love one another. Stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Russia is quietly feeding Iran the intelligence it needs to kill American service members, the munitions stockpile the administration swears is full is demonstrably empty, and the sailors on the USS Lincoln haven't seen their commander in chief set foot on the deck. Meanwhile the president's son is accepting gifts from a foreign "close friend," the attorney general is running interference instead of investigations, and the Iran war is now polling worse than the data centers inside MAGA itself. This is a media blitz episode — Paul Rieckhoff stitching together the sharpest moments from four national cable hits in eight hours into one no-BS conversation about what's actually breaking in America right now. From the Pentagon to the Fed, from Cash Patel to Lane Kiffin, Paul draws the line between war profiteering and college football's booster-collective gold rush — and asks the same question of both: who's protecting the workers, the players, the troops? He lays out why the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs may be the last adult in the room, why 25 years of war have hollowed out recruiting and retention, and why the populist streak in this country is ready to snap over rich men partying in the Bahamas while working-class kids get shipped to the Middle East. Independent, veteran-led, and unafraid to name names on both sides of the rigged two-party system. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Feds For Freedom Releases Adirim Deposition, Calls for Congressional Subpoena and Full DoW Records > > Read full press release here: https://www.fedsforfreedom.org/adirimTerry Adirim, MD, then acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, signed a memo on Sept. 14, 2021, stating that the Pfizer BioNTech EUA shot was interchangeable with the FDA approved Comirnaty. But they were legally distinct- one carries a right of refusal, the other doesn't.After her time at the DOD and Veterans Affairs, Adirim worked at the CIA and was promptly fired in Spring 2025, once President Trump took office. She turned around and sued Ivan Raiklin for defamation (and CIA Dir. Ratcliffe for firing her, claim now dropped), claiming he was the reason she was fired. Feds For Freedom is supporting the defense in the lawsuit Terry Adirim v CIA et al.Ivan Raiklin, constitutional attorney, and Kevin McAfee, president of Feds For Freedom join us to discuss Adirim's memo and what she revealed in her August 2026 deposition as to how she determined these shots were safe for 2 million servicemembers. Chapters:01:45 — Who Signed the Memo?05:28 — Adirim: Pediatrics to Defense Health Affairs09:04 — Comirnaty, the EUA Product, and "Legally Distinct"15:18 — Kevin McAfee: What the Memo Meant Inside the Force25:01 — The Adirim v. CIA et al Lawsuit and Its Claims32:58 — Discovery and the Adirim's Deposition44:54 — Liability, Manufacturers, and Why the Distinction Mattered1:04:42 — Participate in AccountabilityRead more: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/dr-terry-adirims-legacy-five-years-unraveling-militaryRep. Harris calls for Adirim subpoena: https://harris.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-harris-five-years-after-adirim-mandatory-vaccine-memo-put-her-under-oath What does it mean to Own Your Freedom? It's not waiting for freedom to be granted to you. It's not asking for rights to be given, it's not even reclaiming your rights- as they're yours and they've been yours along- you just need to never let go of your God-given rights. Owning freedom is taking responsibility for your rights and living them out in all facets of life. On this podcast, we interview people who have taken ownership of their freedoms and as a result have made incredible change, whether it be at the federal, state, local levels, or in the home. It's a way of living. Own Your Freedom. It's that simple.

The 60 Minutes Propaganda Machine. No Pressers Since May. with Dan Lamothe  The Pentagon has gone dark. No press conferences since May. No real embeds in an active shooting conflict. Four-star generals pushed into retirement with a short phone call and no explanation. An Army Secretary out. Polygraphs on the table. And a 60 Minutes segment that played less like accountability journalism and more like a Hegseth highlight reel. Washington Post national security reporter Dan Lamothe returns for his 11th appearance to walk Paul through what it actually looks like to cover Pete Hegseth's Pentagon in 2026 — and why the propaganda machine is only getting louder. Paul and Dan get into the purge of senior officers around Dan Driscoll, the JD Vance-Driscoll axis and what it means for 2028, the paid "military influencers" quietly on the Pentagon payroll while attacking reporters online, and General Dan Cain's growing credibility problem after Trump falsely placed him in the room at a partisan event. They also dig into the story nobody in the building wants to touch: what is the Pentagon actually doing about AI, and does anyone in leadership grasp the threat the way earlier generations grasped nukes? This is the kind of no-BS, intelligence-grade conversation you won't get in a five-minute cable hit. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

This week, Steve sits down with Steve Miska, author, former military leader, educator, and founder of Wrangling & Writing, for a conversation about curiosity, risk, leadership, decision-making, and what it means to move forward when you're never truly ready. Miska embraces the idea of the 40/70 rule-- the belief that waiting for complete clarity can cause us to miss important opportunities, while acting with too little information can lead us down the wrong path. Instead, he argues that there is a productive space between the two: a point where we have enough clarity to act while remaining open to what we might learn along the way. The conversation explores how curiosity, empathy, and humility can help leaders navigate uncertainty, manage noise, and move beyond black-and-white thinking. Mellor and Miska also discuss the rescuers' archetype, the responsibility we have for how we show up emotionally and why people need to own their own decisions. In this episode, you'll hear about: • The 40/70 rule and how to act without waiting for perfect clarity • Why curiosity, empathy, and humility are essential to navigating uncertainty • How leaders can separate signal from noise and move beyond black-and-white thinking • Why helping others doesn't mean owning their decisions for them • The rescuer archetype and how high performers can fall into “urgency addiction” • What horses can teach us about emotional awareness, trust, and leadership Whether you are navigating a major transition, making a difficult decision, leading a team, or simply trying to become more aware of how you show up in the world, Steve Miska offers a powerful reminder: you may never feel completely ready-- and you don't have to. Readiness can come from staying curious, embracing uncertainty, and being willing to act with enough clarity to take the next step. Listen now and ask yourself: Am I waiting for certainty when I already have enough clarity to move? About the guest: Steve Miska is currently on what he and his team refer to as the Wrangling & Writing 2026 Horse Farm Sabbatical. He shares writing about horses and lifts stories about hidden gems in communities around the country. He served twenty-five years in the Army, including three combat deployments to Iraq and service in the White House as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council. Most recently, he led the Department of Veterans Affairs' implementation of the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veteran healthcare in over a generation. During the Afghanistan withdrawal, Steve stood up a team in Los Angeles that assisted hundreds of nonprofits and other veteran advocates to get their trusted partners out of Taliban violence. He plans to continue his self-directed equine therapy mission, writing about veterans returning from conflict zones, processing those experiences, and seeking to understand the deep divisions tearing at the social fabric of the United States and humanity. Connect with Steve Miska: Substack: https://substack.com/@wranglingandwriting  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wranglingandwriting/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-miska/  Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B094MS98BJ?ccs_id=0a7b6741-645c-4133-a7cc-85e0ee68889c  Send us Fan MailSupport the showConnect with Steve MellorStay connected and keep growing with Steve:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellorBook Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.comSupport the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163Connect with GrowthReadyJoin the community and keep your growth journey going:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellorOfficial Website - https://growthready.com/----This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

An institution at war is being hollowed out from the inside. As many as 80 generals and admirals have been fired or had their promotions blocked. Trusted mentors with decades of combat leadership have been purged with no explanation. Key positions sit empty for months while deployments stretch to record lengths and munitions run short. Paul Rieckhoff joins MS NOW's Alicia Menendez and Pentagon reporter Priya Sridhar to lay out what's really happening under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth — and why it should alarm every American, regardless of party. This episode also unpacks the 60 Minutes segment that put two rescued crew members on camera after their F/A-18 went down behind enemy lines to a $100,000 missile — a segment Hegseth reportedly pushed for. Paul calls it what it is: propaganda, prime time, with a compliant network carrying water for a Secretary who seems more interested in running for president than caring for the troops. From the culture-war purge of women, people of color, and now decorated white special forces veterans, to Chairman Dan Cain's dramatic retreat from the traditional advisory role, this is a no-BS breakdown of a Pentagon in crisis. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Anthony G. Jay, Ph.D., is a biochemist, researcher, bestselling author, and founder of AJ Consulting Company. His research background spans fats, hormones, cholesterol, genetics, epigenetics, stem cells, and infrared light, including work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Mayo Clinic. Today, Dr. Jay combines his scientific expertise with public speaking and writing, exploring topics at the intersection of biology, health, and human performance. He and his wife homeschool their five children. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Dr. Jay talk about… (00:00) Intro (00:54) Biology and theology (03:54) The highest risk factor for heart disease (05:43) Plaque reversal (08:34) Statins and diabetes risk (14:45) LDL and heart disease (22:35) Connecting insulin resistance and heart disease (25:44) How corruption is keeping harmful medical narratives afloat (34:41) Covid coverups (37:28) How to avoid bias information in the heart disease space (51:40) LPA (55:07) ApoB (01:01:34) Plaque stabilization and reversal (01:06:35) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/ Dr. Anthony Jay: X: https://x.com/anthonygjay Website: https://www.ajconsultingcompany.com Sugar Beat (new book!): https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Beat-CHOLESTEROL-Destroys-REVERSING-ebook/dp/B0H9QN2BL9?ref_=ast_author_mpb Dr. Brian Lenzkes:  Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author Dr. Tro Kalayjian:  Website: https://toward.health Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/ Toward Health App Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.  Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.  Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888  Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Twenty-five years. That's how long it took for the truth about the air at Ground Zero to finally reach daylight. This week New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani released more than 170,000 pages of city records confirming what first responders, downtown residents, and Stuyvesant High School kids have known in their bodies for a generation — the air was not safe, leaders knew it, and they lied. Paul was there in September 2001 as a National Guard officer working the pit. He's spent the years since watching friends die of cancers and illnesses that never should have been a mystery. This episode brings you inside two of the most important conversations he had over the 9/11 weekend — with Katy Tur from Ground Zero and with Ali Velshi on The Eleventh Hour — as the country marked a somber anniversary and rang a seventh bell for the more than 9,400 who've died since the attacks. This is not a nostalgia episode. It's an accountability episode. Cancer cases among 9/11 survivors have roughly tripled in the last five years alone. The forever wars that started on that day are still going, now with Iran added to the ledger and Congress still on the sidelines. Paul lays out what real accountability looks like — naming names, launching a bipartisan investigation, and prosecuting the people who lied if their lies broke the law — and why the fight has to continue on 9/12, 9/13, and every day after. Because next time a toxin cloud rolls into an American city, leaders need to know the American people will not let the lie stand. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -See what the 170,000 documents the government tried to hide reveal: Pt 1- The Air Was Safe •  Pt 2 - One Hundred Days -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

House Republicans are calling for fair compensation and benefits for more federal law enforcement personnel. A letter addressed to the Office of Personnel Management points out discrepancies in how some law enforcement officers are classified for retirement purposes. The GOP lawmakers are calling on OPM to review the benefits specifically for police officers at the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, as well as DoD's Force Protection Agency, and personnel at the Federal Protective Service. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Twenty-five years later, Paul Rieckhoff finally tells his own 9/11 story in full. Sitting at Ground Zero with Fox Business correspondent Connell McShane, Paul walks through the days he'd quit his Wall Street job, linked up with fellow New York National Guardsmen, and searched the shattered bottom of the Winter Garden while truck horns signaled another possible collapse. It is the worst thing he has ever seen. It is also, he says, the most beautiful — because of the unity, the volunteers, the fire crew from Arkansas that just got in the rig and started driving. Retired combat pilot Glenn Ignazio joins from the other side of the world he was on that day, in a wartime footing on the Iraqi border when the second plane hit. This is not a forever-wars episode. That conversation matters, and this show has it constantly. Today is about service, sacrifice, and the spirit that made a generation raise their hand. It's about Wells Crowther and the red bandana. It's about the kids at football practice tonight under the lights who weren't born yet and have no formal 9/11 curriculum to learn from. It's about what we, the keepers of the flame, are obligated to pass down before the memory goes cold. Love one another. Look for the helpers. Adapt, improvise, overcome. Independent is an attitude — and so is remembering. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -See what the 170,000 documents the government tried to hide reveal: Pt 1- The Air Was Safe •  Pt 2 - One Hundred Days -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Twenty-five years on, the story of 9/11 is being hijacked again — by politicians running for cover, by a president inventing himself into the rubble, and by an algorithm that feeds our kids conspiracy theories instead of history. FDNY firefighter and first-responder advocate Rob Serra returns to Independent Americans for the conversation we've had every year since this show started, and this one hits different. Newly released documents confirm what Rob and every first responder already knew: the air was never safe, hundreds of thousands of civilians were lied to, and Stuyvesant students were sent back to eat lunch in a room that had been a morgue three days earlier. Paul and Rob talk about the weight of being the person in the locker room, at the dentist, at the birthday party who has to explain what really happened — and the fact that there is still no formal curriculum to teach 9/11 in New York schools or anywhere else. They get into Mamdani, Giuliani, Bloomberg's treatment of Detective James Zadroga, the firefighters purged under zero tolerance while burying fifty friends, Trump's newest big lie, the ongoing fight for the Zadroga Act, and why the Ray Pfeifer Foundation is still picking up the tab for care the program should already cover. It ends, as it must, with something good — the lights, the kids, the Yankees, a Friday football pick, and the reminder that leaders like Rob are still standing twenty-five years later. Stay vigilant. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -See what the 170,000 documents the government tried to hide reveal: Pt 1- The Air Was Safe •  Pt 2 - One Hundred Days -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 latest Midlife Minute. Today, I'm answering listeners' questions about cardiovascular risk, focusing on Lp(a), LDL, statins, and the changes women experience after menopause. Stay tuned for more! IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Why women should have their Lp(a) checked both before and after menopause How Lp(a) works as a risk enhancer, and how cardiovascular risk becomes more significant when elevated Lp(a) occurs alongside high LDL Why family history is particularly helpful for women with a 10-year calculated cardiovascular risk that looks reassuringly low I review the current guidelines for primary prevention Why, even though research has shown reductions in major cardiac events with GLP-1s, GLP-1s do not replace statins for lowering LDL  What a CAC score can reveal about coronary artery calcification, and what it cannot detect How AI-assisted CT angiography (such as Clearly) can map, quantify, and characterize plaque throughout the coronary branches Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com  Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.  Purchase Cynthia's book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia's Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line References: 1.  ​Lipoprotein(a) and Women's Cardiovascular Health: A Review. JACC. Advances. 2026. Michos ED, Saucier S, Mehran R, Koschinsky ML.Recent 2.  ​Sex Differences of Lipoprotein(a) Levels and Associated Risk of Morbidity and Mortality by Age: The Copenhagen General Population Study. Atherosclerosis. 2022. Simony SB, Mortensen MB, Langsted A, et al. 3. Managing Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Young Adults: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2022. Stone NJ, Smith SC, Orringer CE, et al.Review 4. Thirty-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Healthy Women According to Clinical Thresholds of Lipoprotein(a). JAMA Cardiology. 2026. Nordestgaard AT, Chasman DI, Moorthy V, et al.RecentObservational 5.  ​Lipoprotein(a).The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2025. Mora S, Kronenberg  6. Clinical Practice Guideline on Lipid Management for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction. Department of Veterans Affairs (2026). 2026. Paul Heidenreich, Lance Spacek, Neil Gregor, et al. Guideline 7. Lipoprotein(a) and Family History Predict Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020. Mehta A, Virani SS, Ayers CR, et al.Observational 8. 2010 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2010. Greenland P, Alpert JS, Beller GA, et al.Guideline 9. Prevalence and Prognostic Implications of Coronary Artery Calcification in Low-Risk Women. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2016. Kavousi M, Desai CS, Ayers C, et al.SR 10. ​Coronary Artery Calcium Scores and Risk for Cardiovascular Events in Women Classified as “Low Risk” Based on Framingham Risk Score: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007. Lakoski SG, Greenland P, Wong ND, et al.Observational 11. 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2019. Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.Guideline 12. HOPE for Rational Statin Allocation for Primary Prevention: A Coronary Artery Calcium Picture Is Worth 1000 Words. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2020. Orringer CE, Maki KC.Review 13. Summary of Updated Recommendations for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020. Cho L, Davis M, Elgendy I, et al.Review 14. Health Maintenance in Postmenopausal Women. American Family Physician. 2025. Plesa M, Wong A, Katsaggelos E.Guideline 15.  ​Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes by Baseline HbA1c and Change in HbA1c in People With Overweight or Obesity but Without Diabetes in SELECT. Diabetes Care. 2024. Lingvay I, Deanfield J, Kahn SE, et al.RCT 16.  ​Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2023. Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al.RCT 17. Long-Term Weight Loss Effects of Semaglutide in Obesity Without Diabetes in the SELECT Trial. Nature Medicine. 2024. Ryan DH, Lingvay I, Deanfield J, et al.RCT 18. Interventions for the Prevention and Management of Cardiometabolic Multiple Long-Term Conditions. Lancet. 2026. Valabhji J, Hope D, Sayed NE, et al.RecentReview 19. Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Receptor Agonists and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With and Without Diabetes: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized‐Controlled Trials. Clinical Cardiology. 2024. Hosseinpour A, Sood A, Kamalpour J, et al.SR 20. ​FDA Orange Book. FDA Orange Book. 2026. 21. 10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2026. Diabetes Care. 2026. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes*.RecentGuideline 22. Premature Coronary Artery Disease in Women: Sex-Specific Risk Factors, Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Annals of Medicine. 2026. Li F, Hong D, Yang M, et al.RecentReview 23. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Women: The Impact of Race and Ethnicity: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023. Mehta LS, Velarde GP, Lewey J, et al.Guideline 24. Preventing CVD in Women: Common Questions and Answers. American Family Physician. 2023. Westfall E, Viere AB, Genewick JE.Review 25. Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020. El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.Guideline

On the week of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Paul Rieckhoff broadcasts from Lower Manhattan with the memorial lights going up over his shoulder — and a fresh wound reopened. A new report confirms what first responders, Stuyvesant students, and downtown families have said for a quarter century: city leaders knew the air was toxic and told the public it was safe anyway. They prioritized reopening the New York Stock Exchange over the health of the kids, the cops, and the firefighters. Paul's message is blunt: outrage and sadness get old. We need an action plan. If people lied about a public health catastrophe, they should go to jail — no matter who they are.This is a Media Blitz episode, he takes on Trump's prime-time convention flop — scheduled up against NFL kickoff, the US Open, and September baseball — and breaks down why Trump's sub-20% approval with independents is the real battleground of 2026. He connects the anniversary to Ukraine, where civilians live through a 9/11 every single day under Putin's bombs, and calls out the fantasy that a war criminal can be negotiated with as a peace partner. Rigorous, personal, and unflinching — this is what independent analysis sounds like when the person delivering it actually lived it.-WATCH full video of this episode here.-Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that.-Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25.-Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off.-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 platformsRead more at SubstackSupport 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.

Philip Teresi sits down with Froy Garza, Executive Director of the VA Central California Health Care System. Garza shares stories of visiting the VA with both his father & grandfather, how his VA is different from his fathers VA and what the goals are moving into 2027. VACCHCS earned a Five-Star CMS rating, improving from four stars in 2025 and becoming the only five-star hospital in the Central Valley. The designation places the Fresno VA among the highest-rated hospitals in the nation for quality, safety, patient experience, and effectiveness of care. If you are a Vet, or know one, who has not enrolled for the their benefits, the VA is hosting a virtual town hall with more information about enrollment. Upcoming VA Virtual Town Hall Events https://www.va.gov/central-california-health-care/events/ Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip Teresi sits down with Froy Garza, Executive Director of the VA Central California Health Care System. Garza shares stories of visiting the VA with both his father & grandfather, how his VA is different from his fathers VA and what the goals are moving into 2027. VACCHCS earned a Five-Star CMS rating, improving from four stars in 2025 and becoming the only five-star hospital in the Central Valley. The designation places the Fresno VA among the highest-rated hospitals in the nation for quality, safety, patient experience, and effectiveness of care. If you are a Vet, or know one, who has not enrolled for the their benefits, the VA is hosting a virtual town hall with more information about enrollment. Upcoming VA Virtual Town Hall Events https://www.va.gov/central-california-health-care/events/ Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Standing blocks from Ground Zero on the week of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Paul Rieckhoff opens with the news dropped by New York City Mayor Mamdani: thousands of documents confirming what 9/11 first responders have known and shouted about for 25 years. The government and city leadership were not truthful about the toxins, the danger, or the risk. As a first responder himself, Paul is not surprised — he's furious about the lack of action. He names the names Mamdani wouldn't: Giuliani, Bloomberg, Adams. If anyone lied, and it can be proven, they belong in jail. And every politician who plans to show up Friday for a photo op? Stay the hell away. Let it be about the survivors and the heroes. Then a replay worth revisiting: Paul's conversation with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the Afghanistan withdrawal. Mullen does something almost no senior leader has done — takes personal responsibility. He walks through the failure of imagination on Iraq, the graveyard-of-empires hubris, the debacle of Abbey Gate, the digital Dunkirk still underway, and why he now names our own division as the single greatest threat to the republic. It's a masterclass in accountability, humility, and what leadership is supposed to sound like — and a brutal contrast to the bloviating we'll hear all week. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Jonathan Berryhill is a former US Army infantry sergeant and law enforcement officer turned real estate entrepreneur, broker, and multifamily investor. He has built multiple seven and eight figure businesses, three real estate brokerages, and a team of over 50 agents. Today he specializes in multifamily investing, real estate growth, leadership, wealth building, discipline, and entrepreneurship. Jonathan grew up dirt poor in a broken home, served in the Army, worked narcotics in law enforcement, and walked on to play linebacker at the University of North Alabama at 25. He moved into medical sales, became a chief operations officer, then launched and sold his own medical device company. He and his wife now live on their farm in North Alabama with six children and four grandsons, and he leads America's Outdoor Realty and Elite Properties of the South across Alabama and Tennessee. His first book, Warrior to Wealth, is releasing this fall. In this episode, Jonathan Berryhill breaks down how he rebuilt his marriage, his identity, and his finances after filing for divorce at 25 with no money and no plan. He explains why alignment at home comes before growth in business, how he wrote down the man he wanted to become and started acting like him, and what separates people who commit from people who try. Jonathan also shares the failure that redirected his real estate career and previews his upcoming book, Warrior to Wealth.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Define your why clearly enough that it survives setbacks Fix your home life before trying to scale a business Act like the person you want to become, starting now Pay for mentorship through books, podcasts, and lunches Surround yourself with people operating a level above you Know what you are bad at and move toward what you do well     Topics From a Mobile Home Floor to a Vision Jonathan grew up dirt poor with plywood covering holes in the floor of his father's mobile home He could visualize a businessman version of himself and refused to repeat what he grew up in The Turning Point at 25 His marriage was in shambles and he and his wife had filed for divorce He called her in Hawaii and promised a life she could only dream of, with no idea how He left law enforcement and walked on to play linebacker at the University of North Alabama Building the Entrepreneurial Track Record Jonathan moved into medical sales and became a chief operations officer He launched his own medical device company and sold it a few years later He and his wife started buying land 14 years ago, which led him into land sales Pick Your Hard Fear of returning to poverty drove him for the first decade of his career He let it go after realizing that being poor is hard and building wealth is hard, so you choose which Alignment Comes First Jonathan frames every area of life as either in line or out of line, starting with home His wife has been his biggest supporter since they reconciled Comfort kills progress in relationships, business, and fitness Motivation vs. Discipline He runs a self-audit: do my daily actions match the goal I say I want Discipline means doing the work on the days you do not feel like it Mentorship and Finding Your Tribe Most people will not spend on a book, a podcast, or a lunch that could change their trajectory Jonathan still seeks mentors at 49 and joins a weekly entrepreneur networking call Weak relationship building is what stalls most people at the next level Forge the Identity, Then Do the Work He wrote down who he wanted to become and started doing what that man would do His advice to an aspiring CEO: study who that CEO knows and what he does daily, then copy it You become the athlete before the recruitment, not after Warrior to Wealth The book is built on three statements: find your mission, forge your identity, build your legacy Jonathan writes openly about his biggest failure, being unfaithful in his marriage He aims to give readers belief that his path is repeatable It Happens Because of You Trying something for 30 to 90 days is not a commitment Jonathan rejects "I have done all I could do" as an escape route Success, a strong marriage, and results all happen because of you Serving Veterans on the Farm Jonathan hosts fishing, hunting, and rodeo events for veterans on his family farm Ruck and Rawhide, supported by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, raises awareness for veteran suicide      

How can we discern genuine health threats from sensational media hype? In this episode, Jess and Kelly dive into the critical topic of 'News Vs. Noise' in healthcare, featuring Aaron Woodall, an expert in infection control. They explore strategies to filter misinformation, emphasizing the importance of credible sources and frameworks for assessing health risks. With insights from Aaron's military background, this discussion equips infection preventionists with tools to navigate the overwhelming influx of health information while maintaining a clear focus on what truly matters. Tune in for an enlightening conversation with a bit of a fun "2 Truths & a Lie" at the end! Hosted by: Kelly Holmes and Jess Fargher About our Guest: Aaron Woodall Dr. PH, MPH, CIC, LTC-CIP Aaron A. Woodall is the Chief of Infection Prevention & Control for Tampa/VISN 8 Veterans Integrated Service Network within the Department of Veterans Affairs. An infection preventionist with nearly two decades of global experience, Aaron's career began in military combat medicine and public health efforts across Eastern Afghanistan, Europe, Middle East and Africa. His expertise spans diverse healthcare environments, including public health, major hospitals, long-term acute care, spinal cord injury, home care, laboratory, inpatient behavioral health, homeless shelters, and long-term care.

Labor Day weekend, the end of one summer and the start of the most consequential fall in American politics in a generation. Paul brings you a rapid media blitz from New York — Brooklyn Bridge behind him, football season in front of him, and a country lurching into an election cycle where the rigged two-party system is asking independents to save it from itself. Only about 9% of independents approve of Donald Trump. The Democratic brand is still toxic in red states like Nebraska, where Pete Ricketts keeps calling Dan Osborn "Democrat Dan" because it works. Independents are the ballgame. The question is whether anyone can actually land the message. From there Paul walks through the wreckage: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cratering in popularity after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation, with Tom Tillis finally calling for his firing — a little late for a senator who already voted to confirm nearly every one of these people. JD Vance getting asked about an Air Force widow denied benefits because the Iran conflict isn't "technically a war," and responding by asking a reporter live on air for the widow's personal contact info. A new poll showing the number one regret among Trump voters who've soured on him is Iran — the forever war he promised he'd never start. And the through-line under all of it: the MAGA machine has the bully pulpit and hundreds of millions in dark money, most voters aren't watching cable news, and winning in 2026 is going to come down to what Paul calls tactical penetration — getting the truth to people where they actually live. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

It's the Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they hear the latest announcements from the USDA and the Trump Administration.  Plus the Meat Animal Research Center ranks Gelbvieh cows as number 1, hear the results and the latest sales calendar on this all new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. This Saturday at 1:30 Pm eastern time, right here Rural Radio Channel 143 or the SiriusXM App. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Gelbvieh Cows Rise To The Top Data from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) shows that Gelbvieh females rank #1 for percent retail product. The 2025 Across-Breed EPD (Expected Progeny Difference) Table, released by the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) and compiled by geneticists Larry Kuehn and Mark Thallman at the USDA U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), provides key performance benchmarks for the Gelbvieh breed compared to other beef breeds (using Angus as the baseline). Additionally, historical and cumulative USMARC Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) data highlights several notable performance characteristics of the Gelbvieh breed.  Key Performance Benchmarks Moderate Mature Size: In USMARC multi-breed evaluations, Gelbvieh stands out for having a significantly reduced and moderate mature cow weight (averaging roughly 145 lbs lighter than the Angus baseline). This moderation helps lower herd maintenance costs, making Gelbvieh females highly efficient feed converters. High Yield & Carcass Retail Product: Historically, Gelbvieh has ranked #1 for percent retail product among major evaluated beef breeds in USMARC progress reports, proving their exceptional carcass yield efficiency. Maternal Performance: Gelbvieh continues to rank in the top tier for average maternal milk ability, combined with reaching puberty at the youngest age and lightest body weight of the major Continental breeds.  2025 USMARC Across-Breed EPD Adjustment Factors for Gelbvieh To compare a Gelbvieh bull's EPD directly to an Angus bull, commercial producers use the specific USMARC adjustment factors. The 2025 adjustment factors for Gelbvieh relative to an Angus baseline of 0.0 include:  Birth Weight: +2.9 lbs (Gelbvieh maintains the lowest birth weights among the major Continental options) Weaning Weight: -15.5 lbs Yearling Weight: -27.1 lbs Maternal Milk: +8.2 lbs Marbling Score: -0.37 Ribeye Area: +0.66 sq. in. Fat Thickness: -0.066 in. Carcass Weight: +1.5 lbs  JBS Executive Met With Trump One Day Before Beef Import Announcement New reporting is raising questions about the timing of a meeting between a major JBS shareholder and President Donald Trump. According to The Wall Street Journal, Joesley Batista, a major shareholder in Brazilian meatpacker JBS, met with Trump at the White House on August 20th. The meeting reportedly included discussions about whether lowering the 26-percent tariff on Brazilian beef could help reduce high U.S. beef prices. The meeting happened just one day before Trump announced a major expansion of tariff-free beef imports. On August 21st, Trump announced that up to 300-thousand metric tons of beef, or about 661 million pounds, could enter the U.S. over the next 90 days without the additional tariff. Trump said the imported beef would be sold at 25 percent below current market prices. The administration says the move is designed to give consumers some relief from high beef prices while American ranchers rebuild the nation's cattle herd. But cattle groups are concerned. U.S. Cattlemen's Association President Justin Tupper says additional imports could hurt the market signals that are encouraging ranchers to rebuild their herds. National Cattlemen's Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall also says the policy could trade long-term herd expansion for short-term price relief. Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer says the 300-thousand metric tons sounds like a lot, but represents only about 2 percent of annual U.S. beef consumption. Schweitzer says the bigger concern is how packers and buyers could use the additional supply to pressure cattle prices. The timing of the Batista meeting has also drawn attention because JBS is one of the four largest beef processors in the United States. JBS is headquartered in Brazil but has a major presence in the American beef industry. The reporting does not establish that Batista caused or influenced Trump's decision to expand tariff-free beef imports. The administration had already been looking at ways to increase beef supplies and lower consumer prices. Meanwhile, Trump has also been criticizing consolidation in the beef packing industry and calling for ranchers to have more opportunities to process their own cattle. The bigger question for cattle producers is whether increased imports will actually lower prices for consumers — and whether those imports could weaken the market incentives ranchers need to rebuild the American cattle herd. REFERENCE: https://westernagnetwork.com/jbs-billionaire-met-with-trump-ahead-of-tariff-free-beef-import-move?fbclid=IwY2xjawUDwgdwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTJXcVFiOUFlYlVmVEdyREZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEejMaEAxo3R03ZI04un8ZIODnHU9HGmNRG3L2fWqI4ZsW7Q_MqPrnDKRPSKgs_aem__abaxtbnMpgIPVslwYWC_w https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/how-a-brazilian-billionaire-helped-shape-trumps-beef-import-plan-9f969669 Ranchers First: USDA Unveils Plan To Rebuild America's Cattle Herd On Monday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a major new effort aimed at rebuilding America's cattle herd and putting ranchers at the center of the nation's food supply. It's called the Ranchers First Initiative, and USDA says it builds on the Trump Administration's plan announced last October to strengthen the American beef industry.  The initiative focuses on five major areas. First — Helping Ranchers Keep More Heifers USDA is creating a new insurance option called the Beef Retention and National Development, or BRAND, endorsement. The goal is to make it easier for ranchers to keep heifers for breeding instead of sending them to the feedlot. The program would provide insurance protection for the economic value of keeping that heifer as part of the breeding herd for up to two years. Second — Helping Ranchers Recover After Disasters USDA is expanding the use of the Emergency Conservation Program, or ECP, on certain Grassland Conservation Reserve Program acres. That means ranchers could use the program to rebuild fences, water systems and other critical infrastructure after wildfires and other natural disasters. The goal is to get ranches back up and running faster and help protect the nation's cattle inventory. Third — Expanding Local and Regional Beef Processing USDA is expanding its efforts to strengthen smaller, regional beef processors. A new SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program will help processors expand, create cooperatives and increase processing capacity. USDA is also creating a Regional Processor Continuity Effort to help small and mid-sized processors stay in business and become more resilient. The department says nearly 20 percent of current beef processing capacity could become available as the cattle herd grows, creating an opportunity for more American-owned processors and cooperatives. Fourth — Putting More American Beef in Government Food Programs USDA says it will prioritize American-raised beef in federal food purchasing. That could include beef purchased for places such as prisons, hospitals, schools and other government institutions. The goal is to increase demand for American beef while supporting U.S. ranchers and locally owned processors. And Fifth — Bringing More New Ranchers Into the Business USDA says it will expand support for beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. New producers can receive help through FSA loans, conservation programs, livestock insurance and other resources. USDA also plans to work with the Department of War and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help servicemembers transition into careers in agriculture. Secretary Rollins says the overall goal is simple: rebuild the Great American Beef Herd, strengthen independent ranchers and make sure more American cattle operations can be passed on to the next generation. References:https://ocj.com/2026/08/usda-rolls-out-ranchers-first-plan-to-rebuild-u-s-cattle-herd/ https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/08/31/secretary-rollins-announces-ranchers-first-initiatives-rebuild-great-american-beef-herd?fbclid=IwY2xjawUC8x5wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTJXcVFiOUFlYlVmVEdyREZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9gd4nc5zoJx5jfdFKsrWxDA1QuPmLIj68ZJdAbVyb4cKdIKByZBDXPhIMNM_aem_axnqKjHOWKZjIX7Kevx1-g Cattle Groups Push Back On Trump Plan To Let Ranchers Process Their Own Beef Cattle and meat industry groups are pushing back against President Donald Trump's plan to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to process and sell their own meat. Trump says the idea is designed to reduce the power of the country's largest beef processors. In a social media post Friday, August 28 Trump said he has directed legal documents to be prepared that would give farmers and ranchers more freedom to process their own livestock. But the details of the plan are still unclear. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says USDA plans to announce changes that could include removing outdated regulations, waiving some requirements and making it easier for ranchers to sell meat across state lines. The administration may also provide more support for small meat processors. But the Meat Institute says ranchers already have several options, including custom processing and state or federally inspected facilities. The group warns that allowing uninspected meat to be sold commercially could put food safety and consumer confidence at risk. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association agrees, saying weakening federal meat inspection standards is not the answer. The South Dakota Cattlemen's Association is also opposing the idea. The group says producers can already process animals for their own use, but generally cannot sell uninspected meat commercially. Their message is simple: food safety is not red tape, and consumer confidence is not optional. Trump's proposal comes just one week after his announcement allowing an additional 300-thousand metric tons of imported grinding beef into the United States without the additional tariff. Cattle groups have opposed that move as well, saying more imported beef could pressure cattle prices and discourage ranchers from rebuilding the U.S. herd. Trump says both policies are aimed at lowering beef prices for consumers while helping American ranchers. REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/trump-plan-to-expand-rancher-processing-draws-industry-backlash/   North Dakota Meat Processor Up For Sale After More Than 50 Years A long-time North Dakota meat processor is up for sale. M and W Beef Packers in Mandan has been in business for more than 50 years, and the three current owners are now retiring. The company was founded in 1974 by Wesley and Vita Moore and has operated continuously ever since. The sale includes the company, a 7-thousand-square-foot USDA-inspected processing plant, a separate garage and shop, and all of the equipment. And despite the owners' decision to retire, the business has been growing. Revenue more than doubled over a three-year period through 2024, reaching 4-point-4 million dollars. The company reported an annual growth rate of more than 20 percent during that time, with gross margins near 24 percent. M and W processes and supplies beef, pork, lamb and bison to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and institutional customers. Its products are distributed through major companies including Cash-Way, Sysco and US Foods. The company also produces its own Dakota Trails brand of seasonings, which are sold at more than 13 regional retail locations. M and W Beef Packers has been an independent meat processor serving ranchers and customers across the Northern Plains for more than five decades. Now, with the current owners retiring, the future of this long-standing Mandan business is up for grabs. REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/historic-n-d-meat-processor-announces-sale/   Feeder Cattle Sale Dates & Deadlines September 2 - 3: Superior Livestock Auction Labor Day Sale September 7: Western Video Market Haythorn Ranch Consignment Deadline September 14: Northern Livestock Video Fall Premier Sale September 15: Western Video Market Haythorn Ranch Sale Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Harold Bertz – American Gelbvieh Association https://gelbvieh.org/ Follow on Facebook: @AmericanGelbvieh Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ EquineMarket.Com: https://www.equinemarket.com/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com LivestockMarket.Com: https://www.livestockmarket.com/ RanchChannel.Com: https://ranchchannel.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Sire Buyer: https://www.sirebuyer.com/ Superior Livestock: https://superiorlivestock.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/

One week out from the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the Pentagon is being gutted in plain sight. Pete Hegseth is on plan — arguably ahead of it — and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, one of the last circuit breakers inside the building, is gone. The USS Lincoln is limping into Thailand because the Iranians blasted our assets and the Navy can't get sailors safely home to San Diego. Republicans who privately know all this is a sucking chest wound are still hiding behind their pensions and their primaries. Paul sits down with Nicole Wallace for his weekly national security hit and calls it what it is: cowardice, a lack of patriotism, a lack of honor. This conversation covers the culture-war Pentagon, the transparency crisis around casualties and readiness, and the moral courage vacuum at the top of the uniformed military — Donahue silent, CQ Brown silent, Driscoll silent on the way out. It surfaces the one question from Slotkin's confirmation hearing that should be re-asked on every cable hit and in every town hall: will Hegseth turn the military on American civilians? And it names the tell that finally cracks the wall — Mike Lawler, in a dogfight against an Army veteran Democrat, breaking rank first. If you want to understand why the next sixty days matter more than the last two years, start here. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities.Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Wednesday at 7AM. Take control of your medical evidence related to your benefits and visit https://www.prestigeveteranmctx.com for more information and support.#veterans #va #medical #health * This Podcast episode is not medical or legal advice and should not be substituted for advisement from your VSO, accredited agent, or Attorney.

Tonight, I'll be coming to you from the Limestone County Courthouse in Athens, as I speak with Limestone County Commission Chairman Collin Daly, Athens Mayor and Vietnam veteran Ronnie Marks, and Limestone County Veterans Service Officer Matthew Bozigian about Operation We Remember. Currently, there are 150 flags placed on the courthouse lawn representing 150 Alabama veterans who died by suicide during a 12-month period. Each flag represents a life, a family and people forever affected by that loss. We'll discuss the importance of reaching veterans before they lose hope, the services available through the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and the responsibility we all share to notice when someone is struggling. If you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, dial 988 and press 1. Real stories. Real people. Real impact. News That Unites!™️

On this Make a Difference Minute, Limestone County, Ala. - Commission Commissioner Collin Daly shares his thoughts from Operation We Remember, an Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs effort focused on veteran suicide prevention and support. Collin talks about the importance of physically showing up for veterans who may be struggling, recognizes Limestone County Veterans Service Officer Matthew Bozigian and his family's commitment to the community, and reminds us that support doesn't stop at a county line. This Make a Difference Minute is brought to you by The Butcher - Meat Co., The Butcher's Chuck Wagon, & The Butcher's Smoke and Flames Barbeque Cookoff, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong. Real stories. Real people. Real impact. News That Unites!™️ (

The Pentagon is in open chaos and the man in charge is the reason. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll — a Ukraine hawk, a drone-defense innovator, and a close ally of JD Vance — just walked into the Oval Office, resigned to President Trump personally, and told him exactly why. Pete Hegseth has frozen flag officer promotions, is reportedly paying people inside the Pentagon to troll Americans on X, and is dragging senior leaders back to Washington for another culture war TED Talk while the Iran war goes sideways. Paul Rieckhoff has been warning about this since the confirmation fight, and on News Nation with Connell McShane he lays out why Hegseth is on thinner ice than anyone else in the cabinet. Then the map. Massachusetts just handed Ed Markey another term over Marine veteran Seth Moulton in a primary where more than 60% of the state's independents were shut out entirely. That's the rigged two-party system in miniature — a general election decided by a closed primary, and moderates left homeless while both parties race to their poles. But there's a counter-current worth watching: independent veteran Senate candidates Todd Achilles in Idaho, Brian Bengs in South Dakota, and Seth Bodnar in Montana are all looking more competitive by the week. This one is a fast, sharp read on what's collapsing at the Pentagon and what's rising in the Senate map. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Iran was supposed to be over. It isn't. The ceasefire is going nowhere, 40% of the Navy is parked in the region, the tab is past $29 billion and climbing, and new reporting suggests as much as 70% of Iran's missile capacity is still standing. Meanwhile Ukraine just took the largest drone and missile barrage of the entire war and corporate media couldn't be bothered to lead with it. Paul sits down with Preston Stewart — West Point 2009, field artillery officer, two tours in Afghanistan, and one of the fastest-growing independent national security voices on YouTube — to get the no-BS read on where we actually are. They get into the Strait of Hormuz, the exaggerations coming out of both the Iranian regime and the Trump regime, why drones matter more than ballistic missiles right now, and how Ukraine's "kinetic sanctions" are quietly bleeding the Russian economy dry. They dig into Trump's weak hand in Beijing, Taiwan's window of vulnerability, the terrorism threat we've stopped paying attention to, and the dangerous partisan politicization of the National Guard on American streets. If you're tired of cable-news noise and want a briefing that sounds like it came from someone who's actually been on the ground, this is the conversation. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 waters are rough and Americans deserve a pathfinder who can actually read the map. Admiral James Stavridis — former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, former SOUTHCOM commander, and author of 2084: A Novel of Future War — returns to Independent Americans to cut through the noise on Trump's Iran roller coaster, the redirection of masked ICE agents into airport terminals, and the looming cyber threat almost no one in Washington is talking about. Paul and the Admiral trade a candid strategic assessment on the Strait of Hormuz, the thousand pounds of enriched uranium still unaccounted for, and the three specific things any serious observer should be watching right now. They also get real about the culture problem inside ICE, the checks that could still hold a rogue executive accountable — the courts, Congress, NATO, and the American people at the ballot box in November — and why the executive branch always wins the sprint but rarely the race. The Admiral makes the case for a centrist party that doesn't yet exist, names the cyber tower nobody's watching, and closes with a reminder about the young Americans in harm's way tonight. This is exactly the kind of rigorous, non-partisan, veteran-led analysis the rigged two-party system doesn't want you to hear. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Plus: The Last Us Troops Leave Iraq. “Who Talks Like That?” The Four-Star General on Trump's Greenland Threats, Davos Humiliation, and ICE Moving Like It's Mosul.  General Barry McCaffrey has seen more war and more national security decision-making than almost anyone alive. A retired four-star, four combat tours, three Purple Hearts, veteran of the National Security Council under three administrations. In this replay, he sits down with Paul Rieckhoff for a no-BS conversation about a moment most Americans still haven't fully absorbed: the U.S. is no longer trusted by its closest allies, our institutions have been hollowed out, and the most trusted institution in American life — the armed forces — is being dragged into domestic politics in ways that should alarm every citizen, regardless of party. McCaffrey walks through the politicization of the military and federal law enforcement, ICE units operating like infantry in Los Angeles, the 11th Airborne on standby for Minneapolis, and what the Insurrection Act would actually mean if Trump pulls that lever. He unpacks Davos, Greenland, the humiliation of our closest allies, and why "NATO is dead" is not hyperbole. He reflects on the quiet exit of the last U.S. troops from Iraq, the political failures that defined the forever wars, and the 60,000 Americans killed and wounded in the war on terror. This is the kind of intelligence-grade analysis independents are starving for — grounded in decades of service, delivered straight. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Paul Rieckhoff sounded the alarm on Pete Hegseth before he was confirmed, and everything he warned about is now playing out in real time. The acting secretary of culture war is purging leaders, driving out women and Democrats, extending deployments without honor, and turning the U.S. military into a loyalty test for MAGA. The USS Lincoln has been stranded at sea for nine months. Two more destroyers aren't coming home. Families are being gutted. Recruiting and retention are cratering. And when the Army Chief of Staff wanted to follow protocol on an unauthorized helicopter flyby of Kid Rock's Tennessee estate, he was fired without explanation. In this Media Blitz episode, Paul joins Jacob Soboroff on MS Now for a no-BS breakdown of what Hegseth's culture war is doing to national security from the inside out. He connects the reporting from PRIA and the Washington Post to a bigger structural rot: a military built on trust that no longer trusts its leadership, a chain of command being reshaped around fealty instead of competence, and a generation of service academy graduates so morally alienated they're filing as conscientious objectors. If you care about who gets sent where, why, and whether they come home — this one is for you. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Five years after the bombing at Abbey Gate, 13 Gold Star families are still waiting for a real, bipartisan accounting of what happened during the withdrawal from Afghanistan — and of the two decades of war that led to it. Paul Rieckhoff sits down with Connell McShane on News Nation for the weekly Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wednesday hit and refuses to let the anniversary pass as another partisan food fight. He walks through what he calls the great American betrayal of Afghanistan, the Afghan allies still hung out to dry at home and abroad, and why an honest after-action review matters more than another round of finger-pointing. From there, the conversation pivots to the story the legacy media keeps missing: independents are now the plurality in sixteen states, roughly 48% of the country, while Republicans and Democrats sit at 27% each. Ten thousand Americans leave the two parties every single week. Paul breaks down the new farm team of independent veteran candidates — Todd Achilles up 5 on Jim Risch in Idaho, Seth Bodnar in Montana, competitive races in Nebraska and South Dakota — and explains why a single independent win in November could break the logjam the way Joe Manchin, Angus King, and Jesse Ventura have shown is possible. This is the map of the movement the MAGA machine and the DNC both want you to ignore. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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 Cold War is over. The weapons are not. The United States and Russia still hold roughly 6,000 nuclear warheads each — most on hair-trigger alert — and one person, the president, can launch them inside seven minutes with no vice president, no secretary of defense, no Congress, no court. Paul Rieckhoff opens with the news of the moment — Trump's escalating economic war on Canada and the passing of the great Dolly Parton — before diving into a replay conversation with Joe Cirincione, one of the most respected nuclear policy voices in the world, on why this existential threat has been buried under partisan noise while a bipartisan defense-contractor machine keeps the arsenal fat and the debate quiet. Cirincione walks through the full landscape: the seven nuclear states, the nightmare India-Pakistan scenario that could kill a billion people through nuclear winter, the atomic veterans and downwinders America poisoned and abandoned, and the new arms race unfolding in space, cyber, and hypersonics. He explains why Joe Biden — if allowed to be Biden — would cut the arsenal by a third, and why the Pentagon bureaucracy and contractor lobby make that nearly impossible. This is intelligence-grade analysis about the one threat that can end human civilization in an afternoon — and why staying vigilant on nukes is a truly independent American issue. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.

Rosie Perez has spent her whole life getting back up. From a brutal childhood to an Oscar nomination, from Do the Right Thing to Birds of Prey, from AIDS activism in the Giuliani years to the front row of every big fight, she has refused to be anyone but herself. In this replay conversation, Paul sits down with the queen of boxing to talk about the Weinstein verdict as a historic reckoning, the mental game that decides heavyweight fights and presidential elections, and why so many Latino voters — Cubans, Venezuelans, Mexicans, Central and South Americans who fled dictators — refuse to embrace a candidate who won't stop flirting with the word socialist. Along the way, Rosie breaks down Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder like the fight analyst she actually is, tells the story of the first car she bought off a college crackhead for two hundred bucks, and gets real about her own mental health, her PTSD, and why she still refuses to shame anyone who voted the other way. She and Paul dig into how we raise our boys, what real integrity looks like when nobody's watching, and why fighting the good fight requires knowing when to rest. It's a conversation about class, courage, and the American project — from one of the sharpest, funniest, most fearless voices we've got. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -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.