Category: Episodes

Paul Rieckhoff goes solo on Episode 445 to sound the alarm: Trump may strike Iran within days, with no vote from Congress and no accountability to the American people. He also breaks down Kristi Noem’s dangerous leadership at DHS, Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon culture war, heartbreaking ICE stories, and why 60% of Danes now see the U.S. as an adversary. Country over party, people over politics — stay vigilant.

Army Ranger, combat vet, and author Adrian Bonenberger just declared his candidacy for Governor of Connecticut as an independent — and he’s bringing a bold, historically-rooted idea to restore citizen-soldier democracy from the ground up.

Four independent veterans are running for US Senate in 2026 with a plan to break the two-party stranglehold on Congress. Todd Achilles in Idaho and Ty Pinkins in Mississippi join Paul Rieckhoff and Open Primaries founder John Updike to discuss how they’re turning the “spoiler” myth on its head and building an independent fulcrum that could reshape American politics.

In this special episode, Paul Rieckhoff reads an op-ed he co-authored with John Opdycke that challenges the narrative that independent voters don’t matter. Despite new Gallup polling showing independents now represent 45% of all American voters—the highest number recorded in modern history—the political establishment continues to dismiss them as “leaners” who are really just partisans in disguise, or “spoilers” who siphon votes from legitimate candidates.

From Paul: “Chuck gave me the time and space to really lay it all out. From Trump’s plans for ICE and the Pentagon, to the legacy of Vietnam in politics, to what I’m building for independent vet candidates with IVA and in independent media with my show. And, we talk football, morning routines, FallOut, and if I’ll ever run for office. It’s smart, fast and fun. And if you dig my show, I think you’ll enjoy and appreciate it. Happy weekend people!”

In the midst of chaos and political turmoil, our children are facing unprecedented challenges—from ICE enforcement creating fear in schools to the dismantling of public education and lingering COVID trauma. Award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz joins Paul Rieckhoff to expose the secret war being waged on America’s kids and offer pathways to hope, resilience, and collective action.

Paul Rieckhoff breaks down Senator Mark Kelly’s First Amendment victory over Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon’s laser debacle at El Paso airport, and why Beethoven’s Ode to Joy reminds us that hope is the oxygen of democracy.

With AG Pam Bondi testifying before Congress and shamefully defending Trump’s Epstein connections and ICE’s lawlessness, and a major US airport shut down potentially due to drones from Mexico invading Texas airspace, Paul Rieckhoff and independent veteran running for Senate in Nebraska Dan Osborn dive deep into the issues the establishment wants to ignore: the urgent demand for the full release of the Epstein files, the lack of accountability for ICE’s “dark prisons” and domestic incursions, and the “surge pricing” of groceries that is crushing American families. From the FAA halting flights in El Paso due to cartel drones to the “un-American” politicization of the Olympics by JD Vance, this episode is a masterclass in staying vigilant against chaos, corruption, the super rich and demanding transparency from those in power

<14% Detainees Have Criminal Record. Should VA Sec Collins Resign? National Strike vs Trump. Bad Bunny. Chappell Roan Stands vs Wasserman & Epstein. Lindsey Vonn & Ukraine Olympic Controversy

It’s Super Bowl Monday and Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff is unpacking a wild 24 hours in America—from a politically charged halftime show and Seattle’s gritty win to dangerous ICE raids, new 9/11 revelations, and the most political Olympics yet. Every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) breaks down the most important news stories and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s independent content for independent Americans in a time when trusted news, politics, inspiration, and hope are in short supply.