{"id":4408,"date":"2022-08-04T07:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T07:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/182-matt-zeller-inside-the-inspiring-pact-act-victory-rolling-with-jon-stewart-veterans-protest-on-the-capitol-steps-the-opposite-of-jan-6th-afghanistan-withdrawal-1-year-later-al-zawahiri-is\/"},"modified":"2022-08-04T10:43:56","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T10:43:56","slug":"182-matt-zeller-inside-the-inspiring-pact-act-victory-rolling-with-jon-stewart-veterans-protest-on-the-capitol-steps-the-opposite-of-jan-6th-afghanistan-withdrawal-1-year-later-al-zawahiri-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/182-matt-zeller-inside-the-inspiring-pact-act-victory-rolling-with-jon-stewart-veterans-protest-on-the-capitol-steps-the-opposite-of-jan-6th-afghanistan-withdrawal-1-year-later-al-zawahiri-is\/","title":{"rendered":"182. Matt Zeller. Inside The Inspiring PACT Act Victory. Rolling With Jon Stewart. Veterans Protest On The Capitol Steps. The Opposite of Jan 6th. Afghanistan Withdrawal: 1 Year Later. Al-Zawahiri Is Dead. Why Independents Don\u2019t Want Yang\u2019s New Party."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=ANA2822885003\" width=\"100%\" height=\"210\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 100%;height: 210px\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, the good guys and gals win. Sometimes, the bad guys lose. This is one of those times. The historic SFC Heath Robinson PACT Act for veterans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/after-a-long-battle-veterans-celebrate-pact-acts-passage-but-the-war-goes-on-for-many\">passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But it was wild, it was emotional, it was dramatic, it was infuriating, and it was inspiring. It showed what is still possible in America if a group of concerned citizens are united, focused and motivated. And in this episode, we\u2019ll take you inside one of the most dramatic and important political dramas in years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Our guest in this episode was a key leader in making that victory happen. When, Senator Pat Toomey and the other Republican Senators that stood in the way of the PACT Act, he united the troops, stood alongside Jon Stewart, helped to rally an unstoppable force of veterans, and ultimately emerged triumphant. He\u2019s a true leader and one we\u2019re proud to call a friend of the show. He\u2019s a humanitarian, an activist, and a badass superhero: Matt Zeller (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mattczeller\">@MattCZeller<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Matt is one of the leading advocates for veterans, for Afghan allies, and for America. He\u2019s a combat veteran and Army Major that made it out of Afghanistan alive only because of the courage of his Afghan interpreter. And he\u2019s been paying it forward ever since. Matt is the courageous Co-Founder of <em>No One Left Behind<\/em>, aTruman National Security Fellow, the author of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Watches-Without-Time-American-Afghanistan\/dp\/1935982206\"><em>Watches Without Time: An American Soldier in Afghanistan<\/em><\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/iava.org\/press_releases\/iava-announces-new-staff-member-to-lead-efforts-in-bringing-afghan-allies-to-safety\/\">newest member of the powerhouse team at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Matt joined us on this show for <a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/138-matt-zeller-americas-halloween-nightmare-196-americans-abandoned-in-afghanistan-23-million-without-food-what-is-operation-resettle-allies-over-the-horizon-over-the-ra\/\">Episode 138 <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/127-matt-zeller-the-collapse-of-afghanistan-biden-is-blowing-it-saveourallies-the-guam-option-why-the-taliban-dont-want-women-to-read-asian-jumping-dirt-how-you-can-help\/\">Episode 127<\/a> to sound the alarm about the imminent collapse of Afghanistan and the chaos that would follow. And now he\u2019s back to break down the fight for the PACT Act\u2013and update us all on the terrible state of Afghanistan one year after the disasterous American withdrawl. Matt was part of the veterans \u201cFire Watch\u201d, a group of advocates camped out on the Senate steps pressuring the hold-out senators to pass the PACT Act. They served as America\u2019s conscience\u2013and inspired people worldwide. Matt has been on countless TV and radio shows, inside the chamber for the pivotal vote, and he\u2019s somehow, still standing. Still fighting. And he\u2019s back to break it all down for us in compelling detail. This is a pod that will leave you inspired\u2013and hopeful.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Every episode of <em>Independent Americans<\/em> hosted by Paul Rieckhoff <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PaulRieckhoff\">@PaulRieckhoff<\/a>)\u00a0breaks down the most important news stories\u2013and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It\u2019s independent content for independent Americans. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. In these trying times especially, <a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/\"><em>Independent Americans<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. Stay vigilant, America. And grab a vacation when you can.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>-Get extra content, connect with guests, attend exclusive events, get merch discounts and support this critical show that speaks truth to power by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/independentamericans\/posts\"> joining our IA community on Patreon<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/nQEivcUjGiI\">-Watch video of Paul Rieckhoff and Matt Zeller\u2019s conversation here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_76876\"  width=\"750\" height=\"421\"  data-origwidth=\"750\" data-origheight=\"421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nQEivcUjGiI?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>-Find us <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/independentamericansus\">on social media<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.independentamericans.us\">www.IndependentAmericans.us<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/merch\/\">Represent for the show with some very cool <em>Independent Americans<\/em> merchandise<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>-See<a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/legislative\/LIS\/roll_call_votes\/vote1172\/vote_117_2_00280.htm\"> the full roll call with the names of the 11 Senators that shamefull voted NO on the PACT act for vets<\/a> with toxin exposures.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>-Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers on Twitter. And share yours.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>-Wanna advertise on the pod? <a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/allies\/\">Hit us up<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>-Also check out new episodes of other Righteous Media podcasts including the <a href=\"https:\/\/bdorm.us\/\">B Dorm Podcast<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefirefighters.us\/\">The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/unclemontel.us\/\">Uncle Montel &#8211; The OG of Weed<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Independent Americans is powered by <a href=\"https:\/\/righteous.us\/\">Righteous Media<\/a>. Righteous is an independent, American, Veteran-owned and led content company.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/megaphone.fm\/adchoices\">megaphone.fm\/adchoices<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes, the good guys and gals win. Sometimes, the bad guys lose. This is one of those times. The historic SFC Heath Robinson PACT Act for veterans passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11.\u00a0 But it was wild, it was emotional, it was dramatic, it was infuriating, and it was inspiring. It showed what&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/182-matt-zeller-inside-the-inspiring-pact-act-victory-rolling-with-jon-stewart-veterans-protest-on-the-capitol-steps-the-opposite-of-jan-6th-afghanistan-withdrawal-1-year-later-al-zawahiri-is\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">182. Matt Zeller. Inside The Inspiring PACT Act Victory. Rolling With Jon Stewart. Veterans Protest On The Capitol Steps. The Opposite of Jan 6th. Afghanistan Withdrawal: 1 Year Later. Al-Zawahiri Is Dead. Why Independents Don\u2019t Want Yang\u2019s New Party.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-episodes","entry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",800,800,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",800,800,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",800,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",750,750,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",800,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",800,800,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IA-promo-square-EP182.jpg",800,800,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/author\/admin\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/category\/episodes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Episodes<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Sometimes, the good guys and gals win. Sometimes, the bad guys lose. This is one of those times. The historic SFC Heath Robinson PACT Act for veterans passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11.\u00a0 But it was wild, it was emotional, it was dramatic, it was infuriating, and it was inspiring. It showed what&hellip;&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4408"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4410,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4408\/revisions\/4410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}