{"id":5832,"date":"2025-12-05T21:07:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T21:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/389-todd-achilles-independent-veteran-for-senate-everybodys-pissed-off-the-view-from-idaho-hegseth-signalgate-venezuela-ice-flags-lowered-for-spec-sarah-beckstrom-the-2x2-ma\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T21:07:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T21:07:00","slug":"389-todd-achilles-independent-veteran-for-senate-everybodys-pissed-off-the-view-from-idaho-hegseth-signalgate-venezuela-ice-flags-lowered-for-spec-sarah-beckstrom-the-2x2-ma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/389-todd-achilles-independent-veteran-for-senate-everybodys-pissed-off-the-view-from-idaho-hegseth-signalgate-venezuela-ice-flags-lowered-for-spec-sarah-beckstrom-the-2x2-ma\/","title":{"rendered":"389. Todd Achilles &#8211;  Independent Veteran for Senate. Everybody\u2019s Pissed Off.  The View from Idaho. Hegseth, SignalGate, Venezuela &amp; ICE. Flags Lowered for Spec Sarah Beckstrom. The 2X2 Matrix. The Need for the Fulcrum. Friday Football on the Smurf Turf.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=ANA6576889521\" width=\"100%\" height=\"210\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Independent U.S. Senate candidate from Idaho, Army veteran and telecom leader Todd Achilles returns to Independent Americans for a hard-charging Football Friday that cuts through the chaos. Todd and host Paul Rieckhoff break down Trump\u2019s unauthorized boat strikes and the unfolding Signalgate scandal, why Secretary Hegseth is \u201cfundamentally unfit,\u201d and how Congress has surrendered its War Powers as America edges toward a conflict with Venezuela.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>From ICE raids zip-tying kids at a rural Idaho horse track to a broken visa system that powers the state\u2019s only truly strategic industry\u2014agriculture\u2014Todd explains what this looks like on the ground for red hats, trucker hats, hard hats and cowboy hats across all 44 Idaho counties. He lays out a simple two-by-two matrix for understanding the Venezuela mission, why this should be a DEA and Coast Guard problem, and how misusing the military puts Idaho Guard troops and all Americans at risk.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>Paul and Todd go deep on why independents are the real solution to Trump, RFK Jr., Mamdani and the extremes of both parties\u2014and how one independent veteran in the Senate could become the decisive fulcrum on confirmations, war powers and corruption. Todd details his David-vs-Goliath run against Senator Jim Risch\u2014the fourth-oldest and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate who hasn\u2019t held an in-person town hall since 2009\u2014and why national Republicans are suddenly \u201cscared\u201d of Idaho\u2019s independent wave.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also Football Friday: Paul and Todd pick Boise State on the Smurf Turf, Texas Tech, Georgia and undefeated Indiana, and talk about why college football in Idaho is as local\u2014and as political\u2014as it gets. They close with \u201csomething good,\u201d honoring D-Day medic and Native American hero Charles Shay, the powerful service tradition of Idaho\u2019s tribes, and the growing, hopeful movement of Americans breaking out of partisan trenches and declaring their independence.<\/p>\n<p>Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories&#8211;and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It\u2019s independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve&#8211;and stay vigilant.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VnntC841fng\"><u>WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p>-Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.achillesforidaho.com\/\"><u>Todd\u2019s campaign for Idaho\u2019s Senate seat.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p>-Learn more about Paul\u2019s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with <a href=\"https:\/\/independentveteransofamerica.org\/\"><u>Independent Veterans of America<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/independentamericans\/posts\"><u>Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community<\/u><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>-Check the hashtag <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23LookForTheHelpers&amp;src=typed_query\"><u>#LookForTheHelpers<\/u><\/a>. And share yours.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>-Find us on social media or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.independentamericans.us\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.IndependentAmericans.us\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.IndependentAmericans.us<\/a><\/u><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/independentamericans.us\/merch\/\"><u>And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch<\/u><\/a> now in time for the holidays.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>-Check out other Righteous podcasts like <a href=\"https:\/\/thefirefighters.us\/\"><u>The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra<\/u><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/unclemontel.us\/\"><u>Uncle Montel &#8211; The OG of Weed<\/u><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/bdorm.us\/\"><u>B Dorm<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led <a href=\"https:\/\/righteous.us\/\"><u>Righteous Media<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0F1lzdRbTB0XYen8kyEqXe\"><strong>Spotify<\/strong><\/a> \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff\/id1457899667\"><strong>Apple Podcasts<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2022 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/49a684c3-68e1-4a85-8d93-d95027a8ec64\/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff\"><strong>Amazon Podcasts<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ways to watch:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@independentamericans\"><strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2022 <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/IndependentAmericansUS\/\"><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/indy_americans\"><strong>X\/Twitter<\/strong><\/a> \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/indyamericans.bsky.social\"><strong>BlueSky<\/strong><\/a> \u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/IndependentAmericansUS\/\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ways to listen:Social channels:<\/strong><\/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>Independent U.S. Senate candidate from Idaho, Army veteran and telecom leader Todd Achilles returns to Independent Americans for a hard-charging Football Friday that cuts through the chaos. Todd and host Paul Rieckhoff break down Trump\u2019s unauthorized boat strikes and the unfolding Signalgate scandal, why Secretary Hegseth is \u201cfundamentally unfit,\u201d and how Congress has surrendered its&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/389-todd-achilles-independent-veteran-for-senate-everybodys-pissed-off-the-view-from-idaho-hegseth-signalgate-venezuela-ice-flags-lowered-for-spec-sarah-beckstrom-the-2x2-ma\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">389. Todd Achilles &#8211;  Independent Veteran for Senate. Everybody\u2019s Pissed Off.  The View from Idaho. Hegseth, SignalGate, Venezuela &amp; ICE. Flags Lowered for Spec Sarah Beckstrom. The 2X2 Matrix. The Need for the Fulcrum. Friday Football on the Smurf Turf.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5833,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5832","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\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.jpg",800,800,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.jpg",800,800,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.jpg",800,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.jpg",750,750,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.jpg",800,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.jpg",800,800,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6f5cfa9b84ce2d21310c786402c9f323.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":"Independent U.S. Senate candidate from Idaho, Army veteran and telecom leader Todd Achilles returns to Independent Americans for a hard-charging Football Friday that cuts through the chaos. Todd and host Paul Rieckhoff break down Trump\u2019s unauthorized boat strikes and the unfolding Signalgate scandal, why Secretary Hegseth is \u201cfundamentally unfit,\u201d and how Congress has surrendered its&hellip;&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832","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=5832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}