{"id":5834,"date":"2025-12-08T21:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/390-barbara-starr-hegseth-is-secdef-drama-this-is-someone-who-is-afraid-trumps-new-national-defense-strategy-is-awesomefor-putin-signalgate-the-pentagon\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T21:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:58:00","slug":"390-barbara-starr-hegseth-is-secdef-drama-this-is-someone-who-is-afraid-trumps-new-national-defense-strategy-is-awesomefor-putin-signalgate-the-pentagon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/390-barbara-starr-hegseth-is-secdef-drama-this-is-someone-who-is-afraid-trumps-new-national-defense-strategy-is-awesomefor-putin-signalgate-the-pentagon\/","title":{"rendered":"390. Barbara Starr. Hegseth is SecDef Drama. \u201cThis is Someone Who is Afraid.\u201d Trump\u2019s New National Defense Strategy is Awesome\u2026For Putin. Signalgate &amp; the Pentagon Propaganda Corps. Pearl Harbor Lessons. Manosphere Monday, World Cup, *NSYNC &amp; The Dodgers."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=ANA5331232516\" width=\"100%\" height=\"210\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This episode goes straight to the heart of Trump\u2019s chaotic Pentagon with one of the most respected national security reporters in America, Barbara Starr. In this all\u2013new Manosphere Monday, Paul and Barbara dig into the debate around the boat strikes off Venezuela, war crime allegations, \u201cSignalgate,\u201d Trump\u2019s new defense strategy and what happens when the guardrails that protect U.S. troops start coming off.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>Barbara explains why she\u2019s never seen anything like Pete Hegseth\u2019s drama-fueled Pentagon, how the new \u201cpropaganda press corps\u201d replacing traditional reporters in the briefing room is changing the flow of truth, and why Trump\u2019s walk-back from NATO looks like a gift-wrapped present to Vladimir Putin. They connect the dots from Pearl Harbor to 9\/11, January 6th and today\u2019s surprise-attack risks\u2014from Venezuela to China and Taiwan\u2014and lay out what real vigilance and leadership should look like in 2025.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>Paul takes listeners through the latest on the controversial boat strikes, the escalating partisan fight on Capitol Hill, the National Guard deployment hearings, and the 3,000-page defense bill barreling through Congress while Trump hands himself a FIFA \u201cpeace prize\u201d on Fox Sports. Barbara breaks down what\u2019s at stake for apolitical troops, the dismantling of military legal and diversity safeguards, and the danger of turning the Secretary of Defense into a full-time video performer instead of a wartime leader.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>They also zoom out to the bigger cultural moment\u2014from Pearl Harbor remembrance and World War II\u2019s \u201cgreatest generation\u201d to the rise of women\u2019s flag football and the Dodgers\u2019 World Series run\u2014and close with \u201csomething good,\u201d including Paul\u2019s unapologetic love for *NSYNC\u2019s holiday album and Barbara\u2019s countdown to spring training.\u200b<\/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\/-kiGYMTAdE8\"><u>WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now.<\/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>This episode goes straight to the heart of Trump\u2019s chaotic Pentagon with one of the most respected national security reporters in America, Barbara Starr. In this all\u2013new Manosphere Monday, Paul and Barbara dig into the debate around the boat strikes off Venezuela, war crime allegations, \u201cSignalgate,\u201d Trump\u2019s new defense strategy and what happens when the&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/390-barbara-starr-hegseth-is-secdef-drama-this-is-someone-who-is-afraid-trumps-new-national-defense-strategy-is-awesomefor-putin-signalgate-the-pentagon\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">390. Barbara Starr. Hegseth is SecDef Drama. \u201cThis is Someone Who is Afraid.\u201d Trump\u2019s New National Defense Strategy is Awesome\u2026For Putin. Signalgate &amp; the Pentagon Propaganda Corps. Pearl Harbor Lessons. Manosphere Monday, World Cup, *NSYNC &amp; The Dodgers.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5835,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5834","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\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.jpg",800,800,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.jpg",800,800,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.jpg",800,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.jpg",750,750,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.jpg",800,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.jpg",800,800,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fc0c6652e724b49dce66b16ccec6f1cd.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":"This episode goes straight to the heart of Trump\u2019s chaotic Pentagon with one of the most respected national security reporters in America, Barbara Starr. In this all\u2013new Manosphere Monday, Paul and Barbara dig into the debate around the boat strikes off Venezuela, war crime allegations, \u201cSignalgate,\u201d Trump\u2019s new defense strategy and what happens when the&hellip;&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5834","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=5834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5834\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}