{"id":5850,"date":"2025-12-18T21:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/398-james-laporta-foia-and-find-out-why-is-a-marine-expeditionary-unit-off-venezuela-laura-loomer-threatened-to-sue-me-trumps-crazy-address-1776-war-dividend-1\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T21:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:02:00","slug":"398-james-laporta-foia-and-find-out-why-is-a-marine-expeditionary-unit-off-venezuela-laura-loomer-threatened-to-sue-me-trumps-crazy-address-1776-war-dividend-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/398-james-laporta-foia-and-find-out-why-is-a-marine-expeditionary-unit-off-venezuela-laura-loomer-threatened-to-sue-me-trumps-crazy-address-1776-war-dividend-1\/","title":{"rendered":"398. James LaPorta. FOIA and Find Out. Why is a Marine Expeditionary Unit Off Venezuela? Laura Loomer Threatened to Sue Me. Trump\u2019s Crazy Address &amp; $1,776 \u201cWar Dividend\u201d. 18 SEALs Disciplined for Racism. Milo Ventimiglia, Ghostbusters &amp; The Mandalorian."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=ANA7640209879\" width=\"100%\" height=\"210\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Paul welcomes back CBS News national security coordinating producer (and Marine infantry veteran) James LaPorta, one of the most tenacious and respected reporters in the national security and veterans\u2019 space. From the CBS bureau in Washington, LaPorta brings exclusive reporting, deep sourcing and hard-won combat perspective as Paul rips through a wild 48 hours: Trump\u2019s lie-filled prime-time address and new \u201cwarrior dividend\u201d checks, a dignified transfer at Dover, rising tensions in Venezuela, new Ukraine aid, Trump\u2019s sinking approval and fresh mass shootings in Sydney and at Brown University.<\/p>\n<p>LaPorta then walks listeners through what\u2019s really happening off the coast of Venezuela\u2014carrier strike groups, Marine Expeditionary Units, submarines and air sorties lighting up flight trackers\u2014and why the U.S. posture is \u201cunprecedented\u201d and eerily reminiscent of the run-up to Iraq. The conversation digs into the escalating war over truth: new Pentagon efforts to restrict press access and punish basic reporting, conspiracy theorists like Laura Loomer moving from Infowars-style harassment into official briefing rooms, and what that means for accountability and safety.<\/p>\n<p>In an exclusive segment, LaPorta reveals new details on 18 Navy SEALs disciplined after racist memes targeted a Black teammate, what command climate surveys show about repeated harassment, and how it collides with Trump Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s push to \u201cde\u2011woke\u2011ify\u201d the force and downplay symbols like nooses and swastikas. Paul and James connect it all to recruiting, morale and trust\u2014especially for troops of color and Jewish service members\u2014while talking about FOIA as a weapon for regular citizens and the need to \u201cFOIA and Find Out.\u201d They close with signature IA humanity: LaPorta on Parkland, his Ghostbusters\u2011obsessed son and a day with the original Ecto\u20111, and Paul on watching <em>The Mandalorian<\/em> with his son as a reminder to keep finding \u201csomething good\u201d in anxious times.<\/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>-WATCH video of <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/thjhZczozlY\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/thjhZczozlY<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/thjhZczozlY\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/thjhZczozlY<\/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>Paul welcomes back CBS News national security coordinating producer (and Marine infantry veteran) James LaPorta, one of the most tenacious and respected reporters in the national security and veterans\u2019 space. From the CBS bureau in Washington, LaPorta brings exclusive reporting, deep sourcing and hard-won combat perspective as Paul rips through a wild 48 hours: Trump\u2019s&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/398-james-laporta-foia-and-find-out-why-is-a-marine-expeditionary-unit-off-venezuela-laura-loomer-threatened-to-sue-me-trumps-crazy-address-1776-war-dividend-1\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">398. James LaPorta. FOIA and Find Out. Why is a Marine Expeditionary Unit Off Venezuela? Laura Loomer Threatened to Sue Me. Trump\u2019s Crazy Address &amp; $1,776 \u201cWar Dividend\u201d. 18 SEALs Disciplined for Racism. Milo Ventimiglia, Ghostbusters &amp; The Mandalorian.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5851,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5850","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\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.jpg",800,800,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.jpg",800,800,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.jpg",800,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.jpg",750,750,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.jpg",800,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.jpg",800,800,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/70665cdfdbc024d3370333b5537136c2.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":"Paul welcomes back CBS News national security coordinating producer (and Marine infantry veteran) James LaPorta, one of the most tenacious and respected reporters in the national security and veterans\u2019 space. From the CBS bureau in Washington, LaPorta brings exclusive reporting, deep sourcing and hard-won combat perspective as Paul rips through a wild 48 hours: Trump\u2019s&hellip;&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5850","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=5850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}