{"id":5852,"date":"2025-12-19T21:07:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/399-matt-cavanaugh-independent-vet-for-congress-in-co-5th-americas-most-independent-district-party-politics-is-alien-vs-predator-donating-a-kidney-colorados-buffalo-is-the-inde\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T21:07:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T21:07:00","slug":"399-matt-cavanaugh-independent-vet-for-congress-in-co-5th-americas-most-independent-district-party-politics-is-alien-vs-predator-donating-a-kidney-colorados-buffalo-is-the-inde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/399-matt-cavanaugh-independent-vet-for-congress-in-co-5th-americas-most-independent-district-party-politics-is-alien-vs-predator-donating-a-kidney-colorados-buffalo-is-the-inde\/","title":{"rendered":"399. Matt Cavanaugh. Independent Vet for Congress in CO-5th. America\u2019s Most Independent District. Party Politics is Alien vs Predator. Donating a Kidney. Colorado\u2019s Buffalo is the Independent Spirit Animal. Best Scar Wins. Friday Football: CFB Playoffs.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=ANA1148164007\" width=\"100%\" height=\"210\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Independent Veteran candidate, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, PhD, ultra-marathon champion, and living kidney donor Matt Cavanaugh is a damn impressive leader. And he joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff from Colorado\u2019s 5th district for an unfiltered, high-energy conversation on why \u201cAmerica is not okay\u201d and why he believes voters are trapped in another \u201cAlien vs. Predator\u201d election where, if either major party wins, the people lose. From NORAD\u2019s backyard in the shadow of Pikes Peak, he makes the case that his home turf\u2014majority independent, home to five military bases and Team USA\u2014is the best district in America for an independent veteran Congressional candidate to break through.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>Cavanaugh explains why his campaign logo features a buffalo and how American bison running straight into the storm became his metaphor for political courage in a district that\u2019s ready to send an independent veteran to Congress. He tears into gerrymandering, shutdowns that burned billions, and a political class that left every newborn with six-figure national debt stapled to their birth certificate, while calling for a new generation of \u201crational vertebrates\u201d with the backbone to stand up for Article One of the Constitution.\u200b<\/p>\n<p>Matt and Paul also fly into Matt\u2019s living kidney donation\u2014why he voluntarily gave a kidney at Walter Reed to a stranger in Seattle, how that transplant chain saved eight lives and saves taxpayers far more than it costs, and how serving others from combat to transplantation to running for office is his answer to these \u201ctimes that try men\u2019s souls.\u201d Paul opens the episode with a rapid-fire breakdown of Trump\u2019s marijuana order and \u201cwar dividend\u201d troop checks, the Trump\u2013Kennedy Center rename push, the rising risk of war near Venezuela, Ukraine\u2019s 1,390th day of full-scale war, and major movement on extremism inside the Coast Guard, plus culture, sports, and hope\u2014from Avatar and SpongeBob to Football Friday picks, polar bears, skiing with kids, and New York City marathon memories. It\u2019s a fierce and fun way to close out a wild week.\u00a0<\/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 this episode on YouTube now.<\/p>\n<p>-Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mattcavanaugh.org\/about\"><u>his campaign for Congress<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>-Get a copy of his book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Best-Scar-Wins-More-Before\/dp\/1637747748\"><em>Best Scar Wins<\/em><\/a> and take a\u00a0 minute and read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/opinion\/story\/2021-10-17\/kidney-transplant-donation-altruism\"><u>his experience of becoming a kidney donor<\/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 Veteran candidate, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, PhD, ultra-marathon champion, and living kidney donor Matt Cavanaugh is a damn impressive leader. And he joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff from Colorado\u2019s 5th district for an unfiltered, high-energy conversation on why \u201cAmerica is not okay\u201d and why he believes voters are trapped in another \u201cAlien vs.&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/399-matt-cavanaugh-independent-vet-for-congress-in-co-5th-americas-most-independent-district-party-politics-is-alien-vs-predator-donating-a-kidney-colorados-buffalo-is-the-inde\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">399. Matt Cavanaugh. Independent Vet for Congress in CO-5th. America\u2019s Most Independent District. Party Politics is Alien vs Predator. Donating a Kidney. Colorado\u2019s Buffalo is the Independent Spirit Animal. Best Scar Wins. Friday Football: CFB Playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5853,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5852","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\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.jpg",800,800,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.jpg",800,800,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.jpg",800,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.jpg",750,750,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.jpg",800,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.jpg",800,800,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/383de5052a46f26a2728a8c7592804fd.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 Veteran candidate, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, PhD, ultra-marathon champion, and living kidney donor Matt Cavanaugh is a damn impressive leader. And he joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff from Colorado\u2019s 5th district for an unfiltered, high-energy conversation on why \u201cAmerica is not okay\u201d and why he believes voters are trapped in another \u201cAlien vs.&hellip;&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5852","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=5852"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5852\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.righteous-media.com\/IndependentAmericans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}