Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Reality Check Time For Trump? $95 Billion, Four Coffins, and a Stupid Rally In Georgia.

July 24, 2026·23 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Iran Now Less Popular Than Iraq, Vietnam, Or Afghanistan. Media Blitz Pod A president who never served is once again diminishing the cost of war — calling traumatic brain injuries "just headaches," parading a fallen soldier's family at a political rally, and standing next to a Secretary of State who openly floats a "head for an eye" doctrine against Iran. Meanwhile, MSNBC reporting confirms the US military has been targeting civilian infrastructure inside Iran, including a bridge families were using to flee the danger zone. This is not how a country that claims to believe in the rule of law fights a war. And it's not how a country that claims to honor its troops treats them when they come home in boxes. Paul unpacks the strategic and moral consequences of a Pentagon that has canceled press briefings, killed embed programs, and gone silent on military families who deserve to hear from the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs every single day. He connects the diminishment of American sacrifice to the diminishment of Iranian civilian life — and to the invisible injuries a whole new generation of veterans will carry home. If you want to understand what forever wars actually cost, and why separating the people from the policy is a matter of national security, this is the episode. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we’re doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It’s a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -

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