Trump: Deal or No Deal on Iran. Putin Hits Romania. Did Trump Just Curse the Knicks? No VA Visits by President Mayhem.

Indy Duggan Out of Mich Gov Race. New Indy in Illinois Gov race. QB Jaxon Dart Endorsed Trump. Trump Attacks Colbert. Hochul Misses a Layup. Lander & Mamdani Attack Open Primaries in NYC. RIP, Rob Base.  It's episode 535 and Paul Rieckhoff is flying solo on a Friday — no guest, just a no-BS rapid-fire briefing on a week where the wheels kept coming off. Trump is still dangling a tentative Iran deal that looks suspiciously like the Obama agreement he tore up, while the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, the regime stays in place, and the nukes stay unsecured. Fourteen wounded American troops are at Walter Reed. The president walked the same halls for his own physical and didn't stop in. Meanwhile, a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Romania — NATO territory — and the silence from this White House has been deafening. From there Paul takes the briefing into Pete Hegseth's culture-war speech at West Point and his cheesy green-screen propaganda videos pitching a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget, Trump's jealous AI dumpster video attacking Stephen Colbert, Jaxon Dart's locker-room-dividing endorsement, and a revealing sidewalk confrontation outside his kids' public school with Brad Lander — who openly admitted he opposes open primaries. This is the rigged two-party system in full color, and the Angry Middle is the story. Paul closes with what's still working: game sevens, the Spurs, 500 kids headed to a Mets game, and the reminder that joy is still a form of resistance. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump’s Forever Wars. -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 -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community 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.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Indepe