The chaos at the Pentagon is getting worse as more and more news stories about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth continue to pour out. And now, the staffers he fired (that he also hired) for allegedly leaking are coming after him. They’re eating their own–and the mayhem is expanding quickly and overwhelming Hegseth and The Building. What happens next? Will Trump fire him? Who could replace him? Who’s watching our nukes?!?! It’s another wild week in America–and time for another walk and talk. And this week, Paul is back in New York City. And spring has finally sprung in the Big Apple. And the political chaos here continues to grow like tulips in the sunshine.  It’s also home to some of the worst mayors anyone has ever seen. From the epic failure that was DeBlasio to the now disgraced Giuliani, to the criminally corrupt and incompetent Eric Adams, the city that never sleeps also seems to be the city that can never catch a break when it comes to good leadership. And with Trump constantly focused on it, what happens in NYC impacts the world now more than ever.  And this fall, there’s a massive off-cycle election to determine who takes if from here.  And this week, we’ve got a candidate for Mayor that wants to end the chaos. And wants to do it differently: as an independent. But you’ve probably never heard of him until now.  Jim Walden (@JimForNYC) is a former prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York and a first time candidate. He’s prosecuted mob bosses, corrupt governments, institutions and defended Chris Krebs when Trump came after him. He’s a centrist who is offering solutions to problems from the middle. He’s got a bold centrist view and a political affiliation that make his visit to this show timely, important and unique. And he shares his vision for the future, why he’s an independent, what he thinks of Democrat Eric Adams running as an independent, what he’ll do on crime, prices, immigration, Trump and more.  It’s the first conversation for 2025 in our annual “Meet The Independent Candidates” series. And it’s one you don’t want to miss. From open primaries to  the city’s regulation of helicopter traffic after a terrible recent crash, it’s a candid and serious conversation with a candidate that deserves more attention. Because Jim Walden is what a lot of people say they want their politicians to sound like. Reasonable, rational, centrist. But he’s also new and inexperienced. And he’s joining us to face some hard questions from the best independent show in America.  It’s a refreshing dose of independence and inspiration you probably need after all of the other crazy news of the last week. And we cover all of that too. Because if it’s related to National Security and veterans, we've got you covered. From Hegseth and his growing crisis of confidence to Rubio abandoning his duty — and Ukraine, the hits keep coming. And your host Paul Rieckhoff has you covered.  Welcome to Independent Americans. Welcome to Episode 330. Be sure to check it out on our YouTube page here. -Get extra content, connect with guests, attend exclusive events, get merch discounts and support this critical show that speaks truth to power by joining our IA community on Patreon.  -NEW! Watch the video version of the entire podcast here. -Find us on social media and www.IndependentAmericans.us. Where you can also get some very cool IA merch in time for Easter, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.  -Check out Jim Walden’s website.  Ways to listen: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0F1lzdRbTB0XYen8kyEqXe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667 Ways to watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@independentamericans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IndependentAmericansUS/ Social channels: X/Twitter: https://x.com/indy_americans BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/indyamericans.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndependentAmericansUS/