353. Ethan Penner. Independent for Governor of California. The Golden State in Crisis. Can He Really Win? Standing Up For The Center. A Bold Vision For Reforming The Tax System. Independents As a Source of Unity After The Kirk Assassination.

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

News Commentary, Daily News, National Security, Politics, News, Veteran

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 25 September 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This continues to be THE podcast for independent and unaffiliated Americans. No other show is focused on independents and independent elected leaders and candidates like we are. Why do America’s biggest states leave us with so few choices? Independent candidate for California Governor, businessman and author Ethan Penner, joins our Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) for a raw and insightful conversation that dives deep into the state’s dire housing, affordability, and political challenges, the corruption of the two party system—and offers a bold vision for a new California Dream. California is in crisis. Homelessness at historic highs, unaffordable living, and a broken political system. This week, Paul Rieckhoff sits down with Ethan Penner—one of the boldest independent candidates California has ever seen—to talk about radical solutions, restoring the American Dream, and what it takes to go it alone against the political machine. This is Penner’s first national podcast appearance since declaring his candidacy. Get candid, unfiltered insight into why Penner thinks the time is ripe for independent leadership, how his outsider strategy could work, and what his innovative tax plan means for every Californian—from the rich to the struggling middle class. It’s the latest installment of our groundbreaking “Meet The Independent Candidate” series—and follows Dan Osborne, Todd Achilles, Rick Bennett and many others. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories—and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s 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—and stay vigilant. -Learn more about Ethan’s campaign for Governor of California. -Learn more about Independent Veterans of America and all of the IVA candidates. -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. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch. -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Ways to listen: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0F1lzdRbTB0XYen8kyEqXe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/49a684c3-68e1-4a85-8d93-d95027a8ec64/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff 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/

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Power by Righteous Media.
0:19.6	Ladies and gentlemen, independent Americans around the country and around the world, welcome to
0:25.3	Independent Americans.
0:26.9	Welcome to episode 353.
0:30.0	I'm your host, Paul Reikoff.
0:31.9	Now is definitely a time to stay vigilant.
0:35.2	Free speech is under attack.
0:37.1	Trump has given a radioactive speech at the
0:40.4	United Nations. The United States military is striking vessels off the coast of Venezuela. The
0:46.4	Secretary of Defense is trying to silence the press inside the Pentagon. And there are elections
0:52.8	happening this year, next year, where independents are continuing
0:56.6	to rise and meet this moment of division and toxicity. And we are continuing our ongoing Meet
1:03.2	the Independent Candidate Series with a very special guest coming in from California.
1:08.7	The great and powerful Ethan Penner is our guest on
1:11.4	Independent Americans. Welcome, sir. Thank you, Paul. It's a pleasure always to be with you.
1:17.9	So you're stepping into the breach. The country feels like it's on fire. And you are running as
1:24.7	an independent in California. Congratulations on your announcement,
1:28.9	which just happened, I think, yesterday or the day before formally.
1:32.0	Yes.
1:32.7	Thank you for making this show, one of your first visits.
1:35.6	This is a community that wants to hear from you,
1:38.0	wants to get to know you.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Righteous Media | Bleav, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Righteous Media | Bleav and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.