354. Ken Burns. America at an Inflection Point. Playoff Baseball with Ken. The American Revolution. Hegseth and Trump’s Big Generals Meeting Spectacle. The Shutdown is Here.

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

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

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 2 October 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The summer has come to a close in a crescendo of chaos. Political violence, confusion and anger are the defining features of the American vibe. And the American vibe, it ain’t good. Tension everywhere as new cities are added to the target list seemingly daily. Memphis, LA, New York, Chicago. And now a government shutdown when things couldn’t get any more fraught. It’s a good time to stay frosty and an even better time to stay vigilant. And now, on the heels of this week’s unprecedented speech at Quantico by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Trump, we need some perspective. And this week we’re joined by one of our favorite voices to hear from — one of America’s favorite voices to hear from — when we need clarity. Legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is back for another stirring, timely exploration of America’s ongoing revolution—past and present with your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff). Ken reflects on the meaning of patriotism, baseball’s role in American life, and the fragile state of democracy in 2025. From the complexity of the nation’s origins to the lessons of George Washington’s leadership and baseball’s enduring power, this episode is bringing the light to counteract all of the heat of our completely broken political system. 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. Ken Burn’s past appearances: Episode 195 - November 3, 2022 Episode 275 - March 28, 2024 -WATCH video of Paul and Ken’s conversation. -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

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0:00.0	Power by Righteous Media.
0:16.2	Welcome to Independent Americans. Welcome to episode 354. I'm your host, Paul Reichoff.
0:23.6	This is a very important time in American history, maybe a revolutionary time in American history.
0:30.6	We're going to get into much of that, baseball and much more with one of our favorite returning guests, a true American icon, and a voice
0:40.8	of conscience. Back on independent Americans, the great and powerful Ken Burns is rejoining us again on
0:47.2	the show. Welcome back, sir. Hello, my friend. How are you? Thank you for having me. I am always so happy to talk to you and I feel a bit relieved.
0:57.0	I feel like a student visiting a very beloved professor.
1:02.0	No, I'm Paul Revere galloping up and not saying the regulars are coming out.
1:08.0	The regulars are coming out. He didn't say the Redcoats are coming. The regulars are coming out. The regulars are coming out. He didn't say the red coats are coming. The regulars are coming out. The regulars are coming out. But because I bring some special messages
1:16.3	from the revolution. I am I am excited to hear more of those messages. I am dying to talk to you
1:25.2	about baseball. I'd like to talk to you about kind of this moment
1:29.1	in America and this discussion of what it means to be American, what it means to be a leader,
1:34.4	what it means to be a man even, which is being questioned. Oh, what a good, yes, indeed.
1:39.6	But before that, I always ask our guests, where are you and how are you? You're in New Hampshire
1:44.7	again. I am, I'm in my home in New Hampshire, in my barn, which is relatively new 13 years. I built
1:51.5	this 13 years ago, but it's meant to feel like it's 150 years old. It's up in the loft where I've
1:58.4	been working since before COVID. It never went back to my office above the garage.
2:03.1	I'm here with my executive producer, the polar bear on an iceberg, Chester, who's my guy, sitting underneath not a flag, but the United States flag as a Navajo blanket, which makes it a much more complicated
2:21.3	and interesting story. And Ken, how are you? It's a, it's a, I'm good, I'm good. And you've got this
2:28.9	incredible project, the American Revolution. Yes. How are you? I'm good. I mean, I think like everybody, there's this kind of pervasive, existential worry about
2:38.8	things as we watch sort of columns that are supporting the edifice of a democratic
2:46.0	institutions and democratic society sort of crumbling or being toppled. But at the same time,
	...

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