379. Admiral Bill McRaven. Clarity in This Chaos. Trump’s Dangerous Sedition Comments. What Are Illegal Orders? A Bad Ukraine Peace Deal. Mamdani vs Trump. Will He Run for President? Education As a NatSec Priority. Friday Football: Don’t Mess with Texas.

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

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

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Admiral Bill McRaven joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) for episode 379 of Independent Americans, diving deep into America’s leadership crisis, political toxicity, and how core values shape our future. This is the guy we all need to hear from RIGHT NOW. Navy SEAL, former Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), former Chancellor of the Texas University System, Best Selling Author, grandfather, Trump critic and patriotic voice of reason. And the man who in 2019 wrote an oped titled “Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President" and in an open letter to Trump in 2018: "Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency." Drawing on decades of command and real-world experience, McRaven cuts through the headlines like a knife—and offers sharp guidance for navigating chaos—whether in politics, the military, or your family table. And especially on this Friday when it feels like the world is on fire. This episode covers national security, the importance of education as the true foundation for stability, sports, and why hope and community matter most now. If you feel politically homeless, want real leadership lessons, or just crave clarity from a voice that’s been in the arena, this conversation delivers. It’s a true example of a leader who is staying vigilant, staying independent, and showing how America’s best can still lead the way. 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. -WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now. -Learn more about Paul’s work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -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 now in time for the holidays. -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. 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/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/indy_americans BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/indyamericans.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndependentAmericansUS/ Ways to listen:Social channels: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Powered by righteous media.
0:17.6	Welcome to Independent Americans.
0:20.3	Welcome to episode 379.
0:23.6	I am your host, Paul Reikoff.
0:25.1	It is Friday, November 21st.
0:28.1	We made it to Friday, folks.
0:29.5	I am coming to you from New York City, USA, and coming up a fantastic guest, I think a perfect guest for this moment.
0:36.3	A guy I've wanted to get on this show for a long time and have long admired. Admiral Bill McCraven is coming up. We're going to talk leadership. We're going to talk the political and military environment. Trump's comments, all of it, with the sharpest leader, one of the sharpest leaders, I think, in America and a voice we need to hear from. But before we get to that, awesomeness, the news does keep on coming.
0:55.4	Trump has taken his rhetoric to a whole new level that I think is flammable and dangerous.
1:00.8	I covered it on yesterday's show with Asha Rangappa, but he's turning up the heat on Democrats
1:05.6	specifically, and I think we need to bring the heat down, especially after the Charlie Kirk shootings
1:10.5	and so much other toxicity.
1:12.5	But dangerous times continue to get more dangerous as Trump clashes with Democrat veterans and others.
1:19.9	Yesterday in Washington, former VP and Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney was remembered at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday and a rare showing of bipartisanship.
1:30.0	Today at the White House, Trump and Mom Dani are meeting for the first time, so eat your weedies.
1:35.3	Tom Steyer, a billionaire who ran for president in 2020, is entering the crowded California race for governor, along with Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat.
1:44.0	And yesterday, an issue we covered here in a phone call with the Washington Post, the Coast Guard
1:48.0	has said that it will be revising the language that categorized Nazi swastikas and nooses,
1:54.0	not as hate symbols. So they have now corrected that. They've offered to change the language
1:59.0	that happened in about 12 hours. And in Ukraine,
2:02.1	there's been a flurry. The United States is now threatening to halt weapons supplies. If Ukraine
2:06.5	doesn't sign the peace agreement, according to Reuters, there's been nonstop meetings. And Ukraine
	...

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