382. Paul Rieckhoff. Part One: The 2025 IVA Winners Circle Town Hall. Independent Veteran Candidates Share Their Victories and Challenges. Open Primaries and Ranked Choice vs A Stacked Deck. How an Independent Fulcrum Can Be the Leverage to Fix Our Future

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

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

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 26 November 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As we head into Thanksgiving we've got a special Veterans Day “Winners Circle” town hall that brings together Independent Veterans of America (IVA) candidates who are changing American politics from the ground up. Independent Americans host and IVA founder Paul Rieckhoff moderates a powerful, unfiltered conversation with two newly‑elected independent veterans—Mike Procuk (Frederick County, VA School Board) and Toby Proctor (North Granby, CT Board of Finance)—and IVA candidates Todd Achilles (Idaho), Donna Charles (Virginia) and Brian Bengs (South Dakota). They break down how independents are actually winning, why veterans are some of the last public figures people still trust, and how corrupt, money‑soaked party politics is failing regular Americans. From school boards and local finance boards to U.S. Senate races across red states, these veterans share ground‑truth stories from the trail, the brutal ballot‑access obstacles they face, and the insider strategies that prove independents are not spoilers—they’re the future. 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 • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts Ways to watch: YouTube • Instagram X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook 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.
0:17.5	Welcome to Independent Americans.
0:20.1	Welcome to episode 3, Welcome to episode 382. It is Wednesday, November 26, the day before Thanksgiving, I am your host, Paul Reichoff. And we've got a lot to be thankful for. It has been a wild couple of weeks. Thank you to all of you who've been tuning in daily to this show as we continue to bring light to contrast to heat, continue to focus on the intersection of national security, politics, foreign affairs, culture, and more.
0:48.3	We didn't want to take a break for Thanksgiving because I think it's an important time, A, to be thankful, B, to be thoughtful, and C, to have
0:56.1	content. So maybe you're on a ride to Grandma's house, maybe you're on a flight, maybe you're just
1:00.8	sitting on your couch, or maybe you're working a double shift. Big shout out to everybody who's
1:05.2	working this holiday weekend. But we want to bring you a special episode, one that will give you reason to be thankful
1:11.9	and one that will give you reason to be inspired. From the beginning of this show,
1:16.6	over five years ago, we focused on the independent movement. Independent folks who represent
1:22.1	now the majority of America. They're not Democrats or Republicans. And the brave men and women who are stepping up to run for
1:29.3	public office as independents. You've been around for the origin and the creation of independent
1:35.0	veterans of America. The organization that I've started with help from lots of folks who
1:39.0	heard on this podcast like Admiral Mike Mullins, Sebastian Younger, Ken Burns, and many more. They've helped us
1:45.1	build this machine that is designed to find, support, and elect a new generation of leaders,
1:52.1	powerful, independent leaders with integrity and character and strength to meet this moment
1:57.5	without the partisanship. You've talked to these folks. You've heard from them.
2:01.4	Many of you have supported them, donated to their campaigns. And earlier this month,
2:05.9	there was an election. And it wasn't a high profile one relative to presidential elections,
2:11.1	but we got some key wins. And as we go into Thanksgiving, we want to reflect on the wins
2:16.6	we've got and the future that is ahead of us.
2:20.3	There is an inspiring group of independent Americans who are stepping up to run for office next year.
2:27.3	There are in elections in 2026 that could define the power of the Senate, of the House, and local school boards, mayor's races.
	...

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