399. Matt Cavanaugh. Independent Vet for Congress in CO-5th. America’s Most Independent District. Party Politics is Alien vs Predator. Donating a Kidney. Colorado’s Buffalo is the Independent Spirit Animal. Best Scar Wins. Friday Football: CFB Playoffs.

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

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

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Independent Veteran candidate, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, PhD, ultra-marathon champion, and living kidney donor Matt Cavanaugh is a damn impressive leader. And he joins Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff from Colorado’s 5th district for an unfiltered, high-energy conversation on why “America is not okay” and why he believes voters are trapped in another “Alien vs. Predator” election where, if either major party wins, the people lose. From NORAD’s backyard in the shadow of Pikes Peak, he makes the case that his home turf—majority independent, home to five military bases and Team USA—is the best district in America for an independent veteran Congressional candidate to break through. Cavanaugh explains why his campaign logo features a buffalo and how American bison running straight into the storm became his metaphor for political courage in a district that’s ready to send an independent veteran to Congress. He tears into gerrymandering, shutdowns that burned billions, and a political class that left every newborn with six-figure national debt stapled to their birth certificate, while calling for a new generation of “rational vertebrates” with the backbone to stand up for Article One of the Constitution. Matt and Paul also fly into Matt’s living kidney donation—why he voluntarily gave a kidney at Walter Reed to a stranger in Seattle, how that transplant chain saved eight lives and saves taxpayers far more than it costs, and how serving others from combat to transplantation to running for office is his answer to these “times that try men’s souls.” Paul opens the episode with a rapid-fire breakdown of Trump’s marijuana order and “war dividend” troop checks, the Trump–Kennedy Center rename push, the rising risk of war near Venezuela, Ukraine’s 1,390th day of full-scale war, and major movement on extremism inside the Coast Guard, plus culture, sports, and hope—from Avatar and SpongeBob to Football Friday picks, polar bears, skiing with kids, and New York City marathon memories. It’s a fierce and fun way to close out a wild week. 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 his campaign for Congress. -Get a copy of his book Best Scar Wins and take a minute and read more about his experience of becoming a kidney donor. -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	This episode is brought to you by Shopify. With Shopify, 2026 is the year you make it happen. It gives you the tools to build your dream store, online and in person. Plus with marketing built in, it'll help you reach exactly who you need to. Join the millions who've already made the leap, like Jim Shark and all birds, and ring in the new year with Shopify.
0:23.3	Sign up for your £1 per month trial at shopify.
0:26.7	Shopify.com.uk to episode 399.
0:52.3	99 was my football number in college, and we will have 400 next week, and it'll be a big one. But first, I am your host, Paul Reikoff, and it is Friday, December 19th, six days until Christmas. Tonight is also the sixth day of Hanukkah. So happy Hanukkah to all that are celebrating. I am again coming to you from New York City, USA.
1:11.6	It is actually not cold today.
1:13.3	It's been kind of warm, but it's been nuts.
1:15.7	It's driving rain sideways like a hurricane, which is fitting because it's been a hurricane of a week.
1:23.3	And we're going to help you get through all of it and finish your Friday strong.
1:26.5	It is football Friday. That's coming up. Buddy, Buddy, Buddy, Buddy, Friday. And so is our guest, Matt Kavanaugh.
1:33.8	He's an inspiring, retired lieutenant colonel, Army veteran who's running as an independent
1:38.6	for Congress in Colorado in the 5th District. We're going to continue our Meet the Independent
1:43.4	Candidate Series,
1:44.5	and we're going to track candidates like NORAD tracked Santa. That's coming up in just a minute.
1:48.6	But first, there's a ton happening today. Congress is done for the year. Yep, that's it. They're
1:54.0	done. They're gone. And they won't be back in session unless something extreme happens, which is
1:59.2	possible. We've talked about Venezuela and other things
2:01.9	that could happen, but unlikely they will be back in session before the new year. Before they left,
2:06.7	it's been kind of a blitzkrieg of news. Trump yesterday signed an executive order fast-tracking
2:11.8	the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3. It doesn't legalize marijuana, but it allows the FDA
2:19.5	to study it for medical purposes. It puts it on Schedule 3 with drugs like Tylenol,
2:24.8	codeine, and testosterone. This is long overdue. I think Republicans and Democrats were missing
2:29.9	this issue, and I've been advocating for common sense marijuana reform veterans groups have been
	...

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