Brian McGinnis II (The Story Behind his Vocal Protest, Moral Courage and Why Nationalism Threatens Patriotism) - Episode 1223
Behind The Shield
James Geering
4.9 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 5 April 2026
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Brian McGinnis is a combat Marine, veteran firefighter and politician. In this second conversation we discuss the back story of his vocal protest, the atrocities endured by the Iranian people, government overreach, the importance of moral courage, the dangers of blind nationalism, the West Bank and so much more.
Brian graduated from Quincy Senior High School in Illinois in 2000 and left for Marine Corps boot camp just days later. He served as a Light Armored Vehicle Crewman, an infantry role in the United States Marine Corps. During his enlistment he deployed during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and served four years before receiving an honorable discharge. During his service Brian also competed on the All-Marine boxing team, demonstrating the discipline and determination that continue to guide his life today.
Brian is a husband and father of four, and his family is at the center of his life. Like many parents, he understands the challenges of raising a family while working to provide stability and opportunity for the next generation. His experiences at home have strengthened his belief that government should work for ordinary families, not powerful interests.
In 2008 Brian moved to North Carolina and became a firefighter in Raleigh. Since then he has spent years protecting families, responding to emergencies, and working alongside fellow firefighters dedicated to public safety. Firefighting reflects the values that guide Brian’s life: teamwork, physical service, and protecting the community he calls home.
Brian believes the American political system has become dominated by wealthy donors and powerful interests while ordinary people are left behind. That is why he is running for the United States Senate. His campaign is about bringing integrity, courage, and independent leadership to Washington and building a government that truly serves working people.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Behind the Shield podcast. As always, my name's James Gearing. And this week, it is my |
| 0:04.0 | absolute honor to welcome back onto the show, Combat Marine, Veteran Firefighter, and Politician, |
| 0:11.7 | Brian McGinnis. Now, that name may sound familiar to you, and it's probably because of the viral |
| 0:17.3 | video of a Marine opposing the war in Iran and ultimately getting his arm broken |
| 0:22.5 | after they removed him from the room. Now, Brian was my guest on episode 984. In this second conversation, |
| 0:30.6 | we revisit what his family is seeing in the West Bank, the nuanced conversation around the atrocities |
| 0:36.8 | in Iran, the backstory of why he opposes |
| 0:40.0 | the way that we have gone about this conflict, recovering from his injury, the impact that's |
| 0:45.7 | had on his fire service career, the importance of moral courage, and so much more. |
| 0:52.0 | Now, one more aside, I was referring to a general, |
| 0:55.2 | and I could not remember his name aside from his nickname. |
| 0:58.5 | So when you hear me say general or mad dog, |
| 1:01.2 | that was a reference to General Jim Mattis. |
| 1:04.6 | So I apologize for the omission in the conversation, |
| 1:07.3 | but hopefully it will make sense now you've heard this in the intro. |
| 1:10.8 | So before we get to this incredible conversation, as I say every week, please just take a moment. |
| 1:16.7 | Go to whichever app you listen to this on, subscribe to the show, leave feedback and leave a rating. |
| 1:24.3 | Every single five-star rating truly does elevate this podcast, therefore making it easier for others to find. |
| 1:31.6 | And this is a free library of over 1,200 episodes now. |
| 1:37.3 | So all I ask in return is that you help share these incredible men and women's stories |
| 1:42.8 | so I can get them to every single person |
| 1:46.1 | on planet Earth who needs to hear them. So with that being said, I welcome back onto the show, |
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