Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff | Ep. 416 (Jan. 16, 2026)

Focus on the Insurrection Act Above All Else w/ Asha Rangappa

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode zeroes in on the imminent and alarming possibility that former President Trump will invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that would enable him to deploy the U.S. military inside America’s borders against civilians. Host Paul Rieckhoff, an independent political voice and Iraq war veteran, is joined by Asha Rangappa—former FBI special agent and Yale professor—to unpack the Insurrection Act’s function, dangers, history, and very real threat to American democracy in the current political climate. The episode also touches on related topics: Trump’s unchecked power, the collapse of democratic norms, U.S. actions in Venezuela and Greenland, the state of international affairs, and ends with lighter fare via football picks and cultural recommendations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Insurrection Act: The Danger at the Center of the Storm

• Paul opens with repeated warnings about a lack of imagination among American leadership and public: “There’s a stunning and dangerous lack of imagination in America from too many in media and politics. And people keep asking me, do you think he’ll really do it?… Yes, he will do it. He’s told you he will do it, and he will do it.” (00:30–03:30)
• Trump is openly considering using the Insurrection Act as a circuit-breaker for democracy. Paul suggests that Trump could wait for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to invoke it: “He might wait until Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday to invoke the Insurrection Act. It would be like the ultimate trolling.” (04:04)
• The Insurrection Act is cast as “the most dangerous course of action that Trump can take,” a circuit-breaker moment that could fundamentally alter American democracy.

2. The Current Crisis & Trump’s Authoritarian Moves

• Minneapolis is highlighted as a potential flashpoint for Trump’s invocation of the Insurrection Act.
• Trump’s words are analyzed: “He even said yesterday to Reuters… ‘we shouldn’t even have elections.’ He does not want free and fair elections, an Insurrection Act, martial law, using our military, would all stop that from happening.” (04:04–05:00)
• Paul draws parallels between the NFL playoffs and current American politics, calling this the “knockout round” in both.

3. The Fourth Estate & Attacks on the Press

• The ongoing undermining of the independent military publication Stars and Stripes is described as “the latest casualty in the Fourth Estate in the fight to preserve and defend our democracy.” (06:00–07:30)

4. Global Hotspots: Venezuela, Greenland, Ukraine, Iran

• In Venezuela: Opposition leader Maria Machado controversially gifts her Nobel Prize to Trump. Rangappa describes U.S. policy in Venezuela as a “Stephen Miller Special”—a convergence of MAGA factions and personal interest politics. (17:12–19:00)
• For Greenland, Trump is using economic pressure and pursuing annexation against the overwhelming opposition of Americans and allies. (08:00–10:00)
• Ukraine continues to face devastating Russian attacks, now with France taking over much of the U.S. intelligence role; U.S. influence wanes as casualties mount. (11:30–13:00)
• Iran’s crackdown on protests sees Trump taking credit for the (unverified) halting of executions.

5. Independent Identity and Political Landscape

• Paul highlights the shift in American political identity: “A new high—45% of Americans now identify as political independents. We aren’t moving the needle, we are the needle.” (14:00)

6. Deep Dive: Explaining the Insurrection Act (w/ Asha Rangappa)

Timestamps: 23:00–34:45 (core segment)

• What is the Insurrection Act?
  • Not martial law. It’s an exception that allows the military to act in civilian law enforcement, especially over the objection of a governor—unlike its use in the 1960s to enforce civil rights, Trump’s intention is to use it to enforce immigration law.
  • Rangappa: “I do want to underscore… it does not mean martial law. Martial law is when the entire civilian government is supplanted with a military government… This is not that; it is not martial law, but it does allow the military to come in and engage in civil law enforcement.” (23:16)
• Historical Precedent
  • Last used in the 1960s for civil rights enforcement; would now be aimed at suppressing civilians and protesters.
  • “They were protecting black kids going to school… This is a very different context.” (25:32)
• Why This Time is More Dangerous
  • Trump would bypass local authority, using federal troops to back up ICE in immigration raids. “It puts the military in between ICE and protesters and that’s when bad shit’s going to happen.” (28:05–29:13)
• Likelihood and Legal Recourse
  • Both Rangappa and Rieckhoff agree Trump will likely invoke the act—potentially in Minneapolis—and challenge protestors, ICE, and state authority. Courts might intervene, but enforcement is unclear in a “do what he wants and apologize never” administration.
  • Rangappa: “The bar might be high, it is going to get litigated… but it’s not a given that he’ll get away with it legally.” (29:39)
  • Paul: “Once a court says something, that is the law. That is the law that all of these service members are sworn to uphold. Right. They are not sworn to…follow whatever Donald Trump says, no matter what.” (34:29)

7. Broader Themes of Authoritarianism & Geopolitics

• Trump’s motivation described as wanting to divide the world with Putin and Xi: “Trump wants to be one of the big three… dividing the world into three pieces.” (20:42)

8. “Below the Radar” Dangers

• Asha flags Greenland and pending Supreme Court decisions on tariffs as important but under-discussed developments. (32:22–32:47)

Notable Quotes & Moments

On the Insurrection Act’s Meaning and Danger:

• Paul Rieckhoff (02:00): “The Insurrection Act is the most dangerous course of action that Trump can take… This is everything right now. It’s a circuit breaker for our democracy.”

• Asha Rangappa (23:16): “It does not mean martial law. Martial law is when the entire civilian government is supplanted… This is not that.”

• Asha Rangappa (25:37): “This is a very different context… They were protecting black kids going to school. Here, Trump would send in the military to enforce immigration law—ICE arresting whoever they want.”

• Paul Rieckhoff (28:05): “You send the military in to be the bodyguards for ICE, and then ICE can continue to tear up places… That’s when bad shit’s going to happen.”

• Asha Rangappa (29:39): “I do think he’s going to do it. But the Insurrection Act authorizes the military only when… [the situation] impedes the course of justice… the bar might be high; it is going to get litigated.”

On Legal Protections and Compliance

• Paul Rieckhoff (34:29): “Once a court says something, that is the law. That is the law that all of these service members are sworn to uphold.”

• Asha Rangappa (33:29): “I see a lot of people saying, you know, the law doesn’t matter anymore… but it does matter, and we’ve seen it matter. They have reluctantly complied…”

On Authoritarian Aspirations

• Paul Rieckhoff (20:42): “Trump wants to be one of the big three…He probably could envision a world where they all sit down… and divide the world into three pieces. It’s about power for him.”

Notable Off-Beat Moments

• Asha (15:09): “Am I supposed to know who Kyle Tucker is?”

  • Paul assures her it’s a compliment.

• Football speed round (35:17–37:13): Light-hearted picks for the NFL playoffs, with Asha choosing teams mostly by regional sympathy or personal connection: “That’s how I choose my wines—whichever one is prettiest!” (36:57)

“Something Good” Recommendations

• Paul: Features a new Independent Americans theme song, “Independent is an Attitude.” (37:13)
• Asha: Shouts out the local band Mates of State after seeing them live. (38:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump and the Insurrection Act Warning: 00:30–04:04
• International Affairs & Venezuela/Greenland/Iran/Ukraine: 06:00–14:00
• Rise of Political Independents: 14:00
• Asha Rangappa Joins: 15:09
• Venezuela Deep Dive, MAGA Factions, Western Hemisphere: 17:12–23:00
• Insurrection Act Explained/Threat Analysis: 23:00–34:45
• Legal, Constitutional, and Enforcement Consequences: 33:20–34:45
• Below the Radar & Court Decisions: 32:22–32:47
• Football Picks & Wine Tastes: 35:17–37:13
• “Something Good” Culture Picks: 37:08–38:26

Overall Tone

Urgent, no-nonsense, sometimes darkly humorous, and direct. Paul Rieckhoff and Asha Rangappa combine deep expertise with a conversational, plainspoken delivery. There is a clear moral angle and a warning outright to Americans: democracy is on the line. The show is less about parsing small policy fights and more about vigilance, big-picture threats, and independent engagement.

For Listeners New to Independent Americans

This episode serves as a crucial primer on what’s at stake with the Insurrection Act and the creeping use of military force in American civil life. It situates current headlines in the context of constitutional law, civil rights history, and realpolitik. Listeners will leave with a clear sense of the specific legal tool at play, the political maneuvering behind its likely use, and why independent voices matter most at moments of democratic peril.

Stay vigilant.