Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
Episode: Ron Perlman Unloads On Trump, Venezuela, Robber Barons, ICE and Broken Hollywood
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this fiery and cathartic Football Friday episode, Paul Rieckhoff welcomes back actor, activist, and truth-teller Ron Perlman. Their conversation is a no-holds-barred reckoning on the current American moment: widespread political corruption, the erosion of values, the corporate takeover of culture, and the vital need for authentic, values-driven leadership. Perlman unveils his new artist-centered film studio as a model of resistance and renewal, and together they tackle everything from Trump's foreign policy to the fate of working-class Americans—plus plenty of football, family, and hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Reflections and Setting the Stage

• Paul’s Birthday & The State of the Nation

  • Paul reflects on turning 40, the weather in NYC mirroring the volatility of America, and the need for positive energy amidst chaos.
  • The episode aligns with significant anniversaries and historic figures, channeling Led Zeppelin’s “vibes” for resilience.
  • (03:00) “I'm going to try to share the light and the energy... we’re going to bring you information, independence, and call out bullshit where we need.” – Paul

• Guest Introduction: Ron Perlman

  • Celebrated for his candor and long-standing friendship with Paul, Ron is positioned as a truth-teller unafraid to confront power.

2. Political Outrage and Institutional Betrayal

• On the Commander in Chief’s (Trump’s) Lack of Empathy

  • (01:13 / 17:53) “Our Commander in Chief doesn't even have a feeling for empathy or compassion... He's not capable of that. There’s a lot of those motherfuckers.” – Ron Perlman
  • Ron’s rage targets not just the president, but a whole class of soulless, power-hungry corporate and political leaders.

• Ron Perlman’s Shift from Ranting to Purposeful Action

  • (13:06) “I backed off the political stuff...I’m personally working on something that’s foundationally focused: why would a big enough swath of the American public enable this? If we can address that... we go a long way towards preventing it ever happening again.” – Ron

3. Corporate America, Hollywood & The Tech Takeover

• Erosion of Creativity and Dignity

  • (17:53) “I'm now calling [them] the Robber Baron kind. We've always had them... They’re corporate motherfuckers with no soul who worship money and power... that came from my fucking industry, that came from the movie business in the form of these motherfucking tech bros.” – Ron
  • Amazon, streamers, and “tech bros” are blamed for gutting artistic value and turning culture into disposable home entertainment.

• Asylum Studios: Perlman’s Response

  • (25:52 / 33:09) “I’m building a studio where there are no executives...It's just going to be creators doing creative things...Every single person that works on an Asylum project is part owner, including the motherfucker that cleans Leonardo DiCaprio’s toilet.” – Ron
  • Asylum Studios is an artist-owned model seeking to restore dignity, ownership, and real artistic purpose.

4. Values, Honor & Patriotism

• America’s Loss of Soul and How to Reclaim It
  • (27:57) Paul and Ron lament a culture where creativity, honor, and values have been cheapened, tying this erosion to political corruption and a lack of meaningful national narrative.
  • (31:40) “We’ve beat back hate every motherfucking time... These guys’ days are fucking numbered.” – Ron
  • Despite the darkness, both men express deep optimism based on the American spirit and a coming tide of real patriots, not party pawns.

5. Call-Outs and Taking On “The Enemy”

• Corporate Greed as the Real Enemy

  • (39:15) “The enemy of the public is the fucking corporate seat... I'm coming after you, motherfucker, if it's the last thing I do.” – Ron
  • Moving the spotlight from scapegoated immigrants to the true sources of division and economic harm.

• Naming Names & The Fight for Truth

  • (42:24) Paul and Ron agree that both parties, especially the Democrats’ passivity and complicity, are not the solution; the answer must come from core values, authenticity, and the people themselves.
  • (45:07) “Nobody is coming to save us except us. The only solution is us. And ‘We the People’ happen to be the first fucking three words in the Constitution.” – Ron

6. Football Friday & Lighthearted Moments

• A lively segment forecasts playoff matchups, weaving in family stories, celebrity golf tales (including playing with Walter Payton, Herschel Walker, and Meat Loaf), and warmth.
• (57:02) “He’s a guy who likes to poke the bear... he’s my type of dude, man.” – Ron on Mike Ditka

7. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Pseudo-Patriots and True Patriotism:
  • (62:13) “What we need more than ever right now is true patriotism. Patriotism meaning this country is important enough for me to get out of my comfort zone for, and maybe even the last measure of human devotion...” – Ron
• On Finding Hope and Leading by Example:
  • (36:05) “That’s my theory, Paul. That’s what I’m going to be working on for the rest of my days. That’s the hill I’m going to die on, but it’s also the hill I’m going to live on.” – Ron

8. Closing Reflections

• Paul’s Shoutout to His Mother & The “Helpers”

  • (61:58) “My something good is my mom. And if you all have your moms around, give them a hug, give them some love, and thank the moms and the mom figures in your life... If you want to give me a birthday present... thank a mom that’s around you.” – Paul

• Ron’s “Something Good”: Helpers & Real Patriotism

  • (62:13) “My wife... she’s one of the helpers... My second [something good] is patriotism... when you see it, it’s like water in the desert.”
  • Perlman celebrates “real patriotism,” decrying performative faux-patriots on the right and the left.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Trump’s Lack of Empathy:

  “He’s not capable of that. There’s a lot of those motherfuckers.”
  (01:13 – Ron Perlman)

• On Corporate Culture:

  "They're going to come and they're going to fucking go. And I ain't worried because I got Paul Rykoff and he's got my back."
  (10:15 – Ron Perlman)

• On Creative Integrity & Asylum Studios:

  "It's just going to be creators doing creative things... The only thing these guys have over us is they have obscene amounts of money. I’m on my way to collecting enough so I’m gonna sustain this movie studio, run by and for artists..."
  (25:52 – Ron Perlman)

• On the Average Working American:

  "All they want is a fair shot. And they have been so fucked by the proliferation of corporate America, the soulless motherfuckers that run companies.”
  (17:53 – Ron Perlman)

• On Hope & Action:

  “Nobody is coming to save us except us. The only solution is us. And ‘We the People’ happen to be the first fucking three words in the Constitution.”
  (45:07 – Ron Perlman)

• On Real Patriotism:

  “What we need more than ever right now is true patriotism... the last measure of human devotion is patriotism is at the root of that.”
  (62:13 – Ron Perlman)

Segment Timestamps

• Opening & Context: 00:00–04:50
• Political Commentary (Trump, Venezuela, Iran, Ukraine): 04:50–10:15
• Ron Perlman Returns & Tribute: 10:15–17:53
• Ron’s Shift (From Ranting to Creating Solutions): 13:06–17:53
• Hollywood, Corporate Greed & Asylum Studios Vision: 17:53–27:57
• Values, Honor, Arts, and the American Soul: 27:57–33:09
• Building Asylum Studios & Restoring Worker Dignity: 33:09–36:05
• The Fight: Calling Out Real Villains: 39:10–45:07
• Taking Responsibility & American Resilience: 45:07–47:49
• Football Friday (Predictions & Stories): 47:49–61:58
• Closing: Something Good (Moms, Helpers, Patriotism): 61:58–66:15

Tone & Language

Ron Perlman and Paul Rieckhoff remain unapologetically raw: candid, profane, honest, and deeply values-driven. The conversation is passionate, sometimes angry, but always rooted in a kind of radical hope and a defiant American optimism.

For Listeners New & Old

This episode is essential for listeners wrestling with anger, despair, or confusion in the current political and cultural climate. It offers both a stinging critique of what’s broken and actionable hope for how individuals, communities, and artists can fight back—together. Ron Perlman’s blueprint, Asylum Studios, is offered as one such model: a microcosm of what Rieckhoff calls for in politics, leadership, and life.

Listen for:

• Ron Perlman, unfiltered, naming names, outlining solutions, and fueling optimism.
• A refreshingly honest breakdown of America’s real enemies—and a vision for fighting back with heart, creativity, and community.

Not to be missed: Perlman’s sweeping indictments of “tech bros,” corporate culture, and fake patriots—offset by powerful stories of real helpers, moments of gratitude, and surprising football tales.