Trump’s Vision Board: Venezuela, Cuba, ICE, Independents and a Fiery NewsNation Showdown with Rieckhoff vs Trump Propagandist

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Trump’s Vision Board: Venezuela, Cuba, ICE, Independents and a Fiery NewsNation Showdown with Rieckhoff vs Trump Propagandist"

Podcast: Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
Host: Paul Rieckhoff | Righteous Media
Episode Date: February 1, 2026
Guests: Connell McShane (News Nation anchor), Tiffany Smiley (Trump supporter, former GOP Senate candidate from Washington)

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Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, Paul Rieckhoff brings listeners a behind-the-scenes look into the world of media appearances and high-stakes political debate. The core of the show is an unfiltered, heated roundtable from a recent NewsNation segment, where Paul—an independent voice and Iraq War veteran—faces off with Tiffany Smiley, a staunch Trump supporter, and Connell McShane as moderator.

The conversation focuses sharply on Trump's aggressive foreign policy decisions (specifically in Venezuela and Cuba), the instability and controversy around ICE's expanded actions, and the shifting political winds as Trump’s approval drops—especially among independent voters. The panelists provide passionate and sharply contrasting views on whether Trump's "vision board" and recent administration moves are good for America.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Media Reflections and the Role of 'Propagandists'

• Paul Rieckhoff outlines his purpose: exposing the machinery behind government messaging and media, cautioning listeners to "believe your eyes and ears and stay vigilant" ([03:53]).

  “Their goal is to push the message of the government, to push the message of the machine, to push the message of Trump and continue to try to attack your conscience, continue to try to attack our Constitution and attack your vigilance. So don't let them.” – Paul Rieckhoff, [03:53]

2. Venezuela—A Success or a Mess?

• Tiffany Smiley touts the Trump administration’s decisive action in Venezuela as a net positive, both for the US and for Venezuelan people, framing Maduro’s removal as a victory for security and energy supply ([05:34]).

  "Venezuela was shipping drugs into our country. They were an adversary. And now we have an ally… They obviously know what they're doing. They had the game plan ahead of time." – Tiffany Smiley, [05:34]

• Rieckhoff sharply disagrees, calling Venezuela “an unstable mess,” questioning the murky plan and lack of congressional approval, and pointing out how this action erodes basic American values ([06:08]).

  "You can hear Rubio trying to explain this plan that they still haven't fully solidified, which also undercuts basic American values... We're not mercenaries. None of this was approved by Congress." – Paul Rieckhoff, [06:08]

3. Cuba—Regime Change on the Horizon?

• The group unpacks whether Trump will actively pursue regime change in Cuba, with Smiley echoing support for Rubio’s veiled threats but stopping short of advocating intervention ([08:35]).

  "Would we love to see that regime change? Absolutely. But are we stepping in and doing anything? They're just watching and, you know, being aware." – Tiffany Smiley, [08:35]

• Rieckhoff urges listeners to take Trump’s expansionist rhetoric at face value, suggesting that “Cuba is on his vision board for 2026” and Americans should remain wary ([09:06]).

  "Trump has said he wants to dominate the Western Hemisphere, and he has a vision board that includes Venezuela and Cuba… I think all options are on the table." – Paul Rieckhoff, [09:06]

4. Trump Approval Ratings & the Independent Vote

• Connell McShane brings data: Trump’s approval among independents is at a precarious 23% ([10:36]).
• Smiley insists that positive economic signals—rising wages, tax cuts, a booming stock market—will soon turn numbers around, maintaining that economic concerns will override security fears ([10:50], [14:14]).

  "You look at no tax on tips... tax breaks and the permanent tax cuts... and heading into this new year, you look at real wages going up. There are really good things happening in our economy." – Tiffany Smiley, [10:50]

• Rieckhoff, however, is adamant that “the numbers don’t lie” and chalks up declining support even among Republicans to bellicose foreign policy and unpopular regime change (“Americans don’t like regime change wars… we've been fortunate that our special operators are so exceptional in Venezuela. But that is not the norm.”) ([14:33]).

5. ICE and Domestic Policy

• The conversation pivots to ICE’s increasingly controversial tactics—masked, unidentified agents, civilian shootings, and expanding operations across US cities ([15:17-19:42]).

  "Continue to have, you know, masked guys who are unidentified, ripping Americans off the streets and shooting civilians. Yeah, those numbers are going to continue to drop." – Paul Rieckhoff, [15:19]

• Smiley defends the administration’s tough stance, noting that “ICE agents are getting bad actors out of our country,” while simultaneously expressing sorrow over recent violence ([20:16]).
• Rieckhoff asserts that opposition to ICE’s tactics is no longer partisan: even “Second Amendment advocates” and Republicans are increasingly alarmed, signaling ICE could become a long-term liability for Trump ([19:14], [19:37]).

6. Foreign Policy, Allies, and America’s Standing

• Rieckhoff highlights how Trump’s moves (especially toward Greenland) have “ticked off our allies in a way we've never seen before,” referencing discontent from Denmark, Australia, UK, and the global veterans community ([16:00]).

  "We have ticked off our allies in a way we've never seen before. It's like his disgraceful comments toward John McCain. But they've gone global and the feedback and outrage continue to push back, from Denmark especially and especially around Greenland." – Paul Rieckhoff, [16:00]

• Smiley sees Trump’s global vision and willingness to act as a positive for the future and national security ([17:17]).

  "When I think of my three sons and raising them into the future, that we have a president who actually has foresight and a vision for a long time." – Tiffany Smiley, [17:17]

7. The Role of Independents

• In their closing argument, Rieckhoff underlines that “independents are going to determine the midterms,” insisting neither party can ignore this fast-growing bloc ([21:20]).

  "Independents are going to determine the midterms. And if you stay on that path, independents are going to be in for a reckoning that's going to really send a message." – Paul Rieckhoff, [21:20]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On government and media propaganda:

  "Don't believe the government or the propagandists. Believe your eyes and believe your ears and stay vigilant, especially now." – Paul Rieckhoff, [03:53]

• On the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela:

  "They obviously know what they're doing. They had the game plan ahead of time." – Tiffany Smiley, [05:34]

• On Congressional power and wars:

  "It's mandated by the Constitution to approve acts of war. So if we're going to start circumventing Congress because we're in a leaking..." – Paul Rieckhoff, [07:15]

• On ICE and civil liberties:

  "Continue to have, you know, masked guys who are unidentified, ripping Americans off the streets and shooting civilians. Yeah, those numbers are going to continue to drop." – Paul Rieckhoff, [15:19]

• On America’s global reputation:

  "We have ticked off our allies in a way we've never seen before... They've gone global and the feedback and outrage continues to push back." – Paul Rieckhoff, [16:00]

• On the importance of independents:

  "It's not about Democrats and Republicans. It's most of all about independents. And that's where the numbers are falling." – Paul Rieckhoff, [21:32]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:53] – Rieckhoff’s warning against government propaganda
• [05:34] – Smiley’s praise for Trump’s Venezuela policy
• [06:08] – Rieckhoff’s critique: unstable mess, American values
• [08:35] – Smiley on regime change in Cuba
• [09:06] – Rieckhoff: “Cuba is on Trump’s vision board”
• [10:36] – Trump’s independent approval at 23%
• [10:50] – Smiley’s economic defense
• [14:33] – Rieckhoff: "Numbers don’t lie" – regime change wars are hurting Trump
• [15:17-15:53] – The debate pivots to ICE and civil liberties
• [16:00] – Rieckhoff: fractured alliances, global outrage
• [17:17] – Smiley: Trump’s vision for the future
• [19:14, 19:37] – Rieckhoff: ICE overreach is striking nerves across party lines
• [21:20] – Rieckhoff on the centrality of independents in US politics

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Tone & Style

The conversation is sharp, adversarial, and at times heated, yet largely respectful. Paul Rieckhoff’s independent, vigilant voice stands out, consistently urging listeners to look beyond talking points, while Smiley remains steadfast in her support for Trump’s vision and actions. Connell McShane ensures the discussion covers both the substantive and the practical, repeatedly steering conversation toward polling and political consequences.

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Conclusion

This episode provided a candid, passionate window into the debates shaping America’s present and future—both in domestic politics and global strategy. Rieckhoff and Smiley’s energetic exchanges showcase the deep divides in how Americans are processing Trump’s second-term moves, the ramifications for foreign policy, and the unprecedented importance of independent voters. Throughout, Rieckhoff's refrain carries: “Stay vigilant.”

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Transcript

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[Tiffany Smiley]

A vision for a long you think.

[Paul Rykoff]

This has been good for American national security? Well, certainly you think this Greenland escapade has been good for our national you are very much in the minority if you think that this has been good for America. You've been finishing your thought for the entire segment.

[Connell McShane]

Foreign.

[Paul Rykoff]

Hey everybody, welcome to a very special weekend episode of Independent Americans. I'm your host Paul Rykoff, coming to you from a still very frigid, very, very frigid and kind of exhausted New York City. A lot of America is exhausted. Well, we're going to continue to try to add light to contrast the exhaustion and the heat. And part of what I want to do on this show is take you a little bit behind the scenes of of the media and cable news media and political media. And if you listen to this show or you watch us on YouTube, you know that I have some regular media appearances and one of them is every Wednesday I am on News Nation with Connell McShane. News Nation bills itself as an independent minded news network. I think it's definitely right of center. It's not Fox News, it's not all the way on the right like OWN and Newsmax, but it's to the right of cnn, which is kind of to the right of MSNBC or Ms. Now. And I am a guy who goes across the entire spectrum and it is often very interesting. For the most part the conversations are really thoughtful. But every once in a while I get into it with somebody. Every once in a while I am across from someone who is in my view a propagandist. I've talked on this show before about Scott Jennings, who I have tangled with on CNN's Abby Phillips 10 o' clock hour. But last this week I got into it with another one, Tiffany Smiley, who is a big Trump supporter and I would argue a propagandist. I think she considers herself a strategist. She's run for Congress as a Republican, but every once in a while it happens last minute. Sometimes I have a heads up, but I go into a conversation with someone and they don't know where it's going to go. This one, I had a feeling might go this way, but here's where we ended up. I think the plan for Venezuela is murky, invading Greenland is bad, Americans don't like regime change, wars, ice is a menace and Trump's numbers are doing a nosedive. But my fellow panelist disagreed with all that. So we had a very interesting conversation with Connell McShane playing referee. Here it is, my conversation with Tiffany Smiley. But let me remind you of something. Before you hear it or watch it, don't believe the government or their propagandists because they are many and some are smoother than others. Some are more obvious than others, but have no mistake. Their goal is to push the message of the government, to push the message of the machine, to push the message of Trump and I think continue to try to attack your conscience, continue to try to track our Constitution and attack your vigilance. So don't let him. Don't believe the government or the propagandists. Believe your eyes and believe your ears and stay vigilant, especially now. And here is an example, my conversation from this week on News Nation with Connell McShane and Tiffany Smiley. Enjoy.

[Connell McShane]

There. Let's talk about it. Paul Rykoff's with us here in New York. Of course, the host of the Independent Americans podcast, co founder of American Veterans for Ukraine. So, Tiffany Smiley, former Republican Senate candidate from Washington state, founder of Endeavor Pack. Welcome to you both. As I said, a lot kind of we can go through. I'm going to go in order and then we'll go big picture at the end. Okay? Just like an agenda like class Venezuela. Let's start there. Here's Marco Rubio today on the Venezuelan oil audit of Venezuelan oil. So let's talk about the oil. This is from the hearing on the sanctioned oil. The oil that requires US permission to move that oil. The proceeds of that oil, which by the way is being sold at market price, not at the discount Venezuela was being forced to sell, is being deposited into an account that ultimately will become a U.S. treasury blocked account here in the United States. So that's how we intend to handle those funds in the short term.

[Tiffany Smiley]

There's an actual audit process that's been set up.

[Paul Rykoff]

Who is.

[Connell McShane]

It will be set up. It will be set up, but there's a process. He says, all right, the Venezuelan oil. Your thoughts on how this is all being handled?

[Tiffany Smiley]

Yeah, well, Trump administration knew what they were doing when they came in in the middle of the night and got Maduro. The bottom line is that Venezuela was shipping drugs into our country. They were an adversary. And now we have an ally. And an ally in Venezuela is good for the US it's good on a lot of fronts, economy, energy. It's also good for the Venezuelan people to thrive and prosper. So they obviously know what they're doing. They had the game plan ahead of time and now they are taking the appropriate steps and briefing Congress.

[Connell McShane]

So you have an ally, Paul. Do we trust that ally and do we trust Delsy, who's the leader now in Venezuela?

[Paul Rykoff]

No, we have in Venezuela is an unstable mess. And you can hear Rubio trying to explain this plan that they still haven't fully solidified, which also undercuts like basic American values. We've talked about this. We don't generally go in and take people's stuff. The idea that we're putting it into an account run by, by the American people is, is counter to our values. It's not what our American military does. We're not mercenaries. And I will always underscore. None of this was approved by Congress. Most of it is not supported by the American people. And I don't think it's making us. Excuse me. As we continue to move assets away from places like Iran toward Venezuela and overextend ourselves. I think that's going to be the theme of this segment. We are all over the place and there are a lot of fires.

[Connell McShane]

I was going to ask a follow up, but Tiffany has one. So go ahead. What are we going to say?

[Tiffany Smiley]

No, I was, I was just going to say, you know, Trump had to be efficient and effective and move smart, swiftly. He is briefing Congress appropriately. It's in his jurisdiction, jurisdiction as president to make those choices for the American people. And we didn't lose one US Service member. And we all know Congress. What are they good at? They're good at leaking, which would have been an absolute disaster.

[Paul Rykoff]

So you know what else Congress is? It's mandated by the Constitution to approve acts of war. So if we're going to start circumventing Congress because we're in a leaking. Excuse me, please. You spoke and now it's my turn.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Where many are killed and injured.

[Paul Rykoff]

Okay, that's worked out. That was really nice that that happened that way. But that's not how war generally goes. That's that we should not have a big head about. No.

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[Paul Rykoff]

Is that how Iraq and Afghanistan went? Because I was in Iraq and it wasn't bloodless. And there are a lot of people who said. Who said it would be bloodless. And it's easy in the beginning to say things are going to be stable, but this is a very long road and so far things look murky at best.

[Connell McShane]

What about Cuba? I want to. There was brought up by Joe. There's a lot of NATO talk today. We could talk about that, too. Maybe at the end. What about Cuba?

[Paul Rykoff]

Because.

[Connell McShane]

Because that's a point of interest for this Secretary of State for obvious reasons. And then he was asked this question. Let me play it for you about regime change. Here it is. Will you make a public commitment today to rule out US Regime change in Cuba? Regime change, yes. Oh, no. I think we would love to see the regime. No change. We would like to. That doesn't mean that we're going to make a change, but we would love to see it change. Let me show you something on the tablet. We'll put this up on the screen just so we can see the number. The question, I think, with Cuba, and that's why Rubio saying we'd love to see regime change, is will that regime just fall on its own? That seems to be what the Trump administration is arguing. So much dependence on Venezuela, as you see on the screen there with the oil, that Cuba is just going to collapse. Is that what you believe is going to happen?

[Tiffany Smiley]

Yeah, And I think that's what Marco Rubio is absolutely indicating that. Sure. Would we love to see that regime change? Absolutely. But are we stepping in and doing anything? They're just watching and, you know, being aware, obviously staying updated and aware of the situation.

[Connell McShane]

But you don't feel like we're going into Cuba. It's.

[Tiffany Smiley]

No. And I wouldn't want to get ahead of the president or ahead of Marco Rubio. I think he made it clear that it would be good, but we'll have.

[Connell McShane]

To sit back and watch after. Right after Venezuela, they started saying that. Paul, do you believe that's a possibility? This Venezuela thing means Cuba's in trouble, Real trouble.

[Paul Rykoff]

Yeah, it does mean Cuba's in trouble, but they've also been there for decades and haven't fallen yet. The real issue here is that Trump has said he wants to dominate the Western Hemisphere, and he has a vision board that includes Venezuela and includes Cuba. It's always been on their target list. And the idea that they will stay on the sidelines and just let Cuba unfold, I don't think is likely. He said he'll take action in Mexico. He's threatening Greenland. So the thing that seems to be true is that Cuba is on his vision board for 2026. And I think all options are on the table because that's what the president has said, and we should take him at his word.

[Connell McShane]

You know, I said we'd have a kind of a wider conversation of where there's been a lot going on. Obviously, we haven't even touched on Minnesota in this conversation because it's been about foreign policy. And here's how I'd like to do it. If we bring up or pop up the average Trump approval rating, just kind of as a broader picture of where the administration stands at this point in time. The two arrows, by the way, that we put at the end, I'll just zoom in on it a little bit closer. At the end of the two shootings in Minnesota, Renee Good and Alex Preddy. And the wider picture tells you that the administration's approval had been going down. The president's approval had already been going down before that. But I'm going to highlight this number. Trump's approval with independent voters. The number of independent voters now who say they strongly approve this president is down to 23%. Okay. So that's a lot for me. Just as a setup. The setup is this. It's like, I know you guys, two of my favorite guests, by the way, both friends of the show on all the time, don't really agree on a lot. We just saw that you disagree. But maybe we could have kind of a back and forth if I step out of it for a moment, on where this administration stands right now. Tiffany, you support the president. You must see that the president is in some sort of political trouble. Or no. Maybe you disagree. I'm just curious to how a Trump supporter sees it. As someone who obviously is not a huge fan of the president on many issues, sees it. Where are we right now?

[Tiffany Smiley]

Yeah. You know, the Democrats throw out this key word, affordability, and they've been running on it. And I think what we're seeing is Trump had to take a year and take a multifaceted approach to get our economy back on track. And that's exactly what he has done. What we are going to see is heading into the midterms, which are still a long way off in political, in the political world, is that you're going to see more money in people's pockets. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I understand independents are still probably feeling like, hey, we're not feeling these policies yet, President Trump, but I guarantee you the American people will start to feel it. You look at no tax on tips. You look at no tax on overtime. You look at the tax breaks and the permanent tax cuts that will be coming back to Americans and heading into this new year, you look at real wages going up. There are really good things happening in our economy and in our country. You look at the stock market record highs. So it's going to take a little bit of time.

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[Tiffany Smiley]

That polling will look very different in six to seven months.

[Connell McShane]

It might. I mean, there's an argument to be made we're going to talk about like the Trump accounts later and different things that this, this economy will be, not because of those, but because of many of the things you mentioned be in better shape later than it is now. And that that might be the issue. And these things might not be at the forefront, but they are now immigration and other things. So how do you see it, Paul?

[Paul Rykoff]

What's your beyond the political spin and the talking points, the numbers don't lie. And his numbers are going off a cliff even within Republicans now because he's doing things like regime change wars, which are extremely unpopular, even among Republicans and especially among independents. He's talking about regime change in Venezuela, he's talking about regime change in Iran. He's talking about regime change in Cuba. And the reality is that Americans understand that won't be bloodless and we've been fortunate that our special operators are so exceptional in Venezuela. But that is not the norm. And Americans don't like regime change wars. They saw what happened in Iraq. They saw what happened in Afghanistan. And I think as long as he continues to push that and overextend our military and put men and women in harm's way, those numbers especially are going to continue to drop.

[Connell McShane]

Don't you think A lot of the drop? Well, yes.

[Paul Rykoff]

And ice. Let's put ICE into the equation.

[Connell McShane]

Well, that's, that's what I was going to bring.

[Paul Rykoff]

Continue to have, you know, masked guys who are unidentified, ripping off, ripping Americans off the streets and shooting civilians. Yeah, those numbers are going to continue to drop.

[Connell McShane]

The approach on immigration, it seems to be acknowledged to me by the administration this week from the changes they're making is something that they, they know has to change. That that's supposed to be politically, I'm just speaking about now a winning issue and it's clearly not. So to me, that's the, that's the near term. You might be right about the long term. But that's the near term.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Right. And to your point, Paul, Americans will vote on their pocketbook. They are not voting on national security measures.

[Paul Rykoff]

I disagree entirely.

[Tiffany Smiley]

They will on their life. That's their children's future and what is working for them right now.

[Connell McShane]

What part do you disagree?

[Paul Rykoff]

I don't think. Let me give you a really good example. I don't think most Americans like us pissing off the entire world, including. Yes. Have you seen the feedback from people in Denmark and Australia and the UK have you seen the thousands of veterans around the world who are outraged, gold star families who feel disrespected and insulted by his comments? I see them and the veterans community sees them. We have ticked off our allies in a way we've never seen before. It's like his disgraceful comments toward John McCain. But they've gone global and the feedback and outrage continues to push back From Denmark especially, and especially around Greenland. We have isolated. We have isolated ourselves in a way that I think most Americans understand. And they care about their pocketbook. They also care about being less safe. And most Americans don't feel safer.

[Connell McShane]

Right. So your point, Tiffany, is that all this is going to be put to the side a lot of these issues and it's only going to be economic concerns and issues with. By the way, the president's not polling on Great. Now you just think he'll be right, right?

[Tiffany Smiley]

I think, I think that polling will start to get better as Americans start to feel it and start fill in their pocketbook and the permanent tax cuts come through and good things start to happen. The stock market soaring. Like I said, I think that will continue to do very well. Jobs are coming back, real wages are going up. There's good things happening underground. But again, to Greenland. Trump is not taking over Greenland for hundreds of years. For hundreds of years. It's literally said.

[Paul Rykoff]

He literally said we're going to take over.

[Tiffany Smiley]

It's had national security implications for our country. It's actually a good move. When I think of my three sons and raising them into the future, that we have a president who actually has foresight and a vision for a long time.

[Paul Rykoff]

You think this has been good for American national security? Well, certainly you think this Greenland escapade has been good for our national. You are very much in the minority if you think that this has been good for America. You've been finishing your thought for the entire segment.

[Tiffany Smiley]

You look at, you look at Putin who was emboldened under Biden to go into Ukraine, and he's not focused on Putin. You look at the Afghanistan. It was a colossal failure on so many fronts. We are the laughing stock in the whole world.

[Paul Rykoff]

We are again finally now a laughingstock because of this Greenland that's on a.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Hill that's actually making moves to protect. You gotta remember, Venezuela was shipping drugs into our country, into our streets, killing our sons and daughters.

[Paul Rykoff]

I know. That's the talking point in the propaganda. It was also a regime change. Right. And Maduro's a bad guy. There's a lot of reasons why we supposedly took out Maduro and our military.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Is taking care of.

[Paul Rykoff]

What is the reason we took on Maduro?

Efficient.

I served in our military. I know how efficient they are. I also know they don't want to go into places like Venezuela and Cuba.

[Tiffany Smiley]

They aren't there.

[Paul Rykoff]

They literally are in Venezuela.

[Connell McShane]

What I'm curious about. Yes. By the way, this is my little expert. Apologies to the audience if they don't like. But my experiment was like, hey, listen, both of you guys are friends of us, maybe not of each other. That's fine. No, I love the show. And I said this is how we kind of do things. It's not. We like to have different voices.

[Tiffany Smiley]

It's important.

[Connell McShane]

And we don't like to, you know, we're not trying to be necessarily right in the middle on everything. We're open to people on the right or people on the left, and we want to hear them and we're fine with their disagreements. One of the things that stands out to me, however, about this is that. And maybe it's just both of your backgrounds, we've talked a lot about foreign policy. When I left everything open to discussion, I thought you would have talked more about immigration, domestic policy. You wanted to go about the economy. To me, the immigration story is the story now, but maybe it's. We're just in the moment now. I don't know.

[Paul Rykoff]

I think that, you know, Tiffany's point about the economy. I don't think most people are going to feel changes in the economy three months, but they're going to feel. They're going to feel ICE because ICE continues to expand. Now they're in Portland, now they're in Phoenix. Every week they expand their footprint and most Americans don't like it. And they are pushing back, including Republicans. And now even more so after this latest shooting. Second Amendment advocates. That man had a legal right to carry his firearm and he was shot in the street.

[Connell McShane]

Yeah, he did have.

[Paul Rykoff]

Republicans especially are pushing back hard against ICE to the point where Stephen Miller is even adjusting his language.

[Connell McShane]

He was. Yeah.

[Paul Rykoff]

They know how unpopular this is and it's going to get worse.

[Connell McShane]

Yeah, the whole thing definitely felt that. I mean, I think Trump felt that and made some changes. I think the larger question that Tiffany brings up is like by the time we get to voting, is all of the focus that we're having on these issues now still on these issues? For example, I don't think, you know, two people died in Minnesota. That's still a story no matter what. It doesn't go away. But in voters minds, does the focus start to shift enough for Republicans to things like the economy? And even if it does, that's not a guarantee because then the economy has to improve.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Right, Right.

[Connell McShane]

So let's make this the final.

[Tiffany Smiley]

And the economy is trending in the right direction, I guess is what my point is. We look at domestic policy and you look at what's happening with ice, it's tragic all the way around. And I would like to step back and just say my heart breaks for what is happening. But also I haven't heard one Democrat ever denounce or say to stop the violence, you can peacefully protest in this country.

[Paul Rykoff]

People have all.

[Tiffany Smiley]

But you've seen ICE agents attacked, right. Lethality with cars and other weapons. We've seen that going up and I haven't heard one Democrat denounce it. The Democrats are going to try to thrive on chaos heading into the midterms. And anytime there's chaos, they think it's a good day for them. They're willing to. To take advantage of the American people's pain for their own power and advantage.

[Connell McShane]

I'm not going to giving them a lot right now to do, but I.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Think I'm not going to defend the Democrats. I'm not going to defend. Knows exactly what he is doing. I think he's an incredible actor.

[Paul Rykoff]

He knows what he's doing all right.

[Tiffany Smiley]

And he's getting bad actors out of our country.

[Paul Rykoff]

So Alex, Freddie, Alex Preddy was a bad actor.

[Tiffany Smiley]

I said that. I'm talking about what the ICE agents are doing. I am not saying that.

[Paul Rykoff]

Here's the bottom line.

[Tiffany Smiley]

I did not say that.

[Paul Rykoff]

I'm not going to defend Democrats. Independents are going to determine the midterms. And if you stay on that path, independents are going to be in for a reckoning that's going to really send a message.

[Connell McShane]

I think he knows that.

[Tiffany Smiley]

And if the economy's good, it's not.

[Paul Rykoff]

About Democrats and Republicans. It's most of all about independents.

[Tiffany Smiley]

And.

[Paul Rykoff]

And that's where the numbers are falling.

[Connell McShane]

Yeah, well, he's Just trying to promote his podcast because it's called the Independent Americans.

[Paul Rykoff]

You know, it's also 45% of the country.

[Connell McShane]

Now, we could all have a discussion. This whole idea, we all get along is irrelevant. And then we don't have to. We don't have to get along, but we can. We can talk. And I think a lot. There are a lot of points brought up. I know this is like an emotional time, so I thought it was worthwhile since you're both coming in, you're both terrific.

[Paul Rykoff]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you always.

[Connell McShane]

I really believe that. So there you go. Thank you, Paul.

[Paul Rykoff]

Thank you, my friend.

[Connell McShane]

Thank you. Okay, what are we doing? 18 past the hour, Independent Americans with Paul Rykoff. Check out that podcast. Unless you're a Tiffany Smiley fan.

[Paul Rykoff]

Okay, folks, I'm gonna continue to try to bring you extra content. Check your feed every day for new content. I'll post special episodes like this from time to time. And on the weekends, I'll try to give you a little extra helping like this to give you an alternative to turning on cable news or some of the other more partisan, more corporate podcasts. I want to help you stay informed and inspired and ahead of what's happening next. So I'll share these little conversations with you and some other stuff from time to time. I'll continue to bring you shows every week, mostly in the evenings. So check your feed. Hit refresh, hit subscribe. Especially on YouTube, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts. Check out IndependentAmericans US, where you can also find this conversation that I just had. Find this episode, all our videos, all our archives, and you can get some merch to help you stay warm in this crazy and turbulent winter. But I appreciate you listening and watching. I appreciate you continuing to spread the word, because I'm going to reiterate it. Don't believe the government, Believe your eyes, believe your ears. And most of all, especially now, stay vigilant.

[Connell McShane]

America tells me the left and right.

[Paul Rykoff]

Are dreams for those without a clue and when you wait it's time to grow and it's not cool to believe in school but if I can say.

[Connell McShane]

One thing I've seen the children of.

[Paul Rykoff]

The revolution and the good trouble they can bring he says the red and.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Blue are dead and independent is an.

[Connell McShane]

Attitude an island in the sea of rhetoric and I can.

[Paul Rykoff]

Wait it's time to grow Powered by righteous media.

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