The Antihero Broadcast

Podcast for Veterans and First Responders
Episode: December 15, 2025 – "OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME"

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode focuses on recent national security developments, policing issues, and, in particular, a deep dive on Operation Allies Welcome—the controversial evacuation and resettlement operation after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hosts—Mike, Tyler, Jimmy, and guest K9—reflect on the impact for veterans, law enforcement, and American security, blending personal anecdotes, current events, and tough criticism of both government and police leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remembering Fallen Guardsmen (03:19)

• Tribute to two Iowa National Guardsmen killed in Syria: Sgt. Edgar Brown Torres Tovar (25) and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard (29).
  • “We lost two National Guard in Syria. … Lost their lives. Tragedy.” – Tyler (03:40)
  • Sets a serious tone for the episode, honoring service and sacrifice.

2. “Verse of the Day” & Message of Humility (15:14)

• Scripture Chosen: 2nd Corinthians 10:12
  • Jimmy explains: “People can say whatever they want … I’m not going to measure myself by other people, and the people that do that are freaking stupid. All right.” (15:58)
• Show’s Ethos: Not strictly Christian, but “Christian-influenced;” aims to serve “warriors appointed by God.” (16:04)

3. Policing & Pursuit Debates (16:52; 18:38)

• Hot Topic: Dangerous police vehicular pursuits.
  • Jimmy: Advocates restraint, refusing to support “running people down” if officers aren’t highly trained.
  • Tyler: “I am absolutely an advocate for pursuits. But the problem is they don’t train it.” (17:34)
  • Mike/Jimmy highlight wide disparity in training and willingness among agencies.
• Culture of Policing:
  • Increasing admin oversight, lack of support, and a climate where "everyone hates their job."
  • Ongoing discussions about old vs. new police generation, lack of experience, and erosion of morale.
  • “Old school FTOs had to teach you the way they did because new cops… have an ‘I already know it’ attitude. … Boot camp and basic training do that for the military. Law enforcement academy, nowadays, does not.” – Mike (25:15)

4. Declining Police Morale & National Readiness (27:09; 28:35)

• LAPD Case Study: Losing officers, potential 1990s staffing levels ahead of major global events (like Olympics).
• Recruitment Crisis: Who wants to be a cop now? (28:38)
• DEI & Lowered Standards: Sharp criticism of "30 by 30" (recruiting 30% women by 2030 regardless of standards).

5. Echo Chambers and Show Philosophy (22:28)

• Value in Adversarial Discussion: The show celebrates its lack of an echo chamber.
  • “The adversarial conversation style that we live in is how we solve the problem.” – Jimmy (22:21)
• Addressing Criticism: Hosts dissect listener feedback, emphasizing benefit of differing viewpoints.

6. Government Corruption & Sheriff Power (31:31–34:34)

• Tyler’s Upcoming Investigation: Exposes a sheriff’s "criminal behavior" (teased for Wednesday’s episode).
  • “All of you would be arrested, wouldn’t even get a chance. … All the union leaders … are usually guys that are pro-admin or on their way out.” – Tyler (33:57)

7. Military In/Outprocessing Stories (4:48–14:04)

• Vivid retellings of joining the military, MEPS process, basic training chaos ("shark attack" receptions, cattle trucks, locker dumps, sneaking food from the chow line).
• Humor and nostalgia interspersed with the present-day themes of discipline, readiness, and generational shift.

8. Platforms & Podcasts as Information Battleground (41:50–47:37)

• The growing power of podcasts and government efforts to control/influence narrative.
  • Sean Ryan’s CIA guest and the possibility of being targeted for narrative control.
  • “They are the new source of information. So of course dad, big government is going to get in on it.” – Mike (42:48)

9. Operation Allies Welcome (89:22–131:31)

Deep Dive: The Afghanistan Withdrawal & Aftermath

• Definition: “Operation Allies Welcome” pertains to the evacuation and resettling of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal.
• Timeline:
  • Doha Agreement (Trump, 2020); formalized withdrawal, carried out under Biden (April–August 2021).
  • Abrupt replacement of ISAF commander Scotty Miller two months before final retrograde (91:20).
• Critical Withdrawal Missteps:
  • Closure of Bagram Airfield: Most defensible, best equipped; decision made at national command level (93:38).
  • Collapse of Security/Infrastructure: All resources and records lost; Taliban seizes U.S. materiel (94:40).
• Abbey Gate Attack (August 26, 2021):
  • 13 U.S. service members killed, 24 wounded (96:31).
  • Host accounts: Marines, 82nd Airborne, and Navy present amidst horror, chaos, executions by Taliban right next to U.S. service members (99:00).
  • Conflicting media reports about "gunfight" after bombing; direct testimony says Taliban fired on U.S. troops, who returned fire (104:54).
  • “After the Abbey Gate attack, the timetable got compressed and it became, ‘We gotta get the out of here now.’” – Jimmy (98:00)
• The Evacuation:
  • 124,000–150,000 Afghans flown out in ~2 weeks (108:41).
  • “Lily pad” bases in third countries for rushed processing.
  • DOD loses jurisdiction once Afghans land in the U.S.—Department of Homeland Security takes over (108:17).
  • Vetting Lapses: Up to 2,000 known hostile actors (IED makers, terrorists, facilitators of suicide bombings) likely entered the U.S.; many likely unvetted military-age males (109:02).
  • “Once they got over U.S. airspace, DOD can’t touch them anymore. It becomes DHS. And there are an estimated about 2,000 of them … that have American blood on their hands.” – Jimmy (108:17)
• Impact for U.S. Cops:
  • Practical Tip: Any traffic stop with an Arabic surname and DOB 1/1/1980 is likely an evacuee (124:06).
  • “If you end up in a traffic stop and you get a name … and the birth date is 1/1/1980—pretty good chance you’re looking at someone who came over on Operation Allies Welcome.” – Jimmy (124:06)
• Conspiratorial Concern: Both incompetence and willful malice present; government “hung us all out to dry” (113:02; 131:39).
  • “Probably not going to be us three sitting in this room that are going to pay for it; it’s probably going to be our kids.” – Jimmy (131:28)

10. Recent Terror Plots and Soft Security

• Four arrested in LA for attempted New Year’s attack (123:24).
  • Hosts worry this is only the start: these will be “test cases” for bigger operations (132:00).
• “The only thing that’s gonna stop a gunfight is a gun.” – Tyler (71:46)
• Criticism of anti-gun policy in the U.S. and Australia, highlighting recent incidents where unarmed civilians and gun-shy police failed to stop attacks (62:30–68:00).

11. Sports Segment: Florida High School “Hail Mary” (76:27)

• Recap of Florida State High School Championship ending on a dramatic last-second Hail Mary.
• Commentary on the crush of winning/losing for young players and the mental/emotional impact.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I always take the real things that matter, and I put it like a pill in the cheese for the dog.” – Mike on the show’s philosophy (22:28)
• “Wearing your vest, being prepared... being physically fit, being able to chase cars… reload your gun. Those are basic. Basic.” – Tyler (20:09)
• “You bring real issues to the table… with humor, entertainment… Put it in the cheese for the consumer to eat.” – Mike (22:28)
• “If you see a Middle Eastern name and 1/1/1980, the hair on your neck should go up.” – Jimmy (124:11)
• “We left over a hundred canines there… they torture them and kill them.” – Jimmy (116:48)
• “Treason is… the tip of the iceberg. It goes all the way back to biblical times.” – Mike (133:41)

Timestamps for Essential Segments

• 03:19 – Tribute to fallen National Guardsmen
• 15:14 – Verse of the Day & explanation
• 16:52 – Pursuits and policing debate
• 27:09 / 28:35 – National police morale, LAPD staffing crisis
• 31:31–34:34 – Sheriff power, corruption and Tyler’s investigation
• 41:50–47:37 – Podcasts as new battleground for public opinion
• 89:22–131:31 – Operation Allies Welcome in depth
• 110:38 – Speed and scale of Afghan evacuation
• 124:06 – Law enforcement tip: DOB flags for evacuation
• 132:00 – Fears of future, larger terrorist incidents
• 76:27 / 78:05 – Florida high school Hail Mary sports highlight
• 116:48 – Dogs left behind in Afghanistan

Overall Tone & Style

The tone is blunt, candid, and frequently irreverent, with rapid shifts between dark humor, deeply personal military/police war stories, and grave national security analysis. The hosts speak as insiders—veterans, career cops, and working-class types—often using coarse language and gallows humor. Throughout, they critique cowardice, mismanagement, and “PC” culture both within law enforcement and the federal government, calling for more competence, honesty, and traditional warrior values.

For Listeners:
This episode is a sobering reflection on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the repercussions for American safety, failures of government and policing, and the importance of being ready—mentally, physically, and civically—when leadership falls short. The hosts blend raw storytelling, hard-won insight, and investigative grit to serve those “on the line”—and the ordinary citizens who depend on them.