Devil's Cut | The Harry Dunn Interview

Summary

Truth in the Barrel: Episode Summary – "Devil's Cut | The Harry Dunn Interview"

Release Date: July 15, 2025
Hosts: Amy McGrath & Denver Riggleman
Guest: Harry Dunn

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Introduction and Mission Inspiration

[00:07] Denver Riggleman:
Denver welcomes listeners to the "Truth in the Barrel" podcast and introduces Harry Dunn, highlighting their mutual passions for military service, politics, and whiskey. He emphasizes the importance of signing up for both the "Truth in the Barrel" and Harry's own podcast, "Cleanup 45."

[01:47] Harry Dunn:
Harry shares his initial reaction to Denver's invitation to join a humanitarian mission to Ukraine. Previously focused on political issues like January 6th, Harry was quick to accept the call to action, embodying his mantra: "Do something."

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Decision to Join the Humanitarian Mission

[02:27] Harry Dunn:
Harry recounts the moment he received Denver's text about traveling to Ukraine amid his anger over political events, particularly the ambush in the Oval Office involving key political figures. His immediate response reflected a readiness to act rather than just discuss.

[04:03] Harry Dunn:
He explains how he kept his plans discreet initially, sharing the news with his parents only after ensuring he was well-informed and prepared. Harry emphasizes the balance between his instinct to intervene and the necessity of strategic action: "I'll always run towards it, but if I can go, not blindly, then I'll choose that path."

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Journey to Ukraine

[09:16] Harry Dunn:
Harry describes his journey, noting a layover in Switzerland where he enjoyed authentic Swiss chocolate—an unexpected yet pleasant experience before heading to Warsaw. This was Harry’s first significant international trip since childhood, highlighting his excitement and anticipation.

[11:24] Harry Dunn:
Upon arrival, Harry details the logistics of being part of a convoy into Ukraine. He vividly describes driving a heavily modified pickup truck across the border—a moment of empowerment and connection to the mission.

Notable Quote:
"I got to drive that across the border from Poland into Ukraine, and it felt something. It was a powerful moment." — Harry Dunn [12:35]

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Experiencing Ukraine: Lviv and Kiev

[17:16] Harry Dunn:
Harry paints a vivid picture of the Ukrainian countryside, contrasting its natural beauty with the underlying tension of being in a war zone. He reflects on the resilience of the Ukrainian people, their unwavering spirit, and the adaptations they've made, such as converting highways into emergency runways.

[19:24] Harry Dunn:
He shares an eye-opening experience witnessing the normalization of air raid sirens in everyday life. Local Ukrainians maintain their daily routines amidst the constant threat of drone and missile attacks, embodying a rebellious spirit against oppression.

Notable Quote:
"We got to see people living their lives, busy in restaurants and on the streets, while air raid sirens are going off. It was powerful because it showed the ultimate message of resilience." — Harry Dunn [22:31]

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Emotional and Psychological Impact

[24:39] Denver Riggleman:
Denver shares his personal experience in Odessa, emphasizing the stark contrast between his attempts to stay calm and the locals' ingrained resilience. He highlights the psychological fortitude required to live under such conditions.

[25:17] Harry Dunn:
Harry connects his experiences in Ukraine to his past involvement in the January 6th hearings, drawing parallels between standing up against tyranny abroad and seeking accountability domestically. The mission reinforced his commitment to justice and resilience.

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Insights on Warfare and Defense

[27:16] Harry Dunn:
He provides a detailed account of modern warfare tactics in Ukraine, particularly the human element in defense systems. Contrary to the perception of automated defenses, Ukrainians actively patrol rooftops with rifles to intercept drones—a testament to their hands-on approach and bravery.

[28:35] Harry Dunn:
Harry discusses the scale and impact of drone attacks, clarifying misconceptions about their size and purpose. He describes witnessing massive drones acting as kamikaze weapons, emphasizing the relentless nature of the conflict.

Notable Quote:
"I got to be on a riverboat somewhere in Kiev floating down the river with nothing but anti-drone artillery and soldiers whose job is to shoot these drones down. What the hell is my life?" — Harry Dunn [29:57]

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Memorable Experiences and Relationships

[32:47] Harry Dunn:
Reflecting on his time in Ukraine, Harry highlights the camaraderie among the diverse group of volunteers—from soldiers to CEOs—united by their mission to support Ukraine. These relationships transcended political differences, reinforcing the idea that shared purpose can bridge divides.

[33:45] Harry Dunn:
He urges American listeners to support Ukraine, whether through physical involvement or financial donations. Harry emphasizes the importance of backing organizations that are directly aiding Ukrainian efforts.

Notable Quote:
"The best memory is the relationships that were made over there with like-minded people from all different walks of life. It shows that there's so much more that unites us than divides us." — Harry Dunn [33:52]

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Message to the American People

[31:18] Harry Dunn:
Harry delivers a heartfelt message urging Americans to continue supporting Ukraine. He stresses that Ukraine's fight is for survival and emphasizes that assistance—both physical and financial—is crucial. Harry debunks the oversimplified notion that Russia's retreat alone would end the war, highlighting Ukraine's strategic advantage and resilience.

[34:32] Harry Dunn:
He calls for unwavering support, whether by joining missions, donating to vetted organizations, or advocating for continued aid. Harry believes that sustained effort and solidarity are essential for Ukraine's victory.

Notable Quote:
"We can't give up on them. Ukraine needs our help to save lives, and it's up to us to provide that assistance, whether it's physically being there or financially supporting the right organizations." — Harry Dunn [31:18]

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Closing Remarks and Future Endeavors

[37:32] Harry Dunn:
Harry promotes his own podcast, "Cleanup 45," and his Substack, "Standing Our Ground," encouraging listeners to engage with his ongoing efforts to seek accountability and justice.

[38:07] Denver Riggleman:
Denver concludes the episode by thanking Harry for his bravery and commitment, expressing anticipation for future collaborations and reaffirming their collective mission to support Ukraine.

Final Note:
Listeners are encouraged to support humanitarian efforts through vetted organizations like Zero Line, as mentioned by Denver.

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Key Takeaways:

1. Active Humanitarianism: Both hosts exemplify proactive support for Ukraine, moving beyond discourse to tangible action.
2. Resilience of the Ukrainian People: The interview underscores the unwavering spirit of Ukrainians amidst ongoing conflict, serving as a powerful inspiration for resilience and solidarity.
3. Importance of Unity: The formation of strong, cross-political relationships among volunteers highlights the unifying power of common humanitarian goals.
4. Critical Support for Ukraine: Emphasizing both physical presence and financial aid, the discussion advocates for sustained and multifaceted support to ensure Ukraine's perseverance and victory.

Notable Quotes:

• "I'll always run towards it, but if I can go, not blindly, then I'll choose that path." — Harry Dunn [04:03]

• "We got to see people living their lives, busy in restaurants and on the streets, while air raid sirens are going off. It was powerful because it showed the ultimate message of resilience." — Harry Dunn [22:31]

• "We can't give up on them. Ukraine needs our help to save lives, and it's up to us to provide that assistance, whether it's physically being there or financially supporting the right organizations." — Harry Dunn [31:18]

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Resources Mentioned:

• Harry Dunn's Podcast: Cleanup 45
• Harry Dunn's Substack: Standing Our Ground
• Recommended Humanitarian Organization: Zero Line (for humanitarian aid support)

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Truth in the Barrel," Harry Dunn shares his transformative experience supporting Ukraine, blending personal anecdotes with a compelling call to action. The conversation not only illuminates the harsh realities of the conflict but also celebrates the indomitable human spirit, urging listeners to contribute meaningfully to a cause that transcends political divisions.

Transcript

[Harry Dunn]

Foreign.

[Denver Riggleman]

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Truth in the Barrel. And, you know, I'm pretty excited. Whenever we do the Devil's Cuts, we go into people that are incredible. And as you can see on the screen with me right now is the inimitable Harry Dunn. And Harry. Yeah. And I just wanted to remind everybody, if you want to catch incredible, you know, interviews like this, you got to make sure that you sign up for the Truth in the Barrel podcast, but you also need to go make sure and you sign up for Harry Dunn's podcast and his show Cleanup 45.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah, that would be awesome.

[Denver Riggleman]

I want you to have millions of followers, Harry, because you deserve it based on what you did. But pretty incredible that we're here with Harry today and our Devil's Cut, Truth in the Barrel. And I know usually we have an incredible lead in because we have research and we do all kinds of things for the Devil's Cuts to do these deep dives, but this one's pretty special to me. And Harry, you know, it is because you are a guy that most people want to talk about January 6th or. Or politics, right? Disinformation lies about January 6th. But we're going to talk about something different today because, Harry, you joined me in a huge group, and I know I came late because, you know, I was doing other crazy things. You joined me in a group for a humanitarian mission into Ukraine. And I want to tell people before we get started, many times I invite people on these incredible missions, whether it's medical equipment, communications equipment, laptops, you name it, we do it. And a lot of times, I'll text somebody, Harry, and I'll be like, hey, do you go and go to Ukraine for me? They're like, oh, yeah. But I think I have a massage that day, right? So. Or, you know, my wife doesn't want me to Ukraine.

[Harry Dunn]

By the way, did you get a massage in Ukraine? I didn't even know at the hotel. It's funny that you said that. That is hilar. So. And.

[Denver Riggleman]

But most people, they're like, you know, they. They say, yeah, I want to go. But then they sort of, you know, they sort of, sort of waffle. And I want to ask you what your first feeling was, Harry. That Harry done. But I texted you, and I'm like, harry, I got this crazy idea. Do you want to go to Ukraine? I got a response. And people. I'm not kidding.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

It's almost like he was responding in the future, like, I. I sent it. And then Harry's like, I'm doing this, and what Was your first thought when you thought about going to Ukraine, my friend?

[Harry Dunn]

Well, Denver, it was on the hills of. After Zelensky had that ambush in the Oval Office where the whole cabinet and Donald Trump and J.D. vance, Marco Rubio just played this tough guy role and just tried to ambush. And I was so furious. And I think that I was on Blue sky or somewhere tweeting or about it like, he's a trumpet. Should be embarrassed, like, Zealand. And I have my phone in my hand, and I'm just, like, firing off angry messages or whatever. And then here comes Denver Riggleman. The text, hey, you want to go to Ukraine? And I sit there and looked. I was like, wait a minute. Like, huh? And then I think, yes. Say, like, when? Tomorrow.

[Denver Riggleman]

Tomorrow.

[Harry Dunn]

Like, when do we leave? Like, say, how. Let's go. Sure. I didn't. I didn't. And you said, standby, details, incoming. And, you know, within a couple of hours, we were on a zoom, discussing logistics and booking flights and making it happen. But I was excited to get out there and do something. That's always been my whole mantra. Do something. Like, everybody likes to talk about what everybody else is doing or what everybody else is not doing. We could control what we could control. So. So when I had. When I had the opportunity that you. You said, hey, let's go. I just, hell, yeah. When. When do we leave? Was the, when do we leave?

[Denver Riggleman]

When do we go? Did you tell any friends or family? Did they have any reaction to you when you were talking about going to Ukraine? Did they say, oh, my gosh, Harry, you're going into a war zone? Did you get any of that pushback before you went?

[Harry Dunn]

Not immediately. I. I kept it very, very close to the vest. Didn't tell many people. You know, I obviously had to tell my parents. And when I shared with them, they saw the excitement in me. They saw that I was excited. And this is already. After I got the. I. I made sure I got the briefing first because I had questions about, you know, it being dangerous. And, you know, I. I was worried about that, too. I'm. I mean, I. I'll run blindly into danger, but I. But I don't want to be blindly running into it. I'll always run towards it, but if I can go, not blindly, then I'll choose that path 100 times out of 100. But, no. What'd you say?

[Denver Riggleman]

I was gonna say, you're gonna make sure before you dive in a pool it's not two feet deep.

[Harry Dunn]

Right, Exactly. That's literally it. I'm Gonna dive in. But how do I approach it? But no. So after I got, you know, a couple little breakdowns and some of the logistical questions I had, I was able to share more with my loved ones, my family, and they were worried. They were, like, why, like, I'm going to Ukraine. Why? Like, you understand, they're fighting over there, and, like, that's why I'm going. They're. They're fighting for their existence. They're fighting for their survival. And any way that I could be helpful, I'm all in.

[Denver Riggleman]

Do you think since me and you, you know, were together in the January 6 hearings there at the beginning, and what we saw there and what you went through, what you experienced personally, do you think that part of it is. And there you feel like, oh, man. Do you feel like a little bit of it is after everything that's happened, it's almost like you want to. It's not that you want to be confrontational. It's not that you're trying to pick a fight, but you want to do something against this sort of bullying regime in Russia and things like that. But do you think part of. Do you think part of it's your law enforcement background, Harry, or the fact that you have this justice streak in you that you wanted to go to Ukraine?

[Harry Dunn]

Well, absolutely. You make a good point, because a lot of it is pushed back. I mean, hell, even towards Donald Trump, the way he and Republican members of Congress that don't want to back Ukraine or saying, where is all our money going? And where we had the opportunity to see where the money was going. And I could answer that question on the House floor if members were, why are we sending billions of dollars of aid? Well, I can actually go on the House floor and discuss that now. And you know what? They have the opportunity to do the same. They asking this question, why are we support. Just go over there and see how about that? How about you take, why. Why am I going as a private citizen? And I can answer the question that you have way more access to as a sitting member of Congress. So a little bit is about sticking it to them and pushing back. And like, screw you guys, I'll do it if y' all don't want to help a little bit, is that. But at the same time, it's about doing what's right. Listen, there are a lot of people that want to push back. That will help from their computer chairs here in America. And. Which is. Which is completely fine, which is completely necessary, but it's just something about that law enforcement wanting to help and be there like, I'm here. How can I be of assistance? And you know what? And. And this is. I don't have to tell you this, but for the people listening, when we were over there, we delivered, you know, medic packs, trucks, vans, an ambulance, fire truck, like, all this aid and computers and laptops gave blood over there. These individuals, they said, we're so thankful for this. This aid. We need it. We cannot survive without it. However, you all being here physically means more to us than this aid ever does. And he was like, now, don't get it twisted. We need the aid. We need it. But just you all being here with us physically means so much more to us. Because they're one of the biggest questions they have over there. Has people forgotten about Ukraine? Do people still stand with us? And the fact that we were able to say them in their face, looking them in the eyes, not. Not thousands and thousands of miles away, but face to face, we stand with you. I think it meant volumes to them. It spoke volumes.

[Denver Riggleman]

Now. So, you know, you law enforcement, me military, right? So there's. We have this natural, you know, we're simpatico, right? We want to go do good things. But there is something about breathing the air of the thing you're talking about and having your feet on the ground and being in that general environment to give you a new perspective. So I got to ask this question because I know people listening, and by the way, people listening, listen, if me and Harry can do this, you can do this. There's. There's multiple organizations out there, humanitarian organizations that you can go to that me and Harry are attached to, and we're happy to provide that information. Right? That's something that Harry and I were. Now, you know, we're proselytizing for Ukraine because we know that these people have been completely sort of overwhelmed by the stupidity of the Russian regime and also the horrors and. And things like that. So you had. So. So did you. Did you. Did you fly into Warsaw or Zheszow when you went into Poland before going.

[Harry Dunn]

Into Ukraine, I flew into Warsaw. Well, we had a layover in Switzerland, so it was kind of cool. So I got the opportunity to get some real Swiss chocolate and everything. And all the airlines, like, they don't bring you, like, goldfish or Sun Chips or like, here, the Met or Chex Mix. They bring you the finest chocolate over there. So that's not bad. And then flew out of Switzerland into Warsaw and into Warsaw. We spent the night in Warsaw.

[Denver Riggleman]

Yeah, the first night, you know, had you been into Poland before?

[Harry Dunn]

I, I, dude, I, I hadn't been out of the country. I, I, well I've been, I was born on Andrews Air Force base and literally 30 days after I was born we flew to England and I lived there for the first four years of my life and, and then that, and then it came back and then I was going to like Montreal or the Bahamas or anything. I haven't left the country since.

[Denver Riggleman]

Oh, my heart is full that this is one of your significant overseas trips.

[Harry Dunn]

Like this is fantastic. Growing up as a grown up overseas trip. And I mean so much, so much to the point, Denver, that when we're flying across the Atlantic Ocean and like we, those big giant, you know, jumbo jets, those air buses and stuff, that's what we're on. And people are laid back in there. They got their sleeper mask on and they are laid back, laid back. The chairs reclined all the way into a bed. And I'm looking out the window, just nothing but ocean. And I'm just, I'm looking, I can't, I'm on my way, I'm on my way. And I just had this excitement in my belly. It was just, it was, I was, my heart was full and I couldn't wait to get over there. So yeah, that was my first international trip in a long time. So yeah, I was excited.

[Denver Riggleman]

Well, it's not like your first international trip was, you know, you went to, you know, Barbados, you decide to go to Ukraine.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

You know, it's like, hey, I'm just going to go ahead and go into a war zone. This should be fun. And that's something, that's a little bit of a misnomer in some ways. Yes, it's a war zone, but it's incredible that the way Ukraine functions and so, so you get to Warsaw, right. And at that point you start the convoy towards the Ukrainian border. Correct. The next morning after you spend the night.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

So did you get to drive or, you know. Yeah, what did you drive, man? Okay, okay.

[Harry Dunn]

So I got, when we got there, we all had our, you know, introductory meeting. We hey, get everybody meet each other. These are the other 25, 30 like minded individuals that are here to help, help save Ukrainian lives. And that's what it was all about. So later on, later in the evening, after the orientation, if you will, got a message to say, hey, you're on a, the first convoy out in the morning. Like everybody else is leaving at 7am I need you to leave at 5, 8, 4am and we're going to the train station. You're going to drive across the border and blah, blah. So. So the first leg of the trip, I'm in the passenger seat and then the driver gets out, goes to the train station, hops on a train, and then I get to drive a heavily. Not armored. It wasn't armored, but it was definitely packed for off roading. Extra. A pickup truck with the biggest tires on it. And it just looked, it looked like a war truck. Like it was all black and it was. And I got to drive that across the border from Poland into Ukraine.

[Denver Riggleman]

So, Harry, you got to drive a jacked up redneck truck across the border into Ukraine. That's. Is that what we're. Is that what I'm hearing?

[Harry Dunn]

That is what you're hearing, my friend. That. Is what you're hearing. I got to drive that. And I'll tell you, if that truck pulled up to you and you see a black guy with tattoos out there looking at you gonna be like, whose truck did you steal? Like, that ain't your truck.

[Denver Riggleman]

You know, Russians running away from you, right, Harry?

[Harry Dunn]

Like, what is going on? Like, who the hell run guy driving this damn truck. But no, I got to drive across the border from Poland into Ukraine and I, I just. It felt something. It was powerful. It was a powerful moment.

[Denver Riggleman]

And were you stuck at the border though, brother?

[Harry Dunn]

You know what? Yes, well, we were the like the first car in line. Like, and not even like on some. Oh, we're there. And it was like two cars ahead of us. And we're exaggerating. No, we were literally the first car and the amount of run around to get. So when you get out of the, the border, you have to. You. When you leave, you get inspected by the, the country you're leaving, and then Obviously you're inspected 5ft away again to enter the country. And, and it's like, my gosh. And it would mean more than each. Each time. And you literally. I think we were there probably about five hours and we were the first car, of course.

[Denver Riggleman]

Did you get stuck in the no man's land between Poland and Ukraine? Yeah, right, that, that little area right there. That's right.

[Harry Dunn]

Area. Yeah, exactly. Because. And we were, we were the, the, the. And you think the people in America walk around with heavy artillery? I mean, you have people with Uzis slung over their shoulder like, like women carry purses and everybody just got a damn Uzi on their arm and, you know, submachine guns and they're just walking around. I mean. Yeah, we do it here in the US a little bit. But, I mean, it is.

[Denver Riggleman]

It's incredible. Like, on the Polish side, you got US Arms. On the Ukrainian side, you got Kalashnikovs, right? And you're sort of stuck right in the middle of no man's land. You're looking around like, I really don't want to be here much longer because it does get, you know, and I. It took me six hours the first time through. And back last year, when I went the first time, it took me nine hours to get out, right? And so it was just insane. But, you know, I walked across the border this time. Harry, did I tell you I walked from Poland to Ukraine?

[Harry Dunn]

Well, see, you know, I was wondering. I was. I, I. And I'm glad that you brought that up, because when we're sitting there in the, the car, it was another car behind us that, that was part of the convoy. We were watching people get out and just walk and, like, waiting for, like, an Uber or a bolt, what they call it, over there to come pick them up. And I was just like, is this, like, the way to do it? Like, you just walk across and then you get picked?

[Denver Riggleman]

Yes.

[Harry Dunn]

And it's. Yes, it's the way to do it. People were doing it.

[Denver Riggleman]

It's the way to go if I do it next. So what happens is, you know, my. So we get there late, right? I saw you the last two days, right? And then, you know, I went into care song and crazy stuff, and me and you could talk about that over here. So, you know, and, you know, had a couple of drone attacks. It was what fun. But. So we get dropped off, buddy. So my buddy Steve comes in late into Zhashev. So we get a taxi to the border. A taxi. And we get dropped off on a walking path, take out our stuff, and I'm like, you know what's crazy, Harry? A lot of people recognize me and you in the States, right?

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

Nobody has an effing clue who I am walking, you know, So I, I got my backpack on and my other bag. You want to. You don't want to pack completely light, but you're pretty light.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

So I go through. I'm like, this is going to be awful, man. You know, I'm walking across the border. It took exactly eight minutes.

[Harry Dunn]

That's it.

[Denver Riggleman]

Eight minutes. So. So you get. So you get through, right? And now, so you have your jacked up Bigfoot truck, right? And, you know, big black guy in tattoos, right. As you say, driving. But I got to ask you, you know, as far as emotionally Once, Once that vehicle was on Ukrainian soil and you're driving and my guess is your first stop was Lviv, right? Did you guys go to L? Yeah, right. What was your feeling? What was the air like? What were. And I know that you're like God then, but when you're first in Ukraine for the first time, knowing you are in a country at war as a non combatant, right? Me and you aren't carrying anything. It's not like you're have your law enforcement gear. It's not like I have my kit, right? We don't have our kit. Yeah, we're non combatants. What was your feeling, buddy, when you're in that truck and you're in Ukraine headed to Lviv?

[Harry Dunn]

Honestly, Denver. I kept looking out at the countryside you're driving in and the first thing you see is this beautiful countryside, these yellow, these yellow blooming flowers or I think they make pressed oils out of them. And that's.

[Denver Riggleman]

They do. Ukraine before the war was the number one producer of sunflower oil. I don't know if people know that in the world, globally, it's crazy because.

[Harry Dunn]

The fields are covered in these beautiful yellow blooming flowers or you know, sunflowers. And it's beautiful. The, the, the dirt in Ukraine is just, it looks like, it looks like it's very wet and moist, but that's just the way that the soil is over there. Just got good ground. And just looking at this beautiful country we're driving by, we see farmlands and as far as the eye can see and families out there working in the farmlands. And then as we drove by and I'm seeing maybe a building here or there and I'm looking like, is that building about to get struck or where, where is a bomb, Gorda or missile going to hit next? And that granted this was like right on the edge of Poland when we first got in. So I don't think, you know, Russia had made it that. What? They didn't make it that far in. But as you start to go further into the country, into Lviv, into Kiev, you start to think, you start to see signs of war. I remember one long stretch of road that we were in there was, they got, you know, usually they're driving, there's a median, there's grass, or there's a Jersey barrier in between the cars for about 5 miles, maybe 3 miles of 5k 5 kilometers, there was no grass. There was, and it was just a eight lane road. And one of the guys was saying that's where they fly emergency airplanes and should they need to an airplane. Need to get into Ukraine or out of. Or something or. But I was like, wow, they turned a highway into a Runway.

[Denver Riggleman]

That's right.

[Harry Dunn]

And it's. It was. It was just amazing. One of the most. And this. Forgive me for getting ahead of myself. One of the.

[Denver Riggleman]

No, keep going, buddy. This is good.

[Harry Dunn]

When we were. When I. When we were. So we spent the night in Lviv, and it doesn't really get dark there very early. Like, it's like 10 o', clock. And I was like, still light outside. But when we were driving into Keef, we saw the road signs that would say Keev so and so miles ahead, and they were all, like, obliterated. And one of the guys that was. It's. It's Ukrainian. He said that they did that. So when Russia came in, they wouldn't know which way to go. They were like, kind of like, you got signs pointing. Hey, state capitol, this way. Like, Russian. Okay. Yeah, make it easy on it. So they were like, you know, all. The road sign. I got some great pictures of that. The road signs that said keeves 600 kilometers north. Like, they. They erased them almost.

[Denver Riggleman]

They did.

[Harry Dunn]

And then just seeing places as we continue to drive in some buildings where there was strikes or you could see, you know, drone strikes have been targeted into the area. And that's all I kept doing, man. Denver. And I tell people, if you've never heard an air raid siren in real life, like, not on tv, not on the Internet, not simulated somewhere. If you haven't been in a city where an air raid sirens. This isn't. This is different from a tornado warning sign or a Evacuate the Capitol, Blair. Air raid sirens. And I. You hear them, and my eyes just shot up to the sky, and I'm looking like, where is it coming from? Where is it coming from? And as I'm looking around Denver, I see men, women, children walking about their day, kids with backpacks on, people in restaurants while air raid sirens are going off. People in restaurants. The restaurants are packed. The streets are bustling with people, people living their life. And me, I'm a nervous wreck, looking up at the sky, wondering where the hell the attack is coming from. So surely that's right. I'm talking to a few of the locals. Like, we got to know. They're such a friendly people. And even if you don't speak. They don't speak much English, they still want to talk to you. So y' all are talking in two different languages. You don't know what you're saying, but a smile is Universal. And they got big smiles on their face. But. But being able to talk to some people that did speak English, I asked him, said, are you all just used to this? Is this why you keep going on about it? Like, y' all hear the sirens? You just used to it? And then somebody, they said, no, you never get used to it. What they feel is a. A rebellious spirit to say, f you, you're not going to change, Putin. F you, Putin. You're not going to change the way that we're living our lives, and we're going to continue to live every single day with our freedoms that we still have. And that was powerful to me because that is the ultimate message of resilience right there. And they're still out there and resonated with me.

[Denver Riggleman]

Heavy Denver, you know, as an American who feels that sovereignty, the freedom to choose what you want to do is sort of baked into us now. We can talk about this current government at another time and how we think that's gone sideways, which does sort of, as real Americans, we get very, very angry about that. But when you're in Ukraine and you've been trained that way, you have this. This justice streak, like you have Harry, right? And you look at these people, you're. You're overwhelmed by their stubbornness, which in a good way, right? And they're. And really their collective middle finger to the Soviet. Or to the Soviet Union. To Russia. Right. And here's the other thing, too. It's so great. And I want to tell people what Harry's talking about. You're driving on a rutted road, then the road is perfectly paved. Look, isn't it, Harry? It's, like, beautiful. And then you see another lane, right? And they're like, this is the airstrip. And you can actually see the berms where they park the jets to the side of the. Of the. Of the freeway, of the. Of the interstate that you're on, or the major highway that you're on. The other thing, too, what Harry's talking about with the sirens, you know, I thought my. Hey, by the way, my electric shaver sounds just like an FPV drone. I just want to let you know.

[Harry Dunn]

Oh, man, you gotta get a new saver, dude.

[Denver Riggleman]

I know. Because, you know, once you hear drone coming in, it really changes your life, too. But I was in Odessa at noon the night before. We had been gone into the bunker, right? We had a drone attack that came right over our hotel. So it's incredibly loud. So it's not only the air raid siren. We're hearing the, the anti aircraft artillery, which is mostly 50 cows, Kalishnikovs. You're hearing, you know, missile launches. You're hearing the actual shaheds coming in on the drones. Right. So the sky is lit up. So we go down into the bunker and then I will tell you an hour after we get, you know, the, the actual attack happens. The Ukrainians had their kids down in the bunker and they're just like, oh, well, they just go right up to their hotel room. There's no, there's no drama, there's no crime. They're just, they are so used to it. And you're right, it's not that they're used to it. They're just not going to give in.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

So I'm in Odessa the next day and I'm drinking a cappuccino because, you know, I'm a tough guy. I'm drinking a cappuccino and Odessa, and the air raid siren comes on. Now listen, literally six hours before, seven hours before, I'm in a bunker.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

So immediately I'm like, oh, man. And I look up like you do, like Americans do during an air raid. And I look over at my translator, Lana, and I'm like, lana, I mean, you know, we've been through two straight days of running from drones and attacks. What's the, what's the rules of engagement here? During the day while I'm drinking a cappuccino, she goes, oh, Denver, finish your cappuccino. I don't hear a drone. So that's the, that's their, that's the way that they're wired.

[Harry Dunn]

So it's powerful, man. And it, and you know what, not to even, you know, merge the two interviews, but it's a lot about that I see about from my me in January 6th. Like a lot of times you just want to say, all right, what's the point? Like, the institutions here didn't hold Trump accountable and then now he got reelected. It's like four years later. Why am I even still trying? Because it's the right thing to do. And that resilience just reinforced what I'm trying to do here with seeking accountability and never giving up on this issue. It was very meaningful for me. Obviously, in another, they helped me, you know, because a lot of times I felt defeated. Like, why, why are we still trying? Denver, like the country spoke. They elected Donald Trump. They, nobody gives a damn anymore because it's the right thing to do. And so many times you just want to just not, not quit, but proverbially quit.

[Denver Riggleman]

I know what you mean.

[Harry Dunn]

But seeing that, that just gave me a shot, an injector shot in the arm. It's like, you know, like everybody asked the question, you know, could it get worse? Could it be worse or just. Hey, it could always be worse or thank God that you don't. You're not there. Well, we could be there one day and it. You have to. It requires maintenance to make sure you don't end up in. In war. I mean, we just had tanks rolling down the street in Pennsylvania Avenue, you know, I mean, it's. But who knows what. Nobody would have ever predicted that. But here we are. And you keep on moving steps closer until you do something about it. So that trip invigorated me. As much as it helped them, it invigorated me. And that's why I'm like extra grateful for you, for the organization that we had the opportunity to go with. It did something for me too.

[Denver Riggleman]

Well, Harry, you going is a huge boost to that type of support. And you know, you're talking about being in Kiev, listen to air raid sirens, which. Quite exciting.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah.

[Denver Riggleman]

You know, if you. The thing is that we have a stalemate in Russia and Ukraine with Ukraine being outnumbered, but they're just better right at war fighting than the Russians and me. And you know that if the US were to come in with substantial aid, the Russians would be driven back. And we know that they're overextended and that they're weak. And I don't think, I don't remember with the disinformation we heard on January 6, we didn't meet a lot of Nazis in Ukraine, did we? There wasn't a lot, no. Didn't immediately them.

[Harry Dunn]

Not at all.

[Denver Riggleman]

Right.

[Harry Dunn]

It's crazy, man, the way that they do it. But like you just said, they have better fighters. And I did want to talk about this real quick, but we talk about the drones and everybody think so. An anti aircraft artillery. So I'm thinking that everything is, you know, automated targeting systems. And there are people out there with. The military has machines that targets drones and automatically shoots them down. You know, missile locking. All right, shoot down. No, it is people out there standing on rooftops with.50 cal rifles and shooting them down out of the sky. And another thing about these drones, some of them, you think, you think you see a drone and it's the size of a. A laptop or something like that. Some of these drones are biggest Honda Civics, man. They are gigantic. Denver, I didn't realize, you know, you see the Things on TV and video games and stuff like that. You don't realize how big these things are. It's like a Honda Civic flying over top of you and like. All right, so what does it do? Does it. It's a kamikaze thing. It's got C4 strapped to it and it flies into something and it blows it up indiscriminately. It doesn't matter what it is. That's what a drone attack is. That's what these things are. And I had to explain it to my friends because you hear drone attack, you so the word. But what actually is it? It's C4 and they fly into people cars and blow anything up. That's what they're doing over there. So one of the opportunities I had to have that I. In Ukraine, this was the most coolest thing to me. I got to be on a riverboat somewhere in the. In Kiev on a river, floating down the river with nothing but anti drone artillery. And it's 50 cows up there and it's turrets, and I'm standing there with these soldiers that their job is to shoot these drones down. And that was. I said, I am on a riverboat in Kiev with drones. What the hell is my life, dude? What is happening? Like, I am supposed to be at a cigar lounge in D.C. smoking a cigar.

[Denver Riggleman]

I should be at Shelly's right now, right, man?

[Harry Dunn]

I should be at Shelly's, smokey and a glass of bourbon. But I am on a riverboat in Kiev in camouflage with soldiers, drone hunting. What the hell is my life? What the hell? But it's. Well, you know, I was meant to be there. I was meant.

[Denver Riggleman]

You were. You were meant to be there, Harry. And, you know, we're going back. I'm not going to say the date, you know, I'll send that to you. And, you know, the other thing, too is that, you know, I got to train with the actual drone defenders with virtual reality goggles, with the Kalashnikovs and the 50 cals to shoot down shitheads and FPVs. And then, you know, as you know and you know, next time, buddy, I don't know if you want to go into Carson with me or no. Desa and Mikola.

[Harry Dunn]

But I know I won't tell anybody about that.

[Denver Riggleman]

Don't tell anybody, though.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah, me and.

[Denver Riggleman]

Just me and you, right, because you're. Because I don't think anybody will notice you, Harry. I think we'll just go in. It'll be real. With the same truck, right?

[Harry Dunn]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Denver Riggleman]

So when you look at the Brazilians, of the Ukrainian people. And I want to end with this because I think people need to hear from you. Harry, tell me your most incredible memory of the trip and then what's your message to the American people? Boy, no pressure at all. But most memorable experience. And what's your message to the American people?

[Harry Dunn]

Well, I'll start with the message to the American people because that goes into what my most memorable experience was. They need help. And the group that I went over there with, the goal is to save Ukrainian lives, Not kill Russians, not kill anybody, but to save Ukrainians. And they're fighting for their existence, their existence over there. We've heard it said so many times, Denver, by talking heads, by former President Biden, by Zelensky. The war ends if Russia goes home. Like that. Literally. You do not have to worry about Ukraine striking Russia anywhere. The war is over. If you, if Russia goes home, that's it. So go. Yeah, that. It seems so simple. Just back your, back your tanks up. Back your tank up just a little bit. Like, you know what, leave the mines or just, just turn around, go home. Leave everything, just go home. We won't use it against you. Just go home and that's the end of it. But they need our help. They cannot do it without. Ukraine is a much better, well, well run machine. They're just outnumbered and they are. Who would have thought that two and a half years later or whatever, however far we are now, that Ukraine not only would be. The war still be going on, but Ukraine would be winning it. Like nobody would have predicted that. Like if you bet that in Vegas, like you're a lot of money.

[Denver Riggleman]

The first day of the invasion, I believe was February 24, 2022. So that's how long it's been.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah, yeah, three and some. So, so I say that the, the message to America, we can't give up on them. And whether it's stowing up over there, if you're physically able to show up over there and say you don't have. I, I've put on some pounds since I was a police officer. I'm not the same guy that's running down a run up and down flights of steps. But you know, you could, you could go over there and be effective. The second thing, give some money like support, support these organizations that are doing it. And you know, Denver, I would, I bought, we bought our own plane tickets over there. I thought it was going to be provided by. No, it's us. And I wish I could have fundraised off it because I was squeezed a little tight, but you know what? I didn't even think twice about it. Let's do it. So donate when you can to people that are willing to help and actually do the work. There are a lot of organizations that are accepting money. Vet them well and Denver can lead you to the right place.

[Denver Riggleman]

Hey, one of the places is zero line, right? As far as humanitarian aid specifically. Yeah, go look up zero line. Fantastic. Go ahead, sir.

[Harry Dunn]

Yeah, yeah, but, but that's the thing. You give to the people that are actually doing the work. And because you want. That's how Ukraine wins this war. With, with dollars. Because they already got the best fighters over there. It's no question. But my best memory, Denver is the people. That's literally just the people over there. Not, not, not the Ukrainian people, the Americans who showed up over there. Because we came from all different ends of the spectrum, all different walks of life. I mean there were soldiers out there, there were CEOs, doctors, therapists, just, just random people that worked at Subway. Just people who actually care, people who want to make a difference. And we come from all different political ideologies. Some people may conservative, some people were liberal. But we all believed in Ukraine's winning this war and nothing else mattered while we were over there. We're hugging people, each other, like we knew each other for years. And I had known these people for three days, seven days. Now we still keep in touch and we can't wait to see how we can fortify this. But the memory is the best memory is the relationships that were made over there with like minded people who come from all different walks of life. And you as a former elected official, you know that that's what it's about. It's about there's so much more that unites us than divides us. And if we could just put away this silly partisan BS right now that's happening and bring Republicans eyes. I say Republican, I'm not trying to make it partisan, but those are the people that are against funding Ukraine. If you could just bring their eyes to what is happening over there, they cannot see. How can you not, how could you not want to help them?

[Denver Riggleman]

You know, it's, I think just if you could bottle the Ukrainian spirit and sell it, I think just a little dose of that, a dope, give me.

[Harry Dunn]

A keg of it. Denver could re.

[Denver Riggleman]

Could reinvigorate the US spirit to think about freedom, sovereignty and pushing back on bad actors like the Russians. And I know that's the understatement of the millennia right there. About bad actor. You could say much worse things. But, Harry, I just want to thank you not only for being a friend, but for responding so quickly, for being so unafraid, for caring about freedom, but to continue your legacy. Right, not only through January 6th, but also through going to Ukraine. The fact is you don't know what's happening until you're there and you're doing it. You've been there, you've done that. It's very difficult for people to gaslight you on anything once you're there, once you see it for what it buddy, this was. Thank you for taking your time for me today. I'm. As you know, my heart is full. Incredible. And I. And I will. We will need to find that truck that you drove across the border. So me and you could. Because a lot of the stuff in Carousel and stuff like that is not related to the humanitarian stuff. And as Harry knows, I like to do crazy stuff. And I think Harry's going to do some crazy stuff with me. So I appreciate you, Harry and Harry, what is your podcast, my friend? What is your show?

[Harry Dunn]

Get clean. Clean up on aisle 45. We. We talked about the, the. The. The developments in the, the. The Trump Justice Department and other news related to the courts out there. I host that with Allison Gill was a Mueller. She wrote on Mueller. She wrote on socials. And also I have a substack that will love people to. Able to. It's called standing our Ground. Because I. And I like to say our. Not my. Not my ground, our ground because we're all in this together.

[Denver Riggleman]

Wonderful.

[Harry Dunn]

We got to do it together.

[Denver Riggleman]

So wonderful. Everybody needs to go there. Look up Harry. Listen to Harry. As for us, make sure you subscribe to Truth in the Barrel. Make sure you download your favorite pod or you don't get to hear great things like this with me and Harry. So Harry, we're going to sign off, my friend and. Hey, Slava. Ukraine, right?

[Harry Dunn]

And the reply was Ukraine.

[Denver Riggleman]

I forgot Ukraine or something. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah. And so. But again, thank you everybody and take care of yourself, Harry. And I'll see you in Ukraine, my friend.

[Harry Dunn]

Yep. See you soon.

[Denver Riggleman]

See you, buddy.

[C]

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