Truth in the Barrel

Episode: From "America First" To America Alone

Hosts: Amy McGrath & Denver Riggleman
Guest: Dr. Kristin Lierly
Date: April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the grim consequences of America’s current foreign and domestic policy landscape, focusing on the fallout from recent military actions in Iran, the growing international and internal isolation of the U.S., and the severe domestic program cuts proposed to finance ongoing conflict. Amy and Dr. Kristin Lierly unpack the human and strategic costs, reflect on shifting political tides (especially recent election results in Wisconsin), and end on a lighter note, celebrating the inspirational Artemis space mission. The conversation is candid and urgent, blending national security insight with lived local realities.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Iran Conflict and Its Fallout

The Escalation and Moral Crisis

• Amy and Dr. Lierly open with deep concern over the ramifications of the recent (fragile and possibly expired) ceasefire in Iran.
• The hosts highlight President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric:
  • “[President] tweeted out, quote, that Iran’s whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” (Amy, 03:19)
• Discusses the unprecedented, shocking spectacle of the U.S. President threatening both the Pope and civilians, destabilizing previously conservative communities:
  • “People here are feeling restless, because a lot of people have felt like MAGA and Catholicism go together. But now they’re literally seeing Donald Trump at odds with the Pope... creating a lot of discomfort.” (Dr. Lierly, 03:39)

Strategic and Human Losses

• Amy systematically dismantles narratives of victory:
  • “This is now the worst strategic defeat as it stands at the moment in my lifetime.” (Amy, 08:27)
  • Enumerates failures: regime change failed, nuclear program intact, allies abandoned, global credibility lost, sanctions relief for adversaries, domestic economic pain.
• Dr. Lierly sums up,
  • “America first, which has turned into America Alone.” (11:14)
• The hosts lament avoidable casualties:
  • “We have lost U.S. troops unnecessarily. For what reason?” (Dr. Lierly, 12:48)
• National security reality vs. political theater:
  • “Anybody who’s anybody in the national security world knew on day one…there’s no military solution for Iran’s nuclear program.” (Amy, 13:00)

Republican Silence and Democratic Constraints

• Republicans’ lack of pushback framed as complicit and cultish:
  • “There should be people with different opinions having lively debates…but that’s not happening.” (Dr. Lierly, 06:12)
• Democrats are “grossly in the minority” and reduced to regional leadership, local organizing, and calls for the 25th Amendment:
  • “They don’t have the bully pulpit…and they don’t have the power, the military, the dollars.” (Dr. Lierly, 17:54)
• Pressure urged on Republican representatives, not just Democrats, for accountability:
  • “You need to be calling your Republican member of Congress. They are the ones…with the power right now.” (Amy, 19:00)

2. Massive Cuts to Domestic Programs

The Trump Budget

• Amy highlights the president’s proposal to pay for war via deep social spending cuts:
  • “He said…I said to the Office of Management Budget Director, Russell Vaught,…don’t send any money for daycare because the United States can’t take care of daycare anymore.” (Amy, 21:30)
• Programs slated for slashing or elimination: WIC, community service block grants, school lunches, Head Start, K-12 education, NIH, CDC, preschool grants, national forests, and more.
• Dr. Lierly on the gutting of WIC:
  • “This is a substantial cut that literally takes food, fresh, healthy food out of the mouths of mothers and babies.” (Dr. Lierly, 22:44)
• Cuts to public health infrastructure threatened to undermine outbreak response:
  • “One of the most important things the CDC does…is contain outbreaks. But when we defund the CDC…we are going to be a sicker population.” (Dr. Lierly, 26:51)
• Cuts to education projected to devastate vulnerable populations:
  • “Almost a 70% reduction in funding going through K, K through 12 education…How is this America First?” (Amy, 28:07)

The Contradiction of “America First”

• Hosts ridicule the hypocrisy of “America First” rhetoric, as actual policies undercut America’s health, workforce, forests (“just got rid of it”), and scientific leadership.
• “We are quickly becoming not the leaders because of the Trump administration.” (Dr. Lierly, 25:42)

3. Message, Mobilization, and the Democratic Brand

Toxic Partisanship and Messaging Gaps

• Dr. Lierly reflects: “Being a Democrat is pretty toxic in some populations...They’re very effective at the messaging and we are not.” (31:46)
• Amy stresses a return to truth and public service:
  • “I keep going back to being an adult and speaking the truth.” (Amy, 32:39)
• Both advocate for local, grassroots organizing and reclaiming the narrative around public goods:
  • “You gotta literally grow your community the way that you grow your forest.” (Dr. Lierly, 34:35)

4. Hopeful Signs: Wisconsin and Down-Ballot Victories

Election Results as a Barometer

• Wisconsin Supreme Court’s progressive shift celebrated:
  • “We have the most female Supreme Courts in the country…So Wisconsinites are looking at the future. And we now know that we are gonna have a Supreme Court that works for the people until at least 2030.” (Dr. Lierly, 35:58-37:30)
• Other wins: First Democratic mayor in Waukesha; a trans woman elected to county office.
• Takeaway: Victory comes when “picking the right person for the right reason, who stands for the right things, who’s qualified.” (Amy, 38:48)

5. Memorable Quotes & Segments

• “This is how we know it’s a cult.” (Dr. Lierly, 06:12)
• “Iran still has control over the Strait of Hormuz…we are going to start paying them now. And we’ve given them sanctions relief.” (Amy, 10:12)
• “We’ve got data that shows that school lunch programs, when you feed kids, they can learn…So if we take this away now…the real results will be decades from now when Donald Trump is long dead.” (Dr. Lierly, 21:52)
• “At some point in our lives, we are all those vulnerable people.” (Dr. Lierly, 28:43)
• On new ICE hardship: “This military spouse was not a violent criminal. She was taken from a military base where she lived with her husband. She’s a military spouse.” (Amy, 44:56)
• On hypocrisy: “Tear down the White House, start…a golden ballroom and use a bunch of foreign materials to do it…That’s America first.” (Amy, 45:59)

6. Noteworthy Moments

• [11:14] “America first, which has turned into America Alone.” (Dr. Lierly)
• [29:57] Forest Service gutting and its impact on environmental stewardship.
• [35:58, 38:48] Wisconsin victories point to a shift in political winds.
• [47:07] Joyous discussion of Artemis space mission photos and humanity’s awe at exploration.

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a raw, urgent, and deeply personal look at the gap between America’s professed ideals and the current reality of isolation, self-inflicted wounds, and squandered leadership. But Amy and Dr. Lierly also spotlight signs of hope—where local resilience and electoral sanity show a path forward. The call to “keep telling these stories, even when it's hard” (Dr. Lierly, 46:30) echoes as the mission of this podcast.

“We have to keep telling these stories, even when it’s hard...they help people understand how hard Donald Trump and his regime are making it for regular Americans.”
— Dr. Kristin Lierly [46:30]

Timestamps of Major Segments

• 00:35 – Episode opening, topics overview
• 03:18 – President's Iran threats & clash with the Pope
• 07:18 – The ceasefire: reality vs. rhetoric
• 10:12 – Strategic losses and consequences of the Iran war
• 15:15 – Democrats’ role & constraints
• 21:30 – Trump’s budget & domestic program cuts
• 29:57 – Forest Service slashed, environmental impacts
• 35:58 – Wisconsin Supreme Court and local electoral victories
• 44:56 – ICE detains military spouse; consequences of immigration crackdown
• 47:07 – Artemis mission and space exploration hopefulness

Tone and Style

Frank, urgent, occasionally exasperated, with moments of levity and hope. The hosts blend policy savvy with practical, local perspectives, making the national stories feel personal, imbuing the episode with both seriousness and resilience.

For full episodes, visit TruthintheBarrel.com or your preferred podcast platform.