Paul Rieckhoff is a military veteran and social entrepreneur who provides analysis on national security and independent politics through Righteous Media. He hosts the Independent Americans podcast, where he facilitates long-form interviews with diverse leaders including Pete Buttigieg, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Chuck D. Drawing from his experience as a U.S. Army First Lieutenant during the Iraq War, Rieckhoff offers a boots-on-the-ground perspective that bridges the gap between frontline service and Washington policy. He founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to modernize veteran advocacy and now focuses on mobilizing non-partisan voters. A recent win for his platform includes the successful launch of the Independent Veteran for Senate series, which highlights non-traditional candidates in the 2026 election cycle. His work frequently involves analyzing the cost of foreign conflicts and the domestic impact of military spending, often appearing on networks like CNN and HBO to provide non-partisan expertise for industry research and public discourse.