Mike Drop

Five Army bases are first in line for their own nuclear reactors as the Pentagon plans for every major U.S. base to run on its own for 90 days if the grid goes down.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 28 OCTOBER 2026The Army has paired five companies with Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning and Fort Drum to build nuclear microreactors, a deal worth up to $2.2 billion, with the first reactor targeted for 2028. It's the first concrete piece of FORTRESS America, the Pentagon's plan to make stateside bases self-sufficient for power, water, fuel and communications for at least 90 days, with no price tag announced yet.Mike Ritland breaks down why the Pentagon is preparing U.S. bases to stand alone now, what it signals about threats to the homeland, and why the same small-reactor model could help states fix their strained power grids.Also covered: two men facing new charges in the Iran-linked RAF Fairford incident and who should guard U.S. bases overseas, Israel's election ending with no clear majority, U.S. forces telling ships to stay clear of the Strait of Hormuz as oil stays high, and the Iran war's cost topping $47 billion.Do you live near one of these five bases? Would you want a microreactor next door? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns of the stories that matter to America's military.Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join00:00 Nuclear reactors for 5 Army bases and the 90-day FORTRESS plan07:17 RAF Fairford: Iran-linked plot and who guards U.S. bases abroad11:30 Israel's election: no clear majority13:12 Ships told to stay clear of Hormuz as oil stays high13:55 Iran war cost tops $47 billionAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

U.S. forces in the Middle East could launch a major new strike on Iran within 96 hours of a presidential order, and the target list now includes Iran's energy infrastructure.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 26 OCTOBER 2026According to CNN, U.S. officials say forces already in the region could launch a bigger operation than past strikes within 96 hours of an order, with a target list covering energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities. Some officials think an order could come before the year ends, most likely after the Nov. 3 midterms. Mike Ritland breaks down what the new readiness posture signals, why he doesn't think this is only pressure for a deal, and why Iran's track record of dragging out talks makes him doubt another round of negotiations.Also covered: the Houthis firing a missile barrage at Saudi Arabia and why they're the most likely group to hit U.S. ships and Gulf bases if strikes resume; a Pentagon plan for major U.S. bases at home to run on their own power, water and fuel for 90 days; Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials meeting Iran in Tehran; and Brazil's presidential runoff.Strike now, or try for one more deal? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns of the stories that matter to America's military.Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join00:00 U.S. forces could strike Iran within 96 hours00:50 Intel warnings and the Riyadh embassy drawdown01:15 Why this posture is different02:30 Can pressure force a deal?03:20 Strike now, or one more deal?04:25 Houthis fire a missile barrage at Saudi Arabia05:15 Why the Houthis are the biggest threat to U.S. forces06:15 U.S. missile defense stocks07:05 How U.S. forces could hit the Houthis08:45 Pentagon: bases must run 90 days on their own10:00 Why that's never happened before11:15 What it means for civilians near bases13:15 U.S. partners meet Iran in Tehran14:35 Help or hurt U.S. pressure?16:40 Brazil's election18:20 Wrap-upAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Roughly 10,000 more U.S. sailors and Marines are headed for the Middle East with the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Makin Island, as the buildup around Iran grows.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 21 OCTOBER 2026The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island amphibious group, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are headed for the Middle East and expected by the end of November, joining the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington. Mike Ritland breaks down what the added carrier and amphibious package signal to Iran, what a Marine Expeditionary Unit brings that air power can't, and why any move toward troops on the ground would change the cost of this war.Also covered: Iran keeps hitting ships in Hormuz even as Gulf oil exports climb back above pre-war levels, why oil is still over $100 a barrel, the administration's shift on Russia and Ukraine, and reports that Elon Musk pushed to slow the military version of Starlink that Ukraine relies on.Will resumed strikes on Iran bring oil prices down, or push them higher? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns of the stories that matter to America's military.Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join00:00 10,000 more sailors and Marines head toward Iran01:40 What a Marine Expeditionary Unit adds02:55 Why troops on the ground change everything04:10 Headlines vs. opinions05:50 Iran keeps hitting ships, but more oil gets out06:40 Why oil is still over $10008:20 Can strikes bring prices down?09:35 The shift on Russia and Ukraine10:50 Musk and the Starlink slowdown12:55 The U.S., Russia and China at one table14:35 Gas prices and how Americans vote15:50 Your takeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to an Israeli air base that hosts U.S. tankers and fighter jets, as the U.S. and Israel discuss resuming major combat operations against Iran.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 20 OCTOBER 2026Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, with UAE officials present, according to Axios. Mike Ritland breaks down why a trip like this usually means plans are already in motion, why any decision lands on U.S. troops in the region first, and whether the U.S. should finish the job in Iran now or keep up the economic pressure.Also covered: Iran's claim that it shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper over the Strait of Hormuz, and Britain sending fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia after a Houthi missile strike killed dozens of Yemeni soldiers.Finish the job in Iran now, or keep the pressure on and wait? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns of the stories that matter to America's military.Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join00:00 Hegseth's unannounced trip to Israel00:45 What it means for U.S. troops01:40 Why go in person, and why now?02:30 Finish the job or keep the pressure on?05:00 Is Iran comparable to World War II?06:30 Iran claims it shot down a U.S. Reaper09:10 Houthi strike kills dozens; Britain sends jets to Saudi Arabia11:15 Will the U.S. get pulled in?11:40 Wrap-upAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Iran's new defense minister, a veteran of its missile program, says the U.S. will take casualties if strikes resume, as new details emerge about the Kuwait attack that killed six American troops.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 18 OCTOBER 2026Iran's parliament confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, a U.S.-sanctioned veteran of its missile program, as defense minister, and his first message was a threat aimed at American troops in the region. Mike Ritland breaks down why that threat deserves attention, and what the Kuwait strike that killed six U.S. troops says about the countermeasures still protecting our bases. His take: it's not a reason to back off, but leadership can't leave gaps in force protection again.Also covered: two more tankers burning in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. and Iran disagree on what hit them, $10 gas and $110 oil, and President Trump's order exempting Russia from new sanctions as Washington looks for relief at the pump.Are U.S. bases in the region better protected now than they were in March? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns of the stories that matter to America's military.Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join00:00 Iran's new defense chief threatens U.S. troops01:25 The Kuwait strike: a husband's question for JD Vance02:50 How seriously to take Iran's threats03:45 Force protection can't have gaps04:30 Two more tankers burning in Hormuz05:20 $110 oil and $10 gas07:25 Trump exempts Russia from new sanctions10:25 "It's the economy, stupid"11:40 Your takeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

U.S. officials say the military has built plans to drop the 21,600-pound MOAB on Iran's nuclear sites if the war resumes, with Trump saying no strikes before the Nov. 3 midterms.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 16 OCTOBER 2026Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down the Pentagon's MOAB strike plans for Iran and whether hitting the same targets again will work this time.Mike asks the question the headlines skip: if last summer's strikes knocked Iran's nuclear program back years, why are U.S. crews being asked to hit Pickaxe Mountain and the same sites again? He says the back-and-forth on timing helps nobody, and the smartest play is to say nothing and let the troops do the job. He also responds to viewer comments comparing the B-2 leak to the Hegseth Signal chat, drawing the line between intentional and careless.Also covered: Trump kills the Fort Hood execution livestream, Ukraine defies the U.S. on refinery strikes and the unconfirmed claims about Starlink, an OpenAI suspect with ties to Saudi Arabia, a new cancer-fighting drug, Tesla's 230-mph Roadster, and Mike's plans for live streams.Will the MOAB do what last summer's strikes didn't? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military.Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join0:00 U.S. builds MOAB strike plans for Iran0:50 Why Mike would say nothing about the timing1:40 The MOAB, and why we're hitting the same sites again3:45 Trump kills the Fort Hood execution livestream4:30 Ukraine defies the U.S. on refinery strikes5:20 Did Trump throttle Ukraine's Starlink? What's actually confirmed9:05 Your comments: the B-2 leak vs. the Signal chat12:05 OpenAI suspect kept ties to the Saudis15:10 A new kind of cancer drug16:15 Tesla's 230-mph Roadster17:10 KFC switches to Coke17:30 Live streams are coming: tell Mike how oftenAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

President Trump says a decision on Iran is coming "very soon," the Pentagon has asked for new strike options, and Iran is reportedly fortifying its nuclear sites.MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 14 OCTOBER 2026Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down what a second round of U.S. strikes on Iran would look like and who would be flying it.With the USS Abraham Lincoln gone, a fresh set of pilots and crews would carry out any new strikes. Mike asks the hard question: if Iran still has bunkers to fortify after months of strikes, why did the U.S. pause? He says the lesson learned in blood in Iraq and Afghanistan applies here: if you're going to do it, give the troops the mission and the support, and let them finish the job. He also bets the timing lands right before the Nov. 3 midterms.Also covered: how drones turned the Houthi threat into a real danger to U.S. ships and bases, a Tim Kennedy update, Britain's intelligence agency bracing for Iran and Russia, and new research showing AI models that can copy themselves onto everyday smart devices.Will the U.S. strike Iran before or after Nov. 3? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military.0:00 Trump: Iran decision coming "very soon"0:50 Something is about to happen, before or after the midterms?1:35 Fresh crews: the Lincoln is gone2:30 If Iran can still fortify, why did we stop?4:10 Iraq and Afghanistan lesson: let the troops do their job5:25 The Houthi threat and how drones changed warfare7:55 What Mike would do with a carrier group9:10 Tim Kennedy update9:50 Britain's spy agency braces for Iran and Russia11:30 AI models that can copy themselves13:30 Hackers cook a grocery chain's freezers15:50 How smart is your home?16:15 Wrap-upAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Roman historian and creator of The Roman Pattern, Jeremy Ryan Slate, breaks down the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and the troubling parallels to modern America.From corrupt political leaders and the execution of Rome's most capable generals to military decline, currency debasement, and failing institutions, Slate explains how one of history's most powerful empires weakened from within. He also explores Julius Caesar, Marcus Aurelius, military loyalty, and the warning signs he believes America is repeating today.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 11 OCTOBER 2026The soldiers chosen for the Fort Hood shooter’s firing squad may have no way to opt out, and the Pentagon still wants the execution livestreamed. Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down how military firing squads work and why he thinks this one should be volunteers only.The last U.S. military firing squad, in January 1945, was drawn from the condemned soldier’s own regiment. Mike believes survivors and unit members would easily fill the 5–12 spots by volunteering, and that forcing anyone to pull the trigger is the wrong call. He also explains why livestreaming the execution hands extremists propaganda.Also covered: a Houthi strike on Riyadh’s airport that killed an American, and Trump saying the U.S. “may” join the fight. A U.S. fighter jet disabled a blockade runner in the Gulf of Oman. Mike asks whether the Iran blockade is working and whether crypto is keeping Tehran funded. The New York Times reports rising threats against public officials in both parties. The episode ends with a Sunday reflection.Should soldiers be allowed to opt out of a firing squad? Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America’s military.0:00 Fort Hood firing squad: soldiers may not get to opt out0:25 How military firing squads work (and the last one, 1945)1:40 Mike's take: volunteers, not orders3:20 Answering your comments on the livestream4:10 Why livestreaming it hands terrorists propaganda6:15 Houthis kill an American in Riyadh airport strike8:45 U.S. fighter jet disables an Iranian blockade runner10:20 Is the Iran blockade actually working?11:15 Is crypto keeping Iran funded?12:05 NYT: threats against public officials are rising14:25 Sunday reflectionFormer Navy SEAL Mike Ritland reads the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times so you don't have to. No cable news spin, no recycled talking points, just the actual front pages and a straight take on what they mean for you.On Mike Drop Newsroom, Mike picks the day's biggest headlines, compares how two of the country's largest papers cover them, and says what he thinks. That covers everything from AI and national security to the economy, foreign policy and the stories cable TV skips. He's not here to push a party line. As Mike puts it, if you want to put a label on him, he's an American who wants to see America succeed.Every episode ends with a question for you. Tell us where you land in the comments, because Mike reads them and your answers shape what we cover next. Subscribe so you don't miss a morning.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 09 OCTOBER 2026The New York Times says the Iran war was supposed to show off American power and has done the opposite. B-1 bombers are pulled out of Britain, bases across the Gulf are closed, and carriers are being resupplied from 2,200 miles away. Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland, who served in Iraq, breaks down why seven months of war have left Iran's regime replaced but not weakened, and what he thinks winning should actually look like.Mike's take: decades of U.S. bases and troops in the Middle East haven't made the region more stable. Look at Iraq and Afghanistan. Reaching the stated goals in Iran would take a World War II-style invasion and occupation. His answer is to bring every U.S. troop home, close the bases, and force Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and the rest of the region to deal with Iran themselves. He also asks the question few pundits raise: if Iran is that determined to get a nuclear weapon, why haven't Russia or China handed it one?Also in this episode: the FBI stops a planned attack on the Mall of America, a Colorado police sergeant on how traffickers target vulnerable kids, and a tropical storm heading for the Gulf Coast.Do you agree with Mike, or should the U.S. stay? If you say stay, tell us what winning looks like to you. Comment below. Mike reads them.Timestamps0:00 U.S. forces pull back as Iran's oil keeps flowing0:25 Seven months in: is it working?1:15 Iran's leaders taken out, but the regime didn't change1:45 B-1 bombers pulled from Britain2:20 What does winning look like?2:30 Decades of U.S. bases in the Middle East3:20 Iraq, WMDs and what Mike saw on the ground3:45 Who a nuclear Iran really threatens4:45 Afghanistan and Iraq: better off?6:00 Mike's answer: bring every troop home7:30 Make the region step up8:10 Why haven't Russia or China given Iran a nuke?9:30 Are the lives lost worth it?10:10 What real victory would take11:45 FBI stops a Mall of America attack13:55 How traffickers target kids15:00 Tropical storm heads for the Gulf15:25 Wrap-upFormer Navy SEAL Mike Ritland reads the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times so you don't have to. No cable news spin, no recycled talking points, just the actual front pages and a straight take on what they mean for you.On Mike Drop Newsroom, Mike picks the day's biggest headlines, compares how two of the country's largest papers cover them, and says what he thinks. That covers everything from AI and national security to the economy, foreign policy and the stories cable TV skips. He's not here to push a party line. As Mike puts it, if you want to put a label on him, he's an American who wants to see America succeed.Every episode ends with a question for you. Tell us where you land in the comments, because Mike reads them and your answers shape what we cover next. Subscribe so you don't miss a morning.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 07 OCTOBER 2026France leads both papers again, so Mike skips ahead to the stories that matter here.The headlines: according to the New York Times, a Yemeni general warned weeks in advance that the Iran-backed Houthis were about to push along the Red Sea coast, and the U.S. and Saudi Arabia stood by. Vice President Vance is pressing Iran for a meaningful reduction in its nuclear capability to end the war, while Iran's president calls the talks meaningless. Germany arrested its former foreign intelligence chief on suspicion of espionage and treason, and a former CIA officer pleaded guilty to exposing a top-secret source to a foreign government. Tennessee is weighing its next step after Christa Pike survived a failed execution. And President Trump says he's considering suspending the federal gas tax as diesel hits a record national average.Mike's take: he has a theory about why the U.S. didn't help Yemen. If the Houthis take the whole country, it may be easier to fight them head-on than to prop up a government that has struggled with corruption. On Iran, he says months of "we're close to a deal" with no clear definition of success is the biggest problem with the whole campaign. He thinks the death penalty should be on the table for spies whose betrayal gets people killed, supports it for the most heinous crimes, and asks why states don't use the firing squad instead of lethal injection. On fuel, he says it's hard to argue prices would be this high without the Iran war, and that suspending the gas tax is a band-aid.Your turn. Why do you think the U.S. stood by in Yemen? What would a good deal with Iran look like? Should traitors whose actions cost lives face the death penalty? Tell us in the comments. Mike reads them.Timestamps0:00 Happy Wednesday0:15 Yemen asked for help and the U.S. stood by1:15 Mike's theory: let the Houthis take Yemen?2:55 Vance presses Iran on its nuclear program4:30 The messaging problem5:45 What would a good deal with Iran look like?6:15 Germany arrests its former spy chief6:40 Ex-CIA officer admits exposing a top-secret source7:45 Should spies who endanger lives face death?9:25 Tennessee's failed execution10:50 Is the firing squad cruel and unusual?11:40 Trump considers suspending the gas tax12:05 Diesel hits a record12:30 Is the Iran war behind fuel prices?14:05 How diesel raises the cost of everything14:30 Mike wants your feedbackFormer Navy SEAL Mike Ritland reads the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times so you don't have to. No cable news spin, no recycled talking points, just the actual front pages and a straight take on what they mean for you.On Mike Drop Newsroom, Mike picks the day's biggest headlines, compares how two of the country's largest papers cover them, and says what he thinks. That covers everything from AI and national security to the economy, foreign policy and the stories cable TV skips. He's not here to push a party line. As Mike puts it, if you want to put a label on him, he's an American who wants to see America succeed.Every episode ends with a question for you. Tell us where you land in the comments, because Mike reads them and your answers shape what we cover next. Subscribe so you don't miss a morning.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 06 OCTOBER 2026The biggest story today wasn't on either front page. Mike pulls in an AP report: soldiers seriously wounded in Iranian drone strikes say the military's medical system failed them. One soldier had a damaged artery that put him at risk of a stroke. He was sent to barracks and told to schedule outpatient appointments. Another waited more than four months for MRI results after having shrapnel removed from his head.Also in today's papers: Saudi and Yemeni forces are pushing back against the Houthis around the Red Sea port of Mokha. Germany and France are pushing the EU to get tough on Chinese trade. The FBI arrested a California woman accused of acting as an unregistered agent of China. Russia is investigating a death at a Siberian infectious disease lab. Brazil's right wing had a surprise surge. Superpowers are racing to put nuclear reactors on the moon. High interest rates haven't slowed the AI boom. And the DOJ is tightening visa screening for birth tourism.Mike's take: if you send troops to fight, you'd better be ready to take care of them when they're wounded, no matter which administration you are. He knows what waiting looks like. After a collarbone and bicep injury, the VA took so long to get him an MRI that surgery was no longer an option. On the Houthis, he says decades of U.S. involvement haven't worked, and he wonders whether pulling out completely would force Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the rest of the region to step up. On AI's energy demand, he makes the case for small regional nuclear reactors. On birthright citizenship, he doesn't think children of people here illegally or on temporary visas should become citizens automatically, and he invites anyone who disagrees to change his mind.Your turn. If you've been wounded or injured in service, how was your care? Would pulling out of the Middle East make the region step up, or would it be a disaster? Tell us in the comments. Mike reads them.Timestamps0:00 Happy Tuesday0:25 Germany and France push the EU to get tough on China1:05 Saudi forces push back the Houthis2:55 Why Iran is still flexing3:45 Would pulling out force the region to step up?6:30 FBI arrests an alleged Chinese agent6:55 A death at a Siberian infectious disease lab7:30 Should these labs exist?8:20 Brazil's right-wing wave9:35 Nuclear reactors on the moon12:30 The AI boom and high interest rates12:55 Data centers and energy demand15:00 The case for small regional nuclear reactors16:40 The price of convenience17:50 Wounded soldiers say military care failed them19:00 Mike's own VA story19:55 "Take care of the troops"20:45 DOJ targets birth tourism21:15 Birthright citizenship23:15 Coming up: DEA agent Steve MurphyFormer Navy SEAL Mike Ritland reads the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times so you don't have to. No cable news spin, no recycled talking points, just the actual front pages and a straight take on what they mean for you.On Mike Drop Newsroom, Mike picks the day's biggest headlines, compares how two of the country's largest papers cover them, and says what he thinks. That covers everything from AI and national security to the economy, foreign policy and the stories cable TV skips. He's not here to push a party line. As Mike puts it, if you want to put a label on him, he's an American who wants to see America succeed.Every episode ends with a question for you. Tell us where you land in the comments, because Mike reads them and your answers shape what we cover next. Subscribe so you don't miss a morning.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 04 OCTOBER 2026A long one for Sunday. There's no Wall Street Journal today, so Mike covers the New York Times and then shares the story many of you asked for: his path back to Christ.He starts by setting the record straight. After hearing from viewers, Mike walks back his comments on the Cornell case. He says he was guilty of the same rush to judgment he warns against, and he'll wait for the facts. He also shares what viewers in France told him the coverage of the riots there is missing.The headlines: protesters in canoes outside Chief Justice John Roberts' home in Maine. AIPAC has raised $233 million for the midterms. A report says President Trump directed $20 million in taxpayer money toward TV ads. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's new role advising governments on crypto after his pardon, and his company's business ties to World Liberty Financial. And a Times opinion piece asking whether Democrats can win back religious voters.Mike's take: protest all you want where officials work, but leave their homes and families alone. He thinks any PAC tied to a foreign country, whichever country it is, shouldn't have a role in U.S. elections. Taxpayer money shouldn't fund ads praising any president. And no one in office should profit from policy they control, period. He also challenges fellow Christians to judge less and show more grace.Then the story: a Lutheran upbringing, a faith that fell apart through SEAL deployments, war and fatherhood, and decades of walking away. Then came the faithful men who appeared on the podcast, the week Charlie Kirk was killed, an unplanned Sunday at church that his kids shared without knowing it, and how he finally made peace with the question of free will.Your turn. Should protests at officials' homes be off-limits? Should foreign-focused PACs be banned? And if you've walked away from faith or found your way back, what made the difference? Tell us in the comments, and as Mike asks, be kind to one another.Timestamps0:00 Happy Sunday: a long one0:50 Mike walks back his Cornell comments2:55 What viewers in France say the coverage is missing5:45 Protesters outside Chief Justice Roberts' home8:20 AIPAC money in the midterms10:25 Should foreign-focused PACs be banned?12:05 Taxpayer-funded ads praising Trump14:10 A quick detour through Arts and Styles15:00 The Binance founder's pardon16:55 World Liberty Financial and conflicts of interest19:35 Mike's honest questions about crypto23:05 Can Democrats win back the faithful?24:35 Judgment, grace and how Christians treat others28:20 Mike's three morning books29:35 Mike's path back to Christ30:50 How deployments shook his faith34:10 War, fatherhood and the free will question36:15 Decades away from faith37:00 The faithful men who came on the podcast39:10 The day Charlie Kirk was shot41:15 Walking into church43:20 The call with his kids47:55 How the free will question finally made sense52:30 A story from an underground church in Iraq56:15 A resurgence of faith57:30 Closing prayerFormer Navy SEAL Mike Ritland reads the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times so you don't have to. No cable news spin, no recycled talking points, just the actual front pages and a straight take on what they mean for you.On Mike Drop Newsroom, Mike picks the day's biggest headlines, compares how two of the country's largest papers cover them, and says what he thinks. That covers everything from AI and national security to the economy, foreign policy and the stories cable TV skips. He's not here to push a party line. As Mike puts it, if you want to put a label on him, he's an American who wants to see America succeed.Every episode ends with a question for you. Tell us where you land in the comments, because Mike reads them and your answers shape what we cover next. Subscribe so you don't miss a morning.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy