Mike Drop

The Pentagon's top war planner has been fired and his case referred to the Justice Department after he was accused of leaking classified information about the Iran and Ukraine wars.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 30 OCTOBER 2026

Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Joint Staff's director for strategy, plans and policy, coordinated the options for the Iran campaign. A Pentagon official accused him of leaking classified information to reporters, and an internal investigation report seen by Axios says he admitted it. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said classified information is "not personal property."

Mike Ritland breaks down why a leak like this could cost U.S. lives, why the punishment at the top looks lighter than it would for a lower-ranking service member, and whether this should be treated as treason.

Also covered: about $35 million in U.S. military aid to a Cameroonian unit tied to a third-country deportation deal, U.S. economic growth of 3.4% last quarter, the national debt passing 100% of GDP, and a federal judge refusing to set aside 20,000 California ballots the administration says are linked to non-citizens.

Should leaking war plans be prosecuted as treason, or is firing enough? Tell us in the comments.

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00:00 Pentagon's Iran war planner fired over leaks

04:33 Military aid to Cameroon tied to deportations

16:03 U.S. economy grows 3.4%

16:55 National debt passes 100% of GDP

19:59 Judge rejects bid to set aside California ballots

The U.S. has told Middle East allies to prepare for renewed strikes on Iran after the Nov. 3 elections, and for Iran and its proxies to hit back.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 29 OCTOBER 2026

Two diplomats told the AP that U.S. officials warned allies a new round of strikes could last several days, with Iranian retaliation expected against energy sites and critical infrastructure. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and amphibious ships with Marines are already in the region, and President Trump has not made a final decision. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims three tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz and dared CENTCOM to prove the strait is clear. CENTCOM calls the claim false.

Mike Ritland breaks down whether Iran strikes before the U.S. does, what units actually do in the days before a strike, and why even a false claim in Hormuz can choke off shipping.

Also covered: Hegseth fires the Pentagon's top war planner days before the possible strike window, Netanyahu falls short of a majority but stays in charge, the U.S. ties Russian satellite help to Houthi strikes on Saudi airports, and a breach exposes about 40,000 DHS employees, including ICE and Border Patrol.

Should the U.S. strike first, wait until after the election, or try to negotiate? Tell us in the comments.

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00:00 U.S. tells allies to prepare for new Iran strikes

04:28 Iran dares CENTCOM over Hormuz mines

07:52 Hegseth fires the Pentagon's top war planner

11:38 Netanyahu falls short of a majority

12:53 Houthis, Saudi airports and Russian satellites

17:45 DHS breach exposes 40,000 employees

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 2026

The 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.

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00:00 Nuclear reactors for 5 Army bases and the 90-day FORTRESS plan

07:17 RAF Fairford: Iran-linked plot and who guards U.S. bases abroad

11:30 Israel's election: no clear majority

13:12 Ships told to stay clear of Hormuz as oil stays high

13:55 Iran war cost tops $47 billion

Airborne Ranger, FBI Hostage Rescue Team operator, sniper, breacher, and FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit veteran Kyle Vowinkel, author of the upcoming book Shaping Chaos, sits down with Mike Ritland to break down the night he was called in to talk to the most wanted man in America. With 400 officers on scene, a dozen flashbangs thrown into the boat, and nothing working, the call came down from the FBI director to try talking. Kyle walks through the ten minutes of dead silence, the word that finally broke it, and the hour and a half that followed.

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 2026

According 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.

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00:00 U.S. forces could strike Iran within 96 hours

00:50 Intel warnings and the Riyadh embassy drawdown

01:15 Why this posture is different

02:30 Can pressure force a deal?

03:20 Strike now, or one more deal?

04:25 Houthis fire a missile barrage at Saudi Arabia

05:15 Why the Houthis are the biggest threat to U.S. forces

06:15 U.S. missile defense stocks

07:05 How U.S. forces could hit the Houthis

08:45 Pentagon: bases must run 90 days on their own

10:00 Why that's never happened before

11:15 What it means for civilians near bases

13:15 U.S. partners meet Iran in Tehran

14:35 Help or hurt U.S. pressure?

16:40 Brazil's election

18:20 Wrap-up

Iran's armed forces chief says U.S. warships will never be allowed in the Persian Gulf, as a U.S. envoy says strikes on Iran could come this weekend.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 24 OCTOBER 2026

Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Ali Abdollahi, says Iran will not allow U.S. military ships in the Persian Gulf under any circumstances. Hours earlier, U.S. ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said a U.S. strike on Iran could "absolutely" come this weekend, while President Trump said he didn't know anything about it and has said strikes would wait until after the Nov. 3 midterms. Mike Ritland breaks down the mixed signals, why he doesn't think strikes are likely before the election, and why he believes election timing shouldn't drive military decisions.

Also covered: an intelligence memo from DNI Jay Clayton warning that Iranian plots to kill Americans abroad have reached "advanced stages," the State Department cutting embassy staff across the region, why the memo was made public, and Houthi missiles fired toward Saudi Arabia's Red Sea route around Hormuz.

Should election timing play any role in when the U.S. strikes Iran? Tell us in the comments.

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00:00 Iran: no U.S. warships in the Gulf

00:25 U.S. envoy: a strike could come this weekend

00:50 Mixed signals on strike timing

01:40 Why the administration is waiting

02:05 Should politics drive war timing?

03:45 Iranian plots against Americans reach "advanced stages"

04:10 Embassies and bases cut staff

04:35 Why make the memo public?

06:15 Building the case for strikes?

07:05 How the FBI handles plots at home

07:55 Houthis target Saudi Arabia's Hormuz bypass

08:45 Iran's reach through the Houthis

09:10 U.S., UK and France after Nov. 3?

09:35 Wrap-up

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 2026

The 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.

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00:00 10,000 more sailors and Marines head toward Iran

01:40 What a Marine Expeditionary Unit adds

02:55 Why troops on the ground change everything

04:10 Headlines vs. opinions

05:50 Iran keeps hitting ships, but more oil gets out

06:40 Why oil is still over $100

08:20 Can strikes bring prices down?

09:35 The shift on Russia and Ukraine

10:50 Musk and the Starlink slowdown

12:55 The U.S., Russia and China at one table

14:35 Gas prices and how Americans vote

15:50 Your take

In this episode, retired U.S. Army veteran Tom Spooner discusses his 21 years in the 82nd Airborne, 7th Special Forces Group, and Delta Force, and how he was an alcoholic who still crushed it in the 82nd. He explains how a sponsor, a notebook, and a very different idea of God helped him get sober. He also covers the Gulf War, going through Delta selection right around 9/11, and the 2006 mortar strike that left him with an undiagnosed brain injury, along with the moral injury that came with it. The conversation also explores Iran, whether the Iraq War was worth it, and the work Spooner is doing now as co-founder and president of Warriors Heart.

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 2026

Hegseth 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.

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00:00 Hegseth's unannounced trip to Israel

00:45 What it means for U.S. troops

01:40 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. Reaper

09:10 Houthi strike kills dozens; Britain sends jets to Saudi Arabia

11:15 Will the U.S. get pulled in?

11:40 Wrap-up

Iran says the Strait of Hormuz reopens only if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade and leaves the region, as attacks on ships near the strait hit a record for the war.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 19 OCTOBER 2026

Iran's foreign minister laid out Tehran's conditions on Sunday: lift the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, lift oil sanctions and end hostilities, while an Iranian army spokesman said the strait opens when U.S. forces leave. Mike Ritland breaks down whether the blockade still serves the goal of a non-nuclear Iran, and what it costs to keep U.S. sailors in range of drones, fast boats and mines while the war drags on.

Also covered: the State Department's warning to Americans across the Middle East as the Houthi-Saudi fight widens, the airman killed in a rappelling demonstration before the Navy-UTSA game, and the rioting sweeping France.

Is the Hormuz blockade still worth it? Tell us in the comments.

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00:00 Iran: Hormuz reopens when the U.S. leaves

00:58 Is the blockade still necessary?

03:30 Waiting until after Nov. 3

04:45 U.S. troops in range of drones, boats and mines

05:50 State Department warns Americans across the Middle East

08:40 Airman killed in Alamodome rappelling demonstration

12:25 Rioting sweeps France

14:30 Immigration and capacity

19:30 Wrap-up

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 2026

Iran'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.

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00:00 Iran's new defense chief threatens U.S. troops

01:25 The Kuwait strike: a husband's question for JD Vance

02:50 How seriously to take Iran's threats

03:45 Force protection can't have gaps

04:30 Two more tankers burning in Hormuz

05:20 $110 oil and $10 gas

07:25 Trump exempts Russia from new sanctions

10:25 "It's the economy, stupid"

11:40 Your take

Iran just attacked a record number of ships in the Strait of Hormuz while U.S. forces wait in range, and the Pentagon is openly talking up the MOAB for Pickaxe Mountain.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 17 OCTOBER 2026

Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down the record week of attacks on ships near the Strait of Hormuz, the talk of using the MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast) on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, and Iran's threats to expel U.S. forces from the region. Mike's take: the MOAB is the wrong tool for a deep bunker, the bunker buster is built for that job, and announcing the target for months only gives Iran time to prepare. Meanwhile tens of thousands of American sailors and Marines stay in range while we wait out negotiations and the midterms. If we're going to do it, do it, and stop talking about it.

Also covered: France sending troops and air defenses to Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks mount, Iranian state media's claim that the U.S. asked permission to strike Pickaxe Mountain, Russia's attacks on Ukraine's power grid and the shift in U.S. tone toward Kyiv, the nearly $2 trillion federal deficit, and a wave of Gen Z Americans returning to faith.

Would you use the MOAB as a warning shot, or the bunker buster with no warning at all? Tell us in the comments.

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00:00 Correction: what MOAB actually stands for

00:50 MOAB vs. the bunker buster: the wrong tool for Pickaxe Mountain

02:05 Why announce the target at all?

03:00 Devil's advocate: watching how Iran reacts

03:58 Record ship attacks near the Strait of Hormuz

05:50 Sitting ducks: U.S. sailors and Marines in range

07:05 Houthis keep hitting Saudi Arabia, France moves in

08:15 Why isn't Europe doing more?

09:50 "We will expel U.S. forces": Baghdad Bob or Tehran Tim?

10:20 Iran's claim the U.S. asked permission to strike

10:52 Russia's attacks knock out power across Ukraine

15:52 The U.S. deficit nears $2 trillion

18:30 Gen Z's return to faith

20:20 Wrap-up

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 2026

Former 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.

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0:00 U.S. builds MOAB strike plans for Iran

0:50 Why Mike would say nothing about the timing

1:40 The MOAB, and why we're hitting the same sites again

3:45 Trump kills the Fort Hood execution livestream

4:30 Ukraine defies the U.S. on refinery strikes

5:20 Did Trump throttle Ukraine's Starlink? What's actually confirmed

9:05 Your comments: the B-2 leak vs. the Signal chat

12:05 OpenAI suspect kept ties to the Saudis

15:10 A new kind of cancer drug

16:15 Tesla's 230-mph Roadster

17:10 KFC switches to Coke

17:30 Live streams are coming: tell Mike how often

U.S. Navy sailors pulled the crew off an Iranian-linked spy boat watching American warships in the Gulf of Oman, then attack helicopters fired missiles and set it ablaze.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 15 OCTOBER 2026

Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down the strike on Iran's spy boat and why boarding it first was worth the risk.

Mike has done boarding and maritime operations in the region, and he explains the trade-off: pulling the crew off first is a treasure trove of intelligence, but a boat rigged with explosives can turn into another USS Cole the moment sailors step aboard. He also takes on President Trump's claim that a leak of B-2 departure times let Iran see a raid coming, and asks whether leakers should face the firing squad. And he says it plainly: Iran and the Houthis are sinking ships and hitting Saudi targets while the U.S. waits for the Nov. 3 midterms. Take the gloves off, or bring the troops home.

Also covered: a Ukrainian special forces veteran on trial for blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline (and what a 250-foot sabotage dive really takes), and the Pentagon's expanding fight against cartels in Latin America.

Should the Navy pull the crew off first, or just take the boat out? Tell us in the comments.

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0:00 U.S. helicopters destroy an Iranian spy boat

0:50 Pull the crew off first, or just take it out?

2:05 The suicide-boat risk: remember the USS Cole

3:20 Trump: B-2 raid leak meant Iran was waiting

4:10 How leaks get troops killed

7:05 Should leakers be shot?

8:20 Iran and the Houthis ramp up attacks while the U.S. waits

11:15 Take the gloves off or pull them out

12:05 Ukrainian commando on trial for Nord Stream

14:10 A combat diver on a 250-foot sabotage dive

16:20 U.S. troops vs. the cartels in Latin America

19:55 Cut the demand, not just the supply

20:45 Wrap-up

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 2026

Former 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.

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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 gone

2:30 If Iran can still fortify, why did we stop?

4:10 Iraq and Afghanistan lesson: let the troops do their job

5:25 The Houthi threat and how drones changed warfare

7:55 What Mike would do with a carrier group

9:10 Tim Kennedy update

9:50 Britain's spy agency braces for Iran and Russia

11:30 AI models that can copy themselves

13:30 Hackers cook a grocery chain's freezers

15:50 How smart is your home?

16:15 Wrap-up

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 13 OCTOBER 2026

The Houthis are warning of a "swift and painful response" if the U.S. joins Saudi strikes in Yemen, and American troops across the Gulf are already within reach.

Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down the Houthi threat and whether striking them now would put more U.S. troops in danger.

Mike explains why the U.S. held off on Iran during the Iraq War, even with proof Iran was helping kill American troops, and why the same math applies to the Houthis today. With the Pentagon's Iran war toll now at 21 U.S. service members dead and 865 wounded, he asks every viewer a hard question: is this fight worth it, and would you say yes if it were your son or daughter?

Also covered: retired Green Beret Tim Kennedy shot in a Congo ambush and the shadow war of private contractors, Europe deporting migrants back to the Taliban, and the bipartisan pushback on Trump's Russia-Ukraine energy deal.

Should the U.S. hit the Houthis now, or let Saudi Arabia handle it? Tell us in the comments.

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0:00 Houthis threaten America if the U.S. joins Saudi strikes

0:50 Why threaten us at all?

2:05 Why we didn't hit Iran during the Iraq War

3:45 Would striking the Houthis put more troops at risk?

4:35 Your call: hit the Houthis or let Saudi Arabia handle it?

5:00 Pentagon raises the Iran war toll: 21 dead, 865 wounded

6:40 Is it worth it? The existential-threat test

8:20 A question for every parent

10:30 Tim Kennedy shot in Congo and Erik Prince's shadow war

11:15 Why special ops vets end up as contractors

13:15 No air support, no medevac: the contractor's risk

15:15 Europe deporting migrants back to the Taliban

19:15 Congress pushes back on the Russia-Ukraine energy deal

21:10 Wrap-up

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Former 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.

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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 12 OCTOBER 2026

A Houthi strike on Riyadh’s airport killed an American, the attacks haven’t stopped, and President Trump says the U.S. “may” join Saudi Arabia’s fight.

Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down what the Houthis mean for the war with Iran and why the U.S. response has been so quiet.

Mike doesn’t think the American was targeted for being American, but he says the Houthis’ escalation demands a response if the goal is to crush Iran and its proxies. Then Iran says it’s done answering Washington and threatens undersea cables, data centers and AI facilities. Mike explains why undersea threats fall squarely in Naval Special Warfare’s lane, and whether Tehran can actually deliver or this is more “Baghdad Bob.”

Also covered: Trump’s push for a Russia–Ukraine energy ceasefire as senators call his export plan illegal, the rush to fix things before the midterms, and Gov. Newsom’s reversal on wealth taxes.

Should the U.S. go after the Houthis now? Tell us in the comments 👇

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0:00 Houthis kill an American at Riyadh airport

0:50 Targeted, or wrong place at the wrong time?

2:05 The Houthis' role in the war with Iran

3:20 Why hasn't the U.S. hit the Houthis harder?

4:30 Your call: how should we handle the Houthis?

5:25 Iran stops talking, threatens undersea cables and data centers

6:15 A SEAL's view: the undersea threat

8:45 Real threat or "Baghdad Bob"?

10:45 Trump's Russia energy ceasefire push

12:50 Scrambling before the midterms

13:30 Newsom's wealth-tax reversal

14:55 Wrap-up

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Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 11 OCTOBER 2026

The 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?

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0:00 Fort Hood firing squad: soldiers may not get to opt out

0:25 How military firing squads work (and the last one, 1945)

1:40 Mike's take: volunteers, not orders

3:20 Answering your comments on the livestream

4:10 Why livestreaming it hands terrorists propaganda

6:15 Houthis kill an American in Riyadh airport strike

8:45 U.S. fighter jet disables an Iranian blockade runner

10:20 Is the Iran blockade actually working?

11:15 Is crypto keeping Iran funded?

12:05 NYT: threats against public officials are rising

14:25 Sunday reflection

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 10 OCTOBER 2026

The Pentagon says the Fort Hood shooter will face a firing squad on December 3rd — and that the execution may be live streamed. Mike's read: nearly every veteran weighing in says the same thing. Carry out the sentence, but turning it into broadcast content is a line this country shouldn't cross. Alonzo Lunsford, the former staff sergeant shot seven times that day who plans to witness it in person, put it best: there's nothing glorified in the smell of blood and gunpowder.

Also in this one — former Green Beret Tim Kennedy reportedly shot in an ambush in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a former New Zealand SAS operator killed in the same operation, and the larger question of whether American foreign policy should be running through contractors at all. CENTCOM looks to be moving on Iran faster than the public timeline suggested. And the Wall Street Journal reports a deal for hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel to bring fuel prices down before the midterms — after years and hundreds of billions of dollars spent helping Ukraine fight that same military.

Mike's take on the last one: follow the money. Both sides have buried their own people over this war, and both sides are still willing to cut a deal.

Which of these do you want him to dig into further? Put it in the comments — he reads them, and your takes end up in the next one.

0:00 Fort Hood shooter to face firing squad December 3rd

0:49 Lawmakers push back, Vance doubts the live stream happens

1:16 Why the veteran community is near-unanimous on this

3:43 Alonzo Lunsford, shot seven times that day, on what he wants

5:40 Tim Kennedy reportedly shot in a Congo ambush

6:51 The Erik Prince connection and who's running these contracts

7:40 Should the U.S. fight through mercenaries at all?

10:35 CENTCOM and the real Iran timeline

11:34 U.S. cuts a diesel deal with Russia before the midterms

15:15 Follow the money

16:22 The Epoch Times, recommended by one of you

19:00 Closing

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 09 OCTOBER 2026

The 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.

Timestamps

0:00 U.S. forces pull back as Iran's oil keeps flowing

0:25 Seven months in: is it working?

1:15 Iran's leaders taken out, but the regime didn't change

1:45 B-1 bombers pulled from Britain

2:20 What does winning look like?

2:30 Decades of U.S. bases in the Middle East

3:20 Iraq, WMDs and what Mike saw on the ground

3:45 Who a nuclear Iran really threatens

4:45 Afghanistan and Iraq: better off?

6:00 Mike's answer: bring every troop home

7:30 Make the region step up

8:10 Why haven't Russia or China given Iran a nuke?

9:30 Are the lives lost worth it?

10:10 What real victory would take

11:45 FBI stops a Mall of America attack

13:55 How traffickers target kids

15:00 Tropical storm heads for the Gulf

15:25 Wrap-up

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 08 OCTOBER 2026

The 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.

Timestamps

0:00 U.S. forces pull back as Iran's oil keeps flowing

0:25 Seven months in: is it working?

1:15 Iran's leaders taken out, but the regime didn't change

1:45 B-1 bombers pulled from Britain

2:20 What does winning look like?

2:30 Decades of U.S. bases in the Middle East

3:20 Iraq, WMDs and what Mike saw on the ground

3:45 Who a nuclear Iran really threatens

4:45 Afghanistan and Iraq: better off?

6:00 Mike's answer: bring every troop home

7:30 Make the region step up

8:10 Why haven't Russia or China given Iran a nuke?

9:30 Are the lives lost worth it?

10:10 What real victory would take

11:45 FBI stops a Mall of America attack

13:55 How traffickers target kids

15:00 Tropical storm heads for the Gulf

15:25 Wrap-up

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 07 OCTOBER 2026

France 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.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy Wednesday

0:15 Yemen asked for help and the U.S. stood by

1:15 Mike's theory: let the Houthis take Yemen?

2:55 Vance presses Iran on its nuclear program

4:30 The messaging problem

5:45 What would a good deal with Iran look like?

6:15 Germany arrests its former spy chief

6:40 Ex-CIA officer admits exposing a top-secret source

7:45 Should spies who endanger lives face death?

9:25 Tennessee's failed execution

10:50 Is the firing squad cruel and unusual?

11:40 Trump considers suspending the gas tax

12:05 Diesel hits a record

12:30 Is the Iran war behind fuel prices?

14:05 How diesel raises the cost of everything

14:30 Mike wants your feedback

Former 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.

Former DEA Special Agent Steve Murphy—credited with taking down cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar, serving as a technical consultant for Narcos, and co-authoring Manhunters—sits down with Mike Ritland for an in-depth conversation. After watching the hit series depicting Murphy’s career, Ritland explores the real-life history behind the story, diving into the operational friction, the uncredited role of U.S. special operations like Delta Force and SEAL Team 6, and the harsh realities of combating the Medellin Cartel on the ground.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 06 OCTOBER 2026

The 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.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy Tuesday

0:25 Germany and France push the EU to get tough on China

1:05 Saudi forces push back the Houthis

2:55 Why Iran is still flexing

3:45 Would pulling out force the region to step up?

6:30 FBI arrests an alleged Chinese agent

6:55 A death at a Siberian infectious disease lab

7:30 Should these labs exist?

8:20 Brazil's right-wing wave

9:35 Nuclear reactors on the moon

12:30 The AI boom and high interest rates

12:55 Data centers and energy demand

15:00 The case for small regional nuclear reactors

16:40 The price of convenience

17:50 Wounded soldiers say military care failed them

19:00 Mike's own VA story

19:55 "Take care of the troops"

20:45 DOJ targets birth tourism

21:15 Birthright citizenship

23:15 Coming up: DEA agent Steve Murphy

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 05 OCTOBER 2026

The Journal and the Times split again today, and Mike gives the edge to the Times.

The headlines: the U.S. is moving its B-1 bombers out of the UK over security concerns. Investigators say authorities in three countries missed chances to keep the FlyDubai attacker out of the cockpit. President Trump repeated a promise of $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans win the midterms. A new White House task force has 120 days to report on the risks and opportunities of AI. Russian oil assets are now part of the Ukraine peace talks, with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the table. Phoenix teenagers are running an illegal weapons pipeline into Mexico. AI is getting better at predicting breast cancer risk. And China is worried its citizens are relying on AI too much.

Mike's take: if the U.S. is pulling bombers out of the UK, one of our closest allies, then Iran's reach is a bigger problem than anyone's admitting. He wants Republicans to win the midterms, but he still calls the $5,000 promise a bribe paid with taxpayers' own money. On the AI task force and the Ukraine talks, his question is the same: who picks the people in charge, and what do they stand to gain? On the cartel gun pipeline, he argues that supply will always find a way, so the real fix is cutting demand, starting with strong families and better-raised kids. And he finds two positive AI stories: earlier cancer detection, and China possibly recognizing the risks.

Your turn. How is Iran still able to threaten us in the UK? Would $5,000 change your vote? What's the single most effective way to cut demand for drugs, weapons and trafficking? Tell us in the comments. Mike reads them.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy Monday and a quick housekeeping note

1:35 The Journal vs. the Times

1:55 Brazil's presidential election

2:10 B-1 bombers leave the UK

3:00 How can Iran still reach our allies?

4:10 How the FlyDubai attacker reached the cockpit

5:30 Incompetence or something more?

5:55 $5,000 for every adult if Republicans win

7:05 Paying voters with their own money

7:45 The White House AI task force

8:10 Who picks the people watching the people?

9:45 Russian oil in the Ukraine peace talks

10:45 Conflicts of interest at the negotiating table

12:20 Phoenix teens running guns to Mexico

13:15 Supply vs. demand

15:20 Fixing the root cause

16:35 AI that predicts breast cancer risk

17:45 China worries its citizens love AI too much

20:20 Wrap-up

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 04 OCTOBER 2026

A 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.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy Sunday: a long one

0:50 Mike walks back his Cornell comments

2:55 What viewers in France say the coverage is missing

5:45 Protesters outside Chief Justice Roberts' home

8:20 AIPAC money in the midterms

10:25 Should foreign-focused PACs be banned?

12:05 Taxpayer-funded ads praising Trump

14:10 A quick detour through Arts and Styles

15:00 The Binance founder's pardon

16:55 World Liberty Financial and conflicts of interest

19:35 Mike's honest questions about crypto

23:05 Can Democrats win back the faithful?

24:35 Judgment, grace and how Christians treat others

28:20 Mike's three morning books

29:35 Mike's path back to Christ

30:50 How deployments shook his faith

34:10 War, fatherhood and the free will question

36:15 Decades away from faith

37:00 The faithful men who came on the podcast

39:10 The day Charlie Kirk was shot

41:15 Walking into church

43:20 The call with his kids

47:55 How the free will question finally made sense

52:30 A story from an underground church in Iraq

56:15 A resurgence of faith

57:30 Closing prayer

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 03 OCTOBER 2026

The Saturday papers split again, and this episode includes something new: a private intelligence summary from Mike's friend Max at Asylum Security, a former SEAL sniper who now works in executive security. It's not classified, but it comes from serious sources, and it covers threats that never make the front page.

The headlines: Russia is pushing migrants across Latvia's border as a tactic against the West. Student protests over school conditions have turned violent across France. The U.S. added a lower-than-expected 29,000 jobs in September. Chinese officials' unusual requests at a recent summit are raising new questions about Xi Jinping's health. DHS is paying local police departments for help with immigration arrests. And the Wall Street Journal reports that more voters dislike both parties than in any recent election. From the intel brief: Iran is reviewing retaliation options that reach beyond the Middle East, tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, cyber threats are aimed at critical infrastructure and personnel data, and China's spy satellite network is growing fast.

Mike's take: he doesn't understand why secure borders became a partisan issue, since knowing who is coming into your country is common sense. He supports students fighting for better schools but says violence defeats the purpose. On Congress, he argues that both parties have to hold their own side to the same standard they hold the other. And he has a simple fix for the budget: if the government shuts down or the budget isn't balanced, Congress doesn't get paid. On Iran, the intel brief brings him back to the question he keeps asking: months of strikes later, Iran can still hit shipping and plan attacks abroad, so what does success actually look like?

Your turn. Should Congress go unpaid until the budget is balanced? What does winning in Iran look like to you? And who do you think takes over China after Xi? Tell us in the comments. Mike reads them.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy Saturday and a special intel brief

1:15 Why wildfires in Indonesia led the Times

1:50 FlyDubai: the mother's scream that alerted passengers

2:15 A new inquiry into the Cornell case

3:20 Russia uses migrants against the West

4:35 Why secure borders shouldn't be partisan

6:15 Student protests turn violent across France

8:20 A weak September jobs report

9:25 Xi Jinping's health and who comes next

12:05 DHS pays local police for immigration arrests

13:45 A hurricane-free summer and El Niño

14:40 "Double haters" and the midterms

16:35 Holding your own side accountable

19:10 No balanced budget, no paycheck for Congress

20:40 The intel brief

21:45 Iran's retaliation planning

23:20 What does success in Iran look like?

24:20 Tankers struck in the Strait of Hormuz

25:50 Cyber threats to infrastructure and personnel data

28:55 China, Russia and the race for space

30:25 A Sunday preview: faith and suffering

31:40 Wrap-up

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 02 OCTOBER 2026

A busy front page to close out the week. The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal split today, so Mike covers both.

The headlines: the Pentagon is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group and more Marine Corps ships to the Middle East, adding roughly 10,000 troops to the region. OpenAI and Anthropic are spending to influence the midterm races and shape AI rules. Teachers and students warn that Google's AI push in schools is hurting learning. The FlyDubai captain who was stabbed by his co-pilot is being hailed for saving Flight 1073. Also covered: the Cornell case dominating social media, Tennessee halting executions after an inmate survived two doses of lethal injection, OpenAI firing researchers who shared information with an AI safety group, a global bond selloff, and high rates freezing the housing market.

Mike's take: a third carrier group on top of an already heavy presence isn't just a show of force; he thinks it signals something may be about to happen, and he wants the administration to define what winning looks like. He calls lobbying a legal term for bribery and says he's baffled it's still allowed. On AI in schools, he compares it to map and compass versus GPS: AI is a great tool if you already know the subject, but kids who lean on it may never learn to think for themselves. He also tips his cap to the FlyDubai captain, the crew and the passengers who fought back, and asks for more civility, online and off.

Your turn. Is the military buildup a signal? Can anyone make the case for lobbying? Is AI helping or hurting our kids? Tell us in the comments, and as Mike asks, keep it civil. He reads them.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy Friday

0:25 The Times and the Journal split today

0:50 The Cornell case

2:55 Faith, family and how we treat each other online

5:50 Tennessee halts executions

7:30 AI giants spend on the midterms

7:55 Is lobbying just legal bribery?

9:10 Questions about the FlyDubai co-pilot's motive

10:00 The captain who saved Flight 1073

12:05 OpenAI fires researchers over AI safety leak

13:45 The global bond selloff

15:00 Why interest rates aren't fixing inflation

16:15 Texas home prices and a frozen housing market

18:20 AI in schools: can kids still think?

21:15 Map and compass vs. GPS

22:05 A third carrier group heads to the Middle East

23:20 What does winning look like?

24:10 Weather and wrap-up

Former 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.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 01 OCTOBER 2026

Both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times led with the same two stories today.

The first: after more than 23 years and $1.7 trillion, the U.S. has closed its last major military base in Iraq, ending what critics call America's forever war there. The second: on FlyDubai Flight 1073, a pilot stabbed the other pilot and tried to hijack the plane, sending it into a terrifying nosedive before passengers and crew subdued him. Also in today's papers: Iran is linked to a foiled attack on a British air base that houses American troops, the Pentagon is creating a new command for autonomous warfare, and BMW plans to use AI to shrink its workforce.

Mike's take: as someone who served in Iraq and lost brothers there, he asks the hard question: was it worth it? He argues that toppling Saddam removed the one force keeping Iran in check. That opened a power vacuum that fueled ISIS, emboldened Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and set off a refugee crisis that has reshaped countries around the world. Twenty-three years later, he thinks Iraq may be worse off than before, and he admits he doesn't see a good way forward. On the hijacking, he looks back at the 1980s hijacking he watched unfold as a kid and asks how anyone stops an attacker who's already in the cockpit.

Mike doesn't have the answer on Iraq, so he wants yours. Was it worth it? What should the U.S. do now? And how would you stop a pilot-turned-hijacker?

Tell us in the comments. Mike reads them.

Timestamps

0:00 Happy October

0:25 Same two stories in both papers

1:15 The Times' weather report (a tangent)

2:30 Pilot hijacks FlyDubai Flight 1073

4:35 The 1980s hijacking Mike never forgot

6:15 The U.S. leaves Iraq

7:05 Was it worth it?

8:20 Saddam, Iran and the power vacuum

10:00 Iran's proxies and the IED war

10:50 The refugee crisis no one talks about

12:30 Is Iraq worse off now?

14:35 No good options

15:25 BMW using AI to cut jobs

16:15 Iran linked to foiled attack on a British air base

17:30 Pentagon's new autonomous warfare command

18:20 Senate Republicans' late push on cost of living

19:10 Iran's stranded oil tankers

19:35 Mexico cracks down on cartel money laundering

20:00 Wrap-up

Former 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.

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Former Navy SEAL Captain Bradley Geary joins Mike to reflect on 25 years in Naval Special Warfare—from SDV missions and DEVGRU to commanding BUD/S. They dive into leadership, modern warfare, faith, family, and the three-year battle with the Navy that pushed Geary to the point of being willing to give up his rank, his career, and even his SEAL Trident in order to stand for what he believed was the truth.

See the unreleased photos and NSW Command 100-page Report: : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/uw65fld4719wbl0hmcf70/ABo2Fsa7EygD8n6Dtvtr0I0?rlkey=ny7z5ax3t4oq2j7s8c6px78zp&st=5p4qroi5&e=1&dl=0

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WARRIOR DOG FOUNDATION

These dogs served when we needed them most—now it’s our turn. Help Warrior Dog Foundation provide lifelong care for retired military and law enforcement K9s by donating today.

https://warriordogfoundation.org/donate

TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS

Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise.

https://www.teamdog.shop 

TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING

Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. 

https://www.teamdog.pet 

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Former F-15E Strike Eagle combat pilot and U.S. Air Force Thunderbird number two Ryan Bodenheimer — founder and host of Max Afterburner — joins me exactly 25 years after 9/11, the day that sparked his entire career. We cover his 70 combat missions and 300 combat hours in Afghanistan, a near air-to-air engagement with an Iranian jet, losing his best friend in pilot training, a hypoxia incident that nearly killed him on the Thunderbirds, and multiple unexplained UAP encounters. Then we get into Iran — Ryan spent years building actual U.S. war plans against the IRGC, and now he's watching that exact scenario unfold in real time.

If you like this, click subscribe, like and share with a friend.

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MIKE DROP PATREON

Watch ad free never before seen content at https://patreon.com/mikedrop

WARRIOR DOG FOUNDATION

These dogs served when we needed them most—now it’s our turn. Help Warrior Dog Foundation provide lifelong care for retired military and law enforcement K9s by donating today.

https://warriordogfoundation.org/donate

TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS

Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise.

https://www.teamdog.shop 

TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING

Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. 

https://www.teamdog.pet 

NAVY SEALS FITNESS APP | HYBRID STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINING

Train like a SEAL with Mike Ritland's App. Build real-world strength, endurance and resilience.

https://www.coachos-app.com/navy-seals

SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS 

Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog

https://shop.mikeritland.com

Former Diplomatic Security Service special agent and attorney Ryan Dalton joins Mike to discuss his career investigating human trafficking, protecting U.S. officials overseas, and his investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Ryan explains why, after reviewing released Epstein files, prison records, and other anomalies surrounding August 2019, he believes the evidence raises the possibility that Epstein left his cell alive. He also shares what happened when he traveled to Little St. James as part of his ongoing investigation.

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Support Ryan Dalton

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MIKE DROP PATREON

Watch ad free never before seen content at https://patreon.com/mikedrop

WARRIOR DOG FOUNDATION

These dogs served when we needed them most—now it’s our turn. Help Warrior Dog Foundation provide lifelong care for retired military and law enforcement K9s by donating today.

https://warriordogfoundation.org/donate

TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS

Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise.

https://www.teamdog.shop 

TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING

Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. 

https://www.teamdog.pet 

NAVY SEALS FITNESS APP | HYBRID STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINING

Train like a SEAL with Mike Ritland's App. Build real-world strength, endurance and resilience.

https://www.coachos-app.com/navy-seals

SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS 

Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog

https://shop.mikeritland.com

Retired Secret Service Special Agent Darin Kinder recounts surviving 9/11 from inside the World Trade Center, entering the North Tower to help people evacuate, and escaping the collapse of the South Tower. He also shares stories from his 25-year career, including counterterrorism work with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, protecting President George W. Bush, and how those experiences ultimately shaped his faith and mission after leaving the Secret Service.

Former Navy SEAL Jonathan Wilson sits down with Mike Ritland to share his path from getting kicked out of the Naval Academy to fighting his way into the SEAL Teams and deploying to Iraq. He opens up about combat, taking a life, rediscovering his faith, the toll his career took on his family, his own struggles after service, and the mission that ultimately led him to help other veterans navigate transition and mental health.

Air Force Special Operations JTAC veteran Conan Higgins joins the show to break down what a Joint Terminal Attack Controller actually does on the battlefield—and why he believes air power could have changed the outcome of missions like Operation Red Wings. Conan deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines, earning two Bronze Stars for combat action, while simultaneously serving as a Washington State trooper, undercover narcotics detective, and SWAT team leader—all while finishing law school. Today he's the president of an international law firm based in D.C., advising security, defense, and risk consulting clients in 19 countries across six continents. We get into calling in airstrikes under fire, the raw power and vulnerability of close air support, and his blunt take on where the current strikes on Iran could be headed.