Mike Drop

Former Navy SEAL Justin Hughes, BUD/S Class 293, SEAL Team Five, JTAC, and BUD/S second phase instructor, informally known as a professional drowner, joins Mike Ritland. He’s also a self-taught oil painter, and Mike calls his work spectacular. They dig into second phase training and the pool comp test, where students get bloody noses, teeth ripped out, and end up throwing up underwater and blacking out. Justin also explains how often he had to pull drowning students up and resuscitate them, and why he refused to lower the standard.

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Iran went after America's radars first, then hit hangars, warehouses and troop housing at 26 bases across the Middle East.

MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 1 NOVEMBER 2026

A new AP satellite analysis found more than 115 drone and missile strikes claimed by Iran or its militias damaged or destroyed structures at 26 bases and sites with U.S. equipment through August. Iran hit early-warning radars first, including a radar in Jordan that is one of only 13 the Army owns, then went after aircraft hangars, warehouses and barracks. Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait was hit at least 30 times, and a Congressional Research Service report says 15 U.S. aircraft were damaged.

Mike Ritland breaks down why the order of those strikes matters: it is the same playbook the U.S. uses, and it shows Iran can now reach every base in the region if strikes resume after Tuesday's election. He also explains why he doesn't think the Pentagon should publish its own damage assessments.

Also covered: Trump says the U.S. still has one or two sites to hit in Iran, including Pickaxe Mountain; the Navy blockade has now turned back 144 ships as Iran offers to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; a report that Russian satellites helped Iran's allies target Saudi Arabia; the U.S., South Korea and Japan on North Korean denuclearization; and what Tuesday's midterms mean for war powers and the troops.

Should the Pentagon tell Americans how badly our bases were hit, or keep it classified? Tell us in the comments.

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0:00 Iran hit U.S. radars first, then 26 bases

5:15 Trump: one or two sites left, including Pickaxe Mountain

7:40 Navy blockade turns back 144 ships

10:45 Report: Russian satellites helped Iran's allies

13:35 North Korea denuclearization talks

15:55 Tuesday's midterms and the war decision

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Defense Secretary 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 👇

Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America’s military.

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.

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy