Mike Drop

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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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.
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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
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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.

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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

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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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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

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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.

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