Mike Drop

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.
Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military.
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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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?
Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America’s military.
0:00 Fort Hood firing squad: soldiers may not get to opt 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.

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

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.

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