Mike Drop

Mike Drop, hosted by former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Mike Ritland, is a no-holds-barred platform that dives deep into the stories and experiences of extraordinary individuals. Known for his candid and unfiltered approach, Mike interviews guests ranging from special operations veterans and elite athletes to renowned authors and thought leaders, offering listeners a exclusive glimpse into the human side of those who have excelled in their fields. Whether it's discussing the intense challenges of combat or the resilience required to overcome personal adversity, Mike Drop provides a space where real conversations happen.

  1. -6 h ·  Bonus

    Record Hormuz Attacks, the Wrong Bomb for Pickaxe Mountain and France Moves Into Saudi | Mike Drop Newsroom

    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. Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military. Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    Record Hormuz Attacks, the Wrong Bomb for Pickaxe Mountain and France Moves Into Saudi | Mike Drop Newsroom
  2. -1 j ·  Bonus

    U.S. Forces Have Plans to Drop the MOAB on Iran’s Nuclear Sites | Mike Drop Newsroom

    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. Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military. Want ad-free Newsroom updates? Join our YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeritland/join 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    U.S. Forces Have Plans to Drop the MOAB on Iran’s Nuclear Sites | Mike Drop Newsroom
  3. -2 j ·  Bonus

    U.S. Helicopters DESTROY an Iranian Spy Boat Shadowing Navy Warships | Mike Drop Newsroom

    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. Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military. 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    U.S. Helicopters DESTROY an Iranian Spy Boat Shadowing Navy Warships | Mike Drop Newsroom
  4. -3 j ·  Bonus

    U.S. Forces Could Hit Iran AGAIN “Very Soon” as Tehran Digs In | Mike Drop Newsroom

    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. Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America's military. 0:00 Trump: Iran decision coming "very soon" 0:50 Something is about to happen, before or after the midterms? 1:35 Fresh crews: the Lincoln is 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    U.S. Forces Could Hit Iran AGAIN “Very Soon” as Tehran Digs In | Mike Drop Newsroom
  5. -4 j ·  Bonus

    The Houthis Just Warned America. U.S. Troops Are Already in RANGE | Mike Drop Newsroom

    MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 13 OCTOBER 2026The 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 ---------- 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    The Houthis Just Warned America. U.S. Troops Are Already in RANGE | Mike Drop Newsroom
  6. -5 j ·  Bonus

    Houthis KILL an American as Trump Weighs Striking Back | Mike Drop Newsroom

    MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 12 OCTOBER 2026A 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 ---------- 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    Houthis KILL an American as Trump Weighs Striking Back | Mike Drop Newsroom
  7. -6 j ·  Bonus

    U.S. Soldiers May Be FORCED to Execute the Fort Hood Shooter | Mike Drop Newsroom

    MIKE DROP NEWSROOM | 11 OCTOBER 2026The soldiers chosen for the Fort Hood shooter’s firing squad may have no way to opt out, and the Pentagon still wants the execution livestreamed. Former Navy SEAL Mike Ritland breaks down how military firing squads work and why he thinks this one should be volunteers only. The last U.S. military firing squad, in January 1945, was drawn from the condemned soldier’s own regiment. Mike believes survivors and unit members would easily fill the 5–12 spots by volunteering, and that forcing anyone to pull the trigger is the wrong call. He also explains why livestreaming the execution hands extremists propaganda. Also covered: a Houthi strike on Riyadh’s airport that killed an American, and Trump saying the U.S. “may” join the fight. A U.S. fighter jet disabled a blockade runner in the Gulf of Oman. Mike asks whether the Iran blockade is working and whether crypto is keeping Tehran funded. The New York Times reports rising threats against public officials in both parties. The episode ends with a Sunday reflection. Should soldiers be allowed to opt out of a firing squad? Subscribe for daily breakdowns from a former Navy SEAL on the stories that matter to America’s military. 0:00 Fort Hood firing squad: soldiers may not get to opt 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. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    U.S. Soldiers May Be FORCED to Execute the Fort Hood Shooter | Mike Drop Newsroom

À propos

Mike Drop, hosted by former Navy SEAL and bestselling author Mike Ritland, is a no-holds-barred platform that dives deep into the stories and experiences of extraordinary individuals. Known for his candid and unfiltered approach, Mike interviews guests ranging from special operations veterans and elite athletes to renowned authors and thought leaders, offering listeners a exclusive glimpse into the human side of those who have excelled in their fields. Whether it's discussing the intense challenges of combat or the resilience required to overcome personal adversity, Mike Drop provides a space where real conversations happen.

Plus de contenus par Cumulus Podcast Network

Vous aimeriez peut‑être aussi