Unshaken & Unafraid with Joe Pags

NewsNation anchor Leland Vittert joins Joe Pags for one of the most personal conversations he’s ever had on or off camera. For years, Leland worked in one of the highest-pressure jobs in television news while quietly battling anxiety, social confusion, and a constant sense that something was “off.” Only later in life did he discover the reason: autism.

In this raw, no-spin interview, Leland walks through the moment he finally got his autism diagnosis – and how it instantly reframed his entire life story. From childhood signs everyone missed, to the coping mechanisms he built to survive live TV, to the pressure cooker of breaking news, Leland explains how being on the autism spectrum shaped his career, relationships, and mental health.

Joe drills into the tough questions:
– What did autism explain about his past behavior and struggles?
– How did he manage the chaos of live cable news without a diagnosis?
– What does “masking” look like for a high-profile news anchor?
– Why did he decide to go public with this now – and what does he want bosses, coworkers, and viewers to understand about adults with autism?

This is more than a media interview. It’s a blunt, honest look at late autism diagnosis, the realities of the news business, and what happens when someone finally gets the answers they’ve been chasing their whole life.

Perfect for listeners who care about real conversations, the truth behind cable news, and the human side of mental health and neurodiversity.

Topics: autism diagnosis, late diagnosis, autism spectrum, news media, NewsNation, mental health, anxiety, masking, high-pressure careers, personal story.

Is the sudden push to reschedule marijuana about your health, or is it a calculated distraction from the collapse of our national sovereignty?

In this episode, Joe connects the dots between two seemingly separate stories to reveal one active threat: Government wants to micromanage your life while they let the country burn.

Part 1: The Border War (with Judge Ted Poe)

• The "Invasion" Reality: Judge Poe confirms what ICE agents are seeing on the ground—this is no longer migration; it is a coordinated military-grade takeover.
• The War Plan: How cartels are seizing territory and why local governments are helping them do it.

Part 2: The Hypocrisy (with Kay Smythe)

• Freedom vs. Control: Kay Smythe exposes the convenient timing of the marijuana rescheduling push.
• The Real Agenda: Why the Feds are obsessing over regulating a plant while refusing to regulate the border.

The Bottom Line: The betrayal is real. The threat is active. Who is the real enemy—the cartels invading us, or the politicians letting them in?

Support the Show: If you want the truth the mainstream media refuses to cover, subscribe and leave a 5-star review.

#JoePags #TedPoe #BorderCrisis #KaySmythe #GovernmentOverreach

What happens when a cop gives 34 years to the badge… survives five shootings… then collapses from a stroke in the middle of his shift — only to have his own department refuse to pay his medical bills?

Lieutenant Randy Sutton, the most-featured officer in COPS history and a Las Vegas Metro watch commander, tells Joe Pags the story no one in the media wants you to hear.

In this raw, emotional conversation, Sutton reveals:

• Why 85,000 American police officers were assaulted last year — nearly double from just six years ago

• How radical police chiefs are refusing to cooperate with ICE while putting their own officers in danger

• How politicians eliminated consequences for attacking cops — and why violent crime exploded
• The untold suicide epidemic inside law enforcement — where more officers die by their own hand than in the line of duty

• Why Sutton created The Wounded Blue, a charity that has already helped more than 16,000 injured and disabled officers who were abandoned by the system

• The shocking moment Sutton collapsed from a stroke in his patrol car — and was told by his own agency: “This isn’t personal. It’s just business.”

He also exposes how cops who are shot, paralyzed, or permanently disabled are being fired, denied treatment, losing their homes — and in some cases, wishing they had died instead.

This episode will change how you see law enforcement forever.

🎧 Listen now.
📚 Get Randy’s book: Rescuing 911: The Fight for America’s Safety
❤️ Support injured officers at TheWoundedBlue.org

Congressman Byron Donalds joins Joe Pags for a wide-ranging, serious conversation about power, control, and why so many American systems feel broken at the same time.

This episode goes far beyond headlines. Donalds explains how political incentives — not compassion or incompetence — drive decisions in Washington, from immigration policy to law enforcement, health care, and federal overreach. He walks through how narratives are manufactured, why enforcement is selectively applied, and how government power quietly expands while accountability disappears.

The discussion touches on immigration and border enforcement, but also zooms out to the deeper issues:
• how incentives shape policy
• why “temporary” government powers never go away
• how control replaces representation
• and what happens when common sense is pushed out of policymaking

Donalds also talks about Florida’s governance model, why it’s working when other states are struggling, and why leadership — not slogans — determines outcomes.

If you’re trying to understand why things feel off in the country, and why the same failures keep repeating no matter the issue, this conversation connects the dots.

Independent filmmaker Chad O. Jackson joins Joe Pags to discuss his controversial documentary on Martin Luther King Jr. — a project that challenges the widely accepted narrative surrounding the civil rights icon.

Jackson lays out his research into MLK’s speeches, inner circle, political influences, and the broader power structures operating during the Civil Rights era. The conversation explores claims of ghostwriting, ideological movements inside the church, and why certain historical narratives are elevated while others are buried.

This is a calm, fact-driven discussion that asks a difficult question:
Who controls history — and why?

Listeners are encouraged to examine the evidence, question long-held assumptions, and decide for themselves.

Islamic extremists opened fire on Jews celebrating Hanukkah on one of Australia’s most famous beaches.

Podcast host and commentator Erin Molan was less than a kilometer away — on her balcony with her child — when she heard the gunshots.

In this powerful conversation, Erin explains why this attack was not a surprise, how warnings about rising Islamic extremism were ignored, and why government failure allowed targeted violence against the Jewish community to escalate.

We discuss:

• The Hanukkah terror attack in Australia

• Why Jews were deliberately targeted

• Erin’s firsthand account of hearing the gunshots

• ISIS ideology and extremist threats

• Government inaction and leadership failure

• Why blaming gun laws misses the real issue

This is not a headline recap.
It’s a firsthand warning — and a conversation that needed to happen.

Senator Ron Johnson (R–WI) joins Unshaken & Unafraid with Joe Pags to explain why health insurance costs keep rising — even after years of promises that Obamacare would make care cheaper and more accessible.

Johnson breaks down how government subsidies distorted the insurance market, why premiums and deductibles exploded, and how insurance companies quietly benefited while families paid more. He explains why many policies exist only “on paper,” how incentives were flipped upside down, and what real reform would actually look like.

This is a clear, no-nonsense conversation about how the system works, who it serves, and why Americans continue to lose — regardless of what politicians promised.

🎧 Watch the full video version and more interviews at joepags.com/UUJP

Former Congressman, judge, and prosecutor Louie Gohmert joins Unshaken & Unafraid with Joe Pags to explain why he believes one of the most serious scandals in American history went largely unnoticed.

Gohmert details what he says was a coordinated effort by the DOJ and FBI to secretly obtain phone records, silence whistleblowers, and bypass constitutional safeguards — actions he argues were worse than Watergate in both scale and consequence.

He explains how subpoenas were used instead of warrants, why members of Congress were kept in the dark, and how close the United States came to becoming a one-party state. This is a sobering conversation about power, accountability, and the future of constitutional government.

👉 Watch the full video version and more interviews at joepags.com/UUJP

Former Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and U.S. Army combat helicopter pilot Amber Smith joins Joe Pags for a blunt, inside look at what nearly broke America’s military.

Smith worked inside the Pentagon and is the author of Unfit to Fight. In this conversation, she explains how ideological mandates replaced merit, how military standards were quietly lowered, and why leadership failures put national security at risk.

Joe and Amber discuss:

• How “woke” ideology spread inside the military

• Why recruitment and retention collapsed

• How standards were lowered instead of enforced

• Why unit cohesion and trust were damaged

• What must change to restore a true fighting force

This is a serious, eye-opening conversation about military readiness, leadership, and the future of America’s armed forces — from someone who was on the inside.

Dr. Scott Jensen joins Joe to break down the MASSIVE fraud scandal rocking Minnesota — and why he believes it was simply too big, too organized, and too obvious for Gov. Tim Walz not to know what was happening.

Jensen details:

• How the Minnesota fraud networks actually operated
• The Somali community elements involved
• What the “Feeding Our Future” scandal really exposed
• Why leadership ignored the red flags
• How political protection helped the fraud explode
• Who benefited — and who looked the other way
• Why the media won’t touch key parts of the story
• What this means for Minnesotans heading into 2026

This is one of the most important UUJP deep dives yet.
Listen, share, and make sure people in Minnesota hear this.

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joepags.com/UUJP

John Rich joins Joe Pags for one of the most emotional and explosive UUJP conversations yet — a raw, unfiltered warning about the cultural predators targeting America’s children.

Rich lays out exactly what he’s seen, why parents must wake up, and how Hollywood, the music industry, and powerful elites are pushing darkness straight at our kids. He also calls out P. Diddy directly — and explains why more voices need to step up before it’s too late.

Joe and John dive deep into:

• The growing spiritual and cultural assault on kids

• Why so many powerful figures stay silent

• John’s mission to protect families through faith, art, and truth

• The predators hiding in plain sight

• How parents can take back their influence

• The story behind his powerful “Righteous Hunter” music video

This is not a soft interview — it’s a wake-up call.

LISTEN, SHARE, AND STAND UP:
Spread this episode to anyone who cares about the future of America’s children.
More powerful interviews at joepags.com/UUJP

Sheriff Mark Lamb joins Joe Pags for one of the most urgent conversations we’ve had on this show. We break down the rise of Marxism in America, the collapse of law enforcement, the border crisis, and the growing danger facing American families and communities.

Sheriff Lamb explains why he’s running for Congress, what’s really happening on the ground, and what America MUST do right now to get back on track. This is a powerful, honest discussion about restoring law, order, and the values that make this country strong.

If you care about the direction of the United States, you need to hear this.

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Watch the full video episodes on YouTube: YouTube.com/JoePags

In this explosive conversation, Simona Mangiante joins Joe Pags to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes in Ukraine — and why ending the war could cost Volodymyr Zelenskyy far more than anyone realizes.

We also get into:

🇺🇦 How the war became a financial goldmine
💰 Who’s getting rich — and who’s paying the price
🇸🇻 How President Nayib Bukele transformed El Salvador
🌎 Why European leaders are quietly panicking
🤝 What a realistic peace deal could actually look like

No spin. No filters. Just the truth the media won’t touch.

Listen, share, and make sure you’re subscribed for more interviews like this.

Minnesota officials issued unbelievable warnings about “fake” federal agents, “kidnapping” fears, and claims that Americans could be targeted if they “look Somali.” President Donald Trump has now responded.

Alpha News investigative reporter Liz Collin joins Joe Pags to lay out the facts behind the massive fraud allegations rocking Minnesota. We break down:

• Why Minneapolis officials made statements they knew weren’t true

• What federal agents are investigating

• Whether Governor Tim Walz is on the hook

• The truth behind the Ilhan Omar marriage question

• The scope of the alleged fraud and who may be held accountable

This is one of the most explosive stories happening right now — and Liz Collin brings the receipts.

Listen and share.

Former HSI agent and current ONDCP–OELA Asst. Director Victor Avila joins Joe Pags with explosive insight into the Venezuela drug-boat strikes that have dominated headlines.

Avila explains who these cartel-run speedboats really belong to, why the Biden years allowed them to expand, and why President Trump’s War Department is now destroying them before they ever reach our borders.

We break down:
• Who is actually on these fast boats
• Why the interdiction strategy changed under Trump
• How cartels exploit open-border policies
• Why the political left is suddenly opposing these strikes
• What this means for U.S. national security, overdose deaths, and border operations

This is one of the most important national-security conversations of the year — and Victor Avila tells the truth from inside the federal agencies making these decisions.

A former U.S. soldier who fought in Afghanistan joins Joe Pags to break down the shocking case of an Afghan asylee accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. — killing one.

Mark Lucas served alongside Afghan units and says what no one in Washington wants to admit: many of the evacuees brought into the U.S. after the Afghan withdrawal are simply unvettable. He explains why the vetting system failed, how dangerous individuals slipped through, and why the United States may need to pause Afghan asylum programs immediately.

Joe and Mark also dive into the jaw-dropping political fallout:
— the breakdown in trust between the military and the government
— the six Members of Congress who told troops to ignore “illegal orders” from the President
— and what this could mean for national stability as tensions rise.

This is one of the most urgent national-security conversations you’ll hear anywhere.

In this episode:
• Afghan asylee accused of killing National Guard soldier
• America’s failed vetting system exposed
• Why Afghan refugees are “unvettable,” according to combat vets
• Calls to halt Afghan asylum and SIV programs
• Border crisis, terrorism concerns, and national security warnings
• Military vs. political leadership — a growing divide
• Congress members telling troops to reject “illegal orders”
• What America must do to prevent another attack

Subscribe to the Joe Pags Show podcast for more breaking interviews and analysis.

#Afghanistan #NationalGuard #VettingFailure #AfghanAsylum #Immigration #BorderCrisis #MilitaryCrisis #JoePags #MarkLucas

Is the United States following the same path that led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
Jeremy Ryan Slate — a historian, author, and expert on ancient Rome — joins Joe to walk through the shocking parallels between Rome’s decline and what we’re seeing in America right now.

From cultural decay and political corruption to loss of national identity and collapsing institutions, the warning signs are impossible to ignore. Jeremy breaks down what really caused Rome to fall… and whether America is heading toward the same ending.

In this episode:
• The exact stages of Rome’s collapse — and where America fits
• How corruption, division, and moral decline fueled Rome’s downfall
• Why empires rarely collapse suddenly… but always predictably
• What America can learn from Rome’s final years
• Whether decline is inevitable — or if we can still turn it around

A conversation you don’t want to miss.

Svetlana Lokhova joins Joe Pags for a stunning deep-dive into the origins of Spygate — and it’s even worse than you thought.

Lokhova, who was falsely accused of being a Russian spy and having an affair with Gen. Michael Flynn, breaks down how Clinton’s team, key intelligence insiders, and their media allies engineered the Russia Collusion hoax to stop Donald Trump’s rise.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why Michael Flynn terrified the intelligence establishment

• How Clinton’s operatives pushed a manufactured narrative into the FBI and the press

• What Lokhova uncovered about the coordinated effort to frame her and Gen. Flynn

• How the Russia Collusion story was created, sold, and protected

• The real motives behind the years-long Spygate operation

This is one of the clearest, deepest, most detailed breakdowns you’ll hear anywhere.

If you care about the truth behind the Trump–Russia scandal… this is the episode you cannot miss.

In this episode of Unshaken & Unafraid, Eric Trump joins Joe Pags for one of his most candid interviews yet.

Eric breaks down the coordinated political attacks aimed at his father and his entire family, responds directly to renewed Epstein smears, and addresses the growing media narrative claiming “MAGA is dead.”

He also talks about his new book, “Under Siege: My Family’s Fight to Save Our Nation,” and shares what life is really like inside a family constantly targeted by the media, political opponents, and the legal system.

This is Eric Trump unfiltered — emotional, sharp, and revealing.

Topics include:
• Why the media wants to declare MAGA “dead”
• The truth behind the latest Epstein story
• How political lawfare affects the Trump family daily
• What people don’t see behind closed doors
• What motivates Eric to keep fighting
• What’s coming next in 2025 and beyond

Listen, share, and stay Unshaken & Unafraid.

Deputy Frank Sloup of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has become one of the most recognizable law enforcement personalities in America — thanks to his hit viral series “Fridays With Frank.”

In this episode, Frank sits down with Joe Pags for a candid, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about:

– How “Fridays With Frank” exploded into a nationwide phenomenon
– Why viewers trust his approach to policing
– The story behind his most viral moments — including the legendary “Blue Mustang Kid”
– How humor, honesty, and real-world policing connect with millions
– The pressures and unexpected challenges that come with going viral
– What he wants Americans to know about law enforcement today

Whether you’re a fan of his videos or brand new to his work, this is a must-hear conversation with the deputy who’s changing how Americans see policing — one traffic stop at a time.