Newt talks with Ryan McDermott about his new book, “Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet.”
Newt talks with Ryan McDermott about his new book, “Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet,” which chronicles his journey from leading an infantry platoon during the 2003 Iraq invasion to navigating the 2008 financial crisis and dealing with personal challenges like PTSD. McDermott, a U.S. Army veteran and current senior director of National Security Policy at the Aerospace Industries Association, shares his motivations for writing the book, including catharsis and raising awareness about veterans’ struggles. He reflects on his experiences at West Point, the emotional toll of combat, and the transition to civilian life, including his time at Lehman Brothers during its collapse. McDermott emphasizes the importance of family and introspection, hoping his story will resonate with others facing similar challenges.
Guest:

Ryan McDermott

Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet

- The Hospital-Insurance Company Rip Off SystemThere has been a long struggle to enable Americans to know what they are really paying for in healthcare — and what their options are in quality and price of service.
- The Empire of Liberty vs the Dictatorship of HateWatching the parallel television coverage of the American celebration of our 250th anniversary and the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave me a deep sense of contrast.
- Bite of Capital Gains Taxes Can Be Eased, as Greenspan Foresaw, by Adjusting for InflationWhy, asked ‘the Maestro,’ should anyone have to pay taxes on fake appreciation driven by a declining currency rather than a real gain?
- Celebrating America’s 250th AnniversaryThe next 250 years will not write themselves. They will be written by citizens who still believe, as our founders did, that self-government is worth the trouble.
- Trying to Understand the Dance in the Persian GulfIt will require a lot more patience and tolerance than is normal for the American people, the Congress, or the news media.







