Ambassador Waltz Advocates for Strong Domestic Base, Reforming UN

The Shawn Ryan Show · January 05, 2026 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title: #268 Mike Waltz - Special Forces Green Beret Turned UN Ambassador Warns About China

TL;DR

Military service provides a pathway out of poverty and into the middle class, with benefits like the GI Bill now transferable to children, demonstrating a lasting societal impact beyond individual careers.
The ability to transition between writing policy and executing it in the field offers invaluable "ground truth" that policymakers need to avoid strategic errors and understand real-world consequences.
Discipline, honed through rigorous training like Ranger School, is crucial for effective leadership, enabling individuals to make difficult decisions and prioritize the well-being of their teams.
Veterans possess essential leadership attributes such as teamwork, discipline, and mission focus, making them uniquely qualified to address complex political challenges and overcome partisan divides.
Strategic restraint, even when difficult, can prevent larger conflicts and foster healing, as demonstrated by historical examples and the importance of not escalating situations unnecessarily.
The U.S. military's focus on standards over social experiments is vital for maintaining readiness and effectiveness, as evidenced by improved recruiting and retention numbers under renewed leadership.
International organizations require active U.S. engagement to ensure American interests are protected and to prevent other nations from dictating global commerce and policy.

Deep Dive

Ambassador Mike Waltz asserts that American foreign policy requires a robust, domestically resourced approach, emphasizing self-sufficiency and strategic diplomacy backed by economic strength. His tenure as Ambassador to the United Nations is focused on reforming its bureaucratic bloat and refocusing its mission on core security and peace-keeping functions, leveraging American influence to ensure burden-sharing among allies and to promote stability in critical regions.

Waltz's perspective is shaped by his extensive military background as a Green Beret and his subsequent roles in policy-making and diplomacy. He argues that the United States must prioritize its own infrastructure and security, citing the need to invest in domestic production of critical materials like antimony, which impacts military readiness, and to secure the nation's borders. This "America First" philosophy extends to international engagements, where he advocates for allies to bear a greater share of defense costs and for international bodies to be reformed to serve American interests and global stability, rather than becoming mired in what he views as bureaucratic inefficiencies and "woke nonsense."

His experiences highlight the critical importance of direct leadership and ground truth in policy execution, recounting instances where civilian policy decisions clashed with battlefield realities. This informs his current efforts at the UN, where he aims to streamline operations, cut unnecessary personnel, and ensure that international bodies are effective and accountable. The implication is that a strong, focused America, both domestically and internationally, is essential for global security and prosperity, and that reformed international institutions can serve as valuable platforms for achieving these goals.

The core takeaway is that effective American leadership requires a clear-eyed assessment of global threats and a strategic application of resources, prioritizing national security and economic strength. Ambassador Waltz's mission at the UN is to ensure that the organization aligns with these principles, acting as a catalyst for reform and burden-sharing rather than a drain on American resources and influence.

Action Items

Audit UN bureaucracy: Identify 5-7 redundant agencies with overlapping mandates (e.g., climate, energy) to propose consolidation.
Create a framework for evaluating international burden-sharing: Define 3-4 key metrics (e.g., GDP contribution, specific mission support) to assess partner commitment.
Draft a proposal for revitalizing domestic critical mineral supply chains: Focus on 2-3 key materials (e.g., antimony, rare earths) and identify regulatory barriers.
Implement a system for tracking ground truth feedback: Establish a process for collecting and disseminating insights from field operations to policymakers.
Develop a runbook for navigating international regulatory bodies: Outline 5-7 common challenges and strategies for advocating for US industry interests.

Key Quotes

"It sounds cliché but uh but i mean it only in this country the most amazing country the world has ever seen uh i think i was telling you at breakfast that there was this moment i grew up on the west side of jacksonville which is the kind of the definitely the poorer side of town one of the poorer sides of town big navy town grandfather was in the navy father was in the navy i obviously defected and went army um but there was this moment a couple of years in the congress during the presidential campaign and i'm i'm standing up on this big stage thousands of people the mayor of jacksonville had just walked off and and president trump's rolling in with air force one like literally boss move rolling in in the backdrop and we're on this uh navy base cecil field in jacksonville and i'm looking out at the px where my grandmother and i used to go to buy her cigarettes because they were you know they were subsidized uh back then and like i mean you know look out and see my mother"

Mike Waltz highlights his journey from a humble upbringing in Jacksonville, Florida, to a prominent political figure. He uses this anecdote to underscore the opportunities available in the United States, contrasting his past with his current position. This illustrates his belief in the American dream and the potential for upward mobility.

"Well look i i don't want to make too much of it uh because my mother did such an amazing job of of filling the void i mean she was provider mother father rock inspiration kick you in the ass when you needed it um uh forced me i wanted to go hang out with my friends but i had i'd like tested for this gifted program and she forced me to go to this charter school um because she could see that i was just going to screw around you know and and and not apply myself i didn't want to do it she made me do it and it was a fantastic education graduated with you know 36 college credits uh right out the gate so but i also remember her sitting me down and saying look um i've got to work i've got to provide i've got to i can't be here to make you do your homework i can't be here you've got to have a sense of self motivation"

Waltz emphasizes the profound impact of his mother's dedication and self-sacrifice. He explains that her insistence on his education and her emphasis on self-motivation instilled in him independence and drive. This demonstrates his view that strong parental guidance, even in the absence of a father figure, can foster resilience and success.

"And so as a as a captain i went and tried out and uh i'm one of those that it took me twice right and i say that because i talk to when i talk to student groups or young soldiers like it's okay to fail you know it's set up often time for you to learn to fail so but i got through it uh got through ranger school and and um then somebody turned me onto the fact that you could do this in the reserves and i and i fell into this kind of policy world and this like i said this back and forth of there i am writing it there i am deployed and then the really fun part or sad part and i write about this in my first book is coming back and saying hey mr president i was there in the room when you said do this we're now out there on the ground not doing what you said uh and and coming back and speaking that truth to power"

Waltz shares his experience of failing the Green Beret tryout twice before succeeding, framing it as a valuable lesson in resilience for aspiring soldiers. He then connects this to his subsequent career, highlighting the importance of "speaking truth to power" by bringing real-world battlefield experience back to policymakers. This illustrates his belief in the necessity of ground truth informing policy decisions.

"And so i think about that i think about you know one of my green berets i didn't bring back matt pochettino and his sacrifice and all of them what happened to him uh matt was a was an absolute stud uh former uh police officer uh up in massachusetts uh before he became a green beret and uh the the shorter version was he always volunteered to go on point and so again you want to keep his story alive what's that you want to keep his story alive yeah give me the full version um he was probably if i had to rank uh all of my all of my guys you know at that point i was commanding a special forces company about 90 of them i'd have ranked him top five i mean he was just incredible smart sharp good looking built like a you know built like a linebacker but uh and this was kind of a bigger story of the war"

Waltz recounts the sacrifice of Green Beret Matt Pochettino, emphasizing his bravery and willingness to volunteer for dangerous missions. He uses this story to honor the fallen and to underscore the importance of remembering their contributions. This demonstrates his commitment to honoring military service and the sacrifices made by individuals.

"But you have to also know when to show restraint and one of the chapters that i that i talk about in hard truths um and i know you know a lot of other veterans that have faced this scenario but we were told to hold the line you know in a valley uh we were we were holding a flank and as you know in afghanistan as soon as you're static for a while eventually you're going to come under fire and i had a coalition element because again you know screen braze were all embedded sure enough we hadn't been there 30 minutes mortar rounds start coming in hit next one comes in it's closer next one comes in it's closer pretty quickly one of my snipers spots a uh probably 10 12 year old boy up on a hill every time this kid brings a phone up to his he's unarmed but every time he brings the phone up to his ear and brings binos up another round comes in closer and after about the third time that happened sniper asked for me permission to take him out"

Waltz shares a personal account of a difficult decision regarding a young boy observed near a mortar position. He explains his choice to fire a warning shot rather than taking a direct shot, highlighting the complex ethical considerations in combat. This illustrates his belief that restraint, even in high-stakes situations, is a critical leadership trait.

"And so we ended up following the kid into his village lined up all the elders you know reading them the riot act and one of the elders stepped forward and said look the taliban were here this morning told us every family to give their oldest son to go attack the americans uh al qaeda had been in and out of that village telling the same thing one family refused and they hung a seven year old boy his body was laying right there"

Following up on the previous anecdote, Waltz describes the village elder's explanation for the boy's actions. He reveals that the boy was likely being coerced by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, who had threatened families with severe punishment if they did not comply. This provides crucial context for Waltz's decision to show restraint and demonstrates the complex pressures faced in conflict zones.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"War, Diplomacy, and the Bush White House" by Mike Waltz - Mentioned as recounting his military and policy experiences.
"Hard Truths" by Mike Waltz - Mentioned as discussing lessons learned in combat and their application to Congress.

People

Mike Waltz - Guest, American politician, diplomat, author, businessman, and retired US Army Special Forces Colonel.
President Trump - Mentioned in relation to his administration's policies and actions.
Julia Waltz - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's wife, a combat veteran and former homeland advisor.
George C. Marshall - Mentioned as a general who won the Nobel Peace Prize for the Marshall Plan and led WWII efforts.
Patton - Mentioned as a general who went to VMI.
Vasily Arkhipov - Mentioned as the Soviet submarine executive officer who refused to launch a nuclear torpedo during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Tom Rice - Mentioned as a 97-year-old paratrooper who participated in a D-Day anniversary jump.
Matt Pochettino - Mentioned as a Green Beret who volunteered to go on point and was killed by an IED.
Gary Sinise - Mentioned in relation to the Matthew Pochettino Foundation.
Jaco - Mentioned in a discussion about military units working together.
Matt - Mentioned in a discussion about military units working together.
Scott Mann - Mentioned as a legendary Green Beret, thought leader, speaker, and founder of Task Force Pineapple.
President Aoun - Mentioned as the former general and head of the Lebanese armed forces, elected president.
King Abdullah - Mentioned as the King of Jordan and a leader in the region.
Steve Witkoff - Mentioned as part of President Trump's team focused on business and diplomacy.
Jared Kushner - Mentioned as part of President Trump's team focused on business and diplomacy.
Marco Rubio - Mentioned as part of President Trump's team focused on business and diplomacy.
Vice President - Mentioned in relation to President Trump's administration.
Susie Wiles - Mentioned as part of President Trump's team focused on business and diplomacy.
Nikki Haley - Mentioned as a veteran running for Senate.
Ted Hudson - Mentioned as running for Senate in Alabama.
Mark Wayne Mullen - Mentioned as a veteran in office.
Tom Cotton - Mentioned as a veteran in office.
General - Mentioned in relation to policy discussions about Afghanistan.
Sergeant Major Bill Goodson - Mentioned as a Green Beret and male role model.
Richard Stayscool - Mentioned as a veteran who advocated for changes in medical malpractice laws.
Eddie Gallagher - Mentioned in relation to his legal charges and media portrayal.
President Biden - Mentioned in relation to his administration's policies and actions.
President Obama - Mentioned in relation to his administration's policies and actions.
President Reagan - Mentioned in relation to his quote about a generation losing it all.
Prime Minister of Israel - Mentioned in relation to the peace plan.
Sheikh - Mentioned as a village chief who wanted to cooperate.
Colonel - Mentioned in relation to a policy discussion about Afghanistan.
Sergeant Major - Mentioned in relation to a final evaluation.
Second Lieutenant - Mentioned in relation to a Ranger School patrol.
Master Sergeant - Mentioned in relation to a Ranger School evaluation.
Mayor of Jacksonville - Mentioned in relation to a political event.
Grandfather - Mentioned as being in the Navy.
Father - Mentioned as being in the Navy and leaving the family.
Mother - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's rock, working multiple jobs and putting herself through college.
Daughter - Mentioned as graduating school on the GI Bill.
Amy - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's wife, an army veteran.
Julia - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's wife, an army veteran.
Son Army - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's son.
Anderson - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's daughter.
Brenda - Mentioned as Mike Waltz's mother.
Priest - Mentioned as a VMI grad and positive male role model.
Yamamoto - Mentioned in relation to World War II history.
Stonewall Jackson - Mentioned in relation to VMI history.
Bill Goodson - Mentioned as a Green Beret and male role model.
Matt Pochettino - Mentioned as a Green Beret who volunteered to go on point and was killed by an IED.
Chris Robinson - Mentioned as a Green Beret for whom FOB Robinson was named.
Jaco - Mentioned in a discussion about military units working together.
Matt - Mentioned in a discussion about military units working together.
Brett Baer - Mentioned as a Fox News journalist.
Janine Piro - Mentioned in relation to prosecuting people who commit crimes.
Christy Noem - Mentioned as being at Homeland Security.
Stephen Miller - Mentioned as being at the White House.
Nikki Minaj - Mentioned as speaking at the UN about the persecution of Christians.
UN Secretary General - Mentioned in relation to reforms and cutting bureaucrats.
Secretary Rollins - Mentioned as Secretary of Agriculture.
Duffy - Mentioned in relation to international shipping votes.

Organizations & Institutions

UN (United Nations) - Mentioned as an international entity established post-WWII, with a General Assembly and Security Council, and its role in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid.
US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) - Mentioned as a pathway for personal development and service.
VMI (Virginia Military Institute) - Mentioned as a place steeped in discipline and history.
NFL (National Football League) - Mentioned in relation to DraftKings Sportsbook.
DraftKings Sportsbook - Mentioned as an official sports betting partner of the NFL.
US Navy - Mentioned in relation to family history and naval bases.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to service and military history.
US Marines - Mentioned in relation to service in Afghanistan.
Australian Special Air Service (SAS) - Mentioned as being embedded with them during a tour.
Australian Commandos - Mentioned as being embedded with them during a tour.
US Navy SEALs - Mentioned in relation to their recruitment process.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Special Operations Task Force - Mentioned as being partnered with during a tour in Afghanistan.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force - Mentioned in relation to a survey team.
NATO - Mentioned in relation to special operations and European involvement in Afghanistan.
US Air Force - Mentioned in relation to AC-130 gunships and support.
US Navy - Mentioned in relation to a blockade of Cuba.
VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) - Mentioned in relation to veterans' post-service activities.
Pelosi Super PACs - Mentioned as funding political opponents.
Bloomberg - Mentioned as funding political races.
Vigilance Elite Newsletter - Mentioned as a source for SRS news and updates.
Patreon - Mentioned as a platform for exclusive content.
Apple Podcasts - Mentioned for leaving reviews.
Spotify Podcasts - Mentioned for leaving reviews.
Horse Soldier Bourbon - Mentioned as a bourbon distilled by Green Berets.
Matthew Pochettino Foundation - Mentioned as a foundation supporting the family of Matt Pochettino.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
The Pentagon - Mentioned in relation to ammunition supply and policy discussions.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary.
US Army - Mentioned in relation to its 250th anniversary