STARRS Podcast

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Navy Captain Jerry Rovner's Firsthand Experiences Responding to 9/11 in the New York City Area Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

A canceled meeting at World Trade Center Building 7. A view across the harbor as two towers burn. Then a phone call at 11 AM that flips a civilian life into a mission. STARRS and Stripes host retired Navy Commander Al Palmer sits down with STARRS Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors, retired Navy Captain Jerry Rovner. A longtime deep sea diver and salvage officer, Rovner discusses what the 9/11 response looked like from the greater New York City/New Jersey area when every road was locked down and every hour brought a new unknown.
They walk step-by-step through the real mechanics of disaster response and homeland security: getting activated at Fort Dix, finding trucks and licensed drivers to move medical gear, integrating with the Air Force and National Guard, and using Liberty State Park and a refurbished boat to move supplies when bridges and tunnels were closed. Jerry also shares the kind of details history books skip, like the blunt warning to wear masks because of asbestos, how chaplains became essential support, and why security patrols expanded to protect critical infrastructure.
The conversation turns personal when Jerry’s family story comes forward through a letter written by his daughter years later, capturing what it feels like to watch a parent put on a uniform and drive into the unknown. We close on the lessons: volunteer leadership, less red tape in true emergencies, the danger of forgetting 9/11 too quickly, and why teaching civic memory matters.

0:00 Welcome And Why 9/11 Matters
2:05 From Draft Lottery To Navy Diving
6:50 Rebuilding The New Jersey Naval Militia
11:50 The Morning The Towers Were Hit
17:30 Activated Fast And Sent For Trucks
22:50 Liberty State Park Boat Supply Runs
27:40 Opening Bridges And Managing Chaos
33:30 Guarding Weapons Sites And Lakehurst
41:30 Briefing The Pentagon Then Emergency Landing
46:50 Dog Food Convoys And Fresh Kills Reality
53:20 The Family Cost And A Daughter’s Letter
59:20 Service Culture Education And What We Forgot
1:05:40 Final Thanks And Sign Off

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For more information about STARRS, go to our website: https://starrs.us which works to eliminate the divisive Marxist-based CRT/DEI/Woke agenda in the Department of Defense and to promote the return to a warfighter ethos of meritocracy, lethality, readiness, accountability, standards and excellence in the military.
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The Long Red Road from Marxism to Communism Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

A three-minute video from a military academy lit the fuse for a bigger question: how did ideas tied to Marxism and collectivism become so normal inside American culture, education, and even the armed services?

STARRS & Stripes host CDR Al Palmer, USN ret, sits down with a panel of veterans, scholars, and former Soviet bloc survivors to follow the trail from slogans to systems, and from institutions to everyday life.

STARRS President Col. Ron Scott, PhD, USAF ret, USAFA '73 who served a long career in the Air Force, is a retired college professor and served as a Principal Scientist with Applied Research Associates
James Atticus Bowden, a retired Army officer, writer, 1972 West Point graduate and member of the MacArthur Society
Stan Ridgley, PhD, a college professor and author of "Brutal Minds: The Dark World of Left-Wing Brainwashing in Our Universities" and "DEI Exposed: How the Biggest Con of the Century Almost Toppled Higher Education"
Mihaela Fletcher, who grew up under brutal communist Romania, but escaped. She is a doctor in nursing practice and is a STARRS ambassador
Alex Markovsky, an emigre from the Soviet Union who holds degrees in economics and political science from the University of Marxism-Leninism, and is the author of "Anatomy of a Bolshevik: How Marx and Lenin Explain Obama's Grand Plan" and "Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It"

What starts as a conversation about activism quickly becomes a blunt look at power, legitimacy, and how “soft” language can hide hard outcomes.
We wrestle with the definitions that trip people up: socialism vs communism vs Marxism, and why the wording matters if you’re trying to persuade ordinary Americans, not win an academic debate.

The panel digs into the long march through the institutions, critical theory, and why campuses often treat “social justice” as a moral good while avoiding the economic and historical record.

We also examine the vacuum created when K-12 stops teaching the American Creed clearly, leaving younger generations to inherit a story about America that is mostly grievance and very little civic literacy.
Then the conversation turns personal and practical. Guests who lived under Romanian and Soviet communism describe ration cards, bread lines, surveillance, propaganda, and the slow tightening of control over food, housing, transportation, and speech.

We end by asking what actually works: rebuilding culture upstream of politics, reforming education and teacher pipelines, and re-articulating the founding principles of individual rights and limited government in a way that makes sense in today’s economy and media environment.

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How the Chinese Communists Target American Freedom: Interview with Casey Fleming, author of “The Red Tsunami” May 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of STARRS & Stripes podcast, host CDR Al Palmer, USN ret, talks with cybersecurity leader Casey Fleming, author of the new bestseller, "Red Tsunami" which warns America faces “unrestricted warfare” from the Communist People's Republic of China that is designed to erode our freedom without a conventional fight.

Casey Fleming’s background in IBM cybersecurity, global risk consulting, and threat research
The Chinese Communist Party framed as the central actor behind a long-term “unrestricted warfare” strategy
COVID discussed as an example of engineered chaos and narrative control
Domestic division and emotion-driven politics discussed through “useful idiots” and activist movements
Schools, Confucius programs, and ideological influence in education
TikTok and social media described as cognitive warfare and a data and influence weapon
Biological and drug warfare claims, including DNA targeting concerns and fentanyl as a mass casualty issue
Consumer supply chain risks, from electronics to vaping devices, tied to privacy and health
America 2.0 as a civic reset built on the Constitution and individual responsibility
Why the book is a practical survival guide for all citizens and what to do to fight back

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Interview with STARRS Board of Advisors Chairman Col. Bill Connor, USA ret - Military Recruiting, Retention and Readiness in a Culture War Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of STARRS & Stripes, host Commander Al Palmer, USN ret, talks with the Chairman of the STARRS Board of Advisors, Colonel Bill Connor, USA ret, whose family members have served in the Army for five generations.
They discussed a wide range of topics regarding military recruiting, retention, and readiness and how these rise or fall with trust in leadership and a real commitment to merit based standards.

Vietnam era perspective on warrior skill and professionalism
Military families as a stable recruiting base
Military discipline and long term service produces steadier citizens and stronger communities
Recruiting collapse under the Biden administration
Extremism stand down fallout under former SecDef Austin and how it hit morale
Meritocracy versus DEI in promotions and jobs
Combat arms realities and physical standards
Shrinking eligibility rates among 18 to 24 year olds
Obesity, mental health, and the case for stronger school PE
Lowered entry standards creating nondeployable troops
Military spouse burdens
Lost club traditions, camaraderie, and coping after trauma
Training realism, lawful orders, and hesitation in combat

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Interview with Maj. General Bentley Rayburn, STARRS Chairman of the Board Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

A fighter pilot’s logbook tells one story; the culture that shaped the pilot tells the rest. STARRS & Stripes host CDR Al Palmer, USN ret, sits down with the new STARRS Chairman of the Board: retired Air Force Major General Bentley Rayburn—F‑4 and F‑16 veteran, former USAFA cadet wing commander (class of 1975), and Air Force Doctrine Center leader—to explore how a lifetime in uniform forged Gen. Rayburn's views on leadership, character, and what truly sets a service academy apart. From early days flying the Phantom over the Mediterranean to directing joint operations and shaping doctrine, Gen. Rayburn shares lessons that connect cockpit decisions to classroom standards and the oath we all take.
We get specific about what builds officers who thrive under pressure: a 24/7 military culture, not just lectures; mentors who model integrity; and training that keeps warfighting at the center. Gen. Rayburn makes the case that selection metrics like GPA and test scores are easy to count but miss the trait that predicts the most—character. We talk about how to cultivate and assess it, and why Academy faculty composition and daily squadron life matter more than campus amenities. The conversation moves from the Academy’s changing culture to the practical realities of today’s force: recruiting shortfalls, fitness and academic gaps, and how prep pathways can raise readiness without lowering the bar.
We also discuss DEI, politicization, and the fallout from COVID-era policies in the military through a simple lens: merit, mission, and trust. That’s where STARRS "The American Creed Threatened by Radical Indoctrination" presentation comes in, grounding service in a shared understanding of the US Constitution and civic principles. When troops know what their oath means, decision-making under stress gets clearer, and cohesion improves.
If you care about military readiness, officer development, and how to rebuild trust without buzzwords, this one’s for you. Hear a seasoned commander explain what to fix, what to keep, and how to align training, talent, and teaching with the mission. If the message resonates, consider being a part of STARRS--read articles on our website, sign up for our mailing list, and financially support our ongoing mission.

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STARRS Town Hall: "The Threat of the Red-Green Axis" with speaker John Guandolo Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful and eye-opening STARRS Town Hall, guest speaker John Guandolo (USNA '89 grad, former Marine officer and FBI Special Agent) outlined his path from FBI counterterrorism work to training government and local entities on the “Red-Green Axis” — the collaboration between Islamist and Marxist movements. He talked about how the U.S. is engaged in a non-kinetic war primarily in the information and counterintelligence space. He explained how Islamist and communist networks operate together at the local level across the country and view themselves in late-stage victory.
John discussed how Sharia is the doctrinal basis for jihad and governance in normative Islam, is taught consistently to Muslim youth, and that Western leaders mischaracterize Islam due to influence operations and deceptive language use. He says U.S. policy fixates on “violent extremism” (a term he argues has no legal meaning) rather than legally defined enemies (e.g., jihadis, communists), which blinds institutions to the true threat and leads to strategic failure.
John said Islamic Sharia-based movements seek to replace the US Constitution, so anyone who swore an oath to the Constitution has a duty to defend it against such efforts--foreign and domestic.
For more information about John as a speaker and the training he offers, go to JohnGuandolo.com. Follow him on X @JGuandolo54271

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The Seditious Six: Military Orders, Outrage and the Law Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Hot takes made it sound groundbreaking: elected officials urged service members to “disobey unlawful orders.” Anyone who’s worn the uniform knows that duty already exists—and the harder question is how statements like that ripple through a force that must act fast, trust its chain of command, and still honor the law of armed conflict.

In this episode of STARRS & Stripes, host Al Palmer, retired Navy Commander, sits down with a former Air Force JAG Bruce Tucker Smith to unpack what the Uniform Code of Military Justice actually requires, when orders are presumed lawful, and where the bright red lines are in combat.
Our conversation moves from the headlines to the hard edge of modern conflict: narco-terror networks, blurred battlefields, and how Geneva Convention criteria apply when adversaries don’t wear uniforms or follow the rules.

We dig into maritime law, whether a disabled smuggling boat is “distressed” or still a legitimate target, and why humanitarian missions and National Guard disaster response are essential to public trust.

Along the way, we tackle recruiting, morale, and the quiet power of the NCO corps—the leaders who turn strategy into action and shape the character of the force.
We don’t call for theatrical prosecutions to settle political scores. Instead, we make a case for sunlight: clear language, better civics, and honest dialogue about authorities, constraints, and intent. If critics suggest ongoing operations are unlawful, name the statute, name the order, and bring the debate to the proper venues. Meanwhile, we’ll keep telling the full story of military service—from kinetic strikes to lifesaving airlift—because accuracy beats outrage.

If this conversation sharpened your thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find it. Your voice keeps the debate honest.

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What it's REALLY like living in a Communist country under Marxist ideology Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

A voice that lived through Marxism can strip away illusions in seconds. STARRS & Stripes host Commander Al Palmer, USN ret, sits down with Mihaela Fletcher—born in Romania and grew up under communist dictatorship driven by Marxist ideology fully indoctrinated throughout the country.

Mihaela unpacks how grand promises of equality under communism curdled into scarcity, fear, and silence. From ration books and surveillance to Ceausescu’s cult of personality and a violent regime collapse, her story reveals what enforced ideology looks like on the ground.
Mihaela expected better when she became a Romanian diplomat at the UN, but found the same familiar communist patterns: a scandal-ridden aid machine that failed the people it claimed to serve. Declared persona non grata after getting engaged to a U.S. officer, she moved to America and started over—earning advanced nursing degrees and rediscovering freedom through competence, accountability, and service. That’s where our conversation turns homeward: school grade inflation, lowered admissions bars, and administrative policies that pressure faculty while pushing ideological litmus tests. In healthcare and the military, diluted standards aren’t abstract; they put patients and missions at risk.
We connect her lived experience to the stakes inside our armed forces. Integrity, service before self, and excellence are more than mottos when bullets fly. With a military veteran husband and a son at a service academy, she’s clear about what keeps warriors ready—merit, discipline, and truth. We talk about shielding academies from ideological capture, defending rigorous selection and training, and building environments where every cadet can grow in merit and excellence without demeaning quotas based on divisive identities.
Too many young people today who never lived during the Cold War nor were taught about it have gravitated towards communist ideology (see NYC) out of ignorance and naivety. Share this episode with them and tell them about our nation's fight against Marxist ideology worldview during the Cold War and how to recognize the Marxist push to destroy our country.

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STARRS Town Hall with Guest Speaker Rick Addante: DEI is NOT Dead at the Department of War Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

"The truth is not for sale, and my integrity is never will be." These powerful words from Dr. Rick Adante capture the essence of this eye-opening conversation about the covert continuation of DEI and Critical Race Theory in American universities despite official bans.
As a former tenured neuroscience professor with 25 years in academia, Dr. Adante reveals shocking undercover footage of university presidents explicitly plotting to circumvent federal and state mandates prohibiting DEI programs. His evidence shows administrators brazenly discussing how they'll "change words but not actions" while laughing about continuing to teach courses like "DEI 101" without consequences. When Dr. Adante exposed these deceptions, he was fired and offered nearly $100,000 in hush money—which he refused.
What makes this particularly alarming is the military connection. With college degrees required for officer advancement and millions flowing from the GI Bill and ROTC programs, these universities function as a Trojan horse that indoctrinates future military leaders against the very country they're sworn to defend. The Florida Tech president specifically mentioned focusing on U.S. Space Force funds while continuing prohibited DEI initiatives, directly linking these practices to national security concerns.
The conversation extends beyond exposing the problem to offering solutions. STARS General Counsel Mike Rose details ongoing efforts to help service members whose careers were destroyed through DEI-driven disciplinary actions, while Dr. Adante challenges the fundamental premise of DEI ideology with a powerful alternative: "Diversity is not our strength. Our strength is what unites us."
Join this crucial conversation about protecting our military readiness and national identity from ideological subversion. If you care about the future of American education and military excellence, this is essential listening that connects dots between academic deception and our nation's security.

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Exposing DEI: Understanding the Strategy Behind Institutional Indoctrination Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

STARRS Town Hall meeting unveils the dangerous reality behind DEI ideology as resource extraction through "virtuous victimhood" that divides society into oppressors and victims based solely on race.
• Dr. Stanley Ridgley explains how DEI bureaucracies in universities operate as indoctrination mechanisms using cultic teaching methods
• DEI bureaucrats employ psychological techniques to induce guilt and compliance, particularly targeting white students
• The ideology stems from Paulo Freire's educational theory, which Dr. Ridgley reveals was heavily influenced by Maoist principles
• Maurice Washington shares his direct conversation with BLM leaders who admitted to being "trained Marxists" focused on capturing school boards
• DEI administrators at major universities earn $400,000-$500,000 annually from tuition dollars and taxpayer funds
• Parents describe heartbreaking family divisions caused by college indoctrination, with students returning home accusing parents of racism
• The "white supremacy culture list" labels traits like individualism, perfectionism and empiricism as manifestations of white supremacy
• Despite executive orders to remove DEI from military institutions, implementation remains inconsistent with many cosmetic rather than substantive changes
• Current efforts focus on codifying anti-DEI measures through public law and strengthening constitutional education
Join STARRS in our mission to protect American institutions from ideological capture through education, advocacy, and support of merit-based systems that unite rather than divide. Visit STARRS.US to learn more and become part of the solution.

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