What If The Real Fight Isn’t Left Vs Right But Us Vs Division | S.O.S. #256

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What happens when a new VA rule could reshape how disability is rated, and the loudest voices online push us toward outrage instead of answers? We dig into the Federal Register proposal that factors medication into disability evaluations, explain why some veterans fear lower ratings, and share how to navigate the public comment process without getting lost in the noise. Our goal is clarity over clamor—grounding the debate in sources, not slogans.

We also open up about a change in our own approach. After years of watching the incentives that reward division, we’re doubling down on unity without soft-pedaling the truth. That means hosting tough conversations about the “veteran fraud” narrative with empathy for combat-injured vets and those with non-combat service injuries, while refusing to let anyone use our community as a wedge. It also means producing fewer, deeper episodes so the research, context, and follow-through match the stakes.

Looking ahead, we preview a conversation with a host from the Anti-Hero podcast who faced a massive defamation suit after reporting on a high-profile special operations story. We’ll get practical about legal risk for indie creators: verifying claims, separating allegation from assertion, extending right of reply, and documenting sources to protect both speech and subjects. We also spotlight “We Are the Bad Guys,” a deeply sourced book that challenges comfortable narratives about U.S. actions overseas and pushed us to re-examine our own assumptions.

Finally, we track a developing case that cuts to the core of medical ethics: a father says his active-duty son did not consent to organ donation after a fatal accident. We outline the policy, consent, and next-of-kin questions this raises—and why careful, humane reporting matters when timelines are tight and consequences are permanent. If you care about veteran benefits, truthful storytelling, and staying human in a polarized media landscape, this one matters.

If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review—then tell us where you stand on the VA proposal and how creators should handle high-risk stories. Your voice shapes what we cover next.

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