Mike Shelby is a former intelligence analyst who joins us to talk about community networking and preparedness. His company Forward Observer (forwardobserver.com/) publishes reports, builds networks, and offers training.  Check out his book on how to do and Area Study, and hear his thoughts on how to get started where you live. 

The Drone Wars videos that we've been posting on the T.Rex Labs channel are valuable explorations of technology meeting combat, but there are certain things that we cannot show or talk about under Google's content rules. Those conversations will come here, to this podcast. Today we look closer at Ukraine's cheap suicide drones and what they mean in the context of just war theory, and the future of war in general. The grim and terrible videos of explosive attacks on defenseless footsoldiers...

A few months ago, the investigative news magazine Mother Jones turned its sights on T.Rex Arms and published an exposé on this Tennessee holster company. Was it a searing hit piece, or a thoughtful affirmation of our core values? Well, thanks to the high level of political division today, it can be both! www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/03/t-rex-arms-hardline-christian-nationalism-lucas-botkin/ How T.Rex Arms got Started: https://youtu.be/AU6iCA60Iyg 

There are three grave threats to firearm freedoms: giant unaccountable government agencies, ignorant and emotionally-driven laws, and bad enforcement policies. Sometimes the stars align and you see perfect examples of all three pop up in a single weekend.  Today we will look at the Department of Justice's brand new National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center (NERPORC for short), the even more hilariously named Destroy Zombie Guns Act, and the tragic ATF raid on the home of Bryan...

Isaac Botkin and Michael McMartin sit down to talk about The Pub Club, a T.Rex Arms book club that reads military field manuals, and why a return to basic combat skills is need. In addition to fleshing out the "Citizen's Defense Industry," The conversation includes infantry roles, innovation, the future of T.Rex nylon gear, and the Band of Brothers Cinematic Universe.  And as promised, here is a link to the first Marine Corp publication that we are...

We're as annoyed by TikTok as anyone, but the US Government's new plan to control it might be even more chilling than the last.      Find out more about the Restrict Act in this YouTube video from last month: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4o4LVBPMrw        And learn more about the brand-new Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in this podcast episode.        And here are some examples of advanced AI-powered libel and defamation, complete with receipts. Real...

In the olden days, conservative media was simple. We had National Review for ideological discussion and Rush Limbaugh for political commentary. Today, things are a chaotic storm of pundits, personalities, and social media powerhouses battling the legacy media. How can Gun Culture 3.0 handle this, and what should we be doing? Dr. Steve Turley of TurleyTalks joins the podcast to discuss how things are going, and some of the deeper cultural shifts going on beneath our feet, and around the...

We finally have a ruling in NY's corruption case against the NRA, which presents them with a significant opportunity.  Also, we let AI write a summary of this podcast in the style of other podcasts, and it turned out super overblown and melodramatic. Here it is:  "Discover the seismic impact of the New York Attorney General's case against the National Rifle Association, where the powerful winds of justice have swept through the corridors of the NRA, leaving an uncertain future for Wayne...

The most popular episode of this podcast is Practical Lessons from Ukraine, which went over basic things to have and do if you are invaded. Almost two years later, we will discuss impractical lessons. Namely, how impractical and destructive it is in the long term to make purely pragmatic decisions in the short term... to move geopolitical goalposts to suit personal business opportunities... and to blur the lines of borders and treaties just to get media attention.  That's right, we will be...

This year, T.Rex Arms wants to do more with radio, maps, drones, and additional educational content on additional skills. To that end, we have just launched a new YouTube channel for this more technical material. T.Rex Labs, like the T.Rex Armory channel, will be a place for some more specific content, and will help us navigate the complexities of the YouTube algorithm a bit better. To start things off, we've uploaded three videos: The Best Radios at SHOT Show 2024Drone Wars Part 2: The DJI...

The T.Rex Team navigated 14 miles of aisles between 2,600 booths alongside 55,000 other SHOT Show attendees this past week, and we're talking about what we saw, who we talked to, and a bit about what we expect for the rest of the year.  For our 200th episode, we'll go over significant civilian-focused products from companies like PSA and Holosun, advancements in high-level drone and RF tech, and a massive trend towards thermal imaging. Brandon gives us his expertise in valuing product...

Our latest podcast episode takes a look at the case of Paul Vaughn, whose recent FBI raid and subsequent legal struggle under conspiracy charges raise critical questions about the preservation of our First Amendment rights, and the overreach of law enforcement.        Kyle, a pivotal member of the TN and T.REX community (and Paul Vaughn's son-in-law), joins Isaac to offer a deeply personal perspective on the chilling effects that this kind of  judicial and prosecutorial activism can have.   ...

As we lock and load for yet another trip to yet another SHOT Show, we're discussing the slow but seismic shifts that we've seen across the firearm world; everything from ATF pressure, legal wins for firearm freedoms, the emerging Citizen Defense Industry, and just last week, a major leadership shakeup for the NRA.  Last year was our best SHOT Show ever in terms of overall unity and practical conversations, and it introduced some new tools and suppliers for folks in the industry. As we...

This episode unpacks the necessity for a wide array of radios, tailored to your distinct communication demands. It's a new year, and time for a new focus on radio communications, from cheap FRS radios and simple plans for your local neighborhoods, to encrypted business band HTs for your more trusted circle, and the need for longer-range amateur HF networks that cover multiple states.       Radios Mentioned:    Yaesu VX-6    Hytera 70 series    Anytone 878     Additional Resources: ...

A few weeks ago, Matthew Nowlin and Shawn Graham interviewed Isaac Botkin on the Faith in Action radio show.  Hopefully you have better things to do this Christmas than listen to podcasts, but here is that conversation, going from T.Rex's early goals to developments in the gun culture, but also spending a lot of time on plugging into community and building community. 

Christmas cheer is everywhere, raising sprits, stress, and sometimes uncomfortable topics of conversation. When you sit down with your family next week, is the turmoil of late-2023 America going to cause division?      With Civil War Reconciliation statues being torn down, and Civil War provoking movies being marketed, it's a fractious start to an election year. You need to prepare yourself with grace and understanding, ready to seek peace and unity, without compromising your convictions.   ...

When a Dutch conservative visits America, what are his main observations and takeaways? How is the USA different from Europe? Our guest Ricardo, a seasoned business and wealth consultant at Solari, joins us for an enlightening discussion on weapons and martial culture in the Netherlands, as well as land ownership, education, and a candid conversation around the American Dream, and the distinct mindset that it has created. We then switch gears, comparing and contrasting education and faith...

Have you ever wondered why the most productive people catch the most flak? Open your mind to fresh perspectives as we navigate through last week's headlines about controversial public figures like Elon Musk and Doug Wilson. We'll be dissecting the power of persistence, focus, and dedication towards work, shedding light on the types of people who orbit around effective doers - the posers, haters, and the fearful.  We'll provide insights on the complex relationship between the mainstream world...

We had a great Black Friday sale, with the largest number of products discounted, and subsequently the largest number of products to make and ship! In this episode Isaac goes into the warehouse to take customer questions which range from camouflage, radios, thermal, and explains why body armor sales may be the best takeaway for the year. Stay connected to us here: trex-arms.com/newsletter/        

Last month, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego struck down California’s Assault Weapon Ban, for the second time. His decision is being appealed to the 9th Circuit, which will probably overturn his ruling, for the second time. While we wait to see if this thing makes it to the Supreme Court, let's go over some of the best arguments in his excellent ruling, the unhinged response to his ruling, and some other stuff going in in the gun rights space this month.          Bonus...

To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we hosted an event for T-Rex customers. You can check out a YouTube video that gives you a visual look at how that went, but this podcast has some more conversations with attendees.      We hope you enjoy, and we are grateful to you for 10 years of support.      Stay connected to us here: trex-arms.com/newsletter/          

If you want one simple and quick tip on how to get more involved in your local community AND more aware of local politics, check out the political fundraisers of your local representatives. Fall is the time when a lot of those are happening, and to get you middle Tennessee listeners started, I'll just invite to one right here:      John Rich and Jody Barrett    Tuesday, November 7th.    at the Greystone Golf Club    in Dickson, TN      Stay connected to us here: trex-arms.com/newsletter/ ...

We aren't the only folks who believe that political positions require firm foundation. Let's check in on some non-Christian right-wingers,  see how they are coming on their new mythology, and talk about its serious implications for 2A advocates. Building a Mythos for the Non-Christian Right by Richard Hanania Technically, this might be Neo-Neo-Pagan-Nietzscheism... it's hard to keep track.  Stay connected to us here: trex-arms.com/newsletter/          

Noah Botkin just got back from a little light tourism in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and the UK, so he's joining the podcast to discuss a few observations. Learn what Cambridge professors think of the American War for Independence, how the British Museum demonstrates power, and how a crazy Czech general invented tank warfare in the 1400s.         Stay connected to us here: trex-arms.com/newsletter/