Show Notes
Sam Stein and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan, and why turning an execution into a public spectacle raises serious moral questions. Hertling explains the potential toll on soldiers ordered to carry out the firing squad and warns that the spectacle could inflame tensions rather than deter future attacks. After we recorded, Vice President JD Vance addressed Hegseth’s plan, saying he wasn’t sure the livestream would actually happen and adding, “If it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not gonna be watching it.” They also break down the latest developments in the Iran war, including Trump’s pledge not to launch new attacks before the midterm elections, the growing risks of further escalation across the region, and newly released footage showing Iranian drone strikes on U.S. military installations in the Middle East. The Pentagon’s $43.6 billion estimate for the cost of the war may dramatically understate the damage as we look at the destroyed military equipment and facilities and the munition supply spent. Fall tour tickets: https://lnk.thebulwark.com/TheGoodFightTour
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Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on Pete Hegseth’s surprise visit to Israel days before Benjamin Netanyahu’s election and amid the possibility of new strikes against Iran. They also discuss the strain of sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East and the damage Hegseth’s office caused to a historic globe once used by Dwight Eisenhower. Plus, Trump threatens to withhold compensation for victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune if Republicans lose the midterms.
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Jonathan Cohn sits down with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to discuss his admiration for Barack Obama, the shortcomings of the Obama presidency, and the lessons he hopes to carry into the Senate. El-Sayed explains why he believes Obama made it possible for people like him to run for office, where he thinks Obama fell short on health care and other issues, and why Democrats need to stop assuming Republicans will negotiate in good faith. Plus, El-Sayed discusses standing up to Trump, why he believes Americans are less divided than they think, and his philosophy of fighting bullies without becoming one himself. This video is sponsored by The New York Times.