How Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brought the culture wars to the military
Fresh Air

How Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brought the culture wars to the military

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 7, 202644 min
  • Interview
  • Politics

New York Times military and Pentagon reporter Greg Jaffe says Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has disproportionately blocked promotions of Black and women senior officers, and he’s also been purging the military of transgender people. “Usually Secretaries of Defense do everything they can to protect the military from our divisive politics and those culture wars,” Jaffe tells Dave Davies. “Hegseth was really the first Secretary of Defense I've seen in my lifetime who invited that into the Pentagon, and made it a central plank of his identity and leadership.” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter Follow us o...

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This message comes from the NPR Wine Club, which has generated over 1.75 million dollars to support NPR. Whether buying a few bottles or joining the club, learn more at nprwineclub.org. Must be 21 or older to purchase. This is Fresh Air. I'm Dave Davies. When President Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth's Secretary of Defense, he said he liked Hegseth's central casting looks and tough warrior mentality.

0:27

In a speech at the U.S. Marine Corps-based Quantico in Virginia last week, Hexeth told an audience of junior officers and enlisted leaders they should be proud of the culture change he's brought to the military. The only focus, as you know, in your formations should be training, readiness, accountability,

0:44

discipline, and lethality. And when you pursue those things, you don't have to walk on eggshells. No more social engineering, no more weaponized IG policies. The complainers, the ideologues, and the poor performers are no longer in the driver's

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