Just past 8:00 this morning, the Secretary of Defense, who now insists on being called the Secretary of War, walked into the Pentagon Press Briefing Room dressed like a parody of American power. His navy-blue suit pulled tight across his chest, a striped flag tie knotted to perfection, a stars-and-stripes handkerchief stuffed into his breast pocket like he was the star of a reality TV show, not the man leading the most powerful military on earth. And what followed was one of the most disturbing, disgraceful statements to ever come from the head of the U.S. military in modern history.
With his hair slicked back across his head, he stepped up to the podium, adjusted the microphone, cleared his throat, and with a strange blend of nervousness and performance, scanned the room. And for the next thirty minutes, Pete Hegseth...
Your post today revealed the stark truth regarding the staggering ineptitude and disrespect of Hegseth, but also your unflinching determination to confront, challenge and defeat this sham of an administration. Thank you for the hard miles you put in at the computer and the meticulous research behind the scenes. I know most people find current events overwhelming and, quite frankly, depressing. Your grit and fight is uplifting and, I hope, a shining light to those who see no way forward.
Hegseth is a disgrace…in the ancient Chinese writings of the “I Ching” there is a passage that states that, going to war should be approached as if attending a funeral.
Very well done. Up until now, I was undecided about which cabinet secretary should be the next to go - Kegsbreath or Bondi. You just cleared it up for me - let’s get working on it!
They are both dangerous but Hogsbreath has pulled out to the lead position because Bondi is a creep and a danger and a liar, but Hogsbreath has the arsenal of the US Armed Forces and intends to use it all up. Let Bondi be next. She deserves it.
Does it matter who goes, since all departures will get us equally bad replacements? Check out my Substack for the only thinking outside the box that’s going on.
Two things: You forgot or were too nauseous to mention another reason for Hogsbreath's promotion from Fox rat to Secretary of Defense. Twump loves good looking people around him. Susie Wiles may be the exception and his billionaire bros get a pass, but look at the rest. All central casting as Twump calls them, an old fashioned term for picking the right face for the role. And that is what Hogsbreath is doing: he's playing a role. Badly, cartoonish and a walk over from the director and some whispered directions to tone it down. It's called projection in the acting business: when you are not able to find truth in the character, you project something so the audience will know who you are. Hogsbreath projects with his wardrobe, his slicked back hair and his tough guy platitudes. Again, I bring forth the memory of my father, a USAF Colonel, quiet and conservative, and loyal to his country and to his oath. My father's life depended on his leaders to be strategic, intelligent and experienced. Let the other cabinet positions pose and flatter, the defense secretary should not be one of those. Oh my god.
Second, thank you for letting us know the photograph was from last week, unlike Fox news who used old footage to show Twump saluting dead soldiers, just not the dead soldiers they were reporting on. As a mother, as a teacher, I say to Twump: take the fn hat off, you fn creep.
Excellent! Thank you for your continued work to bring truth to this “crazy” time…I just wish the people that really need to hear & believe this could..I’m afraid they don’t want to see it…hopefully shining a “light” on this disgraceful administration will get through to enough people to force a change!
I applaud and echo all you say and admire your courage and determination to keep up the good fight. As a professional performer I am deeply saddened by the fact that “performing “ has become a dirty word these days. We actors, dancers, singers hold the mirror up to mankind in our finest moments. We don’t fret and strut as Hegseth and Trump do.
Excellent piece. I said last night that the people in his cabinet, especially this jerk and ICE Barbie (thankfully she has been relieved of her post), spend way more time on their costumes than they do thinking about the people they are harming. Despicable. This was not the point of your piece but the information that came out yesterday about his ridiculous spending habits just reinforces what a douchebag he is. Wholly performative. He needs to go!!
Good work again, Heather. Hegseth's character, intelligence, costume, and general demeanor are clear demonstrations of his affinity with Trump's insanity and total unfitness for office (cf. the Norway letter, the Davos speech et al.). The Iran war, which Hegseth strongly advocated, further illuminates their perfect pairing--a match made in hell.
Hi from a Brit. I have good friends recently retired from the US military and live in a military (naval) town. I think I know how they feel deep down about what is happening in your country. They are far too loyal to express their thoughts openly.
Can I ask a question please?
You talk about the mid-terms as if they will make a difference. As an outsider it looks like your guardrails have already failed - the coup has happened. Is there a chance I’m wrong? I hope so.
We have Trump-lite lookalikes rising but our tradition of deposing dictators goes back to the 1600s when we executed a king. No one forgets that here.
Thank you for this article today. It really hit home for me. As a mom of two veterans, one still serving in the reserves, Hegseth is the most frightening and incompetent person to be in charge of the military I’ve ever seen. And we all know this administration has a lot of incompetent people. My sons were actual boots on the ground and I remember sleepless night and the fear I felt for them. To your point, they enlisted as service to this country. They just shake their heads now. My heart goes out to all service members, the current ones wondering wth is going on and the past ones who fought for our freedoms against fascism and wondering wth is going on.
I can honestly say watching from uk and from an army background I was open mouthed and appalled at Pete Hegeseth’s revolting parodying of a defence secretary. He does not know the meaning of the words.
The forces staff must be banging fists on desks with frustration at having to deal with this bumbling idiot, who has no clue as to the horrors of war.
He served in Iraq ? It must have been at a desk.
I had friends who served in the Iraq war and I hank god they had sensible reliable commanders and that we had competent army chiefs to keep us informed throughout.
Hegeseth seems to be behaving like a child playing war games. - this is real mate people on both sides are dying , losing their lives and their homes.
And how dare he quote the bible when many service men and women putting their lives at risk worship other faiths and gods.
"Because real patriotism doesn’t look like flags on lapels or slogans shouted in rage. It looks like people who still believe in each other. People who remember that this country was built by immigrants, shaped by difference, and made stronger because we don’t all look or worship or live the same. That’s the America I still believe in. And that’s the America we’re fighting for."
Lines of the day.
If they were a little shorter, I'd get them as a tattoo.
Hi Heather,
Your post today revealed the stark truth regarding the staggering ineptitude and disrespect of Hegseth, but also your unflinching determination to confront, challenge and defeat this sham of an administration. Thank you for the hard miles you put in at the computer and the meticulous research behind the scenes. I know most people find current events overwhelming and, quite frankly, depressing. Your grit and fight is uplifting and, I hope, a shining light to those who see no way forward.
Hegseth is a disgrace…in the ancient Chinese writings of the “I Ching” there is a passage that states that, going to war should be approached as if attending a funeral.
Thanks for that, Joe, and a wise thought the I Ching passage is. Wisdom is something you cannot accuse anybody of this admin with.
Very well done. Up until now, I was undecided about which cabinet secretary should be the next to go - Kegsbreath or Bondi. You just cleared it up for me - let’s get working on it!
They are both dangerous but Hogsbreath has pulled out to the lead position because Bondi is a creep and a danger and a liar, but Hogsbreath has the arsenal of the US Armed Forces and intends to use it all up. Let Bondi be next. She deserves it.
How about both at the same time? 🤮
Does it matter who goes, since all departures will get us equally bad replacements? Check out my Substack for the only thinking outside the box that’s going on.
Congress? We have no functioning Congress anymore. They won’t be coming to save us.
Two things: You forgot or were too nauseous to mention another reason for Hogsbreath's promotion from Fox rat to Secretary of Defense. Twump loves good looking people around him. Susie Wiles may be the exception and his billionaire bros get a pass, but look at the rest. All central casting as Twump calls them, an old fashioned term for picking the right face for the role. And that is what Hogsbreath is doing: he's playing a role. Badly, cartoonish and a walk over from the director and some whispered directions to tone it down. It's called projection in the acting business: when you are not able to find truth in the character, you project something so the audience will know who you are. Hogsbreath projects with his wardrobe, his slicked back hair and his tough guy platitudes. Again, I bring forth the memory of my father, a USAF Colonel, quiet and conservative, and loyal to his country and to his oath. My father's life depended on his leaders to be strategic, intelligent and experienced. Let the other cabinet positions pose and flatter, the defense secretary should not be one of those. Oh my god.
Second, thank you for letting us know the photograph was from last week, unlike Fox news who used old footage to show Twump saluting dead soldiers, just not the dead soldiers they were reporting on. As a mother, as a teacher, I say to Twump: take the fn hat off, you fn creep.
Thank you for your clarity and ability to articulate the truth about this bad actor and his pathological lust for power.
Excellent! Thank you for your continued work to bring truth to this “crazy” time…I just wish the people that really need to hear & believe this could..I’m afraid they don’t want to see it…hopefully shining a “light” on this disgraceful administration will get through to enough people to force a change!
Pete Hegseth is an abomination.
Heather,
I applaud and echo all you say and admire your courage and determination to keep up the good fight. As a professional performer I am deeply saddened by the fact that “performing “ has become a dirty word these days. We actors, dancers, singers hold the mirror up to mankind in our finest moments. We don’t fret and strut as Hegseth and Trump do.
Thank you Heather. Pete is completely out of his depth. He’s a wannabe Macho man 😅🤣👇🏻
Excellent piece. I said last night that the people in his cabinet, especially this jerk and ICE Barbie (thankfully she has been relieved of her post), spend way more time on their costumes than they do thinking about the people they are harming. Despicable. This was not the point of your piece but the information that came out yesterday about his ridiculous spending habits just reinforces what a douchebag he is. Wholly performative. He needs to go!!
Good work again, Heather. Hegseth's character, intelligence, costume, and general demeanor are clear demonstrations of his affinity with Trump's insanity and total unfitness for office (cf. the Norway letter, the Davos speech et al.). The Iran war, which Hegseth strongly advocated, further illuminates their perfect pairing--a match made in hell.
Hi from a Brit. I have good friends recently retired from the US military and live in a military (naval) town. I think I know how they feel deep down about what is happening in your country. They are far too loyal to express their thoughts openly.
Can I ask a question please?
You talk about the mid-terms as if they will make a difference. As an outsider it looks like your guardrails have already failed - the coup has happened. Is there a chance I’m wrong? I hope so.
We have Trump-lite lookalikes rising but our tradition of deposing dictators goes back to the 1600s when we executed a king. No one forgets that here.
Excellent piece
Thank you for this article today. It really hit home for me. As a mom of two veterans, one still serving in the reserves, Hegseth is the most frightening and incompetent person to be in charge of the military I’ve ever seen. And we all know this administration has a lot of incompetent people. My sons were actual boots on the ground and I remember sleepless night and the fear I felt for them. To your point, they enlisted as service to this country. They just shake their heads now. My heart goes out to all service members, the current ones wondering wth is going on and the past ones who fought for our freedoms against fascism and wondering wth is going on.
I can honestly say watching from uk and from an army background I was open mouthed and appalled at Pete Hegeseth’s revolting parodying of a defence secretary. He does not know the meaning of the words.
The forces staff must be banging fists on desks with frustration at having to deal with this bumbling idiot, who has no clue as to the horrors of war.
He served in Iraq ? It must have been at a desk.
I had friends who served in the Iraq war and I hank god they had sensible reliable commanders and that we had competent army chiefs to keep us informed throughout.
Hegeseth seems to be behaving like a child playing war games. - this is real mate people on both sides are dying , losing their lives and their homes.
And how dare he quote the bible when many service men and women putting their lives at risk worship other faiths and gods.
Unreal !!!
"Because real patriotism doesn’t look like flags on lapels or slogans shouted in rage. It looks like people who still believe in each other. People who remember that this country was built by immigrants, shaped by difference, and made stronger because we don’t all look or worship or live the same. That’s the America I still believe in. And that’s the America we’re fighting for."
Lines of the day.
If they were a little shorter, I'd get them as a tattoo.