Share

cover art for Paul Rieckhoff: Trump’s Assault on the Military

To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Paul Rieckhoff: Trump’s Assault on the Military

Charlie Sykes and Paul Rieckhoff discuss the recent UN vote where the United States sided with Russia against a resolution supporting Ukraine. They explore the implications of this decision, the perception of America as the 'bad guy', and the ongoing military purge under Trump's administration. they also discuss the culture of the military, the importance of values in leadership, and the chaos that is unfolding within the military ranks. They also touch on the impact of these changes on veterans and the 9/11 health registry. Plus, the critical role of veterans in politics, the manipulation of media and information by the current administration, and the implications of recent appointments within the FBI. They also highlight the challenges faced by the Democratic Party, including a lack of leadership and strategy, and speculate on Trump's consolidation of power and its potential consequences for the future of American politics.


More information:

Independent Veterans of America: https://independentveteransofamerica.org/

American Veterans for Ukraine: https://americanveteransforukraine.org/

Independent Americans: https://independentamericans.us/


More episodes

View all episodes

  • Yes, the Epstein Files Are Going to Rock the Midterms

    47:11|
    Sarah Fitzpatrick is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covers national security and the Department of Justice. She joins Charlie to talk about why the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is here to stay, digest Trump's "Open the f***in' strait" post, and discuss the effects of gutting expertise within the Pentagon.
  • Trump's Easter Purge

    47:35|
    New York Times Opinion writer David French joins Charlie to discuss the beginning of "the great Trump purge," which started with the firing of Pam Bondi but is now rippling through the Pentagon and the military.
  • Trump's War Blunder

    58:59|
    In this solo episode, Charlie answers listeners' questions on Trump's order on mail-in voting, the reports on Pete Hegseth's war stock, the future of NATO, and more. We decided to release this episode earlier than usual because of Trump's address to the nation.
  • “The Military Has Been a Little Bit Confused”

    40:34|
    Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling served as commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe during the Obama administration. In this episode, he tells Charlie that it's very difficult for the military to draft a campaign plan for Iran when the end state goal is unclear. He also discusses his new book: “If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal.”
  • It’s Time to Admit It: We Have a Psychotic Government

    45:49|
    Jonathan Rauch is a Brookings Institution Senior Fellow and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. In this episode, he makes the case that the Trump administration is, as a whole, psychotic, erratic, and unpredictable.
  • “There’s No National Interest With Trump, Just Personal”

    45:42|
    Phillips O'Brien is a historian and Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. In this episode, he joins Charlie to discuss the different ways Trump could operate in Iran right now and the biggest obstacle to it all — the fact that Trump is only motivated by personal gain and that many people have given up.
  • Is Trump TACOing on Iran?

    41:07|
    Former Congressman and Substack superstar, Adam Kinzinger, joins Charlie to discuss the economic implications of the Iran war, Trump's response to the death of Robert Mueller, and ICE deployment at airports.
  • The "Wing Nut" Rise to Power

    51:06|
    On today’s episode, Charlie welcomes author, journalist, political commentator and former Congressional candidate, John Avlon. The two discuss the stark contrast between the decorum of past presidents and Trump, along with the broken incentive structures at the heart of the American political system, and how all this has brought political extremists to the forefront of American politics. 
  • “I Phoned Donald Trump. He Answered...”

    47:12|
    Ed Luce from the Financial Times joins Charlie to discuss his recent phone call with the president, Trump's obsession with the British Prime Minister, and whether the US is opening another front in Cuba.