Former Navy Seal Shawn Ryan interviewed Pete Hegseth–now the nominee to be the Secretary of Defense–in an interview first aired on 7 November 2024.
Watch:
00:00 – Introduction
00:21 – Discussing the VA and Veterans’ Issues
20:11 – The War on Warriors: Book Introduction
21:13 – Military’s Shift and Wokeness
50:56 – Trump’s Support for War Fighters
53:23 – Women in Combat Roles Debate
01:21:07 – China’s Strategic Threat
01:42:01 – Public Education System Pitfalls
02:07:34 – Homeschooling and Alternative Education Models
02:12:26 – Challenges and Solutions for Single Parents
02:26:59 – Final Thoughts
Hegseth is the author of the excellent book warning about DEI in the military: The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free
What People Are Saying
Some of the comments on the video
“I watched the interview and thought about his thoughts on a top-down rebuild of DOD. Hope he can end woke policies that have compromised our readiness and start making warfighters again.”
“Glad to hear a warfighter ready to make the main goal of the DOD to be esprit de Corps and lethality again.”
“Meet our new Secretary of Defense. It’s so badass I can’t take it. Congratulations Pete and everyone in America!!!!”
“Listening to Pete reignited a fire in me for our country and a strong hope that we can get her back on the right path. Hearing him talk about the issues currently affecting our military gave me a renewed sense of optimism that positive change is possible.
I’m from a younger generation, and my experience in the service left me feeling demoralized and mentally broken. During my eight years in the Army, it often felt like the focus was on everything but warfighting—DEI initiatives, discussions on white supremacy, vaccine mandates, and other social topics. Meanwhile, I felt like I never truly got to do the job I signed up for.
Throughout my service, I worked hard. I volunteered for every mission, came in early, stayed late, and gave it my all. Yet, while my peers seemed to get fast-tracked for promotions and recognition, it took me seven years to make Sergeant. I’m a mixed white and Hispanic male with conservative values, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that these values didn’t sit well with some of my superiors. I was often booted off deployments and special assignments, even during crucial times like the Capitol riots, when I was told to “stand down” while friends of mine were deployed. On my last overseas deployment, I was kept at the FOB doing maintenance and busywork while my company got to go on missions.
No matter how hard I worked or how many times I raised my hand, I felt consistently overlooked. It wore me down and ultimately led me to leave the service. Coming from a family with a proud military history, I raised my right hand to continue that legacy, serve my country, protect my fellow Americans regardless of race, color or creed. But in the end, I felt like my country and my Army didn’t return that loyalty.
I pray that leaders like Pete can restore the core values we hold dear across all branches of the military. If I knew our leaders had our backs, I’d come back in a heartbeat.
Thank you Shawn for everything you’ve have done not only with your podcast but to our country and fellow Americans addressing these issues and thank you Pete for everything you’ve have done as well, it’s great to hear and feel that WE DO have senior leadership out there looking out the little guy.”
“Awesome pick. As a Army Veteran (aviation), I am so proud of this guy, and know that he’ll take care of our warfighters. To his detractors, I say: Princeton? Advanced degree from Harvard? Commissioned U.S. Army Officer? Two time warfighter with two Bronze Stars? Down to Earth, smart guy? How could you not love this guy?!”
“I’ve been serving in the military for 12 years. I am whole heartedly excited for this man to become the sec def. I can’t believe how much I have kept my patriotism under wraps, just hearing this interview and hearing all these ideals I wholly agreed with gives me so much hope.”
“I’m one of those Military Officers who is a part of that silent corps ready for change! A lot of us are very excited for your service as Sec Def! MAGA! Make the ARMY Great Again!”
“As a nurse for a VA, I can tell you this is ALL TRUTH! The frustration level of trying to advocate for my patients is MADDENING. The CURRENT VA ADMIN IS more concerned with DEI . The UNION PROTECTS HORRIBLE EMPLOYEES so that good employees give up and move on!! PLEASE KEEP FIGHTING FOR GOOD EMPLOYEES WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT VETERANS! My husband AND my son are VETERANS! I care about ALL VETERANS!”
“Pete has a passion about “his” people. You can tell he’s ANGRY about how we’ve let the troops down in every way. Damn, it hits hard. He’s gonna clean house.”
“I’m in agreement with the guest. I served 15 years as an infantry Marine, Scout Sniper, Recon Bn, then matriculated to Marsoc in 2007 after a pump to Iraq. My son is 21 and came to me about enlisting in the service. I was torn about how I felt about it due to degradation of the force and the drastic change in command climate throughout all the services. He settled on joining the Coast Guard and is currently stationed in Alaska. While the CG sits under the DHS umbrella and not the DOD, I’m still acutely aware that forces can be pulled during a time of war that are not exclusively under the DOD or combat arms fields. It’s sad that these politicians and bureaucrats have steadily degraded the efficacy of our armed forces.”
“My son was hyped to get into the infantry and when he did Trump was in office so they got all new equipment, pay raises etc..By the time he was ready to get out be said nobody respected the commander in chief, the r.o.e.’s was ridiculous and it was too much bureaucracy he was just plum sick of it. He planned to make a career out of it but decided it’s not worth it anymore under Biden.”
“Pete’s an unsung hero to anyone who knows of him in the MN NG. To your 187 from my 2-135, “To the last man”. God speed Pete, you will do an amazing job fixing our issues.”
“I have a loved one currently serving. I cannot tell you, how much I’m rejoicing this nomination.”
“This is a great program. My grandson is a 1st Lt in the 82nd Airborne and I worry about this woke crap negatively affecting him. He attended the Texas A&M Corps on an Army ROTC scholarship. He was in the only all male group in the corps and chose it because it was all male. I pray for his safety daily.”
“I’m pumped! We need a nuts and bolts guy like this running the DOD. I thought It could only be a dream. Nice work Pete! Way to stand tall for your morals and values. I’m behind you brother.”
“I spent 20yrs in the active duty Army. In many ways, the military has been my family business. I’ve had two children join the Army after I left service. I still have younger children. I hope that the military can right itself and quickly.”
“Pete is a dedicated warrior who knows what it would take to totally overhaul the DoD and restore it to the core mission it was meant for and has an idea of how to do it. It is my sincere hope that he is our next Secretary of Defense. Not just because he is a fellow Minnesotan, but because he has the ideals and heart to lead our Defense Department. His passion for his fellow soldiers and warriors and his vision of what it would take is exactly what the DoD needs!”
“Pete is the right choice to be Sec Def and THIS interview got him the job. I spent 30 years in the US Army and National Guard. Iraq combat vet, 100% disabled TBI/ PTSD and everything Pete has said is correct. I joined in 1975. Today’s Army is unrecognizable. I retired in 2015 after being in combat at the age of 51. If I were serving today I would-be in Leavenworth for smacking the bullsh*t out of some snowflake. We have lost our way and need to return to what matters, lethality, training, high moral and equipment modernization. We need to stay out of small wars overseas. I understand strategic global national security needs, but those needs MUST be served by the political classes and Secretaries of State and Ambassadors. Stop using time and bodies to solve a problem that could be resolved with missiles and drones.”
“I’m retiring here soon as a SGM. I joined in 2003 because I believe in the GWOT….man how it’s changed and I see things differently. My son is now a Tanker and I pray for him everyday. I’m glad this guy got picked as SECDEF!!”
“First day of basic was 9/11/01. 82nd as a combat medic from ‘02-‘05. Afghanistan’02, Iraq ‘03, Afghanistan ‘04. I used to want my kids to go into the military. It’s a HELL NO at this point and has been for a while now.”
“What happened in the military and local law enforcement is currently happening in all federal law enforcement. I worked in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for the last 12 years and I recently resigned because of DEI and a dysfunctional crooked bureaucracy.”
“At first I was skeptical about the pick for Pete as Secretary of Defense, but this interview has given me such confidence in his abilities and the ethics that will drive his decision making. Knowing that he has a good ethical foundation gives me hope that the right decisions will be made, even in times when his abilities will be pushed to their limits.”
“If you know anyone who is skeptical of this guy as SecDef, then have them watch this. I was skeptical. As a former Marine, Army infantry officer, Iraq and Afghan combat vet and acquisition officer, I’m all in with this guy. He is saying exactly what needs to be said. I wish I could get a job in this DoD.”
“I came here to hear the new SoD. I like what I am hearing. I served 24 years in the Navy and hearing from my fellow vets/retirees, it has gone woke and soft. Looking forward to a reset with the new SoD.”
“Kinda wished now i wasn’t retiring.. Wanna see the change take place… Everything he said, very accurate.. Seen the changes since 2003 until now.”
“Secretary Hegseth makes me want to re-enlist.”
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