1 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, welcome to Bleep. I'm Anna Navarro and this 2 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: is Chatcha. There's a lot we've got to cover today 3 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: and we got a great guest, so let's get started. 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: So a few weeks ago, I did a segment called 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: Secretary's Gone Wild and it was about wild, stupid, incredible 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: things that you just couldn't believe that the Trump cabinet 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: was engaging in and doing. But there is so much 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: crazy stuff happening this week that I think we need 9 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: a sequel. So let's get started with the guy who 10 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: takes the cake literal leak this week, and it is 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: Pete Hegseth. He went on a wild spending spree in 12 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: the end of the last fiscal year, so September twenty 13 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: twenty five, he spent fifty point one billion dollars in 14 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: five days. Do you all remember that TV show I 15 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: can't remember what it was called, where people competed in 16 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: the supermarket. They would get their cart and they were 17 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: given the X amount of time five minutes, and whomever 18 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: had the most expensive cart one. Well, he would have 19 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: done really well in that game, because let me tell 20 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:23,279 Speaker 1: you some of the things that Pete Hegseth spent your 21 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: taxpayer money. On okay, take a look at this. Two 22 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty five million dollars on furniture. Twelve thousand, 23 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: five hundred and forty dollars on three tier fruit baskets. 24 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: I don't think I've ever seen a three tier fruit basket. 25 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: One point eight million on musical instruments, including a one 26 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars Steinway and Sons Grand piano and a 27 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: twenty one thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars Japanese flute. Oh, 28 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: that must be so nice. Six point nine million dollar 29 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: dollars for lobster. I guess they're not allergic to shellfish. 30 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: Fifteen point one million on Rabbi steaks, two million dollars 31 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: on Alaskan King krab legs. One hundred and twenty four 32 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: thousand dollars on ice cream machines. So I just want 33 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: you to think about that and remember all of that 34 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: next time you go to the grocery store and can't 35 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: afford the price of groceries. But he's not alone. Let 36 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: us continue talking about the Secretary's gone wild. So you 37 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: remember Christy Nome. I guess we can now refer to 38 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: her as the former Secretary gone Wild. And you remember 39 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: that she got fired by Donald Trump or moved to 40 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: a different job after he found out. And it came 41 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 1: out in a congressional hearing that she had spent two 42 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty million dollars on an ad campaign, on 43 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: an ad about DHS where she was like on a 44 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: horse in full cowboy Barbie get up in front of 45 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: Mount Rushmore. Two hundred and twenty million dollars on that ad. 46 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: Let me tell you, since the Oscars just happened, let's 47 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: talk about some of the Oscar nominated movies that cost 48 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: less than Christy nomes ads. Okay, so the record breaking 49 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: film Sinners ninety million dollars one battle after another, that 50 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: budget was two hundred million dollars. Marty Supreme, that's Timothay Chalamagne, 51 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: who doesn't like opera or ballet, that had a budget 52 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: of seventy million dollars. Christinome spent two hundred and twenty 53 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: million dollars. We're not done yet. There's more to talk 54 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: about this cabinet and the crazy things they're doing. So 55 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: apparently I had to this twice when I first read it, 56 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: because it seems so stupid and crazy and Acidine. I 57 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: almost couldn't believe what I was reading. But apparently Donald 58 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: Trump is gifting his cabinet floor shin shoes like the 59 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: ones he wears. You know, the you've seen his swollen cankles, 60 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: and you've seen the tied up shoes around. Well, those 61 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: big cankles. He's giving them all these same floor shym shoes. 62 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: I must admit I have a soft spot in my 63 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: heart for floor shym shoes because it's what my father 64 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: used to wear when I was growing up. But Donald 65 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: Trump is going around and he is randomly asking his 66 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: cabinet members what size shoe they are and gifting them 67 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: the shoes. And so JD. Van's was just the reported 68 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: told this story. Well, he said Donald Trump asked them 69 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: their shoe size. So JD. Van's he was a size thirteen. 70 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: Marco Rubio said he was a size eleven and a half. Now, 71 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: I've known Marco Rubio my entire adult life. There is 72 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: no way that man is an eleven and a half 73 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: size shoe. Okay, that would almost mean that his foot 74 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: is bigger than his body. And then there's like an 75 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: unnamed man in this story that JD. Vans told that 76 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: said he was a size seven. I am sure I 77 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: would bet money on this. That unnamed man is Lindsey Graham. 78 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: I know this because you see, I traveled a lot 79 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: with Lindsey. We hung out a lot during the McCain campaign, 80 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: back when he was kissing McCain's ass instead of kissing 81 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: Trump's ass. And I was always struck by how little 82 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: Lindsey's feet were. I mean, you almost wonder how anybody 83 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: can stand up on these dainty, tiny little feet. And 84 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: he would wear these very tight, kind of like penny loafers, 85 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: and I could never stop looking at his feet because 86 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's almost it's unimaginable that somebody can 87 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: go through life with such small feet. But you know what, 88 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: I guess that explains his lack of principles, because it 89 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: is hard to stand up for anything when your feet 90 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 1: are the size of a child's. And yeah, that's what 91 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: our cabinet has been up to. By the way, if 92 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: you haven't seen the picture, look it up of Marco 93 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: Rubio and his big shoes. You know how they say 94 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: big shoes to fill This is actually happening with Marco 95 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: because since apparently he lied to Donald Trump about being 96 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: an eleven and a half size shoe. Donald Trump sent 97 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: him eleven and a half size shoes. And now there's 98 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: all these pictures where Marco is coming out of his 99 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: shoes because the shoes are huge on him. It looks 100 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: like like when you know, when Caroline Kennedy or John 101 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: John Kennedy we're trying to wear those big shoes in 102 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: their parents' white house. Just crazy. Now we're going to 103 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: go to break because when we come back, instead of 104 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: talking about crazy members of an administration, we're going to 105 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: talk to one who knew what he was doing and 106 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: was qualified for the job, the seventy eighth Secretary of 107 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: the Navy, Carlo Deltoro, As promised, I have with me 108 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,239 Speaker 1: today a man I call a friend I admire greatly, 109 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: who has served our country for decades and decades admirably 110 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: and honorably. And I brought him in because I wanted 111 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: to talk about everything that's going on with iran answer 112 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: some questions that I have, and also what's going on 113 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: with the Department of Defense, what's going on in general. 114 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: So I want to introduce you to Carlos del Doro, 115 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: and I want to go through his educational background because 116 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: I want you alter here with somebody who's qualified for 117 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: the job. Actually sounds like okay. So Carlos got a 118 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: BS in electrical engineering from the US Naval Academy. He 119 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: then went to postgraduate school Naval Postgraduate School and got 120 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: an MS in space systems. He went to the Naval 121 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: War College where he got an MA in National security, 122 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: and he went to George Washington University where he got 123 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: a master's in legislative Affairs. We're not done yet. He 124 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: served twenty two years in the US Navy, retiring with 125 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: the rank of commander. He was the surface warfare officer 126 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: who commanded the guided missile destroyer USS Bulkley, and he 127 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: worked in senior pentagon and budget roles, including at the 128 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: Office of Management and Budget, and then Joe Biden appointed 129 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: him the seventy eighth US Navy Secretary bim Benilo Carlo 130 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: Hilt was I accurate about everything? Or am I patting 131 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: your resume? Very much? No? 132 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 2: Very much? 133 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. I forgot you actually worked 134 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,599 Speaker 1: for a for an administration where people don't pad their resumes. 135 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: But Carlos, before we get started, you have such an 136 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: extraordinary personal story. You came to this country as a baby. 137 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: You were what one years old in nineteen sixty one. 138 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: You were born in Havana, Cuba. So can you tell me, 139 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: can you tell us how a little Cuban boy, a 140 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: little Cuban refugee living in Hell's kitchen goes from that 141 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: to being Secretary of the Navy. 142 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 2: Well first and foremost, and I thank you and thank 143 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: you to all of your listeners for having me on 144 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 2: this really special show today, and I very much look 145 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 2: forward to this conversation now as you say, Look, I 146 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 2: came to this country at the age of one, and 147 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 2: you know, I grew up going to public schools. Both 148 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: my parents work two jobs. Typical immigrant story, whether it's 149 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 2: a Cuban American refugee coming here to this country from 150 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 2: Cuba or from so many other countries where people come 151 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 2: here to America seeking the American dream, and like all 152 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: of us, or most of us, we come here and 153 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 2: we actually are afforded the American dream, the opportunity to 154 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 2: work hard as that first generation of immigrants who've come here, 155 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 2: you know, send your children to public schools, send them 156 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 2: to college, and then one day, in my case, I 157 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 2: went off to Annapolis at the age of seventeen and 158 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 2: served four years in Annapolis, twenty two year active duty 159 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 2: in the Navy, and rose throughout the ranks, became the 160 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 2: most senior Cuban American in the United States Navy, and 161 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: built this great warship named after Don Duncan Bulkeley, who 162 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,719 Speaker 2: actually served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as the commander from 163 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 2: sixty three to sixty five, sort of at the peak 164 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 2: of the post revolutionary period. And actually he was hated 165 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 2: by Fidel Castro. And so what an honor was to 166 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 2: have served as commanding officer in that capacity, served for 167 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: twenty six years, and then have retired start a private 168 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 2: sector business, a small business that me and my wife 169 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 2: Betty ran for seventeen years. And then to have the 170 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: honor of being chosen by President Biden to be the 171 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 2: seventy eighth Secretary of the Navy. And I thank all 172 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 2: of the American people for the privilege of being able 173 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 2: to service their Secretary of the Navy. 174 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: And you know, Carlos, I'm going to tell this story 175 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: because I know you are too humble to say, but 176 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: I remember one time we were having dinner during the 177 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four campaign and you expressed to me that 178 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: if Kamala Harris won, you'd be interested in continuing to serve. 179 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: And I said, oh, you would make a great Secretary 180 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: of Defense. And you said to me, I don't know. 181 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: I was thinking more of the number two or number 182 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: three job because I don't know that I am qualified. 183 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: And then a few months later, when Donald Trump made 184 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: his appointments for Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy, 185 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,719 Speaker 1: we talked again, and I just remember sending you a 186 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: text saying and you thought you weren't qualified. Okay, I'll 187 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: just leave it at that my front. 188 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: Well, well, I will say, you know, it'd be a 189 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: privileged to serve in any capacity, and but really, public 190 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: servants should be qualified to do the jobs that they're 191 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: expected to do on behalf of the American tax payer. 192 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 2: And I think it's quite demonstrable afterwards, the fact that 193 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 2: experience matters. In the Navy. I always say it takes 194 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 2: twenty years to make a captain. It actually takes thirty 195 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 2: years to make an admiral or a general in the 196 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 2: Marine Corps. And our most senior civilians in government service 197 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 2: should have the requisite experience and also the emotional and 198 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 2: intellectual maturity to perform their duties in. 199 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: That capacity and the moral compass, and. 200 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 2: The moral compass more importantly than anything else. 201 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, but Carlos, let's let's let's get into Iran a minute, 202 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: because I have like a fundamental question, and I wonder 203 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: how many other Americans have the same question I do. 204 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: So I want to ask you. Let me preface this 205 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: by saying, I am at this point confused by what 206 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 1: the definition of war is because Donald Trump and his 207 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: administration and Republicans in Congress have tried to call this operation, 208 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: this war, everything but war. Donald Trump called it an excursion. 209 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: I don't think he knows the difference between incursion and excursion, 210 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: because for me, an excursion is like a field trip 211 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: at school or what I take when I get off 212 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:34,079 Speaker 1: the cruise ship in Greece. But okay, then there's this 213 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:39,479 Speaker 1: War Powers Act that seems to me is fairly worthless 214 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: because there's because practically every precedent since the War Powers 215 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: Act has been enacted have taken military action without going 216 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: through Congress. So Congress is just so incredibly feckless in 217 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: the entire situation. So I guess my question is what 218 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: in your eye constitutes a war? And are we at war? 219 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: Right now with Iran. Has Donald Trump thrown us into war? 220 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 2: Well, I feel strongly we are at war with Iran. 221 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 2: It's very unfortunate that there's so much political maneuvering on 222 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: this topic, and it's obvious that it's being done by 223 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 2: the administration and by members of certain members of Congress 224 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: as well too, to avoid having to vote on the 225 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 2: War Powers Resolution Act. I mean, in our Constitution, it 226 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 2: clearly states that it's Congress who has the authority to 227 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 2: declare war on another nation. Now, presidents, of course have 228 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 2: our national security interests in mind and everything that they do, 229 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 2: and it's in cases where there's eminent threat present, quite frankly, 230 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: that sometimes short term military action is required to try 231 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 2: to defend American citizens from being harmed abroad or in 232 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 2: the United States. But it's clearly that an engagement of 233 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 2: this nature is very much being at war with Iran, 234 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 2: whether they admitted or don't admit it. Unfortunately, this has 235 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 2: happened in previous administrations, both Democrat and Republican, such as 236 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 2: even during Vietnam, where really we really didn't have a 237 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 2: declaration of war. It was a conflict that went on. 238 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 2: And yet you know, fifty five thousand American soldiers lost 239 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 2: their lives men and women in the war in Vietnam, 240 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 2: So it is very much a war, regardless of the 241 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 2: political machinations that take place in the administration and the 242 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: Congress and Carlos. 243 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: Something else I wanted to ask you about. I read 244 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: this story about how you know how Iran was laying 245 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: minds in the Strait of Horror moves and how we 246 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: had we by we, I mean Pete hag Seith, I 247 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: mean Donald Trump his administration had decommissioned mind sweeperships that 248 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: the US Navy had. What should we know about that? 249 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: Well, the mine sweepers that I had question here basically 250 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 2: were my sweepers that were due to be decommissioned. I 251 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 2: think if I had been in place still, it was 252 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: my intent to actually allow them to remain in commission 253 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: for a longer period of time until the class of 254 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 2: ships to replace them, which is called the LCS class, 255 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 2: came into place and actually had more operational experience in 256 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 2: theater before the other ones should have been decommissioned, which 257 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: we've been operating for quite some time, and they were 258 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: very effective in theater. We probably should have held onto 259 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 2: those a little bit longer, especially given the fact that 260 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 2: they knew that perhaps we would be deeply involved in 261 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 2: military operations here just recently. So it's confusing to me 262 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 2: why the Navy actually decommissioned those ships, recognizing well that 263 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 2: we could be again finding ourselves having to deal with 264 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 2: the mind threat in the straits of Horrormouth. 265 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: Carlos, I want to ask you about something that I 266 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: think is terribly tragic. And mistakes have been made in 267 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: other military operations by other precedents, but this one is 268 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: just heart wrenching. And I'm referring to the missile strike, 269 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: the US missile strike, which we now know was done 270 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: by the US according to investigations by independent agencies and 271 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: news agencies and now by a military investigation. I'm talking 272 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: about the strike on the girls' school in Iran that 273 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: killed reportedly one hundred and sixty eight young girls between 274 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: the ages of seven and fourteen. And I have been 275 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: so I don't know, heartbroken, ashamed at the way that 276 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: this administration, that this president has reacted. He's you know, 277 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: when they told him about the findings, he pretended he 278 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: hadn't heard about it. The first thing he did was 279 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: try to blame Iran saying that Iran had bombed its 280 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: own citizens. So I guess I want to ask you 281 00:17:55,160 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: what your reaction is to this, and what should could 282 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: a president do? What should a government do when something 283 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: like this happens? Because I remember something. I remember when 284 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: we struck civilians and killed civilians under Obama, and I 285 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,479 Speaker 1: remember the way he acted and reacted and it was 286 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 1: starkly different to what Donald Trump is doing now. So 287 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: how do you feel? So I a few questions. How 288 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: does something like this happen? How the hell do we 289 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: hit a school using outdated information? And then once it happened, 290 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: how do we you know? How does it take twelve 291 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: days to confirm that it was us? And how should 292 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: the president of the United States be reacting. 293 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely well or first and foremost, you know, or simply 294 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 2: these go out anytime that there's loss of civilian life, 295 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 2: it's extremely tragic, obviously, and during the Biden administration, President 296 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 2: Maiden and Secretariosity made it clear that we, as senior 297 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 2: civilians in the military and our senior military leaders, would 298 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,479 Speaker 2: try to do everything possible to avoid the loss of 299 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 2: innocent civilian lives, especially children and women, And so we 300 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 2: stood up these civilian committees actually to avoid this from 301 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 2: potentially happening, and we would be very very careful in 302 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 2: the planning of our military operations to try to prevent 303 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 2: the loss of innocent civilian lives. Those committees were actually 304 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 2: disbanded by the Secretary of Defense here most recently so. 305 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 2: The added attention that might have been given to a 306 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 2: military planning exercise or a strike that was being planned, 307 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 2: and the review that would have taken place by these 308 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 2: committees simply did not take place in this case. Now, 309 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 2: as far as the actual planning of the Tomahawks strikes themselves, 310 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 2: it's a very complicated process. It involves many different organizations 311 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: to determine what the correct targeting is, and then you 312 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 2: have to actually upload the software into the missile, and 313 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 2: eventually that software gets passed on to the ship and 314 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 2: the launch takes place and the strike occurs, and there's 315 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 2: several days actually that that planning is in motion. Apparently 316 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 2: in this case, and I don't know for a fact, 317 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,439 Speaker 2: but simply but what's been reported in the news is 318 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 2: that the intelligence was not correct in terms of what 319 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: was actually planned into the Tomahawk missile. I can't say 320 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 2: for sure why there weren't more checks and balances to 321 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 2: ensure that these targets had actually been updated correctly. I 322 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 2: suppose that the investigation will reveal that with regardless to 323 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 2: the response of the administration and specific individuals, you know, 324 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 2: I think when it's apparent that a mistake, a horrific 325 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 2: mistake like this, has been made, it's important for senior leaders, 326 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 2: true leaders, quite frankly, to accept responsibility or at least 327 00:20:56,119 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 2: to recognize the tragedy of the moment, not just simply 328 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 2: try to displace it or blame it on others when 329 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 2: it seems to be quite clear that it may be 330 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 2: during their watch that this actually occurred. That's what real 331 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 2: leaders do. They step up to the plate and they 332 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 2: accept responsibilities for the mistakes they have been made, and 333 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 2: then they also try to ensure that these mistakes translate 334 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 2: themselves into lessons learned so that in future operations we 335 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 2: don't repeat those same mistakes again in the future. 336 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: As before we leave Iran, what in your eyes would 337 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: constitute a quote unquote victory there? Because Trump keeps saying 338 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 1: we're winning, We're winning. We were obliterating them. This was easy. 339 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: At first he talked about regime change. Now he seems 340 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: not to be talking about regime change. He's talking about 341 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: access to nuclear weapons and nuclear material. I don't know. 342 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're an American, a regular American who 343 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,199 Speaker 1: doesn't have military service like me, and you're reading all 344 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: of this, it's very co using. So from your experience 345 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: as Secretary of the Navy is having served for decades, 346 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: what would actually be a win in Iraq? Because my 347 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: fear is that, you know, when this, when this potato 348 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: gets too hot politically and we get close to midterm elections, 349 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: he's going to drop the hot potato, leave it as 350 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: is and declare a victory. So how should we interpret 351 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 1: what's happening? 352 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 2: Well, first and foremost, you know, especially for those of 353 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 2: us who grew up in were born in countries, or 354 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 2: grew up in countries ruled by autocrats and dictators, there's 355 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 2: certainly no sympathy for the loss of Supreme Leader Kamanian 356 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 2: in Iran. He was a horrific person who killed many 357 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 2: innocent lives through his own tenure, and so no one's 358 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 2: certainly warning his death. Having said that, though it's not 359 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 2: completely clear to me that this war has actually made 360 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 2: us truly safer in this country. I mean just today, Anna, 361 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:05,399 Speaker 2: We've got two tragic incidents that are taking place. One 362 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 2: was the bombing in Detroit against a synagogue, which is 363 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: truly horrific and perhaps an indication of, you know, the 364 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 2: terrorism that our country may continue to see in the future. 365 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 2: And then the bombing at ODU, which is still old 366 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 2: demanding university in your Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia, 367 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 2: which is also still being investigated. So it's not clear 368 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,919 Speaker 2: to me, quite frankly, that the war is making Americans safer. 369 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 2: Having said that, however, it's clear to me that, you know, 370 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 2: the Navy and the Marine Corps that I trained during 371 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 2: the Biden administration was trained properly to fulfill its military 372 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 2: objectives that were at least first identified by this administration. 373 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 2: What's unclear is our ability to achieve our political objectives, 374 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 2: which is actually the most important thing, with a strategy 375 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 2: that would be well planned out in order to achieve 376 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 2: those political objectives. And you know, there are very serious 377 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:09,679 Speaker 2: doubts about that. For one thing, regime change in Iran 378 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 2: will be extremely difficult. We haven't seen regime change in Venezuela. 379 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 2: Have we pretty much the same administration that was there before, 380 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 2: and the Maludo is still there today, and the Venezuelan 381 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 2: people are still suffering and without the freedoms that they 382 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 2: so deserve. Right, I mean, all companies may be allowed 383 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 2: now to do business with the United States, but I'm 384 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 2: not sure that that truly meets the spirit of what 385 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,919 Speaker 2: we were trying to achieve with our political intent in Venezuela. 386 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 2: The same thing applies here in Iran, and in many ways, 387 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 2: the removal of nuclear fission, for example, from Iran is 388 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 2: also going to prove itself to be extremely difficult. This 389 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 2: isn't something that you can just go in with a 390 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 2: small seal team and accomplish the mission. You're going to 391 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 2: have to go in with a battalion level size of 392 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 2: special operators to be able to affect a mission like this. 393 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,479 Speaker 2: I'm not suggesting that it can't be done, but by 394 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 2: no means is this something that's going to be extremely 395 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: easy to do. And we have to take into account 396 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 2: sometimes you know what appears to be easy today in 397 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 2: the long run, you know the sites and the capabilities 398 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: that we have bombed and around very effectively because those 399 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 2: milititary objectives have been met very effectively by our service members, 400 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:27,880 Speaker 2: and a shout out to all our men and women 401 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 2: who are serving courageously overseas right now to the Middle 402 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 2: East and the Pacific and everywhere, performing their missions extremely well. 403 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 2: We should all of us as Americans, should be very 404 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: proud of them. But the fact is that at some 405 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 2: point in time we are not going to have we're 406 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 2: not going to be able to maintain that same level 407 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 2: of presence in the Persian Gulf. So what happens when 408 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 2: eventually the Navy doesn't have one or two carricer you know, 409 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 2: fleets in place. They'll be able to rebuild some of 410 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 2: those sites and rebuild some of those capabilities in the 411 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 2: future with the monies that they have as an all 412 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 2: rich nation basically, so you know, what they've lost today 413 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 2: they could easily rebuild in the future. And then lastly, 414 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 2: you know, the Iranian people themselves, they don't have the 415 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 2: ability to just revolt the way the president has asked 416 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 2: them to do. We know that's true in Cuba, where 417 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 2: you know, they have no arms in Cuba to revolt with, 418 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 2: and they're highly restricted and watched all the time. It's 419 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 2: no different in Iran or in Venezuela for that matter. Right, 420 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 2: So to simply say revolt against the government without any 421 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 2: support is just completely unrealistic. So all of these things 422 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 2: matter in terms of us being able to reach our 423 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 2: political objectives, and to me, it's not completely clear that 424 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:48,360 Speaker 2: we're going to get there. 425 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 1: Remember, the Iranians did take to the streets back in January. 426 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: Donald Trump told them help is on the way, and 427 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: in the meantime, tens of thousands we don't even know 428 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: the precise number because of the information blackout from it, 429 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: but tens of thousands, reportedly up to fifty thousand plus 430 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: Iranians were slaughtered by the Ayatola. And two months later, 431 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: I guess help showed up. And when Trump says get 432 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: out on the streets, they're saying, nah, maybe not this time. 433 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 1: You know, we've seen what can happen. But you just 434 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: you alluded to autocratic governments. You alluded to Venezuela. So 435 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: you know, when Maduro was captured, I was in Spain, 436 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: in Madrid, Spain, where there is a very big Venezuelan 437 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: exile community, and I, you know, I woke up, I 438 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 1: read the news and I just felt this surge of 439 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: emotion as somebody who has lived under dictatorship. So I'm 440 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 1: wondering if you can tell us how you felt on 441 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: January third upon the reading about you know, you obviously 442 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: read it with different eyes. You also fled a dictatorship, 443 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,399 Speaker 1: but you are you were commander of a ship, and 444 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: you were secretary of the Navy. So what was your 445 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 1: reaction to what happened in Venezuela and how was that 446 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: different to what we are seeing in Iran? And I 447 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: asked you that last question because I think Trump is 448 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:15,199 Speaker 1: drunk with power regarding Venezuela and things He can replicate 449 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 1: that all over the world. So what was your reaction 450 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: to the capture of Maduro January third? And how did 451 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 1: you see it? How do you see that operation? 452 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,959 Speaker 2: Sure? Well, let me first start by stating that, you know, 453 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 2: it's important for our commander in chief, our senior most 454 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 2: leaders in the military and State Department elsewhere, you know, 455 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 2: to basically always recognize that military power alone rarely ever 456 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 2: achieves our political interests and defends our national security interests. 457 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 2: It's a combination of military power diplomatic power first and foremost. 458 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 2: You know, often when I would talk to individuals who 459 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 2: work in the State Department, I'd make it clear that 460 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 2: if the State Department had more resources of the Department 461 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 2: Defense wouldn't have to work so hard in defending our 462 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 2: interest right and economic power as well. So it's the 463 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 2: combination of all three of those instruments of power that 464 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:17,239 Speaker 2: truly makes it effective in protecting Americans and protecting our 465 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 2: national security interests when you just simply apply one repeatedly 466 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 2: and perhaps become a little bit too enamored by it. 467 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 2: And by the way, let's never forget that it's our 468 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 2: young men and women, our sons and daughters, our granddaughters, 469 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 2: and our grandsons who actually call a respond to the 470 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 2: call of service, who serve in our military, in the 471 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 2: Navy and the Marine Corps, in the Army, and the 472 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 2: Air Force and the Space Force, and they are the 473 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 2: ones that are put in harm's way. So you know, 474 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 2: the most single most responsibility a commander in chief is 475 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 2: to protect the American people, but also to understand that 476 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 2: they are putting their young men and women at risk, 477 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 2: and those decisions should be thought out very very careful, 478 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 2: not just we typically understand what the primary consequences of 479 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 2: military actions are, but we often don't think about the 480 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 2: secondary and the tertiary consequences. So back to your question 481 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 2: about Venezuela. Again, Obviously, you know, Maduro had done no 482 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 2: good for the Venezuelan people or for democracy or anything else. 483 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 2: Like most autocrats, he cares more about enriching his own 484 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 2: personal interests first and foremost, and riching the personal interests 485 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 2: of his most immediate family and inner circle of cronies, 486 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 2: and also ensuring that their political power is never being threatened, right. 487 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 2: I mean, that's what autocrats do, whether they're in Cuba, 488 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 2: whether they're in Venezuela, whether they're in Iran, South Korea, China, 489 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 2: or elsewhere around the world. And so they are always 490 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 2: going to have the survival of the regime first and foremost, 491 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 2: regardless of the impact on innocent lives, on their own citizens, 492 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 2: on the economic well being of their country for any 493 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 2: period of time, All those things just don't matter as 494 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 2: much as the survival of the regime itself. So obviously 495 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 2: I was not I was pleased to see that Marduro 496 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 2: had been removed. However, it's the what comes after part 497 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 2: that I was completely disappointed by. I would have expected 498 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 2: that we would have worked with those that remained in 499 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 2: Venezuela to try to affect freedom and democracy in Venezuela 500 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 2: through free elections and other means. Right instead, it seems 501 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 2: like we just negotiated a deal for the United States 502 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 2: companies basically to do work in Venezuela with you ol 503 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 2: companies and to enrich people here in the United States. 504 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: Are you afraid that that's also going to happen in 505 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: Cuba or what do you think is going to happen 506 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 1: in Cuba? I remember when you were Secretary of the 507 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 1: Navy and you went to Guantanamo in that role for 508 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: the first time, and how emotional it was for you. 509 00:31:56,280 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: I remember you brought you brought us back some Cuban soul, 510 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: and just how how hard that that hte you, how 511 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: much that affected you. So what do you think could 512 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: possibly as as Trump talks about Cuba is next, Cuba 513 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 1: is next. And I can tell you everybody in Miami 514 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: thinks Cuba is next, and you know has got their 515 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 1: their Cuban flags and their cars ready to to celebrate. 516 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: But what what what do you think realistically that can 517 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: mean and what can we expect? 518 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: Well, first, let me say I'm quite confident that there's 519 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 2: two days in Raoul, in Fidel Castro's life where they 520 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 2: regret it letting this little kid get out of Cuba. 521 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 2: That's the day I became commanding AUSCRI of the our 522 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 2: nation's newest destroyer, and the day I became Secretary of 523 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 2: the Navy. But having said that, and having obviously studied 524 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 2: Cuba very carefully and have it lived it, you know 525 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 2: it's not going to be as easy as some people 526 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 2: think it's going to be. For one thing, the Cuban 527 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 2: regime again, and just like I said a few moments ago, 528 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 2: but they care about most is their own survival. And 529 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,000 Speaker 2: so as you know, for as long as they've been 530 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 2: actually complaining about helms Burton, right, they've always wanted helms 531 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 2: Burton to remain in place so they could use that 532 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 2: as their crutch to blame the United States for everything. Right, 533 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 2: they're master politicians themselves. They've been very, very resilient. The 534 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 2: Cuban people, of course, have suffered tremendously so the last 535 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 2: five decades, and it's their suffering that you know, one 536 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,960 Speaker 2: thinks about the most. But to just simply think that 537 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 2: Cuba is going to crumble, I think is a mistake. 538 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 2: I think that they will try to do everything they 539 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 2: can to hold onto power in every possible way, so 540 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 2: short of an invasion itself, you know, I don't think 541 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 2: things will change necessarily that much, regardless of how much 542 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 2: pressure Donald Trump or the administration places on the Cuban government. 543 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 2: Some people say, you know, well, they're suffering economically, and 544 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 2: that's true. The economic situation in Cuba is is about 545 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 2: as bad as it can be. But it's also been 546 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 2: that way for the past fifty years. They have learned 547 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 2: to suffer horribly so, which is the true injustice in Cuba. 548 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 2: But they've also been resilient in sort of overcoming those challenges. 549 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 2: So we'll have to wait to see what happens. But 550 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: I think the expectations that things will just change dramatically overnight, 551 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:33,399 Speaker 2: I think that's very, very unrealistic. And I hope that 552 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:37,840 Speaker 2: whatever transition takes place as a peaceful transition and perhaps 553 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 2: a negotiated agreement between the people between the government of 554 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 2: Cuba and the United States. But it's not going to 555 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 2: be easy to achieve. 556 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 1: Carlos, let me switch gears on. You Do you like Rabbi? Yeah, 557 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: I love you like ask king crab? 558 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 2: I do like Alaskan king crab. 559 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:10,560 Speaker 1: How about lobster tales? They're good too, But Okay, yeah, okay, 560 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: So how do Americans, how should taxpayers look at this? 561 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: At this expense of you know, he's Pete Hegseth A 562 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,640 Speaker 1: Department of Defense spent fifty point one billion in five 563 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 1: days at the end of September last year, including millions 564 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 1: and millions of dollars on rabbi and snow and snow 565 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: crab legs and lobster tales. So how do we feel 566 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: about this or how do how should I feel about this? 567 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 2: Sure, well, it's it's it's very very unfortunate. And look, 568 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,960 Speaker 2: you know, I haven't seen the actual reports themselves, but 569 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 2: there's no question that there are moments when you want 570 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,840 Speaker 2: to reward our service members with a good staking lobster 571 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 2: meal right before you expect them to actually go into 572 00:35:56,120 --> 00:36:01,040 Speaker 2: combat or they're having they're going through a really strenuous time. However, 573 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 2: I think this is probably far more than just that, 574 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 2: probably expenditures that just aren't being monitored correctly and watched 575 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:12,960 Speaker 2: correctly and overseen correctly. You know, when I was Secretary 576 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 2: of the Navy, I always tried to live, you know, 577 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,440 Speaker 2: within the means of our own budget. When we traveled, 578 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 2: we tried to stay within perdum rates at hotels that 579 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:27,440 Speaker 2: weren't fancy that we expected our service members actually to 580 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:31,839 Speaker 2: stay within perdium rates established by the government, and those 581 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 2: things are important. It's important to set the example. So 582 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:38,839 Speaker 2: if expenditures are being not paid attention to, if they're 583 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:42,360 Speaker 2: living high on the hog, then the administration should be 584 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 2: held accountable for that, and the American taxpayer should hold 585 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 2: them accountable for that. You know, I was a small 586 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:51,360 Speaker 2: business person for seventeen years. I ran a small business 587 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:55,000 Speaker 2: very effectively before I came became secretary, and I always 588 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 2: argued that my twenty six years of naval experience were 589 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:02,360 Speaker 2: extremely important for me to perform my responsibility as secretary. 590 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 2: But equally important was what I learned in the private sector. 591 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 2: And every dollar that I learned in that I earned 592 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 2: in the private sector, I think very carefully about how 593 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 2: I would spend it because I knew that one it 594 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 2: was difficult to come by, and I wanted to get 595 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 2: the maximum return on investment on that dollar. Right, do 596 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:22,240 Speaker 2: I give my receptionist to raise? Do I give myself raised? 597 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:24,760 Speaker 2: Do I put it into overhead? When I became Secretary 598 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 2: of the Navy, it was no different, and I with 599 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 2: one notable difference. It was the American taxpayer investing in 600 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:35,480 Speaker 2: our military services. And so I took it very seriously 601 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 2: that every dollar that I spent, I thought carefully about 602 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 2: how to try to get the best return on investment 603 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:46,040 Speaker 2: for the American taxpayer, because it's important to invest in 604 00:37:46,120 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 2: national security, and it's more important for our senior military leaders, 605 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 2: especially our senior civilian leaders, to use that money wisely 606 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:58,240 Speaker 2: and not just waste it. It's fraud if they're wasting 607 00:37:58,280 --> 00:37:58,759 Speaker 2: it that way. 608 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:00,799 Speaker 1: I want to end on apasse of note, because I 609 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: know how much serving in the military, in the Navy 610 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 1: changed the course of your life. What would be your 611 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:13,279 Speaker 1: message to those who are serving now, or young people 612 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 1: who may be thinking of serving and their families. 613 00:38:16,680 --> 00:38:20,279 Speaker 2: I say to all young people, whether you serve a 614 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,120 Speaker 2: year or you serve thirty years like I do, it 615 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,160 Speaker 2: truly changes who you are and it offers you opportunities 616 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,920 Speaker 2: in this country like no others. You know the fact 617 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:31,480 Speaker 2: that you read off those four degrees that I received, 618 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:35,680 Speaker 2: all those were paid by the taxpayer, which I am deeply, 619 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 2: deeply grateful and have been trying the rest of my 620 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:41,560 Speaker 2: life to be a good public servant and payment for 621 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,480 Speaker 2: that education. But as we know, just like I did, 622 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,400 Speaker 2: just like you did when you came to this country. 623 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:48,279 Speaker 2: You know, we were poor. We didn't come here with 624 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 2: a lot of money. Our parents had to work and 625 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,799 Speaker 2: like both my parents had to work two jobs just 626 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 2: to simply make ends meet, you know. And so for 627 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:59,200 Speaker 2: me to be able to go in the military and 628 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 2: to go to an Apple because I could not have 629 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 2: afforded to go to any other college probably, And so 630 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:07,879 Speaker 2: I thank god, I think my parents my grandmother for 631 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 2: having given me the right values and shown me the 632 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 2: right way to be able to go to a place 633 00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,840 Speaker 2: like Annapolis and then succeed and then really become a 634 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 2: true professional in this case and naval service. But for 635 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,959 Speaker 2: young people in this country, service in the military can't 636 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 2: transform who you are. It could offer you opportunities that 637 00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:28,920 Speaker 2: you've never would have imagined in your lifetime that you 638 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,279 Speaker 2: might have or your parents have imagined that they might 639 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:35,399 Speaker 2: have had in their lifetime. And then you give back 640 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:40,240 Speaker 2: to this nation you serve you fulfilled your professional desire 641 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:43,799 Speaker 2: to become an electrial engineer or a scientist, or a 642 00:39:43,840 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 2: mathematician or a historian or whatever you want to do. 643 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,560 Speaker 2: In the military but you're serving your country as well too, 644 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 2: which is incredibly important. And then one day you retire, 645 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:56,480 Speaker 2: and it offers you opportunities to go into other professions 646 00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:58,200 Speaker 2: and do other things with the rest of your life 647 00:39:58,239 --> 00:40:00,920 Speaker 2: as well too, and continue to give back to the 648 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:04,759 Speaker 2: country and public service in many different ways outside of 649 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:08,319 Speaker 2: uniform service. So I can encourage our young men and 650 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 2: women across this country, you know, to really consider a 651 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:15,640 Speaker 2: life military service. And I do also want to do 652 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:17,839 Speaker 2: a shout out to the women out there. You know, 653 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:20,480 Speaker 2: I often said when I was Secretary of the Navy. 654 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,960 Speaker 2: You know, fifty one percent of our population are female. 655 00:40:25,040 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 2: Now some may argue it's actually the smartest fifty one percent, 656 00:40:28,239 --> 00:40:33,799 Speaker 2: but nevertheless, and yet today in the military we have 657 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:37,359 Speaker 2: seventeen percent who are women. And perhaps those numbers are 658 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:40,239 Speaker 2: falling for reasons that probably are obvious here in the 659 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:44,200 Speaker 2: last year. But I encourage young women to actually serve 660 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 2: in our nation's military as well too, because there's tremendous 661 00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:51,279 Speaker 2: opportunities for them and they could rise to serve at 662 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:55,359 Speaker 2: the highest levels of government and truly serve their nation. Well. 663 00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:58,240 Speaker 2: I had the good fortune of nominating to the President 664 00:40:58,239 --> 00:41:00,839 Speaker 2: of the United States the first woman to be Chief 665 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,040 Speaker 2: of Naval Operation and the first woman to be Superintendent 666 00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,560 Speaker 2: of our Naval Academy, and not because they were women, 667 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 2: because after thirty to forty years of service, they finally 668 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:16,040 Speaker 2: had merited and had worked in the most difficult of 669 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:19,880 Speaker 2: positions that gave them the experience those twenty years to 670 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:22,520 Speaker 2: be a captain, those thirty years to be an admiral, 671 00:41:22,719 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 2: to be able to compete equitably with other men, and 672 00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:30,360 Speaker 2: those women just simply rose to the top, often because 673 00:41:30,360 --> 00:41:34,000 Speaker 2: they were the most inspirational in being able to perform 674 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,120 Speaker 2: their duties. Women have a right to serve and every 675 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:42,399 Speaker 2: position throughout the military. They have earned that right since 676 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 2: the beginning of the Revolutionary War. They have served in 677 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:48,440 Speaker 2: every conflict, in every war in this nation. They have 678 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:53,240 Speaker 2: served honorably. They have served courageously, and no one should 679 00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:56,520 Speaker 2: ever tell women in our military services or in the 680 00:41:56,600 --> 00:42:00,919 Speaker 2: United States that they can't do anything that they set 681 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:04,279 Speaker 2: their minds to do. That's the way it should be. 682 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:07,799 Speaker 2: An I big shout out all the women that are 683 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:11,480 Speaker 2: serving in our military courageously today overseas, as well as 684 00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:16,200 Speaker 2: the men who also serve with them on those ships, submarines, aircraft, 685 00:42:16,280 --> 00:42:17,440 Speaker 2: and aircraft carriers. 686 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:21,640 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you for those words very appropriately during 687 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:26,359 Speaker 1: Women's History Month, and more than anything, thank you for 688 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:28,920 Speaker 1: your friendship and thank you for your years of service 689 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:29,920 Speaker 1: to this country. 690 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 2: The Keo miamu, thank you, Anna, farewell to all of you. 691 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:40,880 Speaker 1: As you know, every week I like to highlight a 692 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:44,680 Speaker 1: courageous person of the week and a coward of the week, 693 00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:49,040 Speaker 1: a CoA of the week. This week, actually the cowards 694 00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:52,799 Speaker 1: and the heroes are both in the same story, and 695 00:42:52,840 --> 00:42:55,840 Speaker 1: it's a story that I think we need to highlight. 696 00:42:56,320 --> 00:42:59,800 Speaker 1: It is the detention of a South Texas family of 697 00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:02,879 Speaker 1: a asylum seekers after a routine check in. So they 698 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:06,640 Speaker 1: had a pending political asylum application. They had played by 699 00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:08,920 Speaker 1: the rules, they had done everything as they were supposed to. 700 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:12,880 Speaker 1: They showed up at an immigration check in and they 701 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:16,600 Speaker 1: were all detained, the entire family, the children and the 702 00:43:16,719 --> 00:43:20,840 Speaker 1: parents and the children. One is Antonio Game Squayer. He 703 00:43:20,920 --> 00:43:23,759 Speaker 1: was eighteen years old. He is eighteen years old, and 704 00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: then he has two younger brothers, Caleb who's fourteen and 705 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:31,640 Speaker 1: Joshua who is twelve. But one of the reasons that 706 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:36,200 Speaker 1: this story caught our attention is because two of those 707 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:40,399 Speaker 1: siblings were members of the Mariachi Dyoto in the Rio 708 00:43:40,440 --> 00:43:45,000 Speaker 1: Grande Valley where they are from. Mariaci is everything. It 709 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:48,920 Speaker 1: is a varsity activity. There's actually a movie that I 710 00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:52,759 Speaker 1: recommend you watch. It's called Going Varsity in Mariaci. It 711 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:56,360 Speaker 1: was produced by Luis Miranda, Lin Manuel Miranda's father and 712 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:59,960 Speaker 1: it is terrific. And so two of these young men, 713 00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:07,799 Speaker 1: members of this mariachi band were detained unlawfully, unjustifiably, just 714 00:44:07,840 --> 00:44:11,040 Speaker 1: in order to fill a quota. So the cowards are 715 00:44:11,080 --> 00:44:15,319 Speaker 1: the people who put this family that was abiding by 716 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:20,080 Speaker 1: their regulations and checking in at immigration, that detained them, 717 00:44:20,480 --> 00:44:23,920 Speaker 1: separated them and did this to this family in this community. 718 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 1: And the heroes. The heroes are Juaquim Castro, the congressmen 719 00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:31,880 Speaker 1: from the San Antonio Air area who showed up a 720 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:37,840 Speaker 1: dilly detention center, who highlighted this issue. Bobbi Pullilo, he 721 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:42,080 Speaker 1: is actually a Tejano singer who is running for office 722 00:44:42,719 --> 00:44:47,040 Speaker 1: in this district where these Mariachi boys were from. And 723 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:53,120 Speaker 1: both of them did yeomen's work in bringing attention to 724 00:44:53,280 --> 00:44:57,520 Speaker 1: this story and working hard with their legal teams and 725 00:44:57,560 --> 00:45:01,680 Speaker 1: putting pressure on this administration. They have since been released, 726 00:45:02,080 --> 00:45:04,719 Speaker 1: but it is cases like this. You know, this administration 727 00:45:04,840 --> 00:45:08,439 Speaker 1: now doesn't want us to talk about mass deportations. They're 728 00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:12,839 Speaker 1: telling people running for Congress not to talk about mass deportations. Well, 729 00:45:12,840 --> 00:45:15,640 Speaker 1: we're going to continue highlighting these cases, and we're going 730 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:19,799 Speaker 1: to continue talking about the injustices and the cruelties, and 731 00:45:19,840 --> 00:45:22,600 Speaker 1: we are not going to forget what they have done. 732 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:26,320 Speaker 1: That's it for this episode of Bleep. Thank you again 733 00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:29,560 Speaker 1: to Carlo Heltoto for stopping by, and thank you all 734 00:45:29,640 --> 00:45:32,439 Speaker 1: for listening. You don't know how much I appreciate your 735 00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 1: support and you giving us a chance. Don't forget to 736 00:45:35,719 --> 00:45:39,240 Speaker 1: subscribe to the podcast and leave me a comment wherever 737 00:45:39,280 --> 00:45:42,399 Speaker 1: you listen. I love hearing from you and I love 738 00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:45,799 Speaker 1: reading your comments. Bleep with Anna Navarro is a High 739 00:45:45,840 --> 00:45:50,160 Speaker 1: Finite Media group production in partnership with Iheart's mich Ududa 740 00:45:50,239 --> 00:45:53,400 Speaker 1: podcast Network. For more of your favorite shows, visit the 741 00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:57,520 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.