About this episode

The episode discusses the escalating Iran war, military policies regarding transgender service members, and reflections on 9/11.

Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) look back at 9/11, Trump’s bizarre remarks at a commemoration, and the lessons Hertling wishes America had learned over the last 25 years. Then they turn to the escalating Iran war, attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, Pete Hegseth’s sidelining of Gen. Christopher Donahue, and the Pentagon’s effort to identify and remove transgender service members through their medical records. Try Larineco Pouches for nicotine-free focus plus daily enamel support, with 50mg of caffeine, L-Theanine, Alpha GPC, and nano-hydroxyapatite in every pouch. Get up to 50% off at https://buylarine.com/bulwarktakes Links: Mark Hertling: “A Letter to Myself on 9/11” https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-letter-to-myself-on-911-september-11-world-trade-center-pentagon-al-qaeda-afghanistan-iraq-anniversary-war-terror The New York Times: “Inside the Battle to Save One Pioneering General From Hegseth’s Purge” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/us/politics/hegseth-army-general-donahue.html Federal News Network: “Pentagon searching medical records to identify transgender troops”…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Parker

Guest: Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.)

Topics covered

• Iran war
• Saudi oil infrastructure
• transgender service members
• 9/11 commemoration
• military policy
• political commentary

Keywords

• Iran attacks
• oil problems
• transgender ban
• military records
• 9/11
• Pentagon
• Saudi Arabia
• politics
• commentary

Sponsors

Larineco Pouches

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pentagon, The New York Times, Federal News Network, Military.com

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