When the secretary of defense fires generals and other military personnel, does that mean they have to exit the service or can they remain in another position and collect pay?
They can stay in. For example, the USNA superintendent was kicked upstairs last year; I'm assuming she pushed back on them raiding the library (plus she committed the sin of being female), and they gave her another job. Generals whose title is "special assistant" are sometimes people who they decided to remove from one job, for whatever reason, and put somewhere else - often because they have a lot of valuable expertise and insight and are still great assets, but weren't a good fit for whatever command they had. If someone gets fired for misconduct, they are usually invited (or told) to retire. Same story applies down the ranks. In the case of the recent firings, they refused orders that they deemed would unnecessarily endanger their forces, i.e., did their jobs and had courage, and were told to get out of the way entirely and retire. The Friday Massacre in March 2025 was similar, except that most of those generals were women or black and thus didn't fit in Kegstand's entourage.
We are in extremely dangerous times with a president who in unhinged! Do you think anyone in Congress or the VP has the guts to invoke the 25th amendment? How far does this president have to drag the U.S. down before that happens?
Never gonna happen until Dems control Congress. And if THAT happens, he'll probably resign the next day and Vance will give him a full pardon. Rump gets away with everything, this time will be no different. I am in no way going to get my hopes up that he will ever be held accountable.
Fact-checked and I was wrong - Article II, Section 4:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
-- They have to be individually impeached.
What I want to know is how to get rid of Stephen Miller - is he a "civil Officer of the United States?"
You might be right, but it is still absolutely essential that large numbers of people talk about impeaching Trump. There’s more to it than simply whatever happens to him. *Our* frame of mind should be that there are consequences for behavior like his.
Absolutely, Michael. Letting Nixon get away with what he did was a huge mistake.
What bums me out is that we will need sooo many prosecutions for these scumbags, it will take forever. And you know they will use every delay tactic in the Roy Cohn—and Trump—playbook.
Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of good, patriotic civil servants to be re-hired, not to mention repairing all of the damage. Changing our tax code, breaking up the TechBroligarchy—as well as these monolithic corporations and re-prioritizing making the Middle/Working class’s lives possible again, the Dems’ hands will be beyond full.
He'll declare a coup and martial law. Close elections, and that will be that! If you can find it, Miles Taylor today posted an informative essay about this.
Miles Taylor just posted a compelling argument for why the 25th Amendment would never work. I believe him. It's November 2026 that can save us if anything can!
I wish there would be a prison bus parked at the WH and all of them could be loaded up. They would stay in prison until their individual trials could be held.
Hegseth denying women and minorities well-earned flag rank promotions. Saying the Army helicopter pilot & crew “Kid Rock flyover” incident would not be investigated & in fact they were “patriots.” Firing top level flag officers… As a retired military officer & a citizen I fear the he is transforming our military - the only trusted government organization - into another ICE/Proud Boys/January 6th/Nazi Gestapo organization whose mission is to enforce MAGA ideals on everyone. Am I wrong? If not, is there ANYTHING we can do to stop this?
I'm afraid you are right, and the FBI will also go along with labeling anyone who is opposed to a Trump policy as a "domestic terrorist" and put us in one of his gulags manned by his ICE thugs.
I also worry the Trump might have been told if Iran is a success his approval ratings will go through the roof & his 3rd term will be assured. That might make him stop at nothing to achieve it.
Trump’s a lowlife and he proves it every day. Given everything he’s done up until now, no. I’m convinced his minions see themselves in Trump and he makes them feel better about their own shortcomings.
I’d like your take on the firing of three army generals, not just the army chief of staff but the head of the chaplain corps and the head of training readiness. I assume the chief of staff refused to cooperate and I’m guessing the chaplain didn’t want to go making with his evangelical Christian nationalist stance to the exclusion of others but was the head of training refusing his so-called warrior ethos?
Thanks for taking questions, Adam! I’ve been wondering about this one for a long time - with all of the mishandling and disastrous management of the military by this administration why do you think former military leaders are not speaking out? Like Mattis, Kelly etc. I would think their commentary could have a fairly large effect. And what’s the harm in trying?
I've listened to General McCaffrey speaking out on several occasions. These leaders spoke out prior to the election as well. Unfortunately it seems to be heard with deaf ears from those that need to hear it most.
Miles Taylor wrote that this cabinet won't invoke the 25th Amendment because they gamed it out in the first Trump Administration when there were actual adults in the room.
SCOTUS just gave Steve Bannon a “get out of jail free card” regarding contempt of Congress. Do you think this now sets a precedent? I find that action outrageous.
I just saw that and I agree! And I am surprised they don't have to give a reason? vacating means it is sent back and can be retried again. They should give some guidance as to why they vacated it so they can fix the issues if they want to retry it.
Adam, I want to know what you think about how the elections in the midterms will go. Do you think he will succeed in interfering with them? And what can we do? And, do you think, at this point, that the Congress and Senate will move to impeach? Thank you.
If bombing electrical plants and bridges is a war crime, against Geneva Conventions, will the military carry out Trump’s orders or not? He will argue it’s not war crime, but who
Is this true? If a president is a treasonous convicted felon, his entire cabinet is automatically impeached right along with him. If this is true, we need to be focusing on making this happen ASAP - NOT just sitting around planning how to celebrate his demise. ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ Four Alarm Fire!!!
To what extent is the President’s physician held responsible for his “well being”? What we see and hear from Trump is clearly derangement and insanity. Not to mention, the rashes, black and blues, his gait (the topic of Biden’s was fodder for the world), his sleeping in meetings. The proclamations that he is the fittest person to ever hold the position is what we hear. That is obviously untrue. Can the dr be held accountable? I’m not being cheeky. I believe Americans deserve to know.
When the secretary of defense fires generals and other military personnel, does that mean they have to exit the service or can they remain in another position and collect pay?
They can stay in. For example, the USNA superintendent was kicked upstairs last year; I'm assuming she pushed back on them raiding the library (plus she committed the sin of being female), and they gave her another job. Generals whose title is "special assistant" are sometimes people who they decided to remove from one job, for whatever reason, and put somewhere else - often because they have a lot of valuable expertise and insight and are still great assets, but weren't a good fit for whatever command they had. If someone gets fired for misconduct, they are usually invited (or told) to retire. Same story applies down the ranks. In the case of the recent firings, they refused orders that they deemed would unnecessarily endanger their forces, i.e., did their jobs and had courage, and were told to get out of the way entirely and retire. The Friday Massacre in March 2025 was similar, except that most of those generals were women or black and thus didn't fit in Kegstand's entourage.
We are in extremely dangerous times with a president who in unhinged! Do you think anyone in Congress or the VP has the guts to invoke the 25th amendment? How far does this president have to drag the U.S. down before that happens?
In addition to Paula‘s comments, how best can Congress go about voting to impeach Trump? What is the most logical efficient approach for them?
Never gonna happen until Dems control Congress. And if THAT happens, he'll probably resign the next day and Vance will give him a full pardon. Rump gets away with everything, this time will be no different. I am in no way going to get my hopes up that he will ever be held accountable.
not unless they impeach for treason, in which case they ALL go down
Where is that written? Law/Constitution?
Fact-checked and I was wrong - Article II, Section 4:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
-- They have to be individually impeached.
What I want to know is how to get rid of Stephen Miller - is he a "civil Officer of the United States?"
Thanks AJ. There is nothing "civil" about that heinous POS.
You might be right, but it is still absolutely essential that large numbers of people talk about impeaching Trump. There’s more to it than simply whatever happens to him. *Our* frame of mind should be that there are consequences for behavior like his.
Absolutely, Michael. Letting Nixon get away with what he did was a huge mistake.
What bums me out is that we will need sooo many prosecutions for these scumbags, it will take forever. And you know they will use every delay tactic in the Roy Cohn—and Trump—playbook.
Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of good, patriotic civil servants to be re-hired, not to mention repairing all of the damage. Changing our tax code, breaking up the TechBroligarchy—as well as these monolithic corporations and re-prioritizing making the Middle/Working class’s lives possible again, the Dems’ hands will be beyond full.
He'll declare a coup and martial law. Close elections, and that will be that! If you can find it, Miles Taylor today posted an informative essay about this.
Miles Taylor just posted a compelling argument for why the 25th Amendment would never work. I believe him. It's November 2026 that can save us if anything can!
Do you think presidents should have the right to sit in on SCOTUS proceedings? It seems like an intimidation tactic from a weak man to me. Thoughts?
Would we really be better off under JD Vance? Can we impeach all of them? (In my dreams)!
I wish there would be a prison bus parked at the WH and all of them could be loaded up. They would stay in prison until their individual trials could be held.
Perhaps the Army can set this up at Ft. Meade - like a school bus... pick them all up at their houses. Forgot your lunch? Too f'ing bad.
No, but I don't think he has remotely the sway that Rump does.
No. Vance is a loser.
Seems like a mafia tactic
I saw it compared to Frankie Pentangeli’s brother being in the gallery when Frankie was in the Congressional hearing in Godfather 2.
It’s not really about whether Vance would be better. It’s about whether there are any consequences at all for malfeasance.
Hegseth denying women and minorities well-earned flag rank promotions. Saying the Army helicopter pilot & crew “Kid Rock flyover” incident would not be investigated & in fact they were “patriots.” Firing top level flag officers… As a retired military officer & a citizen I fear the he is transforming our military - the only trusted government organization - into another ICE/Proud Boys/January 6th/Nazi Gestapo organization whose mission is to enforce MAGA ideals on everyone. Am I wrong? If not, is there ANYTHING we can do to stop this?
I’m fearing the same thing
I'm afraid you are right, and the FBI will also go along with labeling anyone who is opposed to a Trump policy as a "domestic terrorist" and put us in one of his gulags manned by his ICE thugs.
Excellent question
I also worry the Trump might have been told if Iran is a success his approval ratings will go through the roof & his 3rd term will be assured. That might make him stop at nothing to achieve it.
I have heard that Trump has emptied the academies of female instructors.
Do you think there will be any repercussions for Trump’s vulgar tirade?
Trump’s a lowlife and he proves it every day. Given everything he’s done up until now, no. I’m convinced his minions see themselves in Trump and he makes them feel better about their own shortcomings.
I’d like your take on the firing of three army generals, not just the army chief of staff but the head of the chaplain corps and the head of training readiness. I assume the chief of staff refused to cooperate and I’m guessing the chaplain didn’t want to go making with his evangelical Christian nationalist stance to the exclusion of others but was the head of training refusing his so-called warrior ethos?
Thanks for taking questions, Adam! I’ve been wondering about this one for a long time - with all of the mishandling and disastrous management of the military by this administration why do you think former military leaders are not speaking out? Like Mattis, Kelly etc. I would think their commentary could have a fairly large effect. And what’s the harm in trying?
Kelly is speaking out - check his Insta and whatnot. Seems that the media filters are blocking it (hm, what a surprise)
Kelly has not spoken out since 2024. I don't think he is on any social media.
I've listened to General McCaffrey speaking out on several occasions. These leaders spoke out prior to the election as well. Unfortunately it seems to be heard with deaf ears from those that need to hear it most.
the only one who spoke out recently is Mattis I believe- 2026
Isn't there any way to remove him immediately for war crimes? We can't allow this to continue. Kegsbreath seems to think it's a video game.
EXACTLY!!
100%
What is it going to take for congress to actually take these threats for nukes seriously and invoke the 25th??
Miles Taylor wrote that this cabinet won't invoke the 25th Amendment because they gamed it out in the first Trump Administration when there were actual adults in the room.
They won't. No matter what. Sickos.
SCOTUS just gave Steve Bannon a “get out of jail free card” regarding contempt of Congress. Do you think this now sets a precedent? I find that action outrageous.
I just saw that and I agree! And I am surprised they don't have to give a reason? vacating means it is sent back and can be retried again. They should give some guidance as to why they vacated it so they can fix the issues if they want to retry it.
SAME!!!
When will Republicans realize Trump is a political liability and turn against him.
Frightening in't it?
Trump is crazy and puts it on display everyday. At some point you would think self-preservation would kick in if nothing else.
Adam, I want to know what you think about how the elections in the midterms will go. Do you think he will succeed in interfering with them? And what can we do? And, do you think, at this point, that the Congress and Senate will move to impeach? Thank you.
If bombing electrical plants and bridges is a war crime, against Geneva Conventions, will the military carry out Trump’s orders or not? He will argue it’s not war crime, but who
ultimately decides that in real time?
Until they are stopped they will stop at nothing.
Is this true? If a president is a treasonous convicted felon, his entire cabinet is automatically impeached right along with him. If this is true, we need to be focusing on making this happen ASAP - NOT just sitting around planning how to celebrate his demise. ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ Four Alarm Fire!!!
I want to know this too. He is performing treason and bribery openly, isn't this what Art 2 Sec 4 is all about?
Do you have any speculation as to why there was a full bird Colonel sitting in the WSO seat of the F-15 that was shot down?
To what extent is the President’s physician held responsible for his “well being”? What we see and hear from Trump is clearly derangement and insanity. Not to mention, the rashes, black and blues, his gait (the topic of Biden’s was fodder for the world), his sleeping in meetings. The proclamations that he is the fittest person to ever hold the position is what we hear. That is obviously untrue. Can the dr be held accountable? I’m not being cheeky. I believe Americans deserve to know.