In this in-depth interview, Casey Wardynski — former Assistant Secretary of the Army, West Point graduate, and longtime Pentagon official — shares firsthand insight into how power operates inside Washington, D.C., and what he witnessed during some of the most consequential moments in recent American history.

Wardynski discusses January 6, civilian control of the military, Pentagon leadership dynamics, intelligence agencies, defense budgeting, and the challenges facing the U.S. armed forces after decades of war. Drawing on decades of experience at the highest levels of government, he explains how entrenched bureaucracy and unelected officials influence policy decisions long after elected leaders come and go.