The firing of the US Army chief of staff and two other generals is just the latest personnel shakeup under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But why do this during wartime? We examine whether disagreements between Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll are behind the move, and how Hegseth’s ongoing fixation on so-called “culture wars” and loyalty could impact service members. 

For more: Trump and Hegseth on Iran war: ‘God is good’ 

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Guest: Haley Britzky, CNN National Security Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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Amid a stalled Surgeon General nomination, a federal court ruling striking down vaccine overhauls (at least for now), and anger from ‘Make America Healthy Again’ activists, some are wondering whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lost his grip on the movement that helped propel President Donald Trump back to the White House. We hear from one activist outraged by an executive order about weedkiller who says some voters “will not be coming back.” Plus, what’s going on with all the whole milk hype videos? 

For more: How RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda keeps hitting roadblocks 

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Guests: Kelly Ryerson, ‘Glyphosate Girl’ & Sarah Owermohle, CNN Health Policy Reporter 

Host/Producer: David Rind 

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images

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A crew of four astronauts are preparing for a historic mission that will take them around the far side of the moon and back, the furthest human space travel in more than 50 years. Like any space mission, the run-up has been filled with delays and safety concerns, but experts say this mission is a key part of an ambitious plan from the Trump administration to establish a lunar colony and eventually visit Mars. But is any of this feasible? And can Americans still be inspired like they were during the Space Race of the 1960s?

For more: Why haven’t humans been back to the moon in over 50 years? 

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Guest: Pam Melroy, former astronaut & NASA Deputy Administrator 

Host/Producer: David Rind 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Sam Lott/NASA

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A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable on all counts in a case that accused the tech giants of intentionally addicting a young woman and injuring her mental health. Experts say the landmark decision could open the door to a flood of other litigation that could reshape how these companies operate. But will anything actually change? We also hear from one of the hundreds of other plaintiffs suing social media companies who are hoping this verdict bodes well for them. 

Note: this episode contains discussions of eating disorders. 

For more: Listen to CNN’s “Terms of Service” podcast 

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Guest: Caroline Koziol & Clare Duffy, CNN Tech Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters

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The war with Iran has sent shockwaves through the global oil markets and jacked up gas prices in the US. But it has also caused a surge in fertilizer prices, which is straining US farmers who were already dealing with the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. We hear from one Iowa soybean and corn farmer who says his industry is suffering from the Trump administration’s self-inflicted wounds.  

For more: Fertilizer prices bring more pain for American farmers amid war in Iran 

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Guest: Joshua Manske, Iowa soybean and corn farmer 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Gordon Ebanks

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Prediction markets are opening new doors to bet on pretty much anything - even outcomes during war. But things can get pretty heated when money is on the line, and now at least one state is stepping in to accuse a major prediction market of running an illegal gambling operation. WIRED’s Kate Knibbs talks about the “casino-ification” of everything and what this could mean for the future of politics and betting.   

For more: Iran-related bets on prediction sites scrutinized over ‘death markets’ and possible insider trades 

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Guests: Jesus Martinez & Kate Knibbs, WIRED Senior Writer  

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been shy about how his Christian faith has shaped him. However, some activists fear his views could be encroaching on the secular military in unprecedented ways and influencing how commanders are framing the war in Iran. We explore a controversial pastor connected to Hegseth who is leading a growing movement rooted in Christian nationalism and the idea that women should be “submissive” to their husbands. 

For more: Inside one pastor’s crusade for Christian domination in the age of Trump 

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Guests: Pamela Brown, CNN Anchor/Chief Investigative Correspondent 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Shoshana Dubnow

Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

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Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a former federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix. 

For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war 

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Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Tami Luhby

Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images

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The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point. 

For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse? 

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Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration? 

For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal 

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Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: WH Pool

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