Politico defense reporter Jacqueline Klimas and Military.com managing editor Brendan McGarry join Francis for this edition of the Pentagon Beat. They discuss the situation in Niger and the impact of Marines' hurricane support missions on future deployments.

Roger Zakheim, partner at Covington & Burling, discusses Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' National Defense Authorization Act requests to negotiators in the House and Senate.

Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall, military advisor to Veterans United Home Loans, discusses her new book -- "From the Prairie to the Pentagon."