“The North Star is the truth. Tell it. And if you can’t, explain why.” — Col. David Lapan (Ret.)

We had the distinct honor of sitting down with Colonel David Lapan, retired Marine and former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Secretaries of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a wide-ranging, timely conversation, Colonel Lapan unpacks the critical balance between national security and democratic accountability, the dangers of politicizing the military, and how press freedom strengthens—not weakens—our institutions.

We delve into his 30+ years of military service, his pivotal role in launching the media embed program during the Iraq War, and why he left DHS during the Trump administration. Lapan also shares pointed thoughts on recent efforts to restrict Pentagon press access and the implications of political theater in national defense.

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⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics:

[00:00:00] Intro to Colonel David Lapan and the state of hockey 🏒

[00:04:00] From college dropout to enlisted Marine to colonel

[00:07:00] Journalism roots and shift into public affairs

[00:09:00] Inside the Pentagon pre- and post-9/11

[00:12:00] Designing the media embed program for Iraq

[00:16:00] Why press transparency during war matters

[00:23:00] Serving as press secretary under Secretary John Kelly at DHS

[00:27:00] Why Lapan resigned: integrity vs. political pressure

[00:34:00] What “tell the truth” means in government service

[00:38:00] Recent restrictions on Pentagon press corps

[00:47:00] Defending the First Amendment in uniform

[00:56:00] Critiquing the theater of recent military briefings

[01:03:00] The risks of poorly trained federal agents

[01:06:00] How polarization affects veterans and service members

[01:09:00] Final thoughts: can we still talk across differences?

🧠 Key Takeaways:

Truth Above All: “The North Star is the truth” is not just a slogan—it's a standard for ethical public service.

Press Isn’t the Enemy: Limiting access and controlling narratives damages democracy and military credibility.

Political Theater Has Real Costs: Grandstanding undermines military readiness and public trust.

Good People, Hard Choices: Many principled professionals served during the Trump administration—and some had to walk away.

Courage Comes in Many Forms: Sometimes that means resisting pressure to spin or mislead.

💬 Notable Quotes:

“Being a Marine doesn’t mean shutting up—it means standing up for what’s right.” — Col. David Lapan

“We’ve defended the Constitution our whole lives. Now we’re watching it be trampled from within.” — Col. David Lapan

“Reporters aren’t the problem. Lack of transparency is.” — Col. David Lapan

“You don't protect the country by hiding the truth from its people.” — Col. David Lapan

Corey is @coreysnathan on...

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