Mark Bland dives into two big political stories. First, he unpacks a recent high-profile military meeting where Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed a bold new vision for the armed forces, focusing on a tougher mindset and controversial changes to department priorities. Bland notes the chilly response from military leaders, hinting at unease with talk of redirecting focus to domestic issues, which some see as a risky shift in tone. He ties this to broader concerns about state-level plans, like Missouri's, to ramp up security measures. Second, Bland tackles the ongoing government shutdown, sparked by a congressional standoff over budget disputes. With hundreds of thousands of federal workers sidelined and millions in daily costs piling up, the closure's hitting everything from public services to economic confidence. Bland points to past shutdowns under similar leadership, criticizing the lack of compromise and growing political divides that threaten stability. He warns that these moves could signal a troubling direction for the country, urging listeners to stay sharp. The Left Hook Saturdays at 9 AM Central on WIBH or KRLL, or visit markbland.net for more.