Eric and Eliot address the latest buffoonery emanating from the Pentagon before turning to a discussion about Trump's evolving position on Russia. They also address the horrendous situation in Gaza and try to apportion blame as fairly as possible given the difficulty of parsing statements by both Hamas and the Israeli government. The conversation includes updates on the situations in Syria, Iran, and domestically on Columbia University's recent settlement with the Trump Administration.

Secretary of Defense Hegseth's Think Tank Ban:

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/28/pentagon-think-tank-ban-confusion-reaction-00480095

Hegseth's Clash with Pentagon Leadership:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/us/politics/hegseth-pentagon-leadership.html

Matti Friedman: Is Gaza Starving? Searching for the Truth in an Information War:

https://www.thefp.com/p/matti-friedman-is-gaza-starving-searching-for-truth-in-information-war

Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.