Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is at the centre of a scandal – so how bad things could things get under his watch? After a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat discussing war plans, all focus is on the former Fox News host we discuss if he’ll get fired – or if he’ll stick around making things worse. Ben Makuch is a freelance national security reporter who writes for the Guardian among other outlets and joins us for this bonus edition. 

Back us on Patreon – we need your help to keep going. Get ad free episodes, extra bits and merch: https://www.patreon.com/c/americanfriction 

We’re now on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanFrictionPod 

Follow us on social media: 

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/americanfric.bsky.social 

Instagram 

TikTok

Written and presented by Chris Jones and Jacob Jarvis Audio editor: Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis Executive producer: Martin Bojtos. Artwork by James Parrett. Music: Orange Factory Music. AMERICAN FRICTION is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices