Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast Did Hegseth Give an Illegal “Kill Everybody” Order?
Dec 3, 2025
Join Zachary Cohen, a national security and Pentagon reporter for CNN, as he dives into the controversy surrounding illegal military orders. He discusses Senator Mark Kelly's video urging troops to refuse such orders, prompting a Pentagon investigation. Cohen addresses the implications of Defense Secretary Hegseth's remarks and the concern around potential U.S. strikes on drug traffickers. The conversation also touches on legal justifications for military actions and the broader ramifications for military protocol.
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Legal Questions Around Caribbean Strikes
- Lawmakers worried the Caribbean strikes might lack legal grounding and could treat drug suspects as "enemy combatants."
- That framing echoes the post-9/11 detention/targeting logic and raised bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill.
Refuse Unlawful Orders If They Violate Law
- Service members should remember that U.S. law and the laws of war allow refusal of unlawful orders.
- The congressional veterans' video urged vigilance and promised political backing for those who refuse illegal commands.
Partisan Clash Over General Warnings
- Republicans criticized the veterans' message for lacking specifics and warned it could endanger troops if it implied the president issues unlawful orders.
- The dispute highlights partisan tensions over when and how to challenge orders publicly.