The Daily

The Navy’s Very Expensive Mistake

Feb 13, 2023

Eric Lipton, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, dives into the challenging saga of the Navy's littoral combat ships. He reveals how these ships, initially seen as a game-changer, became a financial burden due to mechanical failures. The podcast uncovers grassroots lobbying to save these flawed vessels despite calls for their retirement, highlighting the fierce tug-of-war between military officials and Congress shaped by campaign contributions. Listen in as Lipton explores the complex relationship between national security and accountability in today’s military landscape.

23:17

Creator website

Episode guests

Eric Lipton

Highlights

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Episode notes

The Corvette of the Ocean

00:36

The Navy Retires Its Older Ships

00:31

Intro

2min

Littoral Combat Ship: A Troubling Journey

7min

Struggles of the Littoral Combat Ships

6min

The Battle Over Naval Ship Retirement

8min

Incidents of National Security and Accountability

3min

Amid growing threats from rivals like China, the United States military is determined to invest in new forms of defense and abandon those that no longer meet its needs.

On that list: a combat ship rife with flaws. But getting rid of the ship has proved unexpectedly difficult.

Guest: Eric Lipton, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

After years of crippling problems and a changing mission, the Navy pushed to retire nine of its newest ships. Then the lobbying started.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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