The Daily

A One-Man Blockade Against the U.S. Military

Jul 24, 2023

Karoun Demirjian, a Congressional correspondent for The New York Times, dives into Senator Tommy Tuberville's blockade of military promotions. This former football coach is challenging Pentagon policies on abortion rights, causing a significant hiccup in military leadership transitions. Demirjian explores the fallout of this political maneuvering, highlighting its impact on military readiness and funding amidst growing tensions over social issues. Tune in as she unpacks the intricate dance between political agendas and national security.

24:56

Creator website

Episode guests

Karoun Demirjian

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

Political Maneuvers and Military Readiness

10min

Influence of Far-Right Politics on Military Policy

3min

Tensions in Military Funding and Social Issues

4min

Navigating the Senate's Military Nomination Blockade

2min

Political Stalemate: Military Promotions and Protests

4min

For the past few months, a single senator — Tommy Tuberville — has blocked hundreds of promotions in the U.S. military.

Karoun Demirjian, a congressional correspondent for The Times, explains what’s behind the senator’s blockade, and why military leaders say it’s becoming a threat to national security.

Guest: Karoun Demirjian, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Tuberville’s bid to reverse a Pentagon policy ensuring abortion access for service members has delayed the smooth transfer of power at the highest echelons of the armed forces.
Here’s David Firestone of Times Opinion on Tuberville’s blockade.

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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