Up First from NPR

Pentagon Upheaval, Hamas Releases More Hostages, NY State Prisons

61 snips
Feb 22, 2025
A significant shift in military leadership leads to debates over diversity and strategy within the Pentagon. As tensions rise, Hamas releases more hostages, intensifying the emotional narrative of ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, unrest brews in New York State prisons as correctional officers protest dire working conditions, prompting the governor to deploy National Guard troops. These stories reveal a landscape of upheaval and pressing issues at home and abroad.
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INSIGHT

Pentagon Upheaval

  • President Trump fired General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other top military officials.
  • This was reportedly due to perceived emphasis on diversity programs and a belief they were chosen for their race or gender, not skill.
ANECDOTE

C.Q. Brown's Dismissal

  • General C.Q. Brown, the second African-American chairman, was nominated by Trump during his first term.
  • Defense Secretary Hegseth criticized Brown for promoting diversity, but Brown was following civilian-set policies.
INSIGHT

Hostage Release

  • Hamas released six hostages, including four captured during the October attack and two held for a decade.
  • This exchange involved the largest single release of Palestinian prisoners during the ceasefire.
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