Deadline: White House

Episode Title: “Committing War Crimes”
Air Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Nicolle Wallace (MS NOW)

Overview

This episode tackles explosive allegations against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with bipartisan concern emerging over reports of possible U.S. war crimes in a military operation targeting suspected narco-traffickers in the Caribbean. Drawing on in-depth reporting, legal expertise, and political analysis, host Nicolle Wallace interviews key lawmakers and commentators to break down the gravity of the situation, examine congressional responses, and explore the broader implications for American democracy and accountability. The episode also touches on Donald Trump’s health and potential new threats to vaccine policy under his administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The War Crimes Allegations Against Pete Hegseth

• Washington Post Report (00:51–05:00)

  • Two sources claim Secretary Hegseth verbally ordered U.S. forces to “kill everyone aboard” a drug-running vessel and then approved a second strike against two survivors.

  • The strikes resulted in over 80 deaths across 23 boat attacks.

  • Both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees have initiated bipartisan inquiries.

  • Quote:
    “What happened here, Nicolle, clearly was either a war crime or a murder or both. ... It’s his direct or indirect orders that there be lethal kinetic strikes on all these boats that resulted in these deaths, and he has to be held accountable.”
    – Sen. Richard Blumenthal [04:49]

• Congressional Response & Classification Issues (04:18–06:56)

  • Sen. Blumenthal calls for declassification of the relevant Office of Legal Counsel memo and public release of all evidence, including video of the strikes.

  • Hypocrisy noted: While Hegseth is shielded, known trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández was pardoned.

  • Quote:
    “I was really seriously dissatisfied and disappointed in the legal reasoning. ... The American people have a right to know what is in that memorandum.”
    — Sen. Blumenthal [04:31]

2. Legal and Ethical Dimensions

• Law of War and “Shipwrecked” Example (06:56–09:51)

  • Hegseth’s confirmed live monitoring of the operation and order aligns with the exact “don’t” cited in the military’s manual: Do not attack shipwrecked individuals.

  • Quote:
    “Every private in the United States Army, every midshipman in the Naval Academy is taught these basic rules. ... It is a violation of basic tenets of military law, and there’s a reason for them... these rules protect our own troops.”
    — Sen. Blumenthal [08:18]

• Chain of Command & Blame Shifting (09:51–11:36)

  • The White House appears to shift blame to Admiral Mitch Bradley, head of Special Operations Command, but Blumenthal insists responsibility lies with Hegseth as the top civilian authority.

  • Quote:
    “...the responsibility should go to the very top. And that’s why I’ve said Hegseth must resign or be fired or put on leave while these investigations go forward.”
    — Sen. Blumenthal [10:56]

3. Transparency and Oversight

• Request for Transparency & Whistleblower Protections (14:00–14:23, 15:51–17:55)

  • Bipartisan preservation of records demanded.

  • Discussion on the need for whistleblowers to come forward, referencing past courageous witnesses such as Lt. Col. Vindman and Fiona Hill.

  • Quote:
    “If you care about narco-trafficking, you should want the truth. If you care about our national security, you should demand the facts and full disclosure to the American people.”
    — Sen. Blumenthal [14:39]

4. Political Fallout and Congressional Dynamics

• Cracks in GOP Support and Congressional Calculus (15:51–19:26)

  • Eddie Glaude and Rep. Eric Swalwell discuss how Republican support for Trump is wavering due to mounting evidence and public pressure.

  • “Safety in numbers” is necessary for Republicans to stand up without individual political risk.

  • Quote:
    “They have to have an environment where they feel strength in numbers.”
    — Rep. Eric Swalwell [19:00]

5. Calls for Moral Leadership

• Standing Up to the Administration (22:04–23:38)
  • Examples given (Sen. Kelly) of leadership under duress: “When you know you’re right and you have the courage to stand on it, then you could face any bully anytime...” — Eddie Glaude [22:19]
  • Trump administration’s second term seen as openly flouting rules, fostering a sense of impunity.

6. Trump’s Health and Transparency

• MRI, Cognitive Testing, and Public Opaqueness (27:08–36:02)

  • Trump, the oldest president, claims “perfect” MRI results but cannot specify what part of his body was scanned (28:11–28:19).

  • Dr. Vin Gupta critiques the selective and opaque release of health information; explains the limitations of the MOCA cognitive screen.

  • Quote:
    “It’s unusual, Nicolle, to get a selective MRI of the torso as a primary screening tool...”
    — Dr. Vin Gupta [30:47]
    “He’s sitting there citing a tool that is very imperfect when you’re really wanting to... say, I’m cognitively very intact.”
    — Dr. Vin Gupta [33:23]

  • Swalwell adds: “It’s like my 4-year-old who tells me he didn’t get into the cookie jar, when you’re telling me you got into the cookie jar, with the cookie jar over and over your face.” [34:46]

7. New Threats to Vaccine Policy

• FDA Moves Against Vaccines (37:27–41:10)

  • Under vaccine-skeptic leadership, the FDA claims, without evidence, that COVID vaccines killed children—alarming doctors and the public.

  • Dr. Gupta references recent Lancet data showing vaccine benefits outweigh risks, especially compared to COVID infection in kids.

  • Quote:
    “They announced these vaccine changes... because they were quite dramatic. ... That’s code in this case for basically not having an annual flu shot.”
    — Dr. Vin Gupta [39:30]

  • Eddie Glaude stresses the human toll and denounces the cynicism:
    “It’s not only just cynical. I think it’s monstrous...remember the empty chairs (from COVID deaths) and let that be the basis for our judgment of what they’re doing now.” [41:22]

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “What happened here, Nicolle, clearly was either a war crime or a murder or both.”
  – Sen. Blumenthal [04:49]
• “Every private in the United States Army, every midshipman in the Naval Academy is taught these basic rules.”
  – Sen. Blumenthal [08:18]
• “If you care about narco trafficking, you should want the truth. If you care about our national security, you should demand the facts and full disclosure...”
  – Sen. Blumenthal [14:39]
• “They have to have an environment where they feel strength in numbers.”
  – Rep. Swalwell [19:00]
• “When you know you’re right and you have the courage to stand on it, then you could face any bully anytime...”
  – Eddie Glaude [22:19]
• Trump on his MRI:
  – Q: “What part of your body was the MRI looking at?”
  A: “I have no idea. It was just an MRI.”
  [28:15–28:19]
• Dr. Gupta on Trump’s health transparency:
  – “It’s unusual, Nicolle, to get a selective MRI of the torso as a primary screening tool...” [30:47]
• Dr. Gupta on cognitive tests:
  – “He’s sitting there citing a tool that is very imperfect when you’re really wanting to... say, I’m cognitively very intact.” [33:23]
• Rep. Swalwell’s analogy:
  – “It’s like my 4-year-old who tells me he didn’t get into the cookie jar, when you’re telling me you got into the cookie jar, with the cookie jar over and over your face.” [34:46]
• Dr. Gupta on vaccines:
  – “What are the side effects of the vaccine versus the side effects of infection with COVID 19 in kids? … The risk is a lot larger if you’re infected and you’re a child with COVID than a very small risk potentially with the vaccine.” [38:33]
• Eddie Glaude on vaccine policy:
  – “It’s not only just cynical. I think it’s monstrous… I want to remember the empty chairs and I want to remember what we went through…” [41:22]

Notable Segments (Timestamps)

• War Crimes Discussion/Reporting: 00:51–06:56
• Sen. Blumenthal Interview (Deep Dive): 04:18–15:13
• Whistleblower and Congressional Dynamics: 15:51–19:26
• Moral Leadership Conversation (Kelly Example): 22:04–23:38
• Analysis of Trump’s Health Claims: 27:08–36:02
• FDA/Vaccines Controversy: 37:27–41:22

Tone & Language

• Candid, urgent, and unflinching in confronting the legal and moral gravity of the alleged military actions.
• Analytical and at times impassioned, especially in discussions of accountability, congressional responsibility, and public health.
• Consistently expert-driven, with legal and medical insight grounding the analysis.

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its clear-eyed focus on governmental accountability in times of crisis. By airing disturbing new evidence of U.S. military misconduct and the disturbing weakening of public health policy and transparency in leadership, Nicolle Wallace and her guests deliver a powerful call for investigation, truth, and courage—emphasizing the stakes not just for the current administration, but for the integrity of American democracy and the lives of everyday people.