In Top Gun Maverick They Picked the Girl. For Midnight Hammer, They Picked the Best.

Summary

Podcast Summary: Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning with Sasha Stone
Episode Title: In Top Gun Maverick They Picked the Girl. For Midnight Hammer, They Picked the Best.
Host: Sasha Stone
Release Date: June 23, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning, host Sasha Stone delves into the juxtaposition between Hollywood’s portrayal of heroism in the film Top Gun Maverick and the real-life military operation termed Operation Midnight Hammer. Through an engaging blend of film critique and political analysis, Stone explores themes of heroism, gender roles, and political polarization.

Top Gun Maverick vs. Operation Midnight Hammer

Sasha Stone opens the discussion by drawing parallels between the climactic mission in Top Gun Maverick and the real Operation Midnight Hammer, a purported strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Sasha Stone [00:47]: "After the bombs dropped in Iran's nuclear facilities, there were some rumblings on X that the mission felt eerily familiar."

She references General Eric Kurilla, who narrates the strategic precision of the operation, mirroring the high-stakes missions depicted in the film.

General Eric Kurilla [00:29]: "Operation Midnight Hammer. A deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. This was a complex and high risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and discipline by our joint force."

Heroes and Their Representation

Stone praises Top Gun Maverick for its portrayal of heroes, emphasizing that the film doesn’t preach but entertains, reminding audiences of the timeless hero's journey.

Sasha Stone [02:22]: "It merely entertains us for a couple of hours by reminding us why we need heroes and why we'll always respond to the hero's journey."

She contrasts this with the current political climate, where public support for military operations is deeply divided.

Sasha Stone [24:12]: "Maybe we're so divided because we no longer share the same heroes and we no longer share the same enemies."

Gender Roles in Military Missions

A significant portion of the episode critiques the decision in Top Gun Maverick to select a female pilot for the critical mission, questioning its authenticity and necessity.

Sasha Stone [15:34]: "They chose the girl to fly the critical mission. I didn't buy it."

She argues that while gender equality is essential, certain high-stakes missions may warrant selecting the most qualified individual regardless of gender.

Sasha Stone [15:45]: "A mission like the one in Top Gun Maverick and Operation Hammer is the kind of mission where you don't take chances like that."

Political Polarization and Military Actions

Stone shifts to a political analysis of the public and partisan reactions to Operation Midnight Hammer, highlighting the unprecedented call for impeachment from various factions within the Democratic Party.

Sasha Stone [26:38]: "But in so doing, they destroyed much of what we need from movies. We don't just need heroes, we need men to be heroes."

She underscores the rarity of bipartisan support in military actions, lamenting the current state of political discourse where achievements like Operation Midnight Hammer are overshadowed by partisan grudges.

Sasha Stone [24:12]: "And maybe we're so divided because we no longer share the same heroes and we no longer share the same enemies."

Operation Midnight Hammer’s Execution and Aftermath

Through the simulated dialogue of General Kurilla, the podcast illustrates the complexities and challenges faced during Operation Midnight Hammer, paralleling the intense sequences in Top Gun Maverick. The mission is portrayed as meticulously planned yet fraught with unexpected obstacles, emphasizing the unpredictability of real-world military engagements.

General Eric Kurilla [17:36]: "Now, Let me be 100% clear. President Trump has more spine, more intestinal fortitude, more cojones than any president of my lifetime. By far."

Conclusion

Sasha Stone wraps up the episode by reflecting on the enduring need for heroes in both cinema and real life. She emphasizes that while Hollywood can inspire and unify, the current political divisions hinder collective support for commendable military actions.

Sasha Stone [20:04]: "But in so doing, they destroyed much of what we need from movies. We don't just need heroes, we need men to be heroes."

Stone calls for a resurgence of shared heroes and unified support for national endeavors, drawing a clear line between the inspiring narratives of films like Top Gun Maverick and the often fragmented reality of political discourse.

Notable Quotes

• Sasha Stone [02:22]: "It merely entertains us for a couple of hours by reminding us why we need heroes and why we'll always respond to the hero's journey."

• Sasha Stone [15:34]: "They chose the girl to fly the critical mission. I didn't buy it."

• Sasha Stone [24:12]: "And maybe we're so divided because we no longer share the same heroes and we no longer share the same enemies."

• General Eric Kurilla [26:38]: "President Trump has more spine, more intestinal fortitude, more cojones than any president of my lifetime. By far."

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This episode intricately weaves cinematic storytelling with real-world military and political analysis, offering listeners a multifaceted perspective on heroism, gender dynamics, and the current state of American politics.

Transcript

[Sasha Stone]

Hi, this is Free Thinking through the fourth Turning. My name is Sasha Stone. This is the audio version of a video I [e-mail] in Top Maverick, they picked the girl. For Midnight Hammer, they picked the best. Let's hear it for our boys on those bombers.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Last night, on the President's orders, US Central Command under the command of General Eric Kurilla executed Operation Midnight Hammer. A deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. This was a complex and high risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and.

[Sasha Stone]

Discipline by our joint force. After the bombs dropped in Iran's nuclear facilities, there were some rumblings on X that the mission felt eerily familiar. Mike Ben said Operation Hammer is the same mission that played out in the grand finale of Joseph Kaczynski's Top Gun Maverick.

[General Eric Kurilla]

The Oscar nominated best picture of the year in 2022. This has been an obsession of mine all week. I've been meaning to make this video all week and I just saw Fox News.

[Sasha Stone]

His followers quickly pointed out that they're using fighter jets in Top Maverick, not the stealth B2 bomber. The two billion dollar plane is called the Ghost of the Skies because it is undet on radar.

[General Eric Kurilla]

In the dead of night, a whisper slices through the air. Unseen and unheard, it penetrates the world's most sophisticated air defenses. This phantom can deliver a payload powerful enough to alter the course of history. Well, he isn't here yet. Mach 10. Let's give Mach 10.

[Sasha Stone]

Even if the rough details are the same, the mission is slightly different. Because in the film the pilot's skill is everything. Top Gun Maverick is the American film industry at its finest. Just as Operation Hammer is the American military at its finest. The film gives back more than it takes. It doesn't lecture us, it doesn't try to fix us.

[General Eric Kurilla]

That's keep the program alive. I don't like that look, Matt. It's the only one I.

[Sasha Stone]

It merely entertains us for a couple of hours by reminding us why we need heroes and why we'll always respond to the hero's journey.

[General Eric Kurilla]

North Star control, loud and clear. How me? Loud and clear. Takeoff pre checks complete. Ready for ap. You start. Ready. Left engine start. Ready. Right engine Start.

[Sasha Stone]

We need heroes because as the Buddhists say, life is suffering. We need them because every day we wake up alive is a good day. But most of our days are mundane and ordinary. And that might explain why Top Maverick resonated so deeply three years ago. After Covid and the Great awokening brought Hollywood to its knees, the film industry desperately Needed a deus ex machina. When Top Gun Maverick made upwards of 700 million, it looked like it had finally arrived.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Kane just pulled up to the gate.

[Sasha Stone]

It's not too late to stop, buddy.

[General Eric Kurilla]

You know what happens to you if you go through with this. I know what happens to everyone else if I don't. Dark Star's ready for takeoff. Everyone go for takeoff. Starting with engine. Engine. Go.

[Sasha Stone]

Thermals. Go.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Fuel. Go. Electric. Go. Control surfaces.

[Sasha Stone]

Go.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Dark Star Control. You are cleared for takeoff. Nice, sweetheart. One last ride. You are cleared above 6.00. Increase the Mach. 3.5. Cleared above 6.00. Increased to Mach 3.5.

[Sasha Stone]

It also earned a well deserved Best Picture nomination and probably should have won. But it's been a while since they picked the actual Best picture of the year. Like the first Top Gun, Maverick was criticized as military propaganda. But we do ask our soldiers to fight and die in war as we sit in cafes with matcha lattes. So it's the least we can do to make a movie celebrating them. Turns out Top Maverick isn't propaganda for the military. It's propaganda for the human race. It's propaganda for even having hopes and dreams at all. It's propaganda for feeling like a winner when the whole world is against you. We need heroes to take us on that journey, even if we didn't know we needed them. We only have to watch them on screen to understand why. Tom Cruise in Top Gun is our ordinary world. He's brought back into the extraordinary because he's the only pilot who can fly like that and reach Mach. 10.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Temperature's climbing. Response is still stable. We're feeling good. Mach 8.8. 8.9. Mach 9. He's the fastest man. Al, document. Goose. Mach 9 1, line 2. Mach 939 4. Approaching high hypersonic. Windshield.

[Sasha Stone]

Hot.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Caution. Surface temp rising. Come, let's switch on just a little. Just a little.

[Sasha Stone]

Come on.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Come on. Put that in your bed.

[Sasha Stone]

What's so great about Top Maverick is that while it shows our hero succeeding, it also shows him pushing too far and failing. We're now hooked to see if he can learn his lesson.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Oh, don't do it. Don't do it. Just a little push.

[Sasha Stone]

Holy.

[General Eric Kurilla]

You got some balls, stick jockey. I'll give you that.

[Sasha Stone]

Oh.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Maverick. Maverick.

[Sasha Stone]

Like all heroes, Maverick must be blessed with something special. That makes him the only person who can save the day.

[General Eric Kurilla]

As of today, there are new mission parameters. Time to target is now four minutes. You'll be entering the valley level at reduced speed not to exceed 420 knots, sir. Won't we be giving their planes time to intercept? Well, Lieutenant, you have a fighting chance against enemy aircraft. What are the odds of surviving a head on collision with a mountain? You'll be attacking the target from a higher altitude. Level with the north wall. Gonna be a little harder to keep your laser on target. But you will avoid the high G. Climb out. I'll be saving docs for enemy missiles. Who the hell is that? Maverick deranged. Entering point alpha. Confirm green range. Maverick range control. Green range is confirmed.

[Sasha Stone]

I don't see an event scheduled for you, sir.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Well, I'm going anyway.

[Sasha Stone]

Nice setting.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Time to target. 2 minutes, 15 seconds.

[Sasha Stone]

2:15.

[General Eric Kurilla]

That's impossible. File attack point. Maverick's inbound. It's it puffing a tree to. Bombs away.

[Sasha Stone]

Bullseye.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Holy damn.

[Sasha Stone]

And it might sound silly when reduced to the basics, but a tried and true formula works. We root for the hero we know the harder it is on him, the more invested we become.

[General Eric Kurilla]

You've got to be shitting me. And at 14, I shot down three megs in one of the. We don't even know if that bag of ass can fly. Let's find out. Math. Okay. It's been a minute, huh? Math. Oh, my God. This thing is so old.

[Sasha Stone]

Can't be clear.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Both runways are cratered. How are we gonna get this museum piece in the air? Why are the wings coming out? Matt, this is a taxiway, not a Runway. This is a very short taxiway, Mav. Just hang on. Holy shit. Come on, come on, come on. Beetle's alive. Come on, come on, come on. All right, here we go. Holy.

[Sasha Stone]

Top Gun. Maverick, to my mind, has very few flaws. But it does have one.

[General Eric Kurilla]

It's been an honor flying with you. Each one of you represents the best of the best. This is a very specific mission. My choice is a reflection of that and nothing more.

[Sasha Stone]

They chose the girl to fly the critical mission. I didn't buy it.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Payback and fanboy. Phoenix and Bob.

[Sasha Stone]

Maybe we could believe that extraordinary women exist just as extraordinary men do. It's only a movie, after all. But suspension of disbelief only goes so far. So I wondered if Midnight Hammer had any female pilots. And I guess this tweet answers it. Ben Domenech says New York Times highlights a deeper threat than nuclear weapons. Sexism. And John Ismay from the New York Times. In the briefing, Hegseth referred to the B2 pilots as our boys on those bombers. Yet both men and women have trained to fly them. In the film, Maverick has to be the good Guy and no male hero in his place when the film was made, would have gotten away with not choosing the girl. The first Top Gun was criticized for having only a love interest for Maverick, but no female pilots. That isn't to say women should not be pilots or fly in combat. If they can be trusted in proving capable, well, why not? But a mission like the one in Top Gun Maverick and Operation Hammer is the kind of mission where you don't take chances like that.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Jesus, Rooster, not that fast. That's it, kid. That's it. All right, let's go, Rooster. Take it easy. Sir, Dagger 2 is re engaging. All right, now hit your target and come home. 30 seconds to target. Bob, check your laser. Air to ground check complete. Laser code verified. 1688 laser is a go.

[Sasha Stone]

Monica Barbaro's character was chosen supposedly because she's the best. But no one watching the movie believes that. It seems fairly obvious that they're setting up a new Top Gun Maverick for the younger generation.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Oh, my God. Where the hell is this guy? He's on our nose. Damn it. We're out of ammo. Smoke in the air. Rooster, flares.

[Sasha Stone]

That was close. Smack. It seems fairly obvious that they're setting up a new Top Gun Maverick for the younger generation with new Goose, Rooster, his son, played by Miles Teller, and Hangman as the new Maverick, played by Glen Powell. So it seemed odd that the Powell character was sidelined for the critical mission. But then we see why he had to learn his own humility lesson so he could come back and save the day.

[General Eric Kurilla]

No, no, no, no. We can't take much this. We can't outrun this guy. We got to eject. What? We need altitude. Pull the ejection handles the second. I tell you, Rooster, there's no other way. Eject. Eject. Eject. Rooster, pull the handle. Eject. It's not working. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, guys. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is your savior. Speak. Please. Fasten your seatbelts, return your tray tables. So they're locked in upright positions and prepare for landing. Hey, Hangman, you look good. I am good, Rooster. I'm very good. I'll see you back on deck.

[Sasha Stone]

When we finally get our happy ending, it feels deserved. Our hero has gone on a journey and has returned a trip transformed man. With his deep inner wounds healed, his purpose reinstated, and a whole new Top Gun team is born.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Maverick is downwind, no front landing gear, no tail hook.

[Sasha Stone]

And the stupidest thing Hollywood ever did was remove the central male hero from movies. They did this to make movies more equitable. They did this to fix society. But in so doing, they destroyed much of what we need from movies. We don't just need heroes, we need men to be heroes. And it's okay to tell that story after Midnight Hammer was so perfectly executed, we didn't get our round of applause from many in this country. It had to be a failure because Trump has to fail. Every Democrat except John Fetterman had to go to extremes, call for Trump's impeachment, and paint the mission as a dangerous escalation to war. There was one Democrat, one of the few sane ones, who was able to articulate how awful it feels to watch an entire political party root against America because they hate Trump that much, says Dan Turrentine. It was too depressing to write this last night after we got off air, so I went to bed. But it needs to be said by more Democrats. This was not an impeachable offense and Trump did not need congressional approval for one precision attack under the circumstances, just as Obama did not when striking bin Laden. Why can't our party just say it's great we achieved the objective and destroyed Iran's nuclear site. God bless the soldiers who carried this out and made it home safely. God bless our country, military allies and we look forward to full intel briefings if one then must assert congressional authority at the moment, add that any escalation will require congressional approval. And if you must express concern for where this may go and what might come next. But for so many in my party to knee jerk with unhinged calls for impeachment and sadly omit in their statement support for Iran not having nuclear weapons, which has been a principle of our party for 40 years, is truly TDS. It isn't only the Democrats and the left. There are the usual opportunists and influencers on the right too, and some even in the party, like Thomas Massie. They all seem to think that having a public debate in Congress before bombing Iran was the better plan. The whole idea of the mission was that it was top secret. These influencers are now locking arms with the Democrats to discredit and destabilize Trump's authority and the success of Operation Hammer. Their objectives are different. The left hates Trump, the right hates Israel, but they are coming together with the same goal. To me, this proves that Top Maverick isn't military or war propaganda. Considering how popular it was, and that it rescued Hollywood in its darkest days, you'd think that the mission sold in the film would resonate more broadly with Americans and make such a mission more acceptable. But the film never names the enemy. Much was made of this fact when it first came out. So if Mike Benz and others suggest that Top Maverick was potentially a fluffer for getting the US into war with Iran, he'd be mistaken. In 2022, Slate magazine reviewed the potential enemies in this piece and ranked Iran among the least likely. But for a film to work US Propaganda, it would also have to turn us against the threat. And Top Maverick never does. So maybe this time it really is just a movie. But, oh, what a movie. I might be a movie geek, but I'm also a patriot. And maybe that comes from watching so many great war movies that for decades sold support for America and our troops. And maybe we're so divided because we no longer share the same heroes and we no longer share the same enemies. One thing I sense about Trump is that he is one of the few presidents in history who is not running for reelection and is not a lame duck and genuinely wants to do what he believes is right.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Now, Let me be 100% clear. President Trump has more spine, more intestinal fortitude, more cojones than any president of my lifetime. By far. It's not close. This, of course, is a historically courageous man. If that was not clear from the moment he stood up during the last campaign, shaking his fist and yelling fight, fight, fight. After being shot in the ear. President Trump is a man who has courage. He said for decades Iran would not have a nuclear weapon. And then he kept his word. And keeping your word is unbelievably rare. Bill Clinton, 1995, quote, we are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. George W. Bush, 2006 Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, period. Barack Obama, 2015 I have stated that Iran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Joe Biden, 2022 we will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. Donald J. Trump. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. 2025. This is a man of courage who keeps his word with spine, with true, unbelievable, heroic spine. President Trump was already a historic figure, but he is now a seminal figure in both American history and in world history. First American history. President Trump faced down a lot of haters, both Democratic America haters and their Republican horseshoe theory isolationist friends. President Trump was never going to start World War Three. That was not what was going to happen here. Anyone who told you that was going to happen was lying to you. Because President Trump lives in the world. He lives in the world of reality. And he played this absolutely perfectly. It is not possible for a president to have played this better. President Trump was not dragged into a war. He managed this with absolutely stunning professionalism, cleverness, with common sense. He gave the Israelis the ability to do what they needed to do. And then Israel did. With unbelievable courage and innovation. Israel cleared the skies. Israel killed Iran's top generals. Israel devastated their nuclear scientists. And President Trump waited. He offered Iran and off ramp, and then another off ramp, and then another off ramp, off ramps and off ramps. And then when they didn't take it, he acted brilliantly with our unparalleled American military, the greatest military in the history of planet Earth, bar none. No second competitors.

[Sasha Stone]

It might sound strange to say I feel about the military the way I do about movies, but it's true. I can only express my gratitude and say.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Thank you for saving my life. So my dad would have done.

[Sasha Stone]

Thank you for saving my life life. Thank you for listening to the podcast version of this video. You can find more and watch the [e-mail] and remember to thine own self be true. It.

[General Eric Kurilla]

I ain't worried about it I ain't worried about it I don't know.

[Sasha Stone]

What you been told the time is.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Running out so spinning like it's going I'm living like I'm non 0 got no regrets even when I'm broke.

[Sasha Stone]

I.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Ain'T worried about it right now keeping Dreams Alive 1999 I Ain't Worried about.

[Sasha Stone]

It right now Swimming in the floods.

[General Eric Kurilla]

Dancing on the coffee I ain't everybody Sir. What is this? It's dogfight football. Offense and defense at the same time. Who's winning? I think they stopped keeping score a while ago. This detachment still has some training to complete, Captain. Every available minute matters. Yes, sir. So why are we out here playing games? We said to create a team, sir. There's your team. I ain't worried about it.