Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway & Jessica Tarlov

Episode: Is Pete Hegseth’s Strike Scandal an Impeachable Offense?
Date: December 5, 2025
Guests: Aaron Parnas (Forbes 30 Under 30), Jessica Tarlov

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the political fallout from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's "Signal-gate" scandal, explores the legal and ethical implications of recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, and critiques the selection of candidates in recent elections. Jessica Tarlov and guest Aaron Parnas approach the latest stories from a pragmatic centrist angle, offering insights into how political missteps and intra-party conflict influence the broader fight for the “moderate middle” in American politics.

Main Discussion Points

1. Pete Hegseth’s Signal-Gate Scandal

[02:14 – 06:16]

• The Scandal:
  The Pentagon’s Inspector General found that Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed classified information regarding military strikes via Signal, an unsecured messaging platform, and failed to properly declassify that information.

• Security Breach:

  • Sharing live military operations—with timestamps—put American troops at risk.
  • Hegseth used a personal device and didn’t follow classification protocols.
  • The IG determined this wasn’t a mere “technical training” issue but a basic breach of military conduct.

• Lack of Accountability:

  • Hegseth did not sit for a full interview with the IG, though some phone screenshots were provided.
  • Congressman Pat Ryan, a former intelligence officer, told Aaron:
    “If I did what Hegseth did, I’d be serving time behind bars right now. And like, this double, triple, quadruple standard that we’re seeing is just... it’s wrong.” [03:54, Aaron quoting Pat Ryan]

• Impeachability:

  • Aaron Parnas asserts:
    “By definition, a high crime and misdemeanor. It is an impeachable offense.” [05:21, Aaron]
  • Predicts Democrats (if regaining the House) will launch a full investigation and possible impeachment against Hegseth.

• Lack of Consequence for Others:

  • Points out that others implicated, like Jeffrey Goldberg who was mistakenly added to the chat, and Mike Waltz (now at UN), still hold prestigious roles.

2. Caribbean Boat Strikes Fallout

[06:16 – 11:20]

• Admiral Bradley as Fall Guy:

  • Admiral Bradley, respected across the aisle, is seen as being scapegoated for the controversial boat strikes.
  • Only the first strike is documented; the second fatal strike is not.

• Ethical and Legal Analysis:

  • Aaron (with international law expertise) calls it a “disturbing” breach, citing that even if survivors on a burning boat tried to call for help, international law prohibits targeting shipwrecked sailors.
    “Who cares if they can get up and call someone? That’s not the standard. ...that would still not be enough to justify a second strike. ...they did not pose a threat to the United States of America.” [09:48, Aaron]

• Political Consequences:

  • White House may have worsened the situation by sacrificing Bradley, likely encouraging military personnel to leak evidence or testify against the administration.
  • “I don’t know what’s worse: Hegseth giving the order… or not knowing what happened under him. ...absent secretary of defense or intentional … murder?” [08:14, Aaron]

• Broader Reaction:

  • Both parties, including GOP Rep. Mike Turner, condemned the killings as murder and a breach of U.S. law and norms (even if the victims had cartel links).

3. Special Election: Tennessee’s 7th District

[13:23 – 18:05]

• Democratic Overperformance:

  • While the GOP held the seat, Democrats saw an unexpected 12–13 point swing.

• Issues with Candidate Selection:

  • Three moderates split the primary vote; the most left-leaning candidate (DSA member Afton Bain) won.
  • Jessica: “We probably could have done even better with one of the more centrist candidates considering how conservative Tennessee is.” [13:43]

• Strategic Takeaway:

  • Aaron:
    “You gotta run good candidates everywhere. ...You can’t just run a candidate and expect to win.” [15:50]
    “...When you say something that you may not fully believe anymore ...you could say, ‘Hey, I don’t believe that fully anymore.’ ...You gotta walk that back to win in a district like this.” [15:20, paraphrased]
  • Running far-left candidates in conservative areas is self-sabotage.

• Primaries & Nationalization:

  • Overlap in moderate platforms hurt moderate chances; races becoming “nationalized” can disadvantage Democrats.

4. Affordable Healthcare & GOP Messaging

[18:05 – 21:14]

• Republican Health Care Bill:

  • Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim the GOP will propose a healthcare bill soon is met with skepticism.
  • Aaron:
    “I don’t think he even knows. ...the party doesn’t know where it’s at in terms of healthcare. Trump wants Obamacare Lite.” [18:41]

• Democrats’ Response:

  • Jessica notes the “defend the status quo” attitude frustrates her—status quo is better than the GOP alternative but still “not good enough.”
  • Debate over whether “strong floor, no ceiling” (Dems’ new social safety net messaging) will resonate for 2026.

• Midterm Prospects:

  • Aaron:
    “If the midterms were held today, Democrats would win 250, 260 seats... But we have 11 months to go. ...the way I believe elections go is the way the economy goes.” [20:29]
  • Warns it’s not “in the bag”—economic shifts could reverse fortunes.

5. Senate Map and Candidate Quality

[21:14 – 21:45]

• Jessica and Aaron agree the Senate race is tough, with outcomes hinging on strong candidates emerging from primaries:
  “It’s about, let’s see who comes out of these primaries and go from there.” [21:40, Aaron]

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On Military Standards:
  “If I did what Hegseth did, I’d be serving time behind bars right now. And like, this double, triple, quadruple standard that we’re seeing is just... it’s wrong.”
  — Congressman Pat Ryan (via Aaron Parnas), [03:54]

• On the Boat Strikes:
  “...in that moment, they did not pose a threat to the United States of America. They were on a shipwrecked boat. And a shipwrecked boat, by definition under international law, cannot be targeted. And that is exactly what happened here.”
  — Aaron Parnas, [10:35]

• On Elections & Moderates:
  “You gotta run good candidates everywhere. ...You can’t just run a candidate and expect to win.”
  — Aaron Parnas, [15:50]

• On GOP Healthcare Strategy:
  “...the party doesn’t know where it’s at in terms of healthcare. Trump wants Obamacare Lite.”
  — Aaron Parnas, [18:41]

• On the Unknowns for 2026 Midterms:
  “It’s definitely not in the bag for Democrats. Do I think the Democrats will win the House? Yes. The question is by how much?”
  — Aaron Parnas, [21:14]

Additional Segments

Presidential Pardons: Who, Why, and What Next?

[21:45 – 24:33]

• Discussion on Trump’s spree of pardons and commutations, including high-profile Democrats (Henry Cuellar), controversial international figures, and seemingly random others.
• Aaron puzzled by some choices (“Why indict if you’re just going to pardon him?”) and speculates if it’s to look bipartisan.

Media Scandal: Olivia Nuzzi & Journalistic Ethics

[23:26 – 25:35]

• Brief touch on the impact (or lack thereof) of the Olivia Nuzzi–Ryan Lizza controversy:
  “It’s the most DC insider thing... This is not going to matter to anyone.”
  — Aaron Parnas, [24:33]

“Raging & Calming” Closing

[25:44 – 26:53]

• Raging:
  Aaron: “AI is making me rage lately. ...people don’t really realize that they’re getting so much misinformation out there.” [25:44]

• Calming:
  Aaron: “People should calm down about working during the holidays... get the time off.” [26:44]

Takeaways

• Centrist accountability is crucial for both military and political leadership.
• Political parties must prioritize strong, locally resonant candidates over ideology to win swing districts.
• Both parties face fundamental challenges in healthcare messaging and legislative readiness.
• Democratic overperformance does not guarantee 2026 victories; candidate quality and economic context will be decisive.
• Media scandals may seem huge inside the Beltway but rarely break through nationally.

For listeners seeking independent, centrist, and sharp political analysis, this episode delivers an unvarnished view of current scandals, political strategy, and the stakes of moderation in American politics.