Generals Clash With Trump as Military Turmoil Grows

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast: Generals Clash With Trump as Military Turmoil Grows

Date: August 8, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Theme:
This episode spotlights deepening conflict and unrest within the US military's upper echelons under the Trump administration, focusing on high-level firings, widespread leaks, the depletion of critical weapon stockpiles, and the growing concern among top generals and admirals. The hosts investigate how Trump, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is reshaping military leadership, often at the expense of experience and competence, and discuss the alarming consequences for US and allied security, with a particular spotlight on the ongoing Iran war and its fallout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Shakeup Among Military Leadership (00:00–04:46)

• The hosts detail a cascade of abrupt firings and resignations among the military’s most senior ranks, pinpointing these as acts of purging by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
  • Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza (Army 5th Corps) terminated early—crucial to U.S. European Command.
  • General Randy George (former Army Chief of Staff), David M. Hodeney (former Army Ranger, Training Command leader), Major General William Greene Jr. (Chief of the Army's Chaplain Corps), and General Christopher T. Donohue (Commander, US Army Europe and Africa) all ousted.
  • Quote: “These are people who would not commit war crimes, people who would not go along with the buffoonery of Hegseth. I mean, these are people who must be beside themself at what they are seeing with the Trump regime.” (Host, 01:28)
  • The ousted generals are widely regarded as competent, ethical leaders—many removed after pushing back on illegal orders or risky escalations.

2. Military Leaks & Growing Discontent (00:35–03:37)

• Surge in leaks from top officials revealing US is running dangerously low on crucial missile defense systems—Patriot, THAAD, SM-series navy interceptors, ATACMs, etc.
• Saudi Arabia reportedly depleted 90% of its interceptors, exposing frailty in US and allied defense postures.
• Quote: "We now also learn that Saudi Arabia ran through close to 90% of its interceptors..." (Host, 00:39)
• Context of increasing frustration and fear among military professionals regarding Trump and Hegseth’s management.

3. Admiral Brad Cooper & CENTCOM’s Controversial Role (02:53–04:05)

• Admiral Brad Cooper, new head of CENTCOM, is criticized both for his loyalty to Trump and for turning CENTCOM into a “Trump troll account.”
  • Embarrassing Congressional testimony; refusal to admit setbacks in Middle East operations.
  • Memorable moment: “Cooper was like, no, we're winning.” (Host, 03:00)
• Only Cooper continues to confidently tell Trump that military victory over Iran is still feasible with more escalation, despite evidence to the contrary.

4. Dan ‘Raisin’ Kane and the Homogeneity of New Appointees (03:15–04:27)

• General Dan Kane, a three-star, promoted to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs via special waiver, replacing General CQ Brown Jr., a decorated four-star (and notably a Black officer).
• Quote: “...they pushed out top talent. They brought in a white guy, Dan Raisin Cain, because they liked the name Raisin…” (Host, 04:12)
• Explicit accusation that the Trump/Hegseth administration is engaged in racist exclusion of minorities and women from leadership.
• Kane privately urges caution about further escalation with Iran, acknowledging critical shortages in missile defense and supplies.

5. Strategic & Tactical Failures in the Iran War (06:13–09:46)

• The hosts analyze the military’s inability to sustain ongoing combat operations due to the depleted stockpiles.
• Quote: “...if you escalate, we're out of interceptors and we're out of weapons at this point.” (Host, 04:30)
• Dan Kane has become “more vocal” about the futility and dangers of air power escalation, warning of “second and third order effects,” such as Iran retaliating against Arab allies’ energy infrastructure.
• Saudi Arabia, facing abandonment by the US, forges new regional defense alliances (Turkey, Pakistan), signaling collapse of US security umbrella in the Middle East.
  • Quote: “Saudi Arabia just did an alliance with Turkey, bringing Pakistan into the mix... because the US Security umbrella in the Middle east is officially dead.” (Co-host, 09:29)

6. The Removal of Lt. Gen. Costanza and Changing Military Footprint in Europe (11:29–15:38)

• Further details on Costanza’s firing—key leader for Poland/Ukraine front; his replacement comes amid drastic downsizing of the US presence in Europe.
• Sudden cancellation of major Army deployments undermines NATO support, raises concerns among European allies.
• Additional firings: former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall loses security clearance following comments about deficiencies in new Air Force One aircraft.
  • Quote: “So some mix of security, communications and support is missing... With the Iran situation, this could be of concern. I'm surprised to see this plane used outside of the United States.” (Frank Kendall, via NYT, cited at 15:34)

7. Deeper Patterns: Dictatorship Paranoia & Military Purges (15:34–End)

• The brothers tie these purges to broader patterns observed in undemocratic regimes: replacement of competent, independent-minded officers with loyalists.
  • “That's just the thing that you see in dictatorships a lot. It's one of the downfalls to dictatorships.” (Host, 17:15)
• Consequences: eroding competence, morale, and stability in key national security institutions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump and Netanyahu:
  "I think Trump is a war criminal. I think Netanyahu is a war criminal."
  – Host, 05:20
• On leadership firings:
  "Dozens of our, you know, the most respected are out and they've been forced out by Hegseth. We see all of these leaks happening and you know, you get rid of your top tier team and clearly... that's one of the reasons... the US doesn't have the best people..."
  – Host, 16:37
• Blunt characterization of new leadership:
  "Idiots—let's call them idiots. Scumbags like Hexith and trauma trump dummies who behave this way, get rid of people who intimidate them, who are smart, which basically everybody."
  – Host, 17:35

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:58: Overview of military purges, weapons shortages, and high-level leaks
• 03:00–04:00: Critique of Admiral Brad Cooper and CENTCOM’s public messaging
• 04:05–05:34: Discussion of Dan Kane’s appointment; racial and qualification commentary
• 05:36–06:43: Trump’s and Hegseth’s strategic blunders and ongoing war crimes allegations
• 06:43–09:43: Interview breaks down strategic off-ramps, escalation risks, and crumbling US alliances in the Middle East
• 11:29–15:34: In-depth on Costanza's firing; cutbacks in Europe, NATO consequences, Frank Kendall scandal
• 15:34–18:03: Reflection on dictatorship patterns, final thoughts

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Tone and Takeaways

The episode blends passionate advocacy for democratic norms and military integrity with characteristic MeidasTouch humor and sharp, unapologetic condemnation of what they describe as incompetence, racism, and criminality among Trump and his appointees. The brothers argue that the current turmoil in military leadership and battlefield deficiencies are not merely blunders, but dangerous symptoms of authoritarian paranoia—putting US and allied security, as well as the military’s reputation, at great risk.

For listeners, this episode provides a sobering, at times biting, window into the military crisis and political infighting of the era, while calling for vigilance, accountability, and support for those who resist unlawful orders and escalation.

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Transcript

[Host]

We are seeing a full fledged military resistance against Trump and Hegseth top generals and admirals are pushing back right now. You have Hegseth firing like all of these top level people because he's so utterly pathetic. I've been reporting earlier this week about all of the military leaks at the highest level to all of these major media outlets, top generals, top admirals, other top military officials leaking how the US has run out of patriot interceptors, THAAD interceptors, SM2, SM3, SM6 anti ballistics from the Navy, destroyers, ATACMs and so much other military equipment. We now also learn that Saudi Arabia ran through close to 90% of its interceptors and here is what has happened in a very short period of time. Learned on Friday. Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commander of the Army's 5th Corps has just been terminated early. That's a key command post for U.S. europe Command. You previously have learned from watching the Midas Touch network or elsewhere. General Randy George, four star former Army Chief of Staff. He was let go and forced out by Hegseth. David M. Hodeney, former Army Ranger who led the Army's transformation and training Command. Forced out. You had Major General William Greene Jr. Chief of the Army's Chaplain Corps. He was pushed out, of course, in the past two to three months as well. General Christopher T. Donohue, he was forced out by Hegseth as well. And he was the commander of US Army Europe and Africa. So you had Costanza, one of the commanders in Europe, Army's 5th Corps and you had General Charles General Christopher T. Donohue Commander of US Army Europe and Africa for staff. These are some of the top people too, some of the most respected people, people who would not commit war crimes, people who would not go along with the buffoonery of Hegseth. I mean these are people who must be beside themself at what they are seeing with the Trump regime. And one of things we're learning as well is it seems that these people absolutely despise Brad Cooper or a lot of them do. The guy who's now running centcom, Admiral Brad Cooper, you know that guy who's basically turned CENTCOM into a Trump troll account. He had that awful appearance before Congress where we had numerous members of Congress who served our country bravely cross examining him a few months back. And Cooper was like, no, we're winning.

[Co-host]

We control the Strait of Hormuz.

[Host]

It was so damn embarrassing. Some of the leaks that are coming out right now, is that really the only person who's still telling Donald we

[Co-host]

still Have a shot. We still have a shot at beating Iran if we just escalate a little more and do an air war.

[Host]

Donald, is that Admiral Brad Cooper is centcom? Let's take a look at what's happened. You also have General Dan Kane, who's the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who, when studying what's going on behind the scenes, this guy's not qualified for this position.

[Co-host]

You know, he's a three star general, let's be clear.

[Host]

I mean, that's very impressive, you know, but he's not a four star. And he had to get a waiver to become the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Remember, the Trump regime fired CQ Brown Jr. Who was a four star, very qualified.

[Co-host]

He was actually appointed by Trump to top level position during Trump's first administration. Then Biden elevated him one more time

[Host]

to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

[Co-host]

But Pete Hegseth doesn't want black people,

[Host]

minorities, or women in leadership positions in the military. And because Trump and Hegseth are racist and they have a racist regime, they pushed out top talent. They brought in a white guy, Dan Raisin Cain, because they liked the name Raisin, who had to get a waiver because he was not qualified for the position.

[Co-host]

I mean, to be fair of a lot of people, I mean, he, he

[Host]

has been raising the issue that the United States is out of Interceptors and that it would be a bad decision. He's been the voice against centcom close to Trump saying, do not escalate, because if you escalate, we're out of Interceptors and we're out of weapons at this point.

[Co-host]

But also, you're chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The buck kind of stops with you. I mean, also the head of centcom and the other positions. But like you should have been doing,

[Host]

I don't know, you know, either resign

[Co-host]

or you should be doing a lot, a lot more than allowing our weapons

[Host]

to be depleted in this way.

[Co-host]

I mean, it's, it's like tapping out in the first quarter of a four quarter basketball game.

[Host]

It's kind of like basic war 101. I mean, what the heck is even going on?

[Co-host]

Let me be very clear.

[Host]

We should never have been involved in this catastrophic war. I think Trump is a war criminal. I think Netanyahu is a war criminal.

[Co-host]

So please don't misconstrue my criticism of

[Host]

the military tactics as a promotion of the war.

[Co-host]

Far from it.

[Host]

I just want to point out that these people are not just malicious and evil in the Trump regime. They are incompetent. And are military generals who, many of them are very courageous, a lot of them, and brave, and people who deserve our support, who deserve our appreciation. They were not listened to in favor of hegseth and sycophants. And I think being a true patriotic American who supports our military generals should call out on law, awful and catastrophic wars. I think that's what makes you supporting your military. What we're doing here, what makes us supportive is calling out when our force

[Co-host]

is used unlawfully or criminally. Not to mention you then have the

[Host]

Trump regime engaged in all of those war crimes in the Caribbean and in the Pacific where they just blow up fishing boats and have slaughtered hundreds and hundreds of people.

[Co-host]

And you remember that the prior leader of southcom resigned as well because didn't want to be involved in war crimes. And then they replaced them with someone

[Host]

who gladly was going to be involved in war crime.

[Co-host]

So let's talk about what we're learning. Let's be diligent here. In recent weeks, General Dan Raisin Kane has discussed privately with Trump and other generals the prospect of finding an immediate off ramp from the war with Iran because the military options on the table

[Host]

to escalate carry various risks and air

[Co-host]

power alone is unlikely to achieve Trump

[Host]

stated objectives, whatever the hell that is.

[Co-host]

And this is what sources told Zachary Cohen. Cohen's been a pretty good reporter on,

[Host]

very good reporter on this.

[Co-host]

Cain is looking for an off ramp.

[Host]

Sources are saying, let's dig into this a little more right here.

[Co-host]

So one of the things that we're saying in response. Trump has consistently appeared averse to the idea of deploying ground troops. Kane and others in Trump's cabinet privately view that outcome as unlikely and instead have sought to develop other options that fit within Trump's own parameters. According to multiple people, that it's not

[Host]

going to be a ground invasion and

[Co-host]

any escalation by air is likely not going to result in any appreciable different outcome. In fact, it will likely lead to

[Host]

strengthening the hand of Iran.

[Co-host]

Uh, the article goes on to say the only ones in favor of the operation to escalate by air are elements of centcom. Trump ultimately decided to back off after talking with Middle east allies also who told him they were afraid of Iranian retaliation, specifically retaliatory attacks on their energy infrastructure. And these dwindling US Stockpiles of interceptors and weapons has also been very, very, very has been very alarming to people in the military and they've been telling that to Trump. Privately, Cain has been more direct in acknowledging the limits of air power and reiterating his view that bombing alone is unlikely to achieve Trump stated objectives at this stage of the war. According to again, top people who have been speaking with cnn, Kane appears to have become more vocal about the potential second and third order effects of potential US Escalation in recent weeks, meaning that if the US Attacked Iran by air, we're out of attack. The Himars were out of the interceptors, we're out of SM2, SM3 anti ballistics, SM sixes. And so Iran would be able to strike the infrastructure, the energy infrastructure of the Arab nations with impunity. And so the Arab nations, you know, like Saudi Arabia, which went through 90%

[Host]

of its stockpiles, like you can't, you

[Co-host]

aren't able to protect us. Saudi Arabia just did an alliance with Turkey, bringing Pakistan into the mix because Saudi Arabia has a defense alliance with Pakistan, because the US Security umbrella in the Middle east is officially dead.

[Host]

Let's be very clear about that.

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[Host]

so you

[Co-host]

have that going on with Dan Kane now. We had this happen A top US General in Europe was abruptly removed from command One of the Pentagon's top generals overseeing military operations in Europe has been removed from command, the army confirmed on Friday, nearly two months before his time on the job would have naturally wrapped up. Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commander of the Army's 5th Corps, was the proud, mighty 5th was removed from command in recent days, according to a service spokesperson. Though the circumstances surrounding the removal was unclear, Costanza's Costanza's removal comes amid a broader shakeup of the military senior ranks, with more than two dozen high ranking officers removed or sidelined under Pete Hegseth reign, often without public explanation. But a source familiar with Costanza's removal said it was unrelated to Hegset's broader effort to reshape the military's top leadership. Sure. Costanza's replacement is Major General Thomas Feltly. The 5th Corps is responsible for overseeing U.S. army forces and coordinating operations across Europe. Partially based in Poland, the Corps has taken an increasingly prominent role since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, helping coordinate U.S. support for Kiev and managing the American military footprint along NATO front lines. So, so we just fired our top person. That's basically helping in Poland, the closest to the front in Ukraine. The Pentagon has downsized the US Military footprint in Europe this year, most notably with the abrupt cancellation of a planned deployment of the Army 2nd Armored, the Army 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division based at Fort Hood, Texas, to Poland. Trump later announced the US was going to position 5,000 troops in Poland after the brigade's removal drew criticism in Warsaw. Costanza, an army officer, commanded the Army's 5th Corps since April 2024, and he previously led the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart. Brigadier General John Mountford, Deputy Commanding General of Readiness for the 5th Corps, serving as the acting commanding general. So you had that happen. In addition, you had the following announcement by the press secretary for Pete Hegseth as well that they were going to be firing effective immediately. The Department of War has revoked former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kondell's eligibility for access to classified information and his ability to hold any sensitive positions. Here's what we're learning the Department of War revoked former Secretary of Air Force Frank Kendall Kendall's eligibility to access classified information and his ability to hold any sensitive Department of War position, citing an alleged unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding Air Force One's capabilities to a media outlet. Kendall served as Secretary of the air force from July 28, 2021 until July 20, 2025. While the Department of War has not identified the specific disclosure at issue, the action comes days after Kendall publicly commented on the capabilities of the VC 25B bridge aircraft, the interim presidential aircraft converted from the Qatari Boeing 747. During media reporting, comparing it to the existing VC25A fleet. Those reports highlighted that the Bridge aircraft lacks several capabilities of the legacy Air Force fleet and will undergo additional upgrades. At this time, it remains unclear whether the revocation is directly related to those comments or to a separate alleged disclosure. Here's how he was cited in the New York Times. Time didn't permit all the normal Air Force One modifications, so some mix of security, communications and support is missing, kendall told the New York Times. With the Iran situation, this could be of concern. I'm surprised to see this plane used

[Host]

outside of the United States, he said.

[Co-host]

Now that got him a revocation of his clearances. General Randy George, the former US army chief of staff, when he was pushed out a few months back again during the heat of the heart of the catastrophic war in Iran. He said the army deserves leaders of character in his farewell letter after being forced out by Hegseth. As noted at the beginning, Army Chief of Staff Randy George is was pushed out. You had David Hoeney was pushed out as well. Along with him Major General William Greene, the chief of the Army's Chaplain Corps. You also had General Christopher Donahue who led U.S. army Europe and Africa. He was the commander of U.S. you know, Army Europe and Africa very, very well respected there. And you could go back, I mean you could go back to all of these top generals and admirals. Dozens of our, you know, the most respected are out and they've been forced out by Hegseth. We see all of these leaks happening and you know, you get rid of your top tier team and clearly that's one of the things, one of the reasons at a tactical level the, you know, the, the, the US doesn't have the best people, you know, not to suggest that there aren't good people there, but they've, but Hegseth has gotten rid of the top people who are the top people for a reason, who rose through the ranks. That's just the thing that you see in dictatorships a lot. It's one of the downfalls to dictatorships. And we see it in the US that idiots call them, let's call them idiots. Scumbags like Hexith and trauma trump dummies who behave this way, get rid of people who intimidate them, who are smart, which basically everybody hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million. Thanks for watching everybody. We appreciate oh did you get your copy of WTF America? Pre order it now. It's the book I wrote with my brothers. We'll put a link in the description below. The publisher tells us the most important thing are these pre orders. So the book comes out in October. But if you're able to pre order order it, that goes a very long way to helping with the book's momentum and with the advertising strategy and all of that. So if you can pick up a copy of WTF America now, link in description or you can Google it, make sure you get the one by my brothers. There's been like these AI things that have been like doing it as well.

[Host]

Anyway, just we appreciate you breaking news right now. My brothers and I wrote a book. It's called WTF America? And well, well, doesn't that just say it all? It comes out officially this October, but you can pre order your copy today. Just scan the QR code or click the link in the description below.