Top Trump Official Collapses at Hearing on War

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Top Trump Official Collapses at Hearing on War
Date: May 18, 2026
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)
Theme: Congressional hearings expose turmoil and contradictions within the Trump administration over the ongoing maritime conflict with Iran, focusing on acting Navy Secretary Hung Kao’s testimony before the Armed Services Committee. The episode highlights moments of bureaucratic meltdown, stunning admissions about the scope of ongoing U.S. military operations, and the struggle over modernizing the U.S. Navy.

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Episode Overview

The Meiselas brothers unpack a dramatic Armed Services Committee hearing, where Donald Trump’s acting Navy Secretary, Hung Kao, faced pointed questioning about Navy spending, the state of ongoing U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz, and his own past. The episode focuses on how Kao’s testimony diverged sharply from the Trump administration’s public statements, revealing continuing hostilities that had been downplayed or denied by the White House.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Stunning Admissions from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Kao

• Hung Kao admits ongoing war in the Strait of Hormuz (00:15-06:31)
  • Contrary to Trump administration claims of a ceasefire, Kao reveals in his opening statement and cross-examination that U.S. ships are still under attack.
  • “As of yesterday, they're still launching over 100 one man one way attack drones and more than three dozen, three or four dozen cruise missiles at us.” — Hung Kao (06:09)
• The reality of Iran’s continued capacity
  • While the administration argues Iranian forces are “90% attritive”, Kao suggests significant threats persist.
  • Pressed by Congress, Kao admits U.S. assets are still engaged in active defense operations.

2. Contentious Debate over Navy Modernization and Spending

• Massive battleship vs. thousands of drones
  • Rep. Moulton slams proposal for a $17 billion “Trump-class” battleship, questioning the procurement's relevance in modern warfare compared to cheaper drone fleets.
  • “Do you know how many 250,000 drones you could buy for that one Trump class battleship?” — Rep. Moulton (02:08)
  • Kao’s defense of the battleship centers on the need for conventional prompt missile capabilities.
• Push for cost-effective innovation
  • Democratic Congressmember Smith asks why the Navy is relying on outdated, overpriced systems when new anti-drone technologies are available at a fraction of the price (09:10-12:41).
  • “When we're launching an SM2 missile that costs two and a quarter million dollars per shot to take down a thousand dollar drone, it's ridiculous." — Hung Kao (10:25)

3. Hung Kao’s Background and ‘Woke’ Education Attacks

• Hypocrisy over ‘woke’ Harvard ban
  • Rep. Moulton exposes hypocrisy: Kao, a Harvard fellow, publicly backs bans on military members attending Harvard on grounds of “wokeness”.
  • “So you survived Harvard without becoming woke, but you don't trust your officers… to be able to go there themselves and not be indoctrinated?” — Rep. Moulton (04:43)
• Afghan allies and U.S. immigration principles
  • Moulton presses Kao on whether Afghan allies deserve the same U.S. support his own family received as postwar Vietnamese immigrants (03:07-03:54).

4. Congressional Alarm Over Authorization, Transparency, and Oversight

• Congress seeking clarity on U.S. involvement and war powers
  • Multiple Democratic members question Kao about when Congress will be asked to authorize the ongoing conflict, highlighting a lack of transparency on whether the U.S. is effectively at war (07:18-08:56).
  • “That sounds very much like a warlike activity. And the Congress has yet to speak to the American people on the question of whether or not we ought to be at war.” — Unidentified Democratic Congressmember (08:40)

5. Senate Cross-Examinations: The Disconnect Between Messaging and Reality

• CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper and Senator Blumenthal (15:20-18:48)
  • Senate testimony shows further contradiction: Admiral Cooper says Iranian threats are “significantly degraded” yet admits some capability remains, and the blockade’s impact is limited by loud propaganda.
  • Senator Blumenthal presses on war aims and the practical limitations of U.S. objectives in Iran, such as securing enriched uranium.
• Ukrainian expertise aids U.S. and allies against Iranian drones (19:10-20:02)
  • Senator Shaheen underscores how Ukraine’s knowledge is now key to counter-drone training for Middle Eastern and NATO partners.
  • “Are they more effective as a result? Yes.” — Admiral Cooper (19:44)
• Soft power abandonment in Africa (20:08-21:16)
  • Senator King presses General Anderson on the U.S. government’s retreat from Africa under the Trump administration, leaving influence to Russia and China.
  • Aid programs are “much, much reduced.” — General Anderson (21:22)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hung Kao on ongoing hostilities:
  • “Even though there's a ceasefire, they're still firing at us, ma’am.” (06:23)
• Rep. Moulton's withering critique:
  • “If you can't answer the question, don't take the job, Mr. Secretary.” (05:18)
• On cost-effective defense:
  • “We invented some new systems. We were shooting (drones) down with $2-3 million missiles... (now) $30,000 a shot, very effective.” — Rep. Smith (09:10)
• Kao’s flawed analogy:
  • “It's like the little turtle that sits on your fence post. You know, someone's got to put them.” (02:44)
• Admiral Cooper on Iran’s threat:
  • “Their capability has been significantly degraded... but some residual capability does exist.” (15:35)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Content Description | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:15 | Ron Filipkowski intro; Hung Kao collapses under questioning | | 01:54 | Rep. Moulton grills Kao on battleship vs. drone investment | | 03:07 | Afghan ally immigration debate; Harvard “woke” hypocrisy | | 05:52 | Rep. Jacobs exposes ongoing hostilities in Strait of Hormuz | | 07:18 | Congress demands clarity on whether US is actually at war | | 09:10 | Rep. Smith presses for cost-effective Navy procurement strategies | | 10:25 | Kao admits missile/drone cost disparities | | 13:24 | Admiral Cottle on quick adaptation to drone threats in Red Sea | | 14:31 | Kao’s opening statement – admission of attacks on US and allied ships | | 15:20 | Admiral Cooper (CENTCOM) testifies in Senate; Iranian capabilities discussed | | 19:10 | Ukrainian expertise helps US and allies with anti-drone defense | | 20:08 | Soft power loss in Africa, US withdrawal of aid |

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Tone and Language

The hearing content is tense, direct, and often combative with pointed skepticism and moments of irony—much of it led by Democrats exposing gaps in Trump administration narratives. The MeidasTouch commentary is sharp, occasionally sardonic, and zeroes in on inconsistencies and bureaucratic absurdity.

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Conclusion

This episode lays bare the contradictions at the heart of the Trump administration’s handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran, the perils of politicized military leadership, and the urgent need for technological and policy adaptation in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. With sharp exchanges and bombshell admissions, the Armed Services Committee hearing—vividly dissected here—calls into question the administration’s transparency, strategic judgment, and readiness for modern warfare.

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Transcript

[Monday.com / VRBO Ad Narrator]

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[Ron Filipkowski]

Donald Trump's new acting Navy Secretary, Hung Kao, collapsed under cross examination before the Armed Services Committee. He made a number of stunning admissions. He admitted that all of his talk about woke this, woke that, shut down Harvard. All bs he went to Harvard and he was cross examined brilliantly by Democratic Congressmember Moulton. But another stunning admission, perhaps the most stunning admission is he said in his opening statement, and then he was questioned about this by a lot of the members who are on this Armed Services Committee. He said that there's still all of these ballistic missiles that are being shot at American ships and that there's currently a very, very, very kind of tense war that's still ongoing in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump has said there's no war, everything's fine, we're in this ceasefire. He let it slip. Hong Kong, Donald Trump's acting Navy Secretary and basically said in his opening statement then he was cross examined on this a lot, that no, there's actually an active war that's going on right now that's being covered up by the press, that's being covered up by the military. First, let me show you what went down when Democratic Congressmember Moulton cross examined Hung Cao, the acting Navy Secretary. He replaced the the private equity guy who was forced out because he wouldn't build the Trump ships, the Trump battleships with Trump's name on it that Donald Trump likes from the early 20th century, those ships. Anyway, here's Hunkow, cross examined by Democratic Congressmember Moulton. Let's play it.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

He might help us in the Strait of Hormuz today.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Absolutely, sir. Again, when I say the five, we're talking large ones and we are investing a lot of the small ones. And I will turn that over to Admiral Cottle who can tell you more about the requirements for small unmanned.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

Well, I'm just wondering. I mean, you're requesting $17 billion for a single battleship hull that won't be delivered until 2036. Do you know how many 250,000 drones you could buy for that one Trump class battleship?

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Yes, sir, but those drones cannot carry the conventional prom strike or have 200.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

Okay, just to put this in perspective, it's 68,000 drones. I think 68,000 drones when Ukraine is producing 50 to 100, actually. Sorry. Several hundred a month might help us today in the Strait of Hormuz. I just doesn't not feel like a good investment.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Again, sir, the drones can't get there by themselves. It's like the little turtle that sits on your fence post. You know, someone's got to put them.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

You know, it's funny. The Ukrainians managed to get them there. They barely even have a Navy. We have 55 times the coastline of Ukraine.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

They're not going to.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

If they can figure it out, Mr. Secretary. I'd like to think American could figure out, too.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And I thought this was another really good line of questioning by Democratic Congressmember Moulton. Let's play it.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

Acting Secretary, you told a powerful and very American story of how your family immigrated from Vietnam a few years after the war. I'm proud that our country supported you and your family. Do you think we should do the same for our Afghan allies, who are being hunted down by the Taliban right now as we speak?

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Sir, before I. I came to this job, actually, right after the fall off Afghanistan, I mean, which broke my heart. I mean, watching mothers hand babies to Marines just reminded me what happened in Vietnam.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

I understand. And I was there, too. I felt the same way. But I'm just asking. Do you think we should give the same privileges and opportunities to our Afghan allies that our country gave to you and your family and your friends?

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Sir, I mean, I. Anybody who comes here legally should. Should be given the. The opportunity to come here and.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

Well, I'll tell you what. You and I will disagree on a lot of things. You might even say we're political adversaries. But I'm very proud that President Ford, President Carter, President Reagan, did not deport you or your family while you were working on becoming citizens. Now, Mr. Arctic Secretary, you have publicly supported Secretary Hagstadt's proposal to ban active duty military members from attending Harvard. Both your official bio and your bio for the Senate campaign proudly list your Harvard affiliation. As a Harvard fellow yourself, do you believe the education and credentials that you received compromised your ability to serve or lead effectively?

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Sir, we are looking at the best education for our military members. I mean, we. That. That's why naval.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

But did Harvard make you too woke. Did Harvard make you too woke to be Secretary of the Navy?

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

No, sir, but Naval Postgraduate School. So you don't need to have.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

So you survived Harvard without becoming woke, but you don't trust your officers who get in there, who want to go there, who apply there to be able to go there themselves and not be

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Indoctrinated, Congressman, we, we need to invest into where, where they would best fit for the Navy. Again, going to Naval Postgraduate School, I actually got a.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

But you think it was a big mistake for you to go to Harvard because you talk about it a lot in your bio.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Actually, I mentioned it once, sir. I mean, it's just that.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

You think it was a mistake.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Sir, I, I would, I would love my. I love my education at Naval Postgraduate School because it allowed me to learn.

[Democratic Congressmember Moulton]

Yeah, but I'm asking you about Harvard. If you can't answer the question, don't take the job. Mr. Secretary.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Now here, I thought was a very important part of the cross examination where you had Democratic Congresswoman Jacobs from San Diego, and here she exposes what I said at the outset and Hankow admitted that there's active, ongoing war that's taking place right now. The war's not over. The war is going on. There are ballistic missiles being shot at American ships by Iran. This is what he says. Here, play this clip.

[Monday.com / VRBO Ad Narrator]

Can you commit to deliver to this committee the department's current assessment of commercial shipping transit through the Strait under US escort? Iranian acquiescence or neither. Along with the Navy's fourth generation plan for sustaining the presence required through FY27.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Congressman, we will provide whatever information you need. Again, this is still an ongoing operation. As of yesterday, they're still launching over 100 one man one way attack drones and more than three dozen, three or four dozen cruise missiles at us. So the operations are still going on. You know, even though there's a ceasefire, they're still firing at us, ma'.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Am.

[Monday.com / VRBO Ad Narrator]

Sure. I mean, but the, the President said it was over and now you're saying it's ongoing. So you can understand why we, as the committee that's trying to figure out what you're actually going to need, need some more information from you all.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Yes, ma'. Am. Absolutely. But yes, our operations, our kinetic operations have finished. We're just protecting other people. And that's, that's what we're doing with that. The, the Iranians are still shooting at allied shipping and, and just being belligerent, ma'.

[Democratic Congressmember Smith]

Am.

[Monday.com / VRBO Ad Narrator]

Okay, well. Well, we, we would like to know what you all in the Navy are going to need to sustain either this US escort presence or this blockade or, you know, whatever we're doing. So please get that to us.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And then you have more from Hungkao about this. Let's play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember (Unspecified, possibly a committee member)]

We've heard from the administration that the Iranian ability to project force has been decimated. They can't fire any missiles. They are 90% attritive. They're flat in their back. I heard you say in your remarks that. And you might have misspoken. And so I want clarification. Have the Iranians been firing at American assets or are they firing at

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

other

[Democratic Congressmember (Unspecified, possibly a committee member)]

countries in the region or both? Because it comes to this question of whether and when Congress is going to speak on this war as Congress's authority to declare war. And so I'm just curious whether or not the Iranians are firing at US Assets in that region.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Congressman, we, after we stopped the hostilities and we were talking to them for peace negotiations, again, they have a lot lack of command control right now. No one really knows who's in charge over there. And so you have these, these onesies and twosies go out and they're, they're launching. They, they dug out from their rebels and they pulled out a couple of missiles and they, they shoot at these merchant ships that are coming by. That's why our, our ships are protecting those ships as well. I mean, there's always so, I mean,

[Democratic Congressmember (Unspecified, possibly a committee member)]

I'm sorry, sir, are they firing at Americans?

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

They're firing at merchant.

[Democratic Congressmember (Unspecified, possibly a committee member)]

Because that sounds very much like a warlike activity. And the Congress has yet to speak to the American people on the question of whether or not we ought to be at war. So I'm just curious what's happening with respect to our assets in the region of operation.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

They're shooting at merchant ships, sir.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Okay, next you have Democratic Congressmember Smith, who's also the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, meaning Democrats take control. He'll become the chair of the committee. Here's what he had to say. Let's play it.

[Democratic Congressmember Smith]

Building off the theme of the opening statement in terms of how can we get to more cost effective solutions. I've been very impressed by the fact that when it comes to shooting down drones, we've invented some new systems. We were shooting them down with two, $3 million missiles. L3. Harris has come up with the vampire system. That's $30,000 a shot, very effective. Another private company came up with Mirops. By the way, I think Vampire is a much better name than Mirops. If you're going to name a system just for those paying attention to those things, $15,000 a shot, and it was all about figuring out, okay, we have our needs, how do we meet them in a very cost effective way? What is the equivalent in the Navy and Marine Corps in terms of how you're thinking about meeting your needs in a more cost effective way. And that's one of the many things that troubles me again about the battleship. We look at new technology, new ways to deal things, all these demands, asymmetric advantages and we come up with say you know what we're going to with a massive $22 billion solution that seems to be the exact opposite of taking advantage of modern technology to meet your needs in a more cost effective way. So how are you all thinking about options equivalent to instead of 2 million we're gonna do 30,000 and achieve the same objective in using new technology to get there.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Ranking member. You're absolutely right, sir. I mean when we're launching an SM2 missile that cost two and a quarter million dollars per shot to take down a thousand dollar drone, it's ridiculous. And that's why electron is so important. I mean we need to cover everything from 30 MHz to 8 GHz with no band breaks in between. But also we need static radar to look at it, but also gimbals because a lot of their cross section, the radar cross sections of these drones look very similar to our aircrafts as well. So there's many options out there. And you mentioned like a large ship. Well there's as far as I was in the Navy, even all the way back to 2011 when I worked in ABNAV N96, the Surface Warfare Division, we have a requirement for large combatant, it's called CGX at the time because we

[Democratic Congressmember Smith]

got a lot of requirements. Mr. Secretary, one of the things that I would suggest that we're going to need to do is get out of the requirements based approach. I mean so much that goes on at the Pentagon and I think the Chairman agree is we all sit around and come up with requirements, okay? And there's tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of pages of them. Let's focus on what actually needs to be done instead. Well, we got a requirement for it. We got to think through it a little bit more than that. Sorry to interrupt. Just had to make that point. Go ahead.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Thank you for that. Yankee member again. There's, I pay bills at home and there's, you know, the kids need braces, they need everything. And that's, we have to balance all those things. But again with the battleship, the problem is that your DDGs are so decked out right now. The Pinkney, USS Pinckney is the only ship in our fleet that has a SLC32 Victor 7 for electronic warfare. And I mean I told you yesterday, I mean it looks like a big chipmunk with a mouthful of nuts right now because it's so overburdened. And that's why we need a large combatant that has all electronic warfare, as well as 200 VLS cells, including conventional prompt strike. Imagine a missile that can go from here to the West coast in 16 minutes that the enemy can't stop. And this is what's going to deter the enemy. Meanwhile, we need to also invest into our shipyards. We need to invest into our electronic warfare and as well as our sailors and Marines as well. And this is why the job of balancing the budget is so difficult. And sure, I want to.

[Democratic Congressmember Smith]

I'm sorry, sir, one other question on that. There are a lot of different companies now making autonomous ships. They're really in. And yes, the autonomous aspect is important, but they're also looking at new ways to do shipbuilding in general. How can we do it more rapidly, more cost effectively? They seem to have made a lot of progress. What are the principal lessons that have been learned from that? That regardless of what we're building, whether it's a battleship, an aircraft carrier, or something smaller, that we could do it more quickly and more cost effectively. Do you and I both. Admiral and Mr. Secretary, if you can.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

Well, again, I'll turn Admiral Caudrell in a second, but it's just about using AI so we can streamline our processes as well as adding manufacturing.

[Admiral Cottle]

But Admiral Cottle, you know, sir, I would say when we were upside down, as the Secretary is talking about on kills, you know, cost per kill with SM2, SM6, we fielded and rallied very quickly during Red Sea operations. Rough Rider to actually get on board our strike groups, Roadrunner, Coyote and Hellfire instantiations of that, to really turn that very quickly. That took collaboration from our Surface Warfare and Mine Development center, from Surflant, from Dahlgren, and of course, Nav War to get those ttps, bake that in, get it certified, and every striker has deployed with that, it's much more effective. And that learning happened very quickly. Directed energy, of course, is part of that electronic warfare. Some of the things that, you know,

[Democratic Congressmember Smith]

I'm out of time. I apologize for that. I don't want to take too much time, but those are exactly the types of answers that I think we need more of.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And this was the part of the opening statement where Hung Kao admitted that you have these missiles that are being shot at US Ships, US Navy ships are being shot at, which is being covered up. He let it slip. Let's play it.

[Hung Kao, Acting Navy Secretary]

American sailors and Marines are currently on the front lines of freedom in operations to protect our Republic. Lincoln and Bush carrier strike groups and Tripoli Amphibious Radi group with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are the Arabian Sea, protecting merchant ships and stopping illicit shipping by terrorist regiment destroyers Arleigh Burke, Bulkeley, Oscar, Austin and Gonzales are protecting our allies in Mediterranean against cruise missile attacks from Iran. In the Caribbean, Iwo Jima, ArGMU is stopping narco terrorists from poisoning our Americans with illegal drugs.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Now, while we watch all of that, I want to remind you, of course, of the questioning that took place right around that same time in the United States Senate where Admiral Cooper, Commander of centcom, was cross examined by Senator Blumenthal. Just to remind you. Here, play this clip.

[Senator Blumenthal]

Regardless of what the numbers are, Iran continues to pose a significant threat to shipping because it has missiles and fast boats and other assets that are available to attack shipping in the area.

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

Correct, Senator. All. In each of those cases, their capability have been significantly degraded. If I just use my own professional experience and 100 transits through the Strait of Hormuz, you would typically see 20 to 40 fast boats. And lately we've seen two or three. So the degradation means it's been super, it's been significant. But some residual capability does exist

[Democratic Congressmember Smith]

with

[Senator Blumenthal]

respect to the threat that remains. Your forces were successful in Project Freedom in enabling ships to go through the Strait, correct?

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

That's correct, sir.

[Senator Blumenthal]

And Project Freedom was stopped for what reason?

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

Sir, I think I'll look back a couple of days ago on the Chairman of the Joint Chief's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. I think he characterized it. Well. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is rather complex these days, and I would offer just these quick points. First and foremost, the United States controls via our blockade, which I'd be happy to talk about. The overall flow of commerce going into and out of Iran. The Iranian capability to stop commerce has been dramatically degraded through the straits. But their voice is very loud, and those threats are clearly heard by the merchant industry and the insurance industry. Those are factors. There's certainly factors in energy and on

[Senator Blumenthal]

top of all that project. And I apologize for interrupting, but I'm going to run out of time, as you understand. I think the point that I want to make here is that Project Freedom could be started again and the voices of the Iranians, large as they are, could be contradicted or reduced in impact if Project Freedom were ongoing and the world could see that shipping was going through the straits. Am I off base in that view, Senator?

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

There's a wide range of contingencies that we are prepared to execute. I would defer to the policymakers on anything having to do specifically with the Strait of Hormuz, particularly during this time of sensitive negotiations where it's front and center in the negotiations.

[Senator Blumenthal]

And have you seen any progress in

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

those negotiations, Senator, I'd refer to the diplomats and the team engaged in the negotiations.

[Senator Blumenthal]

Let me ask you, in the time that I have left, one of the objectives that President Trump articulated at the beginning of this war, which in my view could not be accomplished with bombing, was to secure the enriched uranium. Would you agree that taking possession of that uranium would require boots on the ground and significant casualties for United States forces?

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

Senator, in this particular forum, I think it would be highly inappropriate, given the classified nature of any contingencies, to talk about the nuclear program.

[Ron Filipkowski]

And then I thought this line of questioning from Senator Shaheen was very important where she makes it clear how helpful Ukraine has been to our NATO allies in helping our allies train, get the types of anti drone interceptors and drone technology that's needed to fight in modern warfare. Let's play it.

[Senator Shaheen]

One of the things that's gotten a fair amount of tension in recent weeks has been President Zelensky's working with some of our allies and partners in the Middle east in response to the war in Iran on their the expertise that the Ukrainians have developed to address counter drone responses. Can you talk a little bit about what you're seeing with respect to that and whether our allies and partners find that kind of support helpful from the Ukrainians?

[Admiral Cooper, Commander of CENTCOM]

Senator, I think most significantly, we adopted a large number of tactics, techniques and procedures that Ukrainians have passed us that have helped us defend Americans and all of our partners are working with Ukraine in some way, shape or form. I'd really defer to them, let them talk about it. But are they more effective as a result? Yes.

[Senator Shaheen]

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Then there was this line of questioning here from Senator King. Let's play it.

[Senator King]

General Anderson, talk to me about the loss of soft power in Africa, our abandonment of USAID and what's happened with the Chinese and the Russians that my understanding is are now filling that gap in addition to the other aggressive actions that they're taking.

[General Anderson]

Senator, I would say that we look at all facets of national power and how to bring those to bear on the continent in order to provide security

[Senator King]

outcomes, oftentimes taken one facet of our national power off the table unilaterally for no apparent reason. The whim of Elon Musk.

[General Anderson]

Senator, we work very closely with State, with Commerce and energy in order to look at the security requirements on the continent. I have a Foreign Service commercial officer joining my staff this summer along with a liaison from Department of Energy in order to look at economic opportunities.

[Senator King]

We have essentially left all of the role that USAID played in on the continent. That's gone. Isn't that. That's a yes or no question, Senator.

[General Anderson]

There are still aid programs that are active on the continent. They are much reduced from what they were before.

[Senator King]

Much, much reduced. That's a fair way of stating it.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Well, there you have it folks. Let me know what you think about all of this. Let's hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thanks everybody for watching. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content Only [e-mail].

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