Is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth waging a holy war against Iran?

Hosts and Guest

Justin Webb, a Radio 4 presenter, and Anthony Zurcher, the North America Correspondent, are joined by Eric Schmitt, a National Security Correspondent at The New York Times. Schmitt recently stepped away from his Pentagon press duties after rejecting new Trump-era guidelines that limited his access and movement within the military headquarters.

Key Themes

This episode examines the influence of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host now serving as the U.S. Defense Secretary, on the nation’s strategy toward Iran. His tenure has been defined by a focus on religious language in Pentagon briefings, which some analysts suggest highlights his ideological stance on military reforms.

Despite a narrow confirmation process, Hegseth has emerged as a central figure in the White House’s efforts to overhaul the Pentagon. His initiatives include dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, prompting debates about his vision for the military’s direction. The discussion also explores potential political aspirations, with questions about whether Hegseth is positioning himself for a future presidential campaign.

Episode Details

Produced by George Dabby and Alix Pickles, the episode features Mike Regaard as the technical producer and Purvee Pattni as the series producer. Sam Bonham oversees editorial content. Listeners can stay updated by subscribing to Americast on BBC Sounds or joining the online community via Discord.

Engagement Opportunities

For more information, connect with the team through WhatsApp at +44 330 123 9480 or email Americast@bbc.co.uk. Use the hashtag #Americast to share feedback. Additionally, subscribers can access other BBC News Podcasts, such as Newscast and Radical, via the provided links.

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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts network. The same team that creates Americast also produces other podcasts, including Newscast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl), Radical (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r), and The Global Story (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd).