meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
1A

'If You Can Keep It': Trump’s New Vision For The Military

1A

NPR

News

4.44.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined some stark changes to the U.S. military’s policies and norms at last week’s gathering of its top brass.

From new standards that question the fitness of women in combat roles, to deploying the military to U.S. cities, the White House is outlining a new vision for the armed forces. It’s also looking to eliminate existing channels to report abuse and harassment within the ranks and implement random polygraph tests.

We talk through all these changes, how they affect our troops, and what they mean for civilians.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

0:05.0

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

0:09.0

On our new show, Sources and Methods.

0:11.5

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

0:15.3

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

0:19.1

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

0:24.1

Hi, it's Jen. Just a quick heads up. News is rapidly changing. The story may have developed by the

0:30.3

time you hear this episode. So stay up to date with all the latest by listening to your local

0:35.0

NPR member station and visiting NPR.org.

0:46.1

You're listening to the 1A podcast. I'm Jen White. And I'm Todd Zwillick. It's our weekly

0:51.1

politics series on our democracy, if you can keep it. Today, the reshaping of our

0:56.1

military. President Trump and his defense secretary Pete Hagsath outlined some stark changes to its

1:01.7

policies and norms at Tuesday's gathering of the top brass. Simply put, if you do not meet the

1:07.0

male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don't want to

1:12.1

shave and look professional, it's time for a new position or a new profession.

1:18.3

That was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while the president had his own ideas.

1:22.9

Only in recent decades did politicians somehow come to believe that our job is to police the far

1:28.2

reaches of Kenya and Somalia while America is under invasion from within. We're under invasion

1:34.9

from within. Over the weekend, Trump authorized the deployment of hundreds of National Guard

1:40.9

troops to Chicago. At the same time, a federal judge blocked sending National Guard

1:45.6

troops from any state into Portland, saying the move exceeded the president's constitutional authority

1:50.8

and circumvented a prior order. From new standards that question the fitness of women in combat

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.