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The DSR Network

The Daily Blast: Trump Boat Bombings Take Darker Turn as Top Official Suddenly Resigns

The DSR Network

Chris Cotnoir

Government

4.5 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 17 October 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The other day, President Trump announced that he has bombed yet another boat allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean sea. He has now struck six boats, with 27 people dead, and the bombings have been widely denounced as illegal. Now, in a strange turn of events, The New York Times reports that the head of the military’s southern command, Alvin Holsey, is stepping down amid unclear circumstances. Did his resignation have anything to do with these bombings? Congressman Adam Smith of Washington State, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, thinks the answer is likely Yes. Smith talks to us about what he’s personally heard about the resignation and why it’s plausible that Holsey was removed over potential opposition to the bombings. He illuminates just how appallingly lacking in transparency the administration has been about the strikes, and vows that his committee will seek Holsey’s testimony about his departure, which could be very revealing indeed. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, this is Ava from Vanta.

0:02.0

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0:26.9

to saying that because I work here. Get started today at banta.com. This is the Daily Blast from the New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network.

0:47.1

I'm your host, Greg Sargent.

1:11.7

The other day, President Trump announced that he's bombed yet another boat allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea. More than two dozen people have been killed this way as of now, and the bombings have been denounced as almost certainly illegal by a wide range of legal experts. Now, in a strange turn of events, we just learned that the head of the

1:17.8

military Southern Command, Alvin Holsey, is stepping down. He's the one who had been overseeing

1:23.6

these bombings, and as of now, there's no rationale that's been given. Did his resignation

1:29.6

have anything to do with these bombings? Congressman Adam Smith of Washington State, the ranking

1:35.3

Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, thinks the answer is likely yes, and we're talking

1:40.8

to him about all this today. Thanks so much for coming on, Congressman.

1:46.5

Well, thanks, Greg. It's always good to see you.

1:51.9

So the New York Times is reporting that Alvin Holsey, the head of the military's southern command, is leaving his job. He's the one who has been overseeing Trump's bombings of boats

1:57.0

in the Caribbean Sea, which is now up to six boats bombed and 27 people killed.

2:02.0

Congressman, what do you know about this situation?

2:04.5

Well, I know that Admiral Halsey is the southern, was the southern commander, and it is his

2:10.0

ultimate decision on whether or not to fire a shot like that.

2:14.7

And I also know that he's a year into his service. And prior to Trump becoming president,

...

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