Things I wish I didn’t know
I wish that I knew nothing about Fox weekend morning show host Pete Hegseth, TFP’s current nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense.
I wish I didn’t know that his first marriage ended due to his infidelity, or that his second marriage (to a co-worker with whom he fathered a child, before marrying her) also ended due to his infidelity (with a Fox News co-worker with whom he fathered a child, while still married to his second wife).
I suppose that I am glad we know that between his second wife filing for divorce and marrying his third wife (the Fox News co-worker), Hegseth is reported to have sexually assaulted a woman whom he has admitted to paying to get her to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Around this time Hegseth’s mother wrote an email about his treatment of his second wife:
You are an abuser of women — that is the ugly truth and I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.
Hegseth’s contempt for women includes those in the military, who make up more than 17% of America’s active duty force. Hegseth has asserted publicly he believes women should not have combat roles, which they have performed since 2016. (Though Senator Tammy Duckworth—who lost both legs piloting a Black Hawk helicopter in the Iraq War—can affirm that the difference between combat and noncombat roles is not great.)
Hegseth also is reported to have played a key role in TFP’s pardons of American soldiers accused of war crimes.
Back in January 2021—in the wake of the January 6 assault on the Capitol—I might have seen something about 12 National Guard members being removed from the force safeguarding Joe Biden’s inauguration, due to security concerns. We now know that Hegseth was one of these twelve, having been reported as an “insider threat” by an intelligence officer in part for tattoos that are popular among white supremacists groups.
Hegseth of course has no experience that would suggest he might effectively (or even passably) lead the largest department in the federal government (and to oversee its terrfiyingly massive budgets). What is known of his personal character would in any previous generation* be considered disqualifying for “high office”.
Think of the most accomplished CEO or leader you know. Now imagine them leading a 2.8 million person organization. Now imagine instead that the job goes to a television morning show host who lines the insides of his suit jackets with an American flag (and shows it to people, because what use is it if no one sees).
This nomination is insulting and stupid. It is genuinely shocking. It would be laughable if the stakes didn’t involve the nuclear chain of command.
It is also a dangerous dare to the Republican Senate leadership (as are the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel, whom we will probably get to later).
As with Matt Gaetz, TFP is using Hegseth to flush out who among the Republican leadership might push back, or if they will comply in advance.** Gaetz is out, but his replacement (Pam Bondi) is just as ready to surrender the independence of the Department of Justice to TFP’s wishes. Should the Hegseth nomination fail, TFP will likely find another who will unquestioningly agree to deploy troops on US soil, or to seek retribution against members of the military who were not willing to abrogate the constitution in TFP’s first term. But that likelihood to me is not reason to accept the outcome.
I do not know how to stop Hegseth’s Senate confirmation, but it is a start to know who he is. It is a start to speak it aloud.
More on Hegseth (if you can stomach it):
Pete Hegseth’s Path from Campus Provocateur to Fox to the Pentagon (The New Yorker)
What Pete Hegseth’s Nomination is Really About (The Atlantic)
*Hegseth’s name was floated for a position in TFP’s first administration, but his infidelities were considered disqualifying at the time.
**Do not comply in advance.
All the @#$%ing things
Night 24: Canceled recurring subscriptions I no longer need
Night 23: Dwelt in gratitude
Night 22: Picked up pie from a favorite local business
Night 21: Downsized my clothes closet
Night 20: Increased my monthly contribution to the ACLU
Night 19: Deleted a blog from two decades ago
Night 18: Researched nonprofit board opportunities
Night 17: Contributed to Trans Lifeline
Night 16: Spent time together with loved ones
Night 15: Bought from a not-for-profit online store
Night 14: Refined an icon and wordmark
Night 13: Contributed to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
Night 12: Contributed to The Guardian
Night 11: Read, reflected, and rested
Night 10: Sent money to support vaccinations in Nigeria
Night 9: Sent money to a friend in need
Night 8: Gave gifts and spoke words of appreciation aloud
Night 7: Contributed to a California-focused nonprofit newsroom
Night 6: Made homemade donuts for my team
Night 5: Opted into a paid Buttondown tier
Night 4: Reviewed my local election results
Night 3: Deactivated my X account
Night 2: Contributed to my local nonprofit newsroom
Night 1: Started by starting
Words, sorts, thinks, and actions by Chris Ereneta, from Oakland, California. Thanks for reading! Thoughtful feedback and questions are welcomed at that.often@gmail.com