Joan Esposito is joined by Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting and deputy director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A).

The discussion focused on concerns about U.S. foreign policy, military leadership, election security, and presidential conduct. Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Manner called last week's United Nations session "the most volatile session of the U.N. that I have ever witnessed," adding: "To have the president of the United States literally threatening annihilation of another nation again [Iran], which of course he can't do, and speaking so demeaningly of so many of the nations around the world, and then threatening Cuba in front of everybody -- I mean, he was appealing to his base, which is shrinking every day, one percentage point at a time, one voter at a time, and that's great. But the problem is he is still the president of the United States saying these absurd comments. Then you have, on the other side, the Israeli prime minister, who, remember, of course, could literally face indictment for war crimes, and then, of course, our own president blasting the International Criminal Court because, of course, he could be on that short list too in a matter of time."
- He said commanders are responsible for service members’ welfare but noted that the facts surrounding conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln remain incomplete.
- They discussed Pentagon leadership purges, reduced experience at senior military levels, and possible National Guard deployments during elections.
- Manner urged people to vote as soon as possible, particularly in person
- Also discussed: Trump's Arlington Arch, the Kennedy Center dispute, and the use of military or national security justifications for presidential construction projects.

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

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