Joan Esposito is joined by Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A). He discusses the degradation of American military readiness and concerns regarding political interference in national security.

Criticism of Pete Hegseth
- Gen. Manner argues that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is a clear and present danger to United States national security. 
- Manner says Hegseth "is literally draining the treasury of the of the Defense Department for this war [in Iran] that has not been approved by Congress," Manner told WCPT, adding: "He has done more to degrade our military than any other foreign power."
- The discussion highlights concerns that Hegseth is replacing experienced leaders with those politically aligned with the president.
- He emphasizes that the military should align with the Constitution rather than political leaders.

Military Leadership and Readiness
- Joan and Gen. Manner discuss the loss of senior military leadership and the potential lack of experience remaining in the Army.
- Manner asserts that the military currently lacks "A players" and is instead relying on "C players" in many senior positions.
- There is a suggestion that retired officers could be recalled to active duty to rebuild leadership if a political correction occurs.

National Security and Innovation
- The conversation addresses the cancellation of specialized drone warfare programs under the current administration.
- Manner criticizes the decision to move away from agile, low-cost drone technology in favor of expensive, traditional defense contractor missiles; modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine, requires high levels of innovation and agility.
- He warns that the administration's refusal to adapt to evolving warfare methods is a significant risk.

Corruption and Political Influence
- Manner notes that President Trump has personally increased his wealth by billions of dollars while in office.
- There is a discussion regarding the potential for absolute power to corrupt and dismantle democratic concepts.

Threats to Election Integrity
- The dialogue explores potential tactics to disrupt elections, such as using the Insurrection Act or deploying National Guard in specific areas.
- Manner suggests that the president could use federal agencies like the FBI to seize ballot boxes or interfere with voting machines.
- The conversation concludes with a call for citizens to remain vigilant and actively involved in the political process.

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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