Since retiring from the military, combat veteran Joe Kent has been a loyal foot soldier in the MAGA army.

Now, the two-time Washington congressional candidate claims President Donald Trump was manipulated into going to war with Iran, a country Kent says posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

Kent sat down for a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson about his decision to quit D.C., and we listened in to see what we could learn about him and about the state of the MAGA coalition.

Related links

Joe Kent, a top counterterrorism official, resigns citing Iran war - NPR

The Race for District 3: Joe Kent - Soundside’s 2024 interview

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Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Catharine Smith. Our producer is Gabrielle Healy. Our hosts are Libby Denkmann and Scott Greenstone.