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Trey and Justin start the show discussing last week’s tragic incident involving the National Guard in Washington DC. Here, both Trey and Justin agree on the terrible nature of the attack. Trey highlights the emotionally charged nature such an episode will have on immigration conversations. Specifically, Trey discusses how media frames impact policy. Justin highlights that the White House is simply using the incident to crackdown further on immigration. The pair both agree that Afghans who assisted the U.S. were due help and that an individualized tragic incident does not change the need for a robust asylum policy.
Next, the guys talk about Secretary Hegseth. Here, the conversation focuses primarily on the strikes on the narco-boats, but briefly includes a conversation about the findings in Hegseth’s Signal chat. There is large agreement between Trey and Justin that international law and American Rules of Engagement specifically state that shipwrecked individuals are no longer combatants. Trey suggests that the entire incident is about a larger policy from Hegseth to get back to a “warrior culture.”
After that, the guys turn to Alina Habba and what her disqualification means for the power between the branches of government. A lack of Senate confirmation and a loss of the ruling means the issue heads to the Supreme Court, yet there appears to be no indication that the White House or the Department of Justice are changing policy in light of the court ruling. Trey says his faith in the Supreme Court will be shaken if they allow Habba to continue.
Then the pair turn to the takeaways from the Tennessee Special Election. Trey highlights the unique nature of special elections and doesn’t think it offers much, although he does question the choice of Democratic candidates to be more competitive. Justin discusses that it might be a warning light for Republicans.
They close by discussing the controversial academic assignment at the University of Oklahoma and the ramifications for academic freedom and standards in higher education.
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