CENTCOM Debuts Podcast as Questions Grow Over War Briefings
CENTCOM’s new series, Inside CENTCOM, premiered on November 5, more than eight months into the Iran war. The command said the podcast would introduce the troops serving in the Middle East. Comments were disabled on its YouTube video.
Fleet Master Chief Lateef Compton hosted the first episode with CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper. In the roughly 12-minute conversation, they discussed fitness, basketball aboard ships and meals in the galley, while spending little time on the conflict. Cooper praised the work of the command’s personnel and said events had taken an unexpected course.
Cooper last spoke to journalists about the war in a May 4 media call. Hegseth has not held a formal Pentagon press briefing since May 5. Mike Glenn, a Pentagon correspondent for The Washington Times, reacted to the podcast announcement by saying a press conference with Cooper would be welcome.
The launch comes as President Donald Trump faces questions about whether Hegseth could lose his job after Republicans’ poor midterm performance. Trump has reportedly considered dismissing the defense secretary, with the Iran war cited by Trump and Vice President JD Vance as a major factor in Democrats’ success. Trump has said he continues to support Hegseth, despite receiving calls urging his dismissal.
A CENTCOM Podcast Is No Substitute for Answers on Iran
As the Iran war stretches beyond eight months, CENTCOM’s new podcast offered viewers talk about fitness, basketball at sea and galley meals—not a substantive account of the conflict. The first episode of Inside CENTCOM aired on November 5, with comments disabled on its YouTube video.
Fleet Master Chief Lateef Compton hosted Adm. Brad Cooper, the command’s leader. Cooper praised his personnel and said events had taken an unexpected course. The roughly 12-minute conversation gave little attention to the war, even as Cooper has been a prominent administration voice on the operation.
Cooper last briefed journalists about the war in a May 4 media call. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not held a formal Pentagon briefing since May 5. Washington Times Pentagon reporter Mike Glenn publicly asked for a press conference with Cooper after the podcast was announced.
A polished conversation about military life cannot answer the questions that reporters and the public have about a war. The timing also lands amid speculation that President Donald Trump could dismiss Hegseth after Republicans’ poor midterm results. Trump has said he supports the defense secretary, though he acknowledged receiving calls urging his removal.
CENTCOM Puts Its Troops in Focus With New Podcast
CENTCOM’s new podcast gives the public a glimpse of the people serving in the Middle East, with its first episode featuring the command’s senior enlisted leader and commander. Fleet Master Chief Lateef Compton hosted Adm. Brad Cooper on November 5, as the Iran war continued into its ninth month.
The roughly 12-minute premiere centered on military life: staying fit, playing basketball aboard ships and eating in the galley. Cooper praised the team’s work and said the course of events had been hard to anticipate. The series description says it is intended to introduce the troops protecting U.S. interests in the region; comments on the YouTube video were turned off.
Critics quickly said a press conference with Cooper would be more useful. He last briefed journalists about the war in a May 4 media call, while Hegseth has not delivered an official Pentagon news briefing after May 5. The absence of recent briefings is a real point of debate, but it does not erase the value of showing the public the people behind the operation.
The podcast’s debut also comes amid talk that Trump may remove Hegseth after Republicans’ poor midterm showing. Trump has said the war was a major factor in Democrats’ gains, alongside Vice President JD Vance, while also affirming his support for Hegseth.
Reported by The Daily Beast, Raw Story.
