Episode 23: The National Security Team – Loyalty Over Competence

Episode Summary:

In this second installment of our three-part national security series, we examine the people now leading America’s most powerful security agencies. These aren’t leaders chosen for experience or qualifications. They’re chosen for loyalty — and that shift has turned national security on its head.

From purged intelligence staff and photo-op border raids to encrypted chat scandals and weaponized institutions, this episode reveals how Donald Trump has stacked the national security deck with loyalists. These officials aren’t just carrying out policy. They’re reshaping the very function of our defense, intelligence, and justice systems — often in ways that put the country at risk.

We walk through the team member by member: who they are, what they’ve done, and why it matters. 

In This Episode:

• How Laura Loomer helped purge national security staff and got a general fired — without clearance or evidence
• Mike Waltz’s chaotic Pentagon purge and the origins of “Signalgate”
• Marco Rubio’s triple-role conflict and complicity in record destruction
• Pete Hegseth’s politicization of military culture and the border stunt that wasted millions
• Tulsi Gabbard’s shift toward authoritarian-friendly rhetoric — and why her calm demeanor might be the most dangerous part
• Kristi Noem’s performative homeland security — armored vehicles, propaganda raids, and weakened cyber defenses
• Kash Patel’s quiet dismantling of the FBI and centralization of political power
• Steve Witkoff’s rise from real estate developer to Trump’s Middle East envoy — and his string of geopolitical blunders

Why It Matters:

National security depends on professionalism, integrity, and independent judgment. What we see now is the opposite: an environment where political loyalty trumps competence, and personal allegiance dictates policy. That’s not just a personnel problem — it’s a structural collapse.

Next Episode:

In Episode 24, we go behind the scenes to look at the whisperers — the unelected influencers shaping Trump’s national security strategy. Plus, we dive deep into Signalgate, the most serious intelligence breach of Trump’s second term.

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Host: Bella Goode

Bella is a former Republican turned democracy advocate raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania with a masters of business administration from Wharton and a Masters Degree in Positive Psychology.

Career wise, Bella spent 20 years with American Express in New York and 20 years as an entrepreneur. She started and sold a fitness business that grew to 180 locations worldwide.

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