When the military gets politicized
When the military gets politicized  
Podcast: Impromptu
Published On: Fri Jun 13 2025
Description: As troops descend on Washington to show off U.S. military might, the National Guard is being sent to respond to protests in Los Angeles and accompany ICE on raids. At the same time, President Donald Trump is saying the military’s mission is not to spread democracy, but to “dominate any foe.” Contributing columnist and Navy veteran Theodore R. Johnson joins Drew Goins and Molly Roberts to discuss what happens when the military is sent into cultural battlegrounds, whether the parade will make anyone feel more patriotic and what military service means today. Theodore R. Johnson: What real patriots should think about Trump’s paradeSubscribe to The Washington Post here.