Know What's Happening in Defense

Donald Trump Wants $1.5T of Your Money for Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon, and They Don’t Want to Tell You Why.

In this episode of the Midas Defense Podcast, award‑winning national‑security reporter Nancy Youssef explains how the Pentagon’s recent eviction of the press corps has crippled journalists’ ability to cover the department’s massive $1.5 trillion war‑fighting budget and ongoing operations, especially the looming conflict with Iran. She contrasts the open, relationship‑based reporting of past administrations with today’s climate of fear, rapid senior‑leader turnover, and opaque decision‑making. Youssef stresses that without on‑site access to bases, ships, and Pentagon officials, the public is left in the dark about how taxpayer dollars are spent and the real costs of war, from taxes to higher gas prices. Her deep experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Pentagon gives her a unique perspective on the importance of transparent information warfare and accountable defense spending.