Tommy Tuberville’s reckless blockade is the real threat to military readiness

A senator’s scheme

From his perch on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Alabama senator and former college football coach Tommy Tuberville is blocking the promotions of more than 250 senior military officials — promotions they’ve earned through their service to the country. 

And, wait for it, it’s all because Tuberville objects to the Pentagon’s policy that provides paid leave and reimbursement to service members who travel across state lines for an abortion.

So now for the first time in 164 years, the Pentagon is without a confirmed leader of the U.S. Marine Corps. And that’s a big deal given that, as the Pentagon’s top spokesman put it, “a key principle in the effectiveness of our military is a well-defined chain of command.” 

Tuberville and his Republican colleagues love to claim “wokeness” is affecting the readiness of our military. But there’s nothing woke or even political about the Pentagon ensuring that the people serving the country have the medical care they need. Right now, the only person politicizing the military is Senator Tuberville, and his actions are having a real impact on force readiness. 

A story you should be following: Is Prigozhin Ukraine’s biggest booster?  

For months we’ve seen GOP support for Ukraine dwindle. In January, polling showed a majority of Republican voters opposed further spending, and thought that the U.S. government is doing too much to support Ukraine.  

But after Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s armed rebellion, polling shows GOP support for Ukraine may have actually increased. 

A Reuters-Ipsos poll shows that Republicans currently slightly favor sending weapons to Ukraine, and that they would favor a presidential candidate who provides aid. 

This is all bad news for President Vladimir Putin. He is still navigating some clear cracks in his own ranks at home. And any hardening of support in the United States for additional military support could also hurt him on the battlefield.

Someone you should know: Coral Davenport 

Our country (and world) is in the middle of a record-breaking summer. Americans are living through some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, dangerous air quality due to increased wildfires and rising sea surface temperatures. These alarming signs and more all point to a planet in crisis. 

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NYT Reporter Coral Davenport: Michigan legislators pushing for ‘ambitious’ climate policy July 14, 2023 / 09:51