Is Pete Hegseth’s macho culture fit for the military?

Pete Hegseth has turned the Pentagon into a stage for warrior bravado – renaming it the Department of War, ordering testosterone screening for troops over 30, and cheering on a US Navy jet's ultra-low flypast over a packed Florida beach. Former RAF Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell joins Tom and Patrick to give his verdict on Hegseth's shake-up of the US armed forces and to ask whether a similar culture could take hold in the British military. Chapters: 00:00 — Pete Hegseth and the dangerous flybys 08:50 — Who is Pete Hegseth? 10:55 — Fitness, testosterone and the “warrior ethos” 14:30 — Diversity, standards and the military beard debate 21:40 — Does machismo belong in the military? Guest: Sean Bell, Former Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Elle Scott & Julia Webster Exec Producer: Priyanka Deladia Clips: US Department of War. Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.