Barn Raiser Features MRFF in a Look Back at “Five Seismic Shocks” from Pete Hegseth’s Horrifying First Year as Secretary of Defense
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Photo credit: Gage Skidmore
“I look at the calendar, I can see it is December 30, 2025, but it feels like December 30, 1933, in Germany.” — MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein, quoted by Barn Raiser
“Trump’s firing of these generals is a message to our nation and the entire military: Loyalty to him is much more important than loyalty to our country. He isn’t removing these individuals because they’re unqualified … He simply wants a military that will do his bidding whether or not it’s in America’s best interest. … I also believe that recruiting and retention will plummet as all those who aren’t white, Christian, and male no longer see the military as a viable route to honorable service and a fulfilling career. The damage has been done. It will take years or decades to repair.” — MRFF Advisory Board Member and retired Air Force Brigadier General Marty France, quoted by Barn Raiser
“Things have gotten worse since [Trump] got back in, and I feared retaliation because I’m not the type of Christian that Christian Nationalists want and that’s why I reached out to Mikey Weinstein and MRFF. Morale is low, faith in leadership is low and ever since he and Hegseth came to power, Christian Nationalism in the military has spiraled out of control.” — MRFF client, quoted by Barn Raiser
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- April 20, 2026 | 3 comments
I also believe that recruiting and retention will plummet as all those who aren’t white, Christian, and male no longer see the military as a viable route to honorable service and a fulfilling career. The damage has been done. It will take years or decades to repair.” — MRFF Advisory Board Member and retired Air Force Brigadier General Marty France, quoted by Barn Raiser
WRONG General there are ALWAYS going to be fine young people willing to pick up the torch raise their hand and serve. our military is the finest in the world and will ALWAYS be the finest in the world. Your blatant fear mongering is pathetic. God bless our troops
What proportion of the current US military is white, Christian, male, and straight?
Since they have God on their side then that would make him part of the military, amirite?
And he’s white! So, he’s white, male, and Chr….uh, is he Christian?
Not sure how that works. He sacrificed himself to himself to save us from himself and up from nowhere springs this cult that came to be known as Christianity.
I mean, he’s white in the clouds but was dark brown in human form, like his mother, so, fuck! Who knows? Confusing.
He’s a bit of a chameleon. I think he’s still on vacation isn’t he? Anyone know if he’s still in Tenerife? Or was it MAGAritaville?
Wherever it is, can’t seem to get him out of there after he went through those anger management classes.
And speaking of Christian pathetic, did you see Donnie Boy dozing in Davos? That should be a song title, “Dozing in Davos!”
Kind of like “Walking in Memphis.”
“Dozing in Davos, came here for a steal. Dozing in Davos, 10 miles from a deal.”
What a pathetic representative of the United States. Got to give it to him, he can clear a stage with that diaper odor.
Of course, when the diaper boy gets on a stage anywhere, the whole world already knows what he’s going to say. In every rambling it goes like this, “Me, me, me, me, me, me, me!”
But Gavin Newsom is living so rent free in Donny Boy’s mind.
OK Donnie. Wanted to take Greenland and succeeded in bring Europe and Scandinavia closer together as a NATO alliance – without the United States. Left Davos with a new hat, “Make America Go Away!”
Always fun watching Donnie getting his ass handed to him.
When’s that Epstein ballroom gonna be finished? You got some girls lined up to serve cocktails for those billionaires?
Maybe put them in those little doggy costumes you had them wearing at your Mar a Lago Eyes Wide Shut party.
Make sure they wear little gold crosses. A nice little touch to round out the look.
Don’t forget about those white house lips. You know, lots of filler.
What a fucking clown! My apologies to clowns.
@Tom O
70%
facts.
Source of your “facts”?
Old Soldier, I suspect that you’ve seen a good number of officers, enlisted people, and civilian personnel come and go in your time. I suspect that as you’ve risen through the ranks, you’ve seen changes in the forces and structures that make up the US Armed Forces. You’ve seen newly trained soldiers integrated into their units, learning how to apply their skills in the context of the missions their units have been assigned. You’ve doubtless seen how much re-training newly assigned officers need to operate efficiently and effectively once they meet “the REAL Army”. And I base these observations on my 20 years in the USAF.
One of the reasons we’ve been increasingly open to diversity in our ranks is that increased diversity, along with efforts at increased inclusion, is a significant element of the US Armed Forces being, as you say, “. . . the finest in the world”. Were we to eliminate those who don’t meet a White Christian Nationalist definition of who the warriors protecting our country and our interests globally should be, we would find that we suffered tremendous losses in mission capability and effectiveness. It would take YEARS to recover — likely a DECADE or more — to reestablish the capabilities we lost. Not just because we restricted the pool of personnel we could recruit from, but because people don’t gain experience immediately: it takes time!
You and I both know what happens to units that experience sudden changes in personnel. We don’t need to intentionally inflict these problems upon our successors — especially because we want to achieve some hypothetical “warrior ethic” that denies the diverse population that makes up the USA.
Going beyond JP’s comments, that “White Christian Nationalist” party, I.e. the Trump regime, has destroyed military effectiveness by way of decimation of coalitions around the world.
I don’t know who said it but what’s worse than fighting alongside allies? Fighting without them.
Look no further than, for example, the scenario where Trump militarily invaded Greenland, to take over a capability that he has access to, for free, without a military intervention.
The cost of maintenance of that “new territory,” particularly while your subjects at home are suffering from higher costs and lowered standard of living will soon take its toll.
The good news is that Mark Carney is showing the world that you can stand up to a bully and what do bullies do when slapped? They run home crying to mommy. And that’s what Trump did regarding Greenland. He came home from Davos with his tail tucked between his legs, seething, retribution on his mind, payback his obsession. That payback comes at a price. A price that inflicts his minions. A disease of rot. We need more of it, not less.
You’re not there yet MAGA. Your life hasn’t been impacted enough yet for you to stop drinking the Koolaid. It’s coming. Keep drinking.
I’d, frankly, love to see the U.S. military fully taken over by state-mandated all-white, so-called God fearing Christians.
You know why the Mormon church finally let blacks in? Because they couldn’t field a football team without them! You know why America values diversity? Because it fails without it.
Off you go. Have your all white Christian military. Let’s see how that works out for ya!
Kick ALL brown people out of America! Let’s see how you do when you’ve got no one to do the jobs that sustain this country.
Off you go. On your bike! You’re almost there. You can count America’s allies with two fingers, Russia and Israel and support for Israel is tenuous at best, waning.
All’s those allies America used to have? They stopped taking their fealty meds!
That meth you’re on? Feels good! For now.
Keep going MAGA. You’re almost there!
Hurry up and get that Epstein ballroom finished! Ghislaine hasn’t been to a party in a while!
The Inglorious Christian Enforcers have executed another American in Minnesota.
It wasn’t enough that the gestapo thugs surrounded the individual, had the person on the ground, but shot and killed the person while being terrorized by these untrained Nazi bastards, Trump’s Savak, his secret police.
We’re almost there MAGA. Keep it going. I’d really like to know why the military hasn’t been called in to help Trump’s Savak kill these unarmed civilians.
Yeah, I get it. They’re surrounded by these Proud Boys and thrown to the ground, completely overwhelmed by numbers, but it would be a whole lot easier, and more efficient, if you brought in the U.S. military and just shoot them. I mean, they’re fucking terrorists!
Plus, if you bring in the military to do it, your hands are clean. No questions.
If they’re brown, just fucking shoot them. If they’re white, and they question the gestapo in any way, just fucking kill them. They’re liberal. And they’re terrorists! Anyone that questions the Orange Man is a fucking terrorist! They’d probably take a donut right out of a Proud Boy’s hands!
Stop fucking around with jails and detainment. I mean it’s taking six or more masked thugs for every interaction with one of these enemies of the state.
Just fucking kill them and get this show on the road!
You could use the stormtroopers to help build the Epstein ballroom. But no, you’ve got them having to waste time, money, and resources to fuck with Americans in Minnesota. Not to mention how cold it is there!
What a waste of manpower. They’ve got guns and complete immunity. What are you waiting for?
We’re just about there MEGA! Just waiting on the insurrection act, martial law, outlawing demonstrations, pulling the internet plug, and curfews. I don’t know why they’re not using the power grid. Just pull the plug on different sections of the city. Let them freeze a little bit. They’ll come around! You’ll have them eating out of Bovino’s hands! You know, stale pizza!
I don’t know what Donnie’s’ waiting for. For Christ’s sake Donnie! How you gonna get that Epstein ballroom built without the Proud Boys? You’ve got them running around the country trying to look like real men and you could be using them in construction on that ballroom. WTF, over?
That guy in Minnesota that got killed had gotten between one of the Proud Boys pushing a woman to the ground. I mean, that’s a capital offense!
And then when the Proud Boy pepper sprayed him and yanked him to the ground, it was clear he was resisting getting pepper sprayed and thrown to the ground! Can you imagine the damage that could have been done if that guy’s head happened to hit one of those proud boy jack boots on the way to the ground? That might be disabling to a stormtrooper. He’d be going to church on Sunday with his family using crutches!
C’mon Donnie. Insurrection Act! Let’s get these violent blue cities and states under control! Targeted martial law for the good of the throne! Show them who’s boss!
Where’s Mike Flynn when you need him? Put him in charge of martial law. Get him one of those trench coats Bovino wears. Get Paula white to lead the mandatory church services. Everyone knows if you’re not Christian, you’re a terrorist! Well, except those on your cabinet.
C’mon Donnie. Insurrection Act and martial law before you check out of here. I say check out of here ‘cause your left hand and all that swelling in your legs. Ewww, not looking too good! I hear injecting bleach might clear all that up. I forget where I heard that. Might have been during Covid. Dilute it with 10% distilled water?
Or better yet, melted arctic snow! I hear Greenland’s got some. Pure as a reindeer’s ass. What’s that? You’re not going back? Send JD. He’ll get you some. But check it first. If it’s yellow ….. I hear he wants your job!
I did a demographic search on all military personnel and the percentage of White males (no sexual preferences were referenced) was more like 60 – 65%. The AI article sounded almost hopeful as they noted increased female service members in several branches.
Of course we all know women are being pushed out. Well I know based on the rollback of protections for service critters who’ve been SA’d by this failure of a SecDef. Hard won protections I might add all gone because folks just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for the lady.
Honestly is it really so hard to just not SA a person? Oh yeah, it’s about power and control, something our service personnel should be learning how to manage but instead our male service critters get their shorts in a bunch when a woman is better/faster/smarter than themselves.
The current admin’s message to future service personnel is clear – as long as you lick the boots of the dear leader they will have a use for you. May be cannon fodder but hey, you know what you signed up for, amirite? Speak out like Sen Kelly… lol OK reminding current service critters of the oath they’ve all taken being considered a court martial event?? LOL wait until… what? No court martial? No discovery? Really? OK then…. Anyway speak up for service critters like Sen Kelly did then those in control will threaten your pension and service record until you are silenced. Hell of a recruitment technique there Heggie.
Added thoughts: Alex, a VA nurse was executed by ICE today. I say executed as he was subdued with multiple agents holding him down. They’d taken his weapon, he wasn’t resisting, and they killed him because he DARED to get between a lady who’d been pushed and tear gassed and the agent who did the pushing.
The gaslighting from the current admin is to be expected and it is as vile as can be imagined. And in case anyone thinks this is still about immigration a memo was leaked from Bondi (not giving her title as the one she deserves is too vile for me to write here/now) basically informing the Minnesota government that ICE would leave once the state provided the current admin with their voter data logs.
Never was about immigration.
Oh, late husband is drill sergeant-ing in my ear saying if WeThePeople wanted ICE agents unalived they’d be unalived. We are choosing nonviolent protests deliberately and the current admin is choosing violence deliberately.
I long for the days of accountability but here we are.
Weinstein should be ashamed of himself for saying America is like Nazi Germany. I am appalled by his ignorant fear mongering.
Old schooler needs to check his meds, affecting his vision.
Trump Rearrangement Syndrome does affect vision.
Might want to go see the VA, although, I hear they’re missing an ICU nurse. Shouldn’t be a problem. Just get your meds adjusted.
I’m listening to Paul Simon’s “An American Tune” as I read today’s comments. I hope we Americans can, as Simon sang, ” . . . come in the age’s most uncertain hour
And sing an American tune”.
THIS is my most fervent hope!
Old soldier who yells at the sky thinks it’s “fear mongering” to compare the USA here/now to Nazi Germany there/then.
Fear mongering. Right because there can be no comparison of ICE going door to door to find immigrants vs. Gestapo or the SS going door to door to find “undesirables”.
Because citizens getting shot in the street for the crime of observing is in no way the same as what happened before. Because those detainees being disappeared and never seen again is nothing like humans disappearing into the official camps of Germany.
Old soldier is so deluded I imagine had they been a “good” German back in the day they would walk around permanently hungry due to smell of grilled flesh wafting over the town. Never did see any cows entering the camp which produced the aroma but put the matter out of their mind because supper was on the table.
We are in fascism old soldier but because the religion these fascists claim is the same as yours (at least for now) you see nothing wrong. Why did I qualify the sameness of their religion? Purity tests baby, that event where everything is going fine until there is that one difference and you find yourself trebucheted off the bridge.
Word on the street via the resistance is to talk to those in your circle about how serious they are about 2A rights. I mean, either they are for all citizens or not, correct? Because based on the current memes and interviews coming out of MAGA it’s sounding a lot like gun rights for me but not for thee. Nah, can’t be, amirite? (heaviest of snark on that last can’t be).
Old Soldier: Mikey W. said “it feels like December 30, 1933, in Germany.” When the Nazis first took power in 1933, the first few years they did things that made life better for most people. They didn’t start doing the bad stuff until the mechanisms of repression were all set up. The Trumpies are trying to do the same here, and you support it. That’s why Mikey’s quote bothers you so much.
Grey One, I don’t expect that you do, but are you implying that Old Soldier is a pumpkin? Because trebuchets are often used in pumkin’ chunkin’ events.
And, just for the record, your post is the first time i’ve seen “trebuchet” used as the root of a verb. Well done! I just learned that the first recorded use of the word in English came in 1224 CE and has, according to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), only been used as a noun , , , until now!
Should I pass this on to the good folks who edit the OED?
J. P. I would never malign pumpkins so! Valuable veggie they are. Old soldier? Let’s just say the jury is still out.
In my years on this planet I’ve watched humans mangle language to fit their needs. Not sure I’d use treucheted in front of my Language Arts mother but here/now, it was the term that fit the narrative.
WhooHoo! Broke another multiple century record. LOL Well done me! Fairly certain my usage is strictly “off the books”