Judge Blocks Pentagon From Demoting Sen. Mark Kelly

Did Hegseth's Pentagon retaliate against protected speech or did Kelly undermine military discipline and good order?

Published 1 day ago

Judge Blocks Pentagon From Demoting Sen. Mark Kelly

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Above: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) in Washington on Feb. 3. Image credit: Heather Diehl/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

Hegseth's Pentagon violated the Constitution by retaliating against Kelly for protected speech about refusing unlawful orders. This political overreach through military discipline transformed a respected senator into a national figure defending civil-military norms and free expression. The miscalculation elevated Kelly's credibility on terrain where his service record is strongest, potentially reshaping the 2028 presidential field.

Mississippi Free Press

Mark Kelly on X

Right narrative

Kelly undermined military discipline by telling active-duty troops on national television to second-guess lawful orders from their chain of command. This disgraceful stunt encourages service members to disobey legitimate commands based on partisan fear-mongering about illegal orders that don't exist. Eroding good order creates hesitation when seconds matter and hands propaganda victories to America's enemies.

New York Post

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