Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced mandatory testosterone screening for US troops aged 30 and over, as part of a new initiative dubbed 'The High-T Department of War.' The video, posted by Hegseth, aims to ensure soldiers have 'the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.' Critics note the policy excludes 231,000 active-duty women, raising questions about its scope and intent.
Testosterone Initiative Sparks Controversy
Fox News anchor Jesse Watters reacted to the announcement with a warning. 'The guys that DON'T need it are going to take it. Triple boost! And then they're going to get out there, and, women on base – you guys better be careful!' he said. 'Port calls, women in Asia – you better be careful. Because these guys are going to be WILD ANIMALS, and you better WATCH OUT!' The comment has drawn criticism for its implications about military conduct.
Hegseth's move comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a shift that has alarmed many military analysts. The US has also resumed military operations against Iran, with Vice President JD Vance suggesting that some within the Israeli administration are 'manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely.'
JD Vance's Corn Dog Confession
During an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Vance discussed his discomfort with eating certain foods in public. 'I try, I try to eat my corn dogs … That's – that's between me and my kitchen,' he said, after Rogan criticized people for being 'so afraid of anything that looks like a dick.' Vance also expressed unease about former President Joe Biden's ice-cream eating style, describing it as 'the most ridiculous, suggestive way imaginable.'
White House Betting Scandal
Meanwhile, the operator of Trump's teleprompter has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after allegedly making $100,000 by betting on words or topics appearing in Trump's speeches on the prediction market Kalshi. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, 'There are very strict ethical guidelines here at the White House.' The incident mirrors a UK betting scandal involving aides to former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Iran War Reboot
The administration's approach to the Iran conflict has been criticized as 'wan and weakly engaged' by analysts, who argue that the current strategy is unlikely to succeed. Vance's comments on Rogan suggest internal divisions, with some accusing Israel of prolonging the war. 'Simply following the logic of the administration's own hormonal doctrine, surely Trump should stop oestrogening-out on this one, and go all-in with a more strategically direct and intense form of combat,' the article argues.
