# Why Pete Hegseth is Blocking Black Officer Promotions

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/why-pete-hegseth-is-blocking-black-officer-promotions
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/why-pete-hegseth-is-blocking-black-officer-promotions.md
Podcast: [KQED's Forum](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728)
Published: 2026-06-26T18:45:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC9604111124.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC9604111124.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kqed-s-forum-910728/episodes/why-pete-hegseth-is-blocking-black-officer-promotions
Duration seconds: 3282

## Resource

During his second term, President Trump has taken aim at DEI initiatives across the federal government, a focus that has been embraced by his cabinet. Deriding “affirmative action promotions,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directly intervened to block the promotions of more than a dozen Black and women officers. The Atlantic’s Clint Smith recently reported on those snubs and how the Pentagon’s history of prominent Black service members has been scrubbed from public view; he joins us to share their stories. Guests: Clint Smith, poet and staff writer, The Atlantic; his recent article is "Being Black in Pete Hegseth's Military"; his books include "Above Ground" and "How the Word is Passed" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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## Transcript

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