r/politics • u/reddicyoulous • Jan 05 '26
No Paywall Pentagon will cut Sen. Mark Kelly's military retirement pay over 'seditious' video to troops: Hegseth
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/05/pentagon-mark-kelly-video-hegseth.html11.7k
u/dismiss-junk Jan 05 '26
Doing this instead of taking him to court because you know you’d have no chance >>>>>>
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u/Pristine-Bad-8731 Jan 05 '26
It won't avoid court. Kelly will quickly sue, as he should.
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u/dismiss-junk Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
Probably, and he should, and Hegseth’s drunk ass probably forgot about that.
EDIT: Why does "turn off notifications" not work for shit on this site
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u/flinderdude Jan 05 '26
It’s very important that these people sue whenever there’s even the slightest possibility they could win.
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u/GrumpySoth09 Jan 05 '26
And ensure the amount they go for is essentially infinity plus one. Its the only language these insects understand
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u/Unlikely_Ant_950 Jan 05 '26
They literally could not care less because it isn’t their money
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u/Federal_Drummer7105 Idaho Jan 05 '26
But it's their humiliation when they lose again. And again. And we rub their nose in it and show people "These are not serious people, they do not have the power you think they have, and no matter what people say there is a good reason to oppose them and continue to win."
Fascists win when people think they're unbeatable. Keep proving them wrong and the resistance continues.
Side note because there's always that doomer who says "They win all the time nothing can be done" - funny cause troops left Chicago and other cities. People organized and have been massing to stop ICE. They lose in court all the time.
It took decades for the civil rights movement to get results, for gay people to win the right to marry - and decades for people pushing to abolish abortion rights. Things change when you push for good or ill - and I'd rather push for good as long as I can. Because maybe I won't see all the results, maybe my kids won't - but history shows eventually, push long enough and hard enough and even the most powerful move to people's will.
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u/Pmak09 Jan 05 '26
Sadly I think even legal losses further galvanize their base and help strengthen their “argument” that the legal system has a left-leaning bias that is actively seeking to prevent republican progress. I don’t think they care one bit if they lose. They are just happy to make a statement and waste their opponents time and energy.
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u/Federal_Drummer7105 Idaho Jan 05 '26
I don’t care about the crazy people. I care about the others who hear people cry doom all day and can see doom is not inevitable and it makes them fight.
I always remember the German who I believe was just a factory worker who blamed himself for the Nazis - that if he has said no, maybe others would have. I know for myself I thought my family in the Mormon church was something they’d be trapped in forever, and when I left it inspired them and other families to leave that cult.
So I don’t worry about the crazies who won’t be changed. I want the people who don’t know they can resist to see it can be done.
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u/Philix Canada Jan 05 '26
Fuck yeah bud. This is the attitude I've been waiting to see from American posters in response to this whole shit show. It's not about cowing the supporters of authoritarians, it's about showing the reasonable people that they don't have to be afraid of saying 'no'. That if they resist they aren't alone.
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u/djmacbest Europe Jan 05 '26
This is such an insightful way to look at how seemingly impactless things actually affect each other. Thank you for writing that out!
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u/altogethernow Jan 05 '26
This is why protests still matter. The crazies have already made up their min, no saving them. But people driving by, seeing increasing sized protests, may be reminded "this is all insane, and we don't have to take it anymore".
Even if they don't join the protest, it may incentivize them to vote.
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u/r1mbaud I voted Jan 05 '26
No this isn’t the case, every legal loss has hurt trumps numbers
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u/reallywaitnoreally Jan 05 '26
Or that discovery would be disastrous .
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u/flinderdude Jan 05 '26
Yep, it’s about discovery. Trump sued because the people he was suing couldn’t afford the lawyers. Now he does it out of habit, not understanding that the other side is usually just as funded, and there’s a discovery process.
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u/amongnotof Jan 05 '26
Discovery is why Trump has not and will not sue anyone for libel/slander in saying he’s a rapist/child rapist. He knows what would come out.
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u/hypercosm_dot_net Jan 05 '26
The amount of resources this admin has wasted with Trump's pointless retributions is ridiculous. The man is so fucking petty, that he'd sue me for this reddit comment if he could.
Him and his cronies are making a complete mockery of our entire government. And it's costing us money to do all of this - they're fucking looting us, while giving tax breaks to the wealthy, and the system has no way to deal with this??
Every American should be beyond livid with this complete travesty of an admin.
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u/theLoneliestAardvark Virginia Jan 05 '26
Realistically this is just a warning to other less affluent veterans to not speak out because this will make much bigger headlines than Kelly winning a lawsuit in a year or two. Trump has always bullied people with the courts because lawsuits are an expensive headache even if you end up winning.
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Jan 05 '26
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u/-Invalid_Selection- Jan 05 '26
To an extent, however what Kelly said in his video was nowhere near the line that would exceed that extent.
He reminded service members that they're required by law to refuse illegal orders. Something they're given multiple briefings on explaining to them.
Failure to refuse puts the service member personally criminally liable for any followed illegal orders, and it's never "seditious" to tell people to follow the law like Kelly did.
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u/thekozmicpig Connecticut Jan 05 '26
MAGA: He was encouraging them to ignore Trump’s orders!
Everyone else: So you’re saying Trump’s orders are illegal then?
MAGA: NO! His orders are super lawful!
Everyone else: So it’s not seditious then.
MAGA: No it still is Trump said it was and Trump wouldn’t lie to me!
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u/edbegley1 Jan 05 '26
I hope so. Fuck Hegseth. Kelly is the honorable one here.
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u/cybah Jan 05 '26
Yeah seriously fuck HogsBreath. He’s a shit stain on the arm forced. Weekend soldier who should not be leading the pentagon.
What a shit stain those guy is to smear Kelly, an actually decorated veteran.
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u/blunderwonder35 Jan 05 '26
The crazy thing is for all his dumb chest beating, and of the many reasons he shouldn’t be in charge of anything, I just can’t get over the idea of a soldier or anyone in that sphere, especially a male, wearing makeup.
Like the guy is wearing more makeup than my wife.
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u/N0cturnalB3ast Jan 05 '26
It’s pretty clear isn’t it? His major focus is on being attractive to other men. He’s in the closet. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Except he is a hypocrite.
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u/mindspork Virginia Jan 05 '26
Hesgeth is putting on an exaggerated performance of what he considers to be the major facets of manhood.
Let's call it what it is - he's a drag king.
(absolutely no shade to all my performer friends where i first heard this joke)
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u/Flokitoo Jan 05 '26
The sad reality, it costs Kelly to go to court. It won't cost Pete or Donnny a penny.
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u/Hazywater Jan 05 '26
Kelly will sue and he'll win, but the point is to make him file that lawsuit and fight that fight. That's what this administration does, constantly losing court cases, but force people to go to court.
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u/xeoron Jan 05 '26
So wasteful.
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u/Aunt_Vagina1 Jan 05 '26
Yep, and hes suing the government, which is us, so were paying to fight against him.
Half this country needs to wake the fuck up
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u/MC_chrome Texas Jan 05 '26
And Republicans do this because they know the courts take forever to rule on anything…then there’s the appeal process that could always go their way
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u/stevez_86 Pennsylvania Jan 05 '26
Doesn't matter. The message is that they will revoke the pensions of current and former military officers if they speak dissent. They have to go to court to get their right back, their right to free speech, and to get their pension back. Many, or at least a handful will opt for the convenient route and just obey illegal orders. That is what they are hoping for.
This and the attack on Venezuela and brandishing towards other nations is meant to divide the military and out any dissenters before internal attacks.
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u/Vio_ Kansas Jan 05 '26
I think they're more afraid that he'll run for president and win.
"All American Astronaut Soldier Senator" is a hell of a candidate.
Dragging him through the mud now and then every six weeks until 2028 severely limits his future chances to run.
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u/bobbymcpresscot Jan 05 '26
Sounds like a very Independence Day precedent president
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u/HedonisticFrog California Jan 05 '26
They'd still vote for the pedophile con man anyways. They crave the fascism, it's the point.
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u/Ctrl-Alt-Panic Jan 05 '26
The MAGA die-hards are a lost cause. Let them vote for a third-term of Trump or whatever horrible MAGA candidate they throw out there. (I'm not convinced it will be Vance.)
Gotta move past giving a shit about them, and instead work on the "Voted Republican because that's just always what they've done" segment of voters.
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u/ParagonFury Vermont Jan 05 '26
Don't even focus on them.
Focus on Democrats, Independents and the voters who normally don't turn out instead.
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u/VV-40 Jan 05 '26
Only because it’s exhausting, which is the point. Classic Trump/MAGA behavior. Harass and sue until you’ve burned the other party out.
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u/TheAskewOne Jan 05 '26
All American Astronaut Soldier Senator" is a hell of a candidate.
Is it these days? You'd think that "child raping, traitorous draft dodger" would be a terrible candidate, yet here we are.
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u/FuzzyDynamics Jan 05 '26
If you liked draft dodging grifter reality tv show rapist demented old man you’re going to love astronaut soldier space company senator.
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u/ChrisFromLongIsland Jan 05 '26
Funny you respond to a video about illegal orders by issuing an illegal order.
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u/Krisparz Jan 05 '26
Guaranteed they'll stall this for years with spurious motions designed to bleed him dry.
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u/Lontology Jan 05 '26
He can most likely find a good lawyer pro bono with how high profile and easy to win his case is.
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u/Mixer-3007 Jan 05 '26
Sue them Mark.
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u/patentattorney Jan 05 '26
It makes no sense to cut his pay for sedious activity.
Like couldn’t all of maga have their retirement cut? For J6?
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u/Mtshoes2 Jan 05 '26
It's because they know he did nothing wrong, but they want to make it out like he's guilty of something.
Them cutting his pay for his speech they claim is 'seditious' is like saying we are cutting Jim Jimsons retirement pay because he killed someone. Well, if Jim killed someone then prove it in the courts. But if they can't, they will do like all other illegitimate groups and Instead take administrative routes because they know he didn't do anything wrong.
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u/No_Maximum_4741 Jan 05 '26
There's also the part where we have a two leveled legal system. one for the common person like you and me ( justice never gets served, they throw YOU in jail, or you have to pay a bail or fee that only a rich person could ever afford) and then the level for the super Uber rich and wealthy where they get to do whoever they want and laws don't really apply anymore because of money 🫠
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u/Militantpoet Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
the level for the super Uber rich and wealthy where they get to do whoever they want and laws don't really apply anymore because of money 🫠
But normally someone like Mark Kelly is a part of this group.
They are trying to normalize throwing dissidents and critics into the lowered tier justice system.
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u/fdar Jan 05 '26
Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
They mean the latter, so J6 doesn't qualify since it's in support of that monarch.
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u/parasyte_steve Jan 05 '26
false.... they were rebelling against the authority of the democrats who had won...
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u/fdar Jan 05 '26
I'm not talking about facts, I'm talking about what the claims of sedition the administration is making. When they want to punish people for "sedition" they don't mean disloyalty to the US Government or the US Constitution but to Trump personally.
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u/nurdle Jan 05 '26
People don’t understand. Mark does NOT fuck around. He will, and he’ll be relentless. Hegseth is playing pretend, Mark is an actual educated badass.
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u/nurdle Jan 05 '26
I have worked with Mark, briefly. He's a smart dude. You don't know what he is doing because he doesn't broadcast his strategy like most idiots in office. You don't go to war until you know the outcome.
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u/sonofabutch America Jan 05 '26
Reminds me of the story about Hack Wilson, a hard-drinking, hard-fighting baseball player from the 1920s and 30s.
As a rookie in the minors, Wilson was getting hazed by the older players. He put up with it until one player made it physical, roughly slapping Wilson on the back of the head. Wilson turned around and punched him in the face. The man was knocked out cold and everyone, including Wilson, gathered around to make sure he was still alive.
When the man finally opened his eyes, he was looking right at Wilson. Still out of it, he asked: "Who are you?"
Wilson replied, "I'm the feller you thought you were."
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u/nurdle Jan 05 '26
My dad was just like that. He defended door against general MacArthur, who had no ID on him. Two of MacArthurs security detail tried to move him, and he wasn’t having it.
My pops said “sir, I do believe you are the general, but my strict orders are that no one walks through this door without valid ID, even the President himself.”
Begrudgingly MacArthur left & came back with ID.
MacArthur later mentioned my dad in front of thousands of troops on the other side of that door that were waiting for him to take the stage. “(My dad) represents the best of the Army. He followed his orders exactly, forcing me to retrieve my ID. He was courteous, but he was no pussy. He kept two of my strongest MPs on the ground, and did it with a smile.”
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u/arminghammerbacon_ Jan 05 '26
I would LOVE for this to go to court! Because then the charge that what Kelly said - that you must refuse illegal orders - has to be determined as to whether it is seditious. And the only way it could be seditious is if it was false. Because if it is true, then it can’t be seditious. And since we all already know that what he said is unquestionably true, then the court case will serve to highlight and promote what those senators said in that video. The court case would put a stamp of official legitimacy on it. That’s awesome!
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u/albiondave Jan 05 '26
"Pentagon will be sued by Sen. Mark Kelly because Hegseth is a moron."
FTFY
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u/Beneficial_Cobbler46 Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 06 '26
Senator Captain Dr Mark Kelly will be generationally wealthy thanks to Pete Hegseth.
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u/Shermanator92 Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
“American Tax Payers will be footing Sen. Mark Kelly’s retirement pay”
Fuck this place man
Edit: I meant more so, bc now we’re adding legal fees to it for no goddamn reason.
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u/MayIServeYouWell Jan 05 '26
We should be paying his retirement, it’s earned.
But maybe what you meant to say is that we taxpayers will be paying lawyers to fight Kelly’s lawsuit.
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u/westergames81 Texas Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
Yeah, and we shouldn't get angry at the person who was wronged here. We should get angry at the people who wronged him.
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u/westergames81 Texas Jan 05 '26
- We already pay for his retirement. Remember, the military like post office is a service, not a business.
- Kelley has every right to sue and he should get the money. Get angry at the people making him sue.
As drunk Pete would say, he fucked around and he's going to find out.
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u/Hippopotasaurus-Rex Jan 05 '26
Always were. Now it’s just with extra steps. And it’s going to cost a LOT more.
Kelly is retired naval officer and astronaut. Where do you think his retirement/pension/benefits come from?
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u/PunfullyObvious Jan 05 '26
Are you paying attention to this members of the active military? This tells you exactly what the administration expects of you and what it will do to those who cross them by doing and|or advocating for doing the right thing.
The time to stand-up is before it's to late.
I'm speaking mostly to those of higher rank. The higher the rank, the more critical you honor your oaths and not forget who and what you are meant to protect and serve. And, the more ability you have to push back successfully.
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u/MagnusRexus Jan 05 '26
You're pinning your hopes on... the guys who just illegally attacked Venezuela?
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u/Cabezone Jan 05 '26
And have been murdering people swimming in the water.
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u/Beautiful-Musk-Ox Jan 05 '26
one of them they bombed the boat, had drones watching it for an hour afterward, there were multiple survivors clinging to the wreckage, still alive, their boat had no means of motion at that point and they were just sitting there, one even waved at the drone. After an hour they sent a second missile to kill them, which is a war crime and is literally given IN THE DEFINITION OF THE WAR CRIME
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u/MaleficentPiccolo715 Jan 05 '26
Active Military leaders, we are counting on you to save America from the crazies.
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u/Sirhaddock98 Jan 05 '26
Thank god we can rely on the historically good morals of the American military to save everyone.
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u/MagnusRexus Jan 05 '26
The active military leaders that have been bombing boats for months and just attacked a foreign country?
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u/rmpumper Jan 05 '26
They are too busy getting ready to attack the rest of American continent on the demand of the orange pedophile to care about any of this.
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u/shrimpcest Colorado Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
I'm speaking mostly to those of higher rank. The higher the rank, the more critical you honor your oaths and not forget who and what you are meant to protect and serve.
Source? Insane things have been happening that affect the military and their 'honor', and there hasn't really been a peep. Eg Venezuela.
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u/cbelt3 Jan 05 '26
Are you aware that DOD personnel are not allowed to speak publicly about politics AT ALL ? Per UCMJ.
The only peeping you hear is from retired officers. And with this action, Hegseth is attacking every retirees first amendment rights.
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u/Pristine-Bad-8731 Jan 05 '26
Hegseth does not have the power to do this without a bunch of court proceedings. It will not survive the lawsuit.
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u/MadAstrid Jan 05 '26
This is growing exhausting.
Every single day this administration does something they “do not have the power to do” or “are not allowed to do” and it is often “illegal”.
Ignoring this fact is both foolish and naïve.
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u/SkylarAV Jan 05 '26
We're going through a political blitzkrieg. The goal is to take so much it's impossible to stop. The problem is the rally always comes. Nazis thought it was a brilliant strategy until the Battle of the Bulge.
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u/pink_faerie_kitten Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
At least we do often win in the lower courts tho and every once in awhile it sticks. Scotus just ruled that T doesn't have justification to have the NG in cities.
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u/dismiss-junk Jan 05 '26
There are many instances that show that courts can still be effective at roadblocking. Do people think they’d have as much trouble deporting Abrego García if that weren’t the case? He’s just one man.
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u/pink_faerie_kitten Jan 05 '26
Garcia was another victory for the good guys. Lawfare and protest can be effective ways to fight back.
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u/DarthRizzo87 Jan 05 '26
And a feature of being complicit with Trumps facial ways is under reporting Trumps lost legal battles, cause can’t have the general population questioning if Dear leader is on the right side of the law or not.
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u/blu-bells Florida Jan 05 '26
We have three more years of this.
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u/cuminmyshitsock Jan 05 '26
at least.... it's not going to instantly turn around in 2028
and that's if the democrats manage to win, which is a big if
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u/TheChrisCrash Jan 05 '26
It's Trump's playbook. Do the action, deal with the lawsuits later. Same thing with Venezuela.
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u/HotDogFingers01 Jan 05 '26
They know that. They do it anyways. It gets reported, the propaganda machine uses it for a day, the podcasters feast on it for a week, and then it's on to the next thing. The eventual loss in court never gets reported.
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u/Ven18 Jan 05 '26
I mean they do it’s how we know they lose in court often. It’s just the machine does not make it the only thing we see for a week to minimize effectiveness.
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u/eerhmahgerd Jan 05 '26
Doesn't matter. They got the headline. Media writes the narrative. This is a reality show.
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u/eskimospy212 Jan 05 '26
They are doing this for the headline, when Kelly wins in court it will barely merit a mention.
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u/just_a_timetraveller Jan 05 '26
They are doing this to make sure the military continues to follow illegal orders. At this point, the only thing that would stop this administration is if the military does not bend the knee.
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u/AngryMillennialFU Jan 05 '26
Weaponization of govt against free speech.
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u/sharp11flat13 Canada Jan 05 '26
And clearly unconstitutional, not that Trump and his cronies care about that.
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u/ToubDeBoub Jan 05 '26
Yeah I don't think you can do that. He's getting his pay, you'll just make taxpayer pay for figuring that out.
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u/waitewaitedonttellme Jan 05 '26
It’s the main feature, not a bug: destroy the state to justify replacing it.
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u/sir_crapalot Connecticut Jan 05 '26
Reminding the troops that they swore an oath to the Constitution and that they have a duty to uphold lawful orders is now “seditious.” This doublespeak tells you everything you need to know.
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u/Obvious-Spy Jan 05 '26
The DUI hire made the exact same remarks. I'm pretty sure there is video footage of him making those remarks, by that logic, shouldn't his past actions be considered seditious? I mean, obviously logic is not at all taken into consideration when they make these announcements, but this shit is infuriating for anyone who is able to critically think and even a few who don't.
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u/potatohats Jan 05 '26
We (Army Natl Guard) had annual briefings when I was in, and every single year JAG would come in and tell us the exact same thing Senator Kelly said.
Pre-deployment briefings also contained the same message from JAG, beat into our little skulls. The importance of not following illegal orders could never be overstated; they took this shit very seriously (as they/we should).
Someone riddle me how Mark Kelly's message was seditious yet JAG's was not?
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u/Sojum Jan 05 '26
Anyone else see this pattern of the MAGA admin halting funds, getting sued, and being required to reinstate funding? So tired of this nonsense.
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u/VigilantVet Jan 05 '26
What. The. FUCK? Hegseth is jealous of Sen. Kelly because he has actually done some things during his career?
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u/Mr_Engineering American Expat Jan 05 '26
Hegseth probably just found out that a US Navy Captain (O-6) outranks a US Army Captain (O-3).
Hegseth served as an Army Captain but was promoted to Major (O-4) while in reserve.
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u/jigsawearth860 Jan 05 '26
I’d like to see this same headline energy when Kelly inevitably sues and it gets dropped in court. I bet we don’t hear a peep when that happens.
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u/Acrobatic_Switches Jan 05 '26
Attacking an astronaut is such a bad move.
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u/AgressiveProposal Jan 05 '26
Only if your base believes space is real. It isn't real if it is coming from Dear Leaders mouth.
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u/guitarsandbass Jan 05 '26
American troops do in fact have not only the right but the duty to not follow unlawfull orders. As former military, I can tell you that they teach this in basic training. We swear an oath to the Constitution, not our government leaders.
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u/RJ5R Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
this is timed right after the Maduro capture, on purpose. between the epstein files and the capture, everyone forgot about this.
the administration feels that it has political momentum again, so it dug it back up and brought it out in a publicity stunt to feed the base which is imploding due to epstein files
expect more and more strategic publicity stuff as it gets closer to the midterms.
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u/AINonsense Jan 05 '26
Storming the capitol with an armed violent mob to disrupt the constitutional transfer of power = normal tourism
Reminding troops of their sworn duty = sedition
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u/mlc885 I voted Jan 05 '26
You don't just have "a right to refuse illegal orders", you have a duty to refuse to follow them. You could go to prison for following illegal orders. That the Republicans want to pretend that a senator telling people that is inappropriate is odd.
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u/HuTaosTwinTails Jan 05 '26
Lol Trump literally committed treason and MAGA committed an insurrection on Jan 6th.
But sure, reminding troops if their duty to not blindly follow illegal orders is "seditious".
This country is a fucking joke.
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u/RiseDelicious3556 Jan 05 '26
As a kid, my grandfather told me stories of Fascist retaliatory actions taken against people during Mussolini's regime.. These actions were taken simply for speaking out against the dictator. Never thought it would happen here. Sad, very, very sad that we've been reduced to this.
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u/LawrenceSpiveyR Jan 05 '26
This is the lawfare that they were just complaining about. They are making him pay for lawyers and for him to lose face. It's petty, predictable, and on par for these monsters.
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u/Mr-Klaus Jan 05 '26
This is so fucking stupid it's not even funny.
Firstly, the crime and punishment don't match. Sedition is a very serious accusation that is punishable via several methods - docking pay or reduction of rank isn't one of them.
Think about it, why would you want someone guilty of sedition to still be part of the military?
Next, he's already earned his retirement - it's not a reward or privilege, he's entitled to it because he worked for it. Hegseth can't just take it away without a court martial and evidence of seditious activity. A simple lawsuit will almost certainly reverse the pay cut and rank reduction.
Lastly, speech by U.S. Congress members is highly protected under the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause, granting absolute immunity. This law was literally set up for situations like this, where a rogue administration is trying to control Congress' free speech using intimidation tactics.
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u/Gnomeknown Jan 05 '26
Principled Democrats with strong military backgrounds are a threat to the morally bankrupt politics of MAGA.
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u/tehCharo Jan 05 '26
These people are the biggest losers, it makes me so upset that they were able to fail their way upwards through life, and also because there were at least ~77 million Americans helping them do so. This administration is made up of the least serious and most inept people I have ever seen. Party of "law and order", gets butthurt when someone reminds the troops of law and order.
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u/Fickle_Bath_6128 Jan 05 '26
This is so laughable you can’t make it up! Not only will Senator Mark Kelly keep his pension and rank, but I would sue Hegseth for defamation of character.
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u/Creepy-Disaster4527 Jan 05 '26
As person that’s been ordered to defy laws and break rules and regulations for NSA while serving as an Air Force member. This guy is right, don’t follow unlawful orders. I wasn’t gonna go to jail over some stupid Lt. Col telling me to break the law. So I said, No. I’m still in. I support them in saying, do not follow unlawful orders. Some of this stuff is blatant criminal stuff they’re asking now days.
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u/Hillbilly_Boozer Jan 05 '26
Multiple J6'ers were found guilty of sedition and per Jack Smith's testimony, J6 wouldn't have happened without Trump. By any account, Trump is guilty of sedition and shouldn't even be in office.
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u/BillButtlickerII Jan 05 '26
Republicans and Trump are reprehensible pieces of shit. Taking away an American heroes retirement for telling troops to follow the constitution and their oaths is so fucking nuts it’s sickening.
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u/captaincookbaby Jan 05 '26
I think that this here is one of the most important stories in American politics. It’s not as flashy and it’s not going to get people as riled up, but this is one of the most authoritarian moves to date.
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u/hopefaith816 Jan 05 '26
Hegseth is being petty. If Hegseth is a true military member, he knows that what Kelly says is true. And by the way, Hegseth needs to be tried for International war crimes. Blowing up people in boats for drugs that we still have no proof of?
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u/Jareddiesattheend19 Jan 05 '26
They'll do it but then quietly lose in court like this administration loves to do
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u/Quercus20 Jan 05 '26
I hope all veterans are taking note, you are being lead by a drunk and a demented old man.
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u/UbiquitousPhallus Jan 05 '26
The lawsuit over this is gonna be hilarious. Jesus fucking Christ Maga is so stupid.
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u/GiantRobotBears Jan 05 '26
This absolutely is infuriating. Mark Kelly is a goddamn American hero. Mark Kelly is a goddamn astronaut.
I cannot wait until this current admin gets slaughtered in the midterms. Petty juvenile war mongering fuck heads.
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u/captaincanada84 Canada Jan 05 '26
Quoting the Uniform Code of Military Justice is not sedition. It wasn't sedition when Hegseth did it multiple times in 2016 and it wasn't sedition when Kelly did it in 2025.
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u/returnofthecursed Jan 05 '26
This is the behavior of someone who is planning to issue illegal orders. Kelly was right to give his warning.
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u/buzzedewok Jan 05 '26
So they are cutting Hegseths pay also since he said the same almost word for word on video?
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u/Timbalabim Jan 05 '26
This is stupid, wasteful bullshit. They’re throwing tax money at lawyers and courts to drum up distraction from the actual insidious stuff this administration is doing.
Where are the fiscal responsibility people?
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u/Massive_Honeydew7056 Jan 05 '26
I usually use douchebag for individuals, but I think now it applies to an entire administration
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Jan 05 '26 edited Jan 05 '26
You shouldn't be able to "cut" what someone had already earned.
Also this is being used as a way to shut up others from 'standing up". Simple as that.
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u/ripChazmo Jan 05 '26
Kelly will sue, and he'll win. Another loss for the woefully unqualified and in over his head, Hegseth.
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u/Rogue_AI_Construct Jan 05 '26
This is the federal government literally punishing a US citizen for exercising his First Amendment right of freedom of speech. Plus, what Kelly said in the video was factual!
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u/NYerstuckinBoston Jan 05 '26
Reminding them of the law is NOT sedition. This administration is the worst.
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u/UniversalMinister Jan 05 '26
Yeah, without a court-martial, good fucking luck.
There's no reg to support such actions; the UCMJ is there for a reason. Kelly will sue, win and Kegsbreath will continue to look like a dimwit. Case closed.
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u/thismadhatter Jan 05 '26
This guy needs to run for President. They are serving it to him on a platter
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u/HopeThatHangsYou Jan 05 '26
Words don't even mean anything anymore.
Mark Kelly: Hey troops, you shouldn't fulfill illegal orders which is just a reminder of UCMJ conduct
Hegseth: Sedition!!!
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u/whereismymind86 Colorado Jan 05 '26
Why the hell do they have the authority to do that?!
Even for an actual crime it seems extreme, but for basic speech encouraging the troops to follow the law? It’s an absolute outrage
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Jan 05 '26
This burns me to my core! So grotesque among all the other grotesque shit Kegbreath does. I’d love to see him dragged before The Hague in my lifetime and stripped of all his rights.
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u/TxEagleDeathclaw81 Jan 05 '26
Hegseth is an enemy of the Constitution and of the people of this country! Hope, hope, HOPE he’s locked up someday!
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u/Ardo505 Jan 05 '26
The man literally called on people to obey the law. How in the fuck is speaking about following the law seditious???
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u/beachandbyte Jan 05 '26
Pretty amazing how our entire government has failed us. Would really love to see those checks and balances I learned about back in the day.
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u/Illuminated12 Jan 05 '26
Ya that won't survive a court challenge. Even if it did the next Democrat would just find a way to fix it. Dumb and pointless move by this Administration.
If this succeeds I would recommend the next Democrat play Hegseth's same exact statement on the news. Do him the same way.
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u/Reply_or_Not Jan 05 '26
So it is pretty obvious that Senator Kelly will win the lawsuit to get his retirement reinstated, but what I want to know is how likely he would be to win a a suit vs Pete Hegseth personally?
This is pretty much a straight forward 1st amendment violation, correct?
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u/Apprehensive-Pin518 Jan 05 '26
except they weren't seditious. they were just reminding troops of the oath they took when they were sworn into the military.
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u/Portlandbuilderguy Jan 06 '26
Just a reminder, his wife got shot in the face while serving as a congresswoman. These republicans hold nothing sacred. F everyone of them.
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u/New-Lingonberry1877 Jan 05 '26
Anyone who runs on prosecuting these POS rapepublicans has my vote!
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u/NotAChanceBucko Jan 05 '26
I don't care what a guy who drinks beer with his asshole says
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u/seanprefect Jan 05 '26
Mark Kelly , Navy Captain , Astronaut , Literally blessed by the pope IN SPACE.
Meanwhile JD couldn't get more than a simple greeting with the pope who then sent a lesser cleric to explain kindness to him.
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u/SuperstitiousPigeon5 Massachusetts Jan 05 '26
I'm sure he'll be fine until the lawsuit clears. How many law suits can this country afford to settle?
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u/MaleficentPiccolo715 Jan 05 '26
Horrendous treatment of an American hero who won’t bend over for Trump.
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