SecDef Hegseth says “toxic leadership” has been weaponized. But the real weaponization is his redefinition—shielding abuse, sanctifying toxic masculinity, and weakening the force.

We are not just the users of cultural tools. We are the passers-on. And whether we like it or not, we will be judged by the sharp tools we allow to proliferate.

We live in a moment of performative cruelty. We are governed by people who mistake sadism for strength. If you feel sick watching it unfold, as I do, that’s not moral confusion. That’s moral clarity.

This post is for him. And for every child who doesn’t know if the adults in their life will still be there tomorrow. For every parent who crossed a border not to break the law, but to keep a promise. For every American who believes that who we claim and how we treat the most vulnerable is what defines us in the end.

Tyranny doesn’t always arrive with a bang. More often, it creeps in through silence, courtesy, and deference. It thrives not on orders, but on anticipation—when people adjust their speech, their values, their gaze, before anyone even asks them to.

This isn’t governance. It’s message-sending. These actions don’t just punish individuals—they warn the rest of us. Organize, and you’ll be audited. Speak, and you’ll be charged. Align with the wrong cause, and you may be erased.

This will be paywalled for some - apologies in advance - but I have to share it. Stanley's views are starling and impossible to discount....