The Briefing with Jen Psaki TV performers leading attack on Iran focus more on image than strategy
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Mar 14, 2026 
Bobby Pulido, two-time Latin Grammy-winning Tejano singer running for Congress in Texas, discusses local politics and campaign tactics. Fiona Hill, former NSC Russia expert, analyzes foreseeable international fallout and geopolitical ripple effects. Brig. Gen. Steven M. Anderson (Ret.), retired military analyst, assesses operational risks and force posture. Barbara Starr, longtime Pentagon correspondent, warns briefings are becoming performative and eroding norms.
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Defense Briefing Focused On Image Not Casualties
- Pete Hegseth prioritized media messaging over operational substance during press briefings on the Iran war.
- He spent opening minutes critiquing headlines and proposed alternate banners while delaying mention of U.S. casualties and key details about the conflict.
No Quarter Language Risks War Crime Implications
- Hegseth's line "no quarter, no mercy" risks violating the 1907 Hague Convention and U.S. military law.
- Psaki and guests noted that declaring no quarter forbids accepting surrender and can constitute a war crime with severe penalties.
Moves To Erode Military Legal Oversight
- Hegseth's broader actions undermine military legal safeguards by targeting military lawyers and resisting transparency.
- Guests cited moves to reassign legal staff, withhold strike video, and proposals to overhaul legal oversight as troubling trends.