The Smerconish Podcast Inside the Mullin Confirmation Drama: Secrets, Skepticism, and Senate Tensions
Mar 19, 2026
Liz Goodwin, a Washington Post national political reporter covering confirmations and Capitol Hill, walks through Markwayne Mullin’s contested claims about vague overseas “special assignments.” Short segments unpack tense Senate questioning, debates over classified trips and implied valor, and the heated confrontation with Rand Paul. Listeners offer alternate theories and the scene ends with a classified briefing and lingering skepticism.
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Evocative Language Sparked Claims Of Implied Military Service
- Mullin's evocative "smell of war" phrasing suggested firsthand combat experience and prompted public skepticism about implied military service.
- Goodwin recounts Mullin later saying he was "not a veteran" but had done unspecified special assignments outside the Department of Defense.
Mullin's Vague Special Assignments Create Major Inconsistencies
- Markwayne Mullin repeatedly referenced mysterious "special assignments" overseas without clarifying whether they were multiple missions or a single delegation trip.
- Liz Goodwin notes the hearing focused on one CODEL while prior comments implied recurring secretive activity, creating major inconsistencies.
Use Bipartisan SCIF Briefings To Resolve Secrecy Claims
- If an official claim involves classified details, submit to a bipartisan SCIF review to clear facts instead of relying on public assertions.
- Senators pressed for a secure briefing and ultimately required bipartisan presence before proceeding.