Bedford Forrest Medals of Honor

Audrey and Patrick discuss Trump and Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s address to top military brass. The continued deployment of U.S. troops to cities (bolstering ICE brutalities) plays a key role in the continued degradation of American institutions and the rapid drop into authoritarianism we’re all experiencing. Met during treatment in early recovery, Audrey’s friend and former service member Richard Orosco joins us. Richard is a third-generation Mexican American from Redondo Beach, California, and a proud U.S. Army veteran. A graduate of Mira Costa High School’s class of 1996, Richard enlisted shortly after graduation and served nearly six years as a truck driver, with assignments in Korea and across the United States. After a service-related injury led to a medical discharge, he has spent the years since focusing on recovery and personal growth, overcoming PTSD and anxiety through dedicated therapy and support from the VA in Long Beach. Today, Richard is happily married, a proud father to his daughter attending Cal State Long Beach, and continues to embrace life’s next chapters with optimism, gratitude, and a passion for travel and self-improvement.   Donate to the ACLU to support trans rights and fight the Trump agenda: https://action.aclu.org/give/pm-donate-fight-trump-agenda The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF): https://www.pcrf.net Further relief options to the victims of genocide and famine through The Sameer Project:  https://linktr.ee/thesameerproject Every bit helps.   Opening conversation between Elissa Slotkin and Pete Hegseth was taken from his confirmation hearing. Title references the fictional (for now) “Bedford Forrest Medal of Honor” bestowed upon Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in One Battle After Another, in theaters now.   Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck Music and production by Max Foreman Mastering by Little Castle Sound Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A   Main logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram) Chapters (00:00:00) - Secretary of Defense: No President Has the Right to Use the Uniform(00:01:29) - Richard's Mother Meets His Sister(00:08:19) - One HIV patient's journey to recovery(00:13:35) - One father's journey back to sobriety(00:17:48) - Richard Orozco on His Journey To Sobriety(00:19:58) - Bipolar 2 and Borderline Personality Disorder(00:27:40) - Richard on the President's Military Speech(00:35:22) - Veterans Talk About Their Fear(00:41:30) - Let Trump Be Trump: Martin Sheen