He Was America’s Highest-Ranking Military Officer. Then Came the War on D.E.I.

During his decades-long path to become America’s highest-ranking military officer, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. won the crucial support of President Trump.That all changed when Mr. Brown publicly talked about a subject that is taboo in Mr. Trump’s government.Helene Cooper, who covers national security for The Times, explains why General Brown was fired and why it has rocked the military.Guest: Helene Cooper, who cover national security issues for The New York Times.Background reading: President Trump fired General Brown amid a flurry of dismissals at the Pentagon.Democratic lawmakers and retired military officers expressed concern about politicization of the military under Mr. Trump.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Shawn Thew/EPA, via Shutterstock Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.