The Smoke Pit

Military sexual trauma (MST) affects hundreds of thousands of service members—yet it remains one of the most underreported, under-prosecuted, and systemically buried issues in the U.S. armed forces. In this episode, host Katie Chorbak, president of 5051 Vets and MST survivor, brings together a panel of advocates, attorneys, and veterans to pull back the curtain on decades of silence, institutional cover-up, and survivor retaliation.Panelists:Diana Danis — Lead administrator, Service Women Who Serve; pioneer of the MST movement since the 1970sLisa Wohlrab — Vice President, 5051 VetsBrian Lewis, Esq. — Military law attorney and VA claims advocate; male survivor advocate since 2010Lindsay Knapp, Esq. — Executive Director, Combat Sexual Assaults; Army veteranSteph Money — Former Brigade Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, U.S. Army ReserveDee James — President, Repatriate Our Patriots; Army combat veteran; Vice Chair, National LULAC Military and Veterans Affairs CommitteeResources mentioned:Service Women Who Serve — Facebook community and advocacy pageCombat Sexual Assaults — Legal advocacy for MST survivorsOne in Six — Support organization for male survivors of sexual assaultThe Invisible War (2012) — Documentary on military sexual traumaJustice Denied — Documentary focused on male MST survivorsThe Fort Bragg Cartel by Seth Harp — Book (now an HBO series) touching on Lindsay Knapp's experience exposing trafficking in Special Operations5051 Vets — Veterans advocacy organizationCommon Defense — Veteran organizing; VA Is Not for Sale campaignAbout Face / Veterans for Peace / Sons of Liberty / Military Family Speaks Out — Additional veteran advocacy organizationsIf you or someone you know needs help: The VA provides MST-related care regardless of disability rating or whether the assault was ever reported. Contact your local VA and ask for MST services. If you've experienced retaliation or need legal support, reach out to Combat Sexual Assaults or a military law attorney.

When does presidential behavior cross the line into incapacity?In this episode of The Smoke Pit, we break down one of the most uncomfortable questions in American politics: how do you determine if a president is no longer fit to lead?Using real-world examples, military leadership perspectives, and constitutional analysis, we examine:The difference between personality, poor judgment, and true incapacityHow leadership failures are handled in high-stakes environmentsWhat the 25th Amendment actually says and how it works in practiceWhether it’s realistically possible to remove a sitting presidentThe risks, limitations, and political realities behind invoking itThis isn’t about partisanship. It’s about systems, accountability, and what happens when leadership breaks down at the highest level.

Money drives modern politics. But at what cost?In this episode of The Smoke Pit, veterans from across the political spectrum sit down with Mayhem, co-founder of Money Out of Politics, to break down how campaign financing has reshaped American democracy.From the historical roots of political funding to the post–Citizens United explosion of dark money and Super PACs, the panel explores a core question:Is money in politics the disease… or just a symptom of something deeper?This is not a scripted debate. It’s a raw, candid exchange on power, influence, voter responsibility, and what it will actually take to fix the system.

Veterans from across the political spectrum break down what’s really happening in the escalating Iran conflict—and why the lack of information should concern every American.In this episode of The Smoke Pit, the panel reacts to reports of a U.S. F-15 being shot down, additional aircraft losses including an F-35 and AWACS, and growing questions about whether the United States still maintains air superiority in the region. More importantly, they confront a deeper issue: why the public isn’t being told the full story.Drawing on firsthand military experience, the conversation cuts through speculation and focuses on what matters:• What confirmed and unconfirmed aircraft losses could mean for U.S. military strategy• The role of information control, media gaps, and government silence during conflict• Whether the U.S. is facing a tactical or strategic failure in the Middle East• How rising tensions with Iran could reshape global alliances and energy markets• The risks of escalation without clear public accountability or congressional oversightBeyond battlefield analysis, the panel explores the growing disconnect between political leadership and operational reality—and what that means for service members, veterans, and civilians alike.This isn’t cable news. It’s not filtered through press briefings or political spin.It’s veterans asking the questions that aren’t being answered.If you want to understand what’s actually at stake in the Iran conflict—not just what’s being reported—this is the conversation you need to hear.

Veterans from across the political spectrum come together in The Smoke Pit to break down the latest U.S. troop movements, rising tensions with Iran, and the real risk of another forever war. This unfiltered conversation dives into what “boots on the ground” actually means from those who have lived it, not just debated it.The panel explores strategic realities like the deployment of the 82nd Airborne, potential operations targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure, and the broader geopolitical risks tied to escalation in the region. At the same time, they confront hard questions about presidential war powers, the continued use of the AUMF, and whether Congress has effectively surrendered its constitutional role.Beyond strategy, this episode tackles the human cost of war, concerns over military leadership and readiness, and the growing disconnect between political decision-making and battlefield consequences. The discussion also expands into domestic issues, including ICE operations, civil liberties, and the role of veterans in defending democratic norms at home.At its core, The Smoke Pit is about something bigger: proving that Americans with fundamentally different beliefs can still sit down, challenge each other, and have real conversations without it devolving into chaos. Veterans, shaped by shared service but divided in perspective, model what civil discourse can look like in a deeply polarized country.This is not a polished political talking point session. It is raw, direct, and grounded in lived experience.If you want to understand what’s really at stake, this is the conversation you need to hear.

Do constitutional rights apply to everyone in the United States, or only to citizens?In this episode of The Smoke Pit, veterans debate due process, ICE enforcement, and what their oath to the Constitution actually demands in today’s political climate.This episode brings together veterans with different perspectives for a direct, unscripted conversation about immigration policy, civil liberties, and government accountability.The discussion explores:Whether due process applies to all persons within U.S. bordersThe legality and ethics of ICE operations and deportationsSupreme Court interpretations of constitutional protectionsThe role of veterans in defending democratic principlesMedia influence, information gaps, and political polarizationDrawing on military experience and real-world examples, the panel challenges assumptions, debates policy, and confronts the tension between national security and individual rights.This is not a partisan talking point discussion—it’s a real conversation about power, responsibility, and the Constitution.