Joe Kent - Susie Wiles, Stephen Miller, Midterms and the AIPAC Problem (Video)

In this 12 November 2026 published video, host Shawn Ryan talks with Joe Kent, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, former CIA paramilitary officer, and former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center who resigned in March 2026 over his opposition to the Iran war. An Oregon native and Norwich University graduate in Strategic Defense Analysis, he served 20 years in the Army, completed 11 combat deployments, and earned six Bronze Stars before retiring in 2018 and joining the CIA’s Special Activities Center. His military service included assignments with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command. In 2019, his wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing while serving in Syria.

Kent presents several strongly stated personal viewpoints regarding the administration and the political landscape. Kent characterizes the Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections as a “historic repudiation” and a revolt by President Donald Trump’s base. He attributes voter dissatisfaction to the ongoing war with Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and resulting cost-of-living pressures. Kent criticizes White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, alleging that she acted as a “lobbyist gatekeeper” who controlled national security access and suppressed dissenting intelligence. He claims he was excluded from presidential briefings after informing Trump that intelligence regarding Iran relied almost exclusively on Israeli sources and lacked independent U.S. verification.

Kent argues that the conflict with Iran was heavily driven by AIPAC and the broader pro-Israel lobby, drawing parallels to the lead-up to the Iraq War. He also raises alarms about Sections 219 and 266 of pending defense and intelligence authorization bills, claiming they would grant Israel unprecedented access to U.S. capabilities. Discussing potential paths forward for the administration and a 2028 Republican platform, Kent assesses White House advisor Stephen Miller as a possible corrective force to break through what he describes as the “White House bubble”. Conversely, he directs sharp criticism at CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the broader intelligence community. Kent and Ryan discuss the long-term strategic costs of the conflict, with Kent arguing that the war damaged U.S. alliances in the Persian Gulf, prompted Gulf states to negotiate side deals with Iran and China, and accelerated the erosion of the petrodollar

https://youtu.be/e0lSmPjIXvg