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634-5789

(4,691 posts)
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 07:46 AM Thursday

Warning: The following post is 100% factual. Sadly.

The Borowitz report.

The recent allegations about FBI Director Kash Patel’s drunken antics are regrettable in that they briefly shifted focus away from the man who, until now, had been the most notorious boozer in Trump’s Cabinet: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Alas, Whiskey Pete didn’t have the sense to lie low this week, and instead drew attention to himself by continuing to implement his zero-tolerance policy for competence in the US armed forces.

Earlier this month, Gen. Randy George, the army chief of staff, joined the swelling ranks of highly-esteemed military leaders whom the former “Fox & Friends” weekend host kicked to the curb in a frenzy of febrile paranoia, cementing his reputation as secretary of defensiveness.

Yesterday, it was Secretary of the Navy John Phelan’s turn to get the chop. Now, to be clear, Phelan is no Randy George. In fact, he shares two unfortunate resume items with the current commander-in-chief: zero military experience and a link to Jeffrey Epstein. (Phelan never boarded an aircraft carrier, but he did ride on the Lolita Express.) So I can’t say that I mourned Phelan’s departure—that is, until I found out who was replacing him.

America, meet your new Acting Secretary of the Navy: Hung Cao.

Who, you might be wondering, is Hung Cao?

In 2024, Donald Trump anointed Cao to be the Republican nominee in Virginia’s US Senate race. On the campaign trail during his (unsuccessful) run for Congress in 2022, the former Navy captain didn’t think bragging about his military service would suffice: at every opportunity, he told voters that he’d been “blown up” multiple times.

“I’m 100% disabled, you know, because just from being blown up in combat many times and everything else, you know, knee, shoulders,” he said. “I’ve got more surgeries than you could possibly imagine.”

The key word here is “imagine,” as USA Today discovered when it investigated Cao’s military record. Despite Cao’s claim of “getting shot at and blown up in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia,” the newspaper reported, “Four retired Navy and Army officers who reviewed Cao’s service record said it was unusual for a sailor severely wounded in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan not to have received a Purple Heart or the Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon.”

Given his behavior during the campaign, however, it’s possible that Cao did sustain serious injuries—to the brain. He compared abortion to Nazi atrocities and claimed that Wiccans had seized control of Monterey, California. He referred to himself as an “African-American” because he spent a few years in Niger as a child. As for his ideal Navy recruit, he declared, “What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat ‘em and ask for seconds.” It’s hard to see how disemboweling and then eating oneself would improve one’s performance as a sailor—but If that nugget of wisdom eluded Virginians, he tried to win them over by handing out campaign coins bearing the catchy slogan, “I Want My Senator to be Hung.” Voters who shared that icky sentiment proved to be rare: he lost to the Democrat, Sen. Tim Kaine, by 9 points.

This is the man Pete Hegseth has chosen to oversee the Navy just as the US’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz falters and more troops head for the Middle East.

What could go wrong?

https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/pete-hegseths-zero-tolerance-for

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Warning: The following post is 100% factual. Sadly. (Original Post) 634-5789 Thursday OP
I'm seeing a pattern here: every time an unqualified person is fired, they're replaced by someone much worse. sop Thursday #1
Went from a trumper general UpInArms Thursday #2
The previous Navy chief had no military experience Mysterian Thursday #3
Hung even lower. BattleRow Thursday #6
"claimed that Wiccans had seized control of Monterey, California" Ray Bruns Thursday #4
I would love to move back there. niyad Thursday #5
Hey, come on - this is the best that they can come up with. Firestorm49 Thursday #7
This message was self-deleted by its author Firestorm49 Thursday #8
Veterans who 'exaggerate' details of their service in the military..... 70sEraVet Thursday #9
100 percent. I am also a Vietnam Era vet... Wounded Bear Thursday #10
I was on a Med Cruise in '74 on USS Columbus CG12 70sEraVet Thursday #11
Also known as the USS Zippo... Wounded Bear Thursday #12
Our paths may well have crossed at some point, 70sEraVet Thursday #13
Possibly. I was underaged at the time, but I got into most places... Wounded Bear Thursday #19
Unfortunately Aviation Pro Thursday #14
Evidently people voted for him. Boomerproud Thursday #15
A Borowitz Report that is 100% factual? Totally Tunsie Thursday #16
A couple of things stood out to me Wednesdays Thursday #17
"his zero-tolerance policy for competence in the US armed forces." flvegan Thursday #18
Borowitz is a wonderful writer, possibly a great Ilsa Thursday #20
"Kash Patel got arrested for public urination after a night of drinking" LetMyPeopleVote 12 hrs ago #21

sop

(18,971 posts)
1. I'm seeing a pattern here: every time an unqualified person is fired, they're replaced by someone much worse.
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 08:00 AM
Thursday

Ray Bruns

(6,557 posts)
4. "claimed that Wiccans had seized control of Monterey, California"
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 09:03 AM
Thursday

Now I know where I’m retiring to.

Response to 634-5789 (Original post)

70sEraVet

(5,548 posts)
9. Veterans who 'exaggerate' details of their service in the military.....
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 10:07 AM
Thursday

thoroughly disgust me. Whether its claiming to have medals they never earned, or telling stories of their heroics in combat when they never went further from their desks than a trip to the coffee pot, it is 'stolen valor' and a slap in the face to the veterans who really did put their lives on the line.
I am a Vietnam ERA veteran, and I'm ALWAYS careful to explain to people that it means that I was never IN Vietnam, I was just in the service during that period. I have the highest respect for the guys who faced that.

Wounded Bear

(64,466 posts)
10. 100 percent. I am also a Vietnam Era vet...
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 10:27 AM
Thursday

I was sent on a Med cruise aboard the USS Forest Fire - er, Forrestal - in '72-73.

70sEraVet

(5,548 posts)
11. I was on a Med Cruise in '74 on USS Columbus CG12
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 10:49 AM
Thursday

Soon after, I was on her decommissioning crew.
(USS Forest Fire )

Wounded Bear

(64,466 posts)
12. Also known as the USS Zippo...
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 11:10 AM
Thursday

lights first time every time.

Seemed like they had daily fire drills.

In spring of '72, we were in Norfolk, VA prepping for a cruise. The USS America was in the berth next to us, also prepping. One of us was destined for Yankee Station off Vietnam, the other would go east to the Med. As final preps were being made they gave some of us leave to visit home before the cruise, which we all knew was probably gonna be extended, as the Navy was stretched pretty thin at the time.

While I was gone, some sailors set a fire aboard the Forrestal that damaged a large section of officer's quarters and the Fire Control Center. We were delayed by several months, while the America was sent off to Nam. We ended up on an extended Med cruise of at least 9 months IIRC. We didn't get back to MCAS El Toro, CA until fall of '73.

Aviation Pro

(15,677 posts)
14. Unfortunately
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 11:27 AM
Thursday

This is all too common. One notable example is Eye Patch McCain, also known as Dan Crenshaw, whose inflated sense of self basically negated his time as a SEAL in a pissing contest with Shawn Ryan, another SEAL.

I can name dozens of these guys who think they are owed recognition and prominence because of their time in Tier-level units.

Totally Tunsie

(11,933 posts)
16. A Borowitz Report that is 100% factual?
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 12:05 PM
Thursday

I'm conflicted and confused. How can Andy do this to us?

Wednesdays

(22,886 posts)
17. A couple of things stood out to me
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 12:14 PM
Thursday

He wants "alpha females" in the navy? That won't go over well with the super alpha males of MAGA.


Also, his slogan, "I Want My Senator to be Hung," might not be the message he was looking for. Ask Mike Pence.

flvegan

(66,401 posts)
18. "his zero-tolerance policy for competence in the US armed forces."
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 12:21 PM
Thursday

That is such a good, casual rip on Hegseth. What a fucking chud.

Ilsa

(64,469 posts)
20. Borowitz is a wonderful writer, possibly a great
Thu Apr 23, 2026, 01:43 PM
Thursday

reporter if all of this is true.

Vulgar coins? Typical for the Grab 'em by the pussy party.

LetMyPeopleVote

(180,895 posts)
21. "Kash Patel got arrested for public urination after a night of drinking"
Sat Apr 25, 2026, 06:51 PM
12 hrs ago

How did this story not come out during the confirmation




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