Trans service people / private military contractors

Air Date: July 28, 2017

A supporter of LGBT rights holds up an "equality flag" on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, during an event held by Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass. in support of transgender members of the, in response to President Donald Trump's declaration that he wants transgender people barred from serving in the U.S. military "in any capacity," citing "tremendous medical costs and disruption." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Guests: Sheri Swokowski, Heath Fogg Davis, Sean McFate

We’ll begin today’s show discussing President Trump’s announcement that the military will no longer allow transgender people to serve in the military in any capacity. We’re joined by SHERI SWOKOWSKI, a trans veteran who served as an Army colonel, and by HEATH FOGG DAVIS, professor of political science at Temple University and author of the book Beyond Trans: Does Gender Matter? Then, we’ll talk about one of the options facing the Trump administration when it comes to resolving the war in Afghanistan; outsourcing the mission to military contractors. SEAN McFATE, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former military contractor and Army paratrooper, joins us about the risks in relying on mercenaries in overseas wars and conflicts.

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