The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) faced a wave of derision from war critics, military veterans, journalists and commentators across the U.S. political spectrum after it launched its Inside CENTCOM podcast on Nov. 5, in the midst of the ninth month of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
￭ The premiere episode featured CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper joking about stealing chips from a colleague, while largely avoiding discussion of the war. CENTCOM attacked YouTube comments.
￭ "The IRGC turned these mfs into podcasters," quipped one user X. Another asked why US military officials are recording podcasts instead of addressing the war.
￭ Democratic congresswoman-elect and Navy veteran Elaine Lurie criticized Cooper, saying his job was to “win wars, not record podcasts,” adding, “Read the room. ".