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BootinUp

(51,611 posts) Sat May 9, 2026, 10:29 AM Saturday

Lawyers for Sec Def Hegseth argued that military retirees were subject to freedom of speech restrictions [View all]

Max Boot substack note

Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall:

This week, I heard something that shocked me. In a federal appeals court, lawyers for Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, argued that military retirees were subject to freedom of speech restrictions because of their connection to the military, and that if they didn’t like those restrictions, retirees could forfeit their pension and benefits. Let that sink in. The Trump administration expects the people who have put their lives on the line for America to cede one of their basic rights, or forfeit the retirement pay and benefits they have earned over decades of service. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/opinion/hegseth-kelly-military-free-speech.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://substack.com/@maxboot/note/c-256264126?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1uz6fn

15 replies

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Highlight:

Lawyers for Sec Def Hegseth argued that military retirees were subject to freedom of speech restrictions [View all] BootinUp Saturday OP

More proof he thinks our troops are HIS little toy soldiers The Blue Flower Saturday #1

And yet they love him, it's so f-ed up. dem4decades Saturday #3

I am not so sure the troops love him liberalgunwilltravel Saturday #7

Yeah, When I was in the military we were restricted to what we could say, especially to the press. Jacson6 Saturday #2

Active military does cede some rights while serving Soul_of_Wit Saturday #8

Lower than snakes. Kid Berwyn Saturday #4

I am not a genius but I do know that it is not a good idea to piss off an old soldier. twodogsbarking Saturday #5

Or an old Marine. MarineCombatEngineer Saturday #14

Reminiscent of the swiftboating of John Kerry Soul_of_Wit Saturday #6

Yeah, they were wearing these stupid Band-Aids. Despicable idiots. Dave Bowman Saturday #9

Well, ts gotta find some excuse to put more of those federal dollars in his pocket, you know. mwmisses4289 Saturday #10

The only faint brush with military service that the current SCOTUS has is... Ol Janx Spirit Saturday #11

Hegseth can't handle the law DemocracyForever Saturday #12

Hegseth is a 'passed-over' Major pfitz59 Saturday #13

Lawyers for Sec.Hegseth are just as full of shit oasis Saturday #15