The Nightmare on the USS Lincoln
Summary
This episode examines the deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for nearly nine months supporting the war in Iran. Host Lizzie O'Leary discusses reports of food shortages, broken facilities, and severe mental health crises, including a sailor’s suicide attempt, with Slate writer Ian Prasad-Filbrick. They analyze the political fallout, noting that the military remains a trusted institution that politicians hesitate to criticize, and highlight how the carrier’s redeployment undermines the U.S. strategic pivot to Asia. The segment concludes by explori…
Topics discussed
Reports of dire conditions and suicide attempts on USS Lincoln
Political optics and the military as a trusted institution
Show introduction and the carrier's initial deployment
Rerouting to the Middle East and lack of ports of call
Daily indignities: mold, broken toilets, and supply shortages
Debating the normalcy of long deployments and crew distress
Broader Navy issues and the absence of a clear end date
Strategic implications of removing carriers from the Pacific
The 'Pivot to Asia' and shifting military focus
Human impact: personal stories of sailors and families
Mental health resources and the rhetoric of lethality
The role of military journalism in exposing these issues
Congressional reaction and the future of the story
Show credits and sign-off
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