Let’s talk about two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. They’re in the hot seat right now because they decided to stand up and say, “Hey, maybe we shouldn’t put Pete Hegseth in charge of the entire U.S. military.” And you’d think that’s a pretty reasonable thing to say! But no, their own party is treating them like they just walked into the middle of a family dinner and announced, “I think pineapple on pizza is fine.”
So, who is Pete Hegseth? Well, he’s a former Fox News host, an Army vet, and—how do I put this delicately?—the guy you’d swipe left on because his profile says, “I don’t believe in women in combat roles, but let’s grab a drink.” Oh, and let’s not forget the allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and infidelity. This guy’s baggage has its own baggage. But sure, let’s give him the keys to the Pentagon. What could go wrong?
Lisa Murkowski, in her calm, Alaska-senator voice, basically said, “I’m not comfortable confirming a guy who makes women in uniform go, ‘Ugh, not this dude.’” She even pointed out that his track record with women—both in terms of workplace behavior and, uh, his personal life—isn’t exactly what you’d call a glowing endorsement for leadership.
And then there’s Susan Collins, always the voice of reason, chiming in with, “I don’t think Hegseth has the experience for this job.” Which is Senate-speak for, “He couldn’t lead a group of five friends to decide on a brunch spot.” She also mentioned how he used to be super against women in combat, but now he’s all, “No, I’ve changed my mind!” Sure, Pete. And I’ve decided to become a vegan—right after I finish this cheeseburger.
The Senate, with its slim Republican majority, voted to advance Hegseth’s nomination by the tiniest of margins: 51-49. Collins and Murkowski joined the Democrats in a move that made every political commentator lose their minds. Meanwhile, President Trump called the whole thing “too bad” and trailed off into one of those sentences that just sort of ends like an old balloon deflating. You can almost hear the world’s smallest violin playing “Hail to the Chief.”
Now, here’s the kicker: Collins and Murkowski are being called RINOs—“Republicans in Name Only”—by their own party. Because apparently, sticking to your principles and saying, “Maybe this guy with a sketchy past isn’t the best choice to oversee our armed forces” makes you a traitor. You know, like Benedict Arnold, but with fewer wigs and more ethics.
This is what happens when you dare to show a shred of integrity in politics: You get attacked by people who think the Constitution says, “Party over everything!” Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.
All eyes are on these two women who had the audacity—the absolute gall—to prioritize the country over their party. It’s almost like they think leadership positions should go to people with…what’s the word? Oh, right—standards.
In the end, Hegseth was confirmed. Despite this, Collins and Murkowski have already done something remarkable. They’ve reminded us that courage in politics isn’t about yelling the loudest or sticking to the party line—it’s about doing what’s right, even when it’s unpopular. And if that makes them RINOs? Then maybe we could all use a little more RINO in our politics.
