MSNBC’s Chris Jansing welcomed former Missouri Attorney General Jason Kander to her Wednesday show to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering that the USNS Harvey Milk be renamed. Jansing could not tell the difference between civil rights icons and liberal icons as she asked if renaming such ships was “part of a politicization of the armed forces?”
Correspondent Courtney Kube set the scene, “It's a replenishment or a support ship for other U.S. Navy ships, but it's part of a class of John Lewis ships that were named after civil rights icons. And according to officials, we're speaking here, speaking with here at the Department of Defense. While the Harvey, the Harvey Milk has been ordered to be renamed, other ships are still under consideration. As you mentioned, one named after Thurgood Marshall, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg, after Cesar Chavez. Those are still under consideration, but have not yet been ordered. As for the Department of Defense and the timing of this, they are saying that this is, according to a spokesperson here, this is in keeping with the priorities set by the commander in chief, Chris.”
A look at the John Lewis-class reveals that some ships, such as the Harriet Tubman, are named after true civil rights icons, while others, such as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg, are just named after liberal heroes, but Jansing could not tell the difference. She asked Kander, “All right. So, Jason, reaction. We heard from one veteran that this does nothing to help crew members prepare for war. I mean, the military has long been something that's supposed to be outside of politics. Do you see this move as part of a politicization of the armed forces?”
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