Hegseth promises execution live stream as Trump appears to ‘pause’ war on Iran | First Thing

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad will be streamed live next month, marking a significant shift from the usual secrecy surrounding such events. Hasan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 and wounded many more, received his death sentence in 2013 and has been incarcerated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas ever since. The last execution by firing squad in the US was in 1945.

Critics, notably Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, have accused Hegseth of attempting to obscure the true costs and repercussions of the ongoing war on Iran from the American public. Murphy claimed that the Pentagon prevented him from visiting a military base in Qatar and that an alleged Iranian attack on the US embassy in Riyadh was far more severe than the public was informed.

During a recent speech, President Donald Trump pledged not to launch attacks on Iran until the November midterms, signaling a hiatus in the ongoing conflict. However, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that only about one-third of Americans support the strikes on Iran, casting doubt on the administration's decision.

The upcoming midterms, plagued by a complex legal challenge over redistricting in Missouri, have left some voters uncertain about their congressional district and the candidates on their ballots, adding to the perceived "dizzying and embarrassing" nature of the electoral process.