Episode Details

A newly upgraded Air Force One—gifted by Qatar and costing $400 million—lacks critical missile defense tech, sparking outrage after President Trump flew on it domestically before switching to an older jet amid security concerns. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall called the move baffling, especially since the plane was deployed internationally despite incomplete upgrades. The controversy escalated when the Justice Department tried to subpoena NYT reporters, triggering a firestorm over press freedom—only to withdraw the subpoenas after legal backlash. The Air Force admitted intentional omissions of key engineering features like wider doors and stairs, acknowledging capability gaps. Now, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has accused Kendall—or someone close to him—of leaking classified info, threatening access for anyone who breaches trust, setting off a high-stakes national security drama with no clear resolution in sight.

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