Deadline Poet / October 14, 2025

Pete Hegseth’s Call to Arms

Calvin Trillin
Secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth at a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on January 14.
Secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth at a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on January 14.(Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)

We won’t lower standards for women and such.
And generals must keep in trim.
For standards are vital, so Hegseth insists—
Though lowered already for him.

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Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”

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