Centcom Podcast Debut: 12 Minutes of Chat, 47.1 Billion Cost
US Central Command’s new show pairs its top admiral with a senior enlisted leader, sparking backlash as the Iran conflict enters its ninth month.
By Aiko Brooks ·
American taxpayers face a $47.1 billion bill for the war in Iran, according to the Pentagon’s latest estimate to Congress. While the conflict drags on in its ninth month, the US military has attempted to connect with the public through a new media format. US Central Command, or Centcom, launched its official podcast on Thursday, aiming to reach younger audiences who may eventually serve in the Middle East.
The first episode, titled Inside Centcom, runs for 12 minutes and features Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the command overseeing the war, alongside Fleet Master Chief Lateef Compton. The two discussed personal dynamics, with Cooper joking about stealing French fries from Compton’s lunch. They touched only briefly on the war itself. Compton described the year as busy, a passing nod to a conflict that has killed thousands in Iran. Cooper noted that no one could have imagined the trajectory of events, but added that everyone has been doing a fantastic job.
Cooper emphasized the nature of military service in the episode. He claimed, “It's called service for a reason. You're going to give more than you're going to get. But if you find satisfaction in giving, you'll have no greater satisfaction than serving in the United States military in particular.” The podcast appears designed to appeal to young men, positioning the military as a path to personal fulfillment rather than focusing on current operational details.
Critics argue the timing and tone of the release were misjudged. The clip drew more than two million views on X, where many users expressed frustration. Murtaza Hussain, a journalist, called the episode a joke and said it was completely undignified. He suggested the host should ask Cooper for his reflections on killing 168 schoolchildren and teachers in Minab. Another user asked why top US military officials were podcasting, while a third sarcastically hoped for guests like Jake Paul or Nicki Minaj in future episodes.
The absence of discussion regarding recent strikes drew specific attention. Cooper did not mention the US strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in Minab, southern Iran, on 28 February, the first day of the war. Amnesty International stated that the strike killed 156 people, including 120 children. The organization concluded that the US violated international humanitarian law by failing to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians. UN human rights experts also noted in September that there were reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes in Iran.
Former officials and politicians joined the criticism. Christopher K Mellon, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defence for intelligence, wrote that the public does not need to become personally familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the Centcom commander. He argued that the commander needs to execute duties somberly, professionally, and excellently. Democratic congresswoman-elect Elaine Luria said Cooper’s job is to win wars, not record podcasts, and told him to read the room. Trita Parsi, a US-based expert on Iran, suggested Centcom should abandon needless wars in the Middle East and go all in on podcasting.
The financial burden of the conflict remains a central concern for many Americans. The Pentagon’s estimate to Congress places the war cost at $47.1 billion. Brown University estimates that American consumers have paid more than $153 billion in additional fuel costs. Centcom turned off comments on the YouTube video hosting the episode. The next steps for the podcast series remain to be determined by the command.
