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‘We’re Not Stupid!’ Mika Brzezinski Rips Admiral’s Claim That Attacked Sailors Could Resume Drug-Running Mission

10:42 PM, 12/05/2025

Mika Brzezinski challenged an admiral's claim that two suspected narco-smugglers clinging to a damaged boat after a Sept. 2 strike could have resumed drug-running. Closed-door briefings led by Admiral Frank 'Mitch' Bradley produced mixed interpretations among lawmakers. Panelist David Rohde said the boat was blown in half, there were no radios or nearby boats, and the survivors appeared focused on saving their lives rather than fighting. The exchange underscored partisan disagreement and raised legal and ethical questions about the operation.

Mika Brzezinski Questions Pentagon Narrative After Sept. 2 Strike

Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, expressed incredulity at a Pentagon official's suggestion that two suspected narco-smugglers who clung to a damaged vessel after a September 2 strike could have resumed a drug-smuggling operation. The comments followed closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill in which Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, head of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and other officials reviewed classified material related to the incident.

On Friday's broadcast, Morning Joe aired video of the initial strike and Brzezinski pressed panelists for context, saying the footage raised questions about potential legal and ethical implications. 'I'm not trying to be silly,' she said, before challenging the notion that the two survivors could simply paddle away and continue their mission. She asked rhetorically whether the men might have been 'Olympian' swimmers capable of recovering and carrying contraband to shore.

Lawmakers who attended Admiral Bradley's closed briefing provided mixed reactions. Some said they believed the men tried to salvage drugs after the first strike; others remained divided over what the classified video actually showed.

'The boat had been blown in half at least. The front half is still floating, so there is no motor,' panelist David Rohde said, describing details relayed during briefings. 'This was carried out far from land.'

Rohde added that briefers found no evidence the men had radios or that other boats were nearby to assist them, suggesting the survivors were focused on saving their own lives rather than rejoining a criminal smuggling effort. 'They are not fighting, they're not combatants,' he said, while acknowledging that drug smuggling itself remains a criminal enterprise.

The exchange on Morning Joe highlighted a partisan split among lawmakers who viewed the classified materials and underscored broader debates about the conduct and legal ramifications of the September 2 operation. Questions remain about the precise circumstances at the scene, what the video shows, and how military officials assessed intent and threat before and after the second strike.

Video of the initial strike was shown on-air during the discussion; the story continues to develop as lawmakers and officials review classified evidence.

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