Centcom launches podcast amid Iran war backlash

As the Trump administration’s deeply unpopular war in Iran stretches into its ninth month, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) has launched an official podcast that kicked off Thursday with its top commander bantering about stealing french fries from his colleague and only briefly referring to the ongoing conflict.

Titled “Inside Centcom,” the inaugural episode came in at just under 12 minutes and featured the command’s head Adm. Brad Cooper and Fleet Master Chief Lateef Compton, Centcom’s senior enlisted leader.

Compton said the podcast, released Thursday, was meant to offer insights into how the command operates and to give the American people “an opportunity to get to know the incredible people that make up our team.”

“It’s been a busy year,” Compton said at the top of the episode, questioning Cooper about his personal fitness routine, what he eats for lunch, his time as a junior officer and his favorite NFL team, among other light topics.

Compton and Cooper’s banter steered clear of much mention of the Iran war, referring once to its official name, Operation Epic Fury. The conflict, which began on Feb. 28, has morphed into a quagmire for the administration — roiling global markets, sending fuel costs soaring and adding to crippling GOP losses in the midterm elections this week.

Both President Trump and Vice President Vance have blamed Republicans’ loss of the House and Senate on the war.

“For sure, no one could have imagined the trajectory of events that we would be on, but through it, everyone has been doing a fantastic job,” Cooper said during the podcast.

At one point, Compton joked with Cooper about his love of french fries.

“You are the original fry guy. You like french fries. Most people don’t notice, but I did notice when we stationed together years ago, my lunch would come, and I always had french fries,” Compton said. “You would see my french fries coming on my plate. You’d at least take one or two, and they would tell me … I don’t think you ever knew that I knew you took my french fries. So, is that your favorite food, french fries?”

Cooper responded: “You should let the world know. For years, I’ve been eating your french fries. The secret is now out. But yeah, I never met a french fry I didn’t like, and thus the need to exercise frequently to balance that out.”