Joe Kent: podcast appearances and interviews

Joseph Clay Kent, born on April 11, 1980, is an American politician and former military and intelligence officer. He served as a United States Army warrant officer and was part of the 75th Ranger Regiment prior to applying for the Special Forces. Kent engaged in eleven combat tours, mainly in Iraq, before retiring in 2018. Following his military service, he became a paramilitary officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2019, his wife, Shannon, was killed in a suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria, an event that led him to become involved in political advocacy. Kent was the Republican nominee in the 2022 and 2024 congressional elections for Washington's third district, supporting Donald Trump and running against incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in both contests. Though he eliminated the incumbent in the primary during his 2022 campaign, he narrowly lost in the general election. During 2025, he was nominated by Donald Trump to serve as director of the National Counterterrorism Center and began serving in this role after being confirmed by the Senate. He also served as chief of staff to the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. In March 2026, Kent resigned from his position at the center, citing disagreements with U.S. policies regarding Iran and the influence of Israel and the Israeli lobby in domestic politics. His political views have encompassed a range from libertarian to far-right, reflecting his varied perspectives on national and foreign policy issues.