Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary touches on a wide array of issues — national security, the fitness of our leaders, and the potential misuse of the military by Donald Trump against his domestic adversaries. It also reflects a broader question about the kind of country we are becoming.

The most controversial aspects of Hegseth’s record involve a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which occurred when he was a Fox News host, coupled with multiple reports of alcohol abuse. Historically, such allegations, touching on the issue of character, might have disqualified a nominee outright.

During Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, Hegseth said he was “falsely accused” of sexual assault. Regardless, as the Wall Street Journal’s editorial points out, it remains fair to question his judgment and whether he would possess the moral authority needed to effectively lead the Pentagon.

So why does it seem more likely than not that he’ll secure Senate confirmation?

Some of this is just power politics — Trump’s dominance of the GOP makes Republican senators hesitant to reject his nominee. But there’s also a cultural backlash at play. The era dominated by progressive cultural norms — circa 2017 to 2020 — has given way to a........

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