ICYMI: Kelly Sits Down with Rev. Al Sharpton to Highlight Legislative Push to Get More Men into Teaching and Mentorship

Kelly also discussed the consequences of Trump's Iran war and Hegseth's continuing incompetence

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined MS NOW's PoliticsNation with Reverand Al Sharpton to discuss his push to get more men into teaching and mentorship. Earlier this month, Kelly introduced a two-bill package-the Educators for America Act and the Building Community in America Act-to expand pathways for Americans to serve as teachers, mentors, and volunteers, with a focus on increasing the number of men participating.

The two also discussed how President Trump's war with Iran and Secretary Hegseth's unserious leadership are making Americans less safe.

Sen. Kelly speaks to Reverend Al Sharpton.

Watch the full conversation here. See key excepts below:

On his legislation to get more men into teaching and mentorship…

"When I was in elementary school, I had a male teacher in the fifth and sixth grade, something that young men often need. Another male role model, somebody to look up to… So, one piece of legislation is focused on getting more male teachers into the classroom, giving them the training, by the way, and paying them while they're being trained for these positions. And then another effort to get more male mentors. There's a long list of young men and boys that have signed up, and they want some mentorship from men and men, especially young men right now, are often very isolated. Sometimes they can't find a job, and they don't have that mentorship that they need. AmeriCorps is a good example of this, and we want to encourage mentorship programs like that."

On Trump starting a war while Americans struggle to afford groceries and rent…

"This president doesn't think strategically, and I've made this point before. We often talk about people playing checkers and people playing chess. This guy is moving a couple red solo-those beer cups-around on the table. He has no clue what he's doing and doesn't think strategically. He doesn't think about the consequences.

"I worry about what he's going to do next because he's often irrational. He doesn't spend a lot of time on the issues that he campaigned on either. He got us into this war when he said he was going to bring down costs for the American people. People are struggling. Half of Americans are having a hard time affording food. Young people can't buy homes, can't afford rent. He kicked millions of people off of their health care coverage. They can't afford to go to a doctor. That's what he said he was going to focus on. And he focuses on-he starts a war with Iran, and then he spends an enormous amount of time on things like the reflecting pool and the ballroom and an arch. We've never seen this in our history. A president without priorities that matter to the American people."

On Hegseth firing Black leaders and women from the military…

"Right from the beginning of this administration, as soon as Pete Hegseth got the reins of the Department of Defense, started firing Black people and women. They don't want Black people and women in leadership positions. He's made that perfectly clear. And by the way, he doesn't even try to make an excuse. Doesn't talk about their competence for these jobs. We're losing multiple generations of leadership from the military. Valued leadership.

"Pete Hegseth is by far the most incompetent person we have ever seen in this job, bar none. Nobody close. Nothing against the Saturday morning guy and people that serve cable news in the morning, but he did not have the background for this. And he got all kinds of personal problems. And now he spends his time dealing with things that don't matter. Testosterone! I mean, we don't need more testosterone in the U.S. military. We need better leadership. And it starts with him."