How the Draft Broke America - TRDN S01E34

The Vietnam War didn’t just divide a generation—it shattered the illusion that America fought as one nation. From the televised draft lottery to the rise of college deferments, from campus protests to soldiers fragging their own officers, this is the story of how the Selective Service System tore the country apart from the inside. What began as “shared duty” became a national betrayal—and the aftershocks still shape every war America fights today. 0:00 The American Lottery No One Wanted 3:18 The Draft Before Vietnam 6:49 Who Got Sent and Who Got Saved 10:32 The Generation That Said No 13:45 When the Army Came Apart 16:47 The Political Earthquake 19:50 The All-Volunteer Band 22:11 The Legacy of a Broken System