The manosphere’s testosterone fever is coming for the troops

A new initiative led by Pete Hegseth proposes mandatory testosterone screening for US service members over 30, with optional replacement therapy for those found deficient. The policy has drawn criticism for its alignment with 'manosphere' wellness trends and concerns over the medicalization of military readiness.
Why it matters
The policy represents a controversial intersection of military health policy, gender politics, and the influence of alternative wellness movements.
This is Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent from Verge senior reviewer Victoria Song that dissects and discusses the latest gizmos and potions that swear they’re going to change your life. Opt in for Optimizer here.
The author uses loaded language like 'wellness grifter playbook' and 'manosphere's testosterone fever' to frame the policy negatively.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in