Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · 6h

Correct. This story would have violated the Pentagon’s new restrictions had we signed it.

Matthew Hay Brown @matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · 7h

A fine example of a story that would require the Pentagon’s approval under the new media policy that The Post and others refused to sign

Strong work from @alexhorton.bsky.social and @samueloakford.bsky.social

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 8h

Exclusive: The U.S. military’s elite Special Operations aviation unit appears to have flown in Caribbean waters less than 90 miles from the coast of Venezuela in recent days, according to a visual analysis by The Post.

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · 8h

Exclusive: Special Operations helos, flying in a configuration best suited for ground assaults, were less than 90 miles from Venezuela last week. Official says they were training.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. Special Operations helicopters near Venezuela expand Caribbean mission

U.S. Special Operations helicopters flew within 90 miles of Venezuelan territory, according to a Post analysis. Trump authorized CIA covert action inside the country.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Devon Heinen @devonheinen.bsky.social · 16d

JUST IN via @washingtonpost.com's Noah Robertson, @taracopp.bsky.social, @alexhorton.bsky.social & @danlamothe.bsky.social:

"Military leaders voice concern over #Hegseth's new Pentagon strategy"
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Military leaders voice concern over Hegseth’s new Pentagon strategy

Top military officials have voiced concern over the Trump administration’s forthcoming defense strategy, exposing a divide between the Pentagon’s political and uniformed leadership.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · 18d

If you’re attending this event or have insight to share, I’d like to hear from you. Get in touch on Signal at alexhorton.85 or click here signal.me#eu/ES70l_cAl...

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · 19d

Thanks my dude!

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · 21d

Do you know what this meeting is about? Get in touch on Signal: signal.me#eu/ES70l_cAl...

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · 21d

Do you know what this meeting is about? Get in touch on Signal: signal.me#eu/ES70l_cAl...

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Reposted by Alex Horton

brendanamartin.bsky.social @brendanamartin.bsky.social · Sep 10

Former Army officer Jason Dempsey:

“That is such a suboptimal use of military training that we should all be asking, ‘Why are they here?’ If they’re picking up trash, they’re not here for a security emergency. There’s no clearer metric than that.”

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

National Guard documents show public ‘fear,’ troops’ ‘shame’ over D.C. presence

Internal documents reviewed by The Post reveal, with rare candor, how domestic missions rooted in politics risk damaging Americans’ trust in the military.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · Sep 10

Great story by @alexhorton.bsky.social in @washingtonpost.com . www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Read the whole thing but here's a sample.

Story that says:

>In another update, the Guard indicates troops “continue efforts to restore and beautify public spaces across the District” and have “cleared 906 bags of trash, spread 744 cubic yards of mulch, removed five truckloads of plant waste, cleared 3.2 miles of roadway, and painted 270 feet of fencing.”

>Those statistics may be among the most consequential takeaways of Trump’s use of the military in D.C., Dempsey said, and should prompt scrutiny of whether this mission was ever necessary in the first place.

>“That is such a suboptimal use of military training that we should all be asking, ‘Why are they here?’” Dempsey said. “If they’re picking up trash, they’re not here for a security emergency. There’s no clearer metric than that.”

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

NEW: Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Push in D.C. Looks a Lot Like an Immigration Raid www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...

www.wsj.com

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · Jul 3

Shout out to the OG posters at the Rotten Tomatoes message boards, my primary source of news when I was skipping school on 9/11

Long Lead @longlead.com · Jul 3

@alexhorton.bsky.social is a national security reporter for the @washingtonpost.com. But before he was a journalist, he blogged throughout his experience fighting in the Iraq war, giving an unprecedented view of being on the frontlines.

He shares his story in episode 2 of BREAKING THE INTERNET.

LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNET episode two cover with blue screen overlaid on a flash mob

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · Jul 1

I joined @longlead.com @vermontgmg.bsky.social to discuss blogging the Iraq war while fighting it, DoD sanitizing combat and anemic lawmakers failing oversight of Middle East operations. Good thing those days are over!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Establishing Connection

Podcast Episode · Long Shadow · S4 E2 · 49m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Jun 30

A Washington Post review found that in at least seven major departments or agencies, DOGE secured the power to view records that experts say could benefit Elon Musk’s businesses for years.

DOGE has the keys to sensitive data that could help Elon Musk

In at least seven major departments or agencies, DOGE secured the power to view records that experts say could benefit Elon Musk’s businesses for years.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · Jun 27

My most generous guess is they were prepared for low light inside, but still, silly goose shit

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · Jun 27

hell yeah

Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · Jun 19

The case of the disappearing SECDEF www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Navigating Iran crisis, Trump relies on experience over star power

As President Trump weighs military actions against Iran, officials and advisers say that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and DNI Tulsi Gabbard have been sidelined.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Airwars @airwars.bsky.social · Jun 18

1/ NEW: As the U.S. appears on the brink of another war, Airwars reveals dangerous precedent for civilians set by Trump’s Yemen campaign

trump-yemen.airwars.org/operation-ro...

Trump nearly doubled U.S. civilian casualty toll in Yemen | Airwars

The Trump administration killed almost as many civilians in Yemen in 52 days as the previous 23 years of U.S. action

trump-yemen.airwars.org

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Steve Beynon @stevenbeynon.bsky.social · Jun 11

SCOOP: Guardsmen deployed to LA aren't on formal orders, thus aren't set up to be paid or get healthcare yet

www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Guard Soldiers Deployed in Trump's LA Crackdown Aren't Getting Paid Yet

According to more than a dozen Guardsmen across four units who spoke to Military.com, none has received formal activation orders, the critical paperwork that not only authorizes their duty status, but...

www.military.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Thomas Gibbons-Neff @tmgneff.bsky.social · May 28

One thing worth pointing out, the real war is less about the reality of it, and more of an aesthetic palate of which these participants pick from. Whether that’s the type of uniforms, body armor etc.

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Thomas Gibbons-Neff @tmgneff.bsky.social · May 28

Americans cosplaying as Russian soldiers in the middle of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a strange sight to behold, but checks out. Many Americans were disconnected from their own 20 year war.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...

Why Americans Are Dressing Like Russian Troops in Oklahoma

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · May 26

Sgt. Quandarius Stanley suffered a brain injury in last year’s Gaza pier mission. His recovery was cut short by his unexpected and mysterious death.

Injured near Gaza, dead at VA: A soldier’s mother searches for answers

Sgt. Quandarius Stanley suffered a brain injury in an accident on last year’s mission to build a pier off Gaza. His death months later in a VA hospital has his family asking questions.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · May 26

For Memorial Day, with thanks to Karl Marlantes, Jan Scruggs, Dave Walden, Kate Tealdi, the volunteer guides and everyone elese who shared their story about The Wall. Photos by Rod Lamkey, Jr. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/u...

50 Years After Saigon’s Fall, ‘the Wall’ Reflects and Collects a Nation’s Trauma

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Shane Harris @shaneharris.bsky.social · May 26

Injured near Gaza, dead at VA: A soldier’s mother searches for answers. A shocking story from @alexhorton.bsky.social about a soldier who slipped through the cracks, and whose death remains unresolved. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Injured near Gaza, dead at VA: A soldier’s mother searches for answers

Sgt. Quandarius Stanley suffered a brain injury in an accident on last year’s mission to build a pier off Gaza. His death months later in a VA hospital has his family asking questions.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Alex Horton

Brent Scales @boiler40.bsky.social · May 26

Quandarius Stanley was injured during the temporary pier operation in Gaza. He later died in a South Carolina VA hospital when his condition was improving. @alexhorton.bsky.social via WaPo 🎁 link wapo.st/3SlTnZy

Injured near Gaza, dead at VA: A soldier’s mother searches for answers

Sgt. Quandarius Stanley suffered a brain injury in an accident on last year’s mission to build a pier off Gaza. His death months later in a VA hospital has his family asking questions.

wapo.st

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Alex Horton @alexhorton.bsky.social · May 26

Sgt. Quandarius Stanley wanted to make the Army a lifelong career. The failed Gaza pier mission cut that short, and his mysterious death at VA sent his mother on a quest for answers.

Free to read: wapo.st/3SlTnZy

Injured near Gaza, dead at VA: A soldier’s mother searches for answers

Sgt. Quandarius Stanley suffered a brain injury in an accident on last year’s mission to build a pier off Gaza. His death months later in a VA hospital has his family asking questions.

wapo.st

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