Aaron Mehta
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aaronmehta.bsky.social
Aaron Mehta
@aaronmehta.bsky.social
Editor in chief of BreakingDefense.com, shameless Boston sports nerd.
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
South Korea intends to abolish provisions obligating soldiers and civil servants to follow superiors’ commands even when they may be improper or unlawful.
S. Korea pushes for soldiers, civil servants to have right to refuse unlawful orders
The South Korean government is moving to remove long-standing obedience requirements for civil servants and soldiers, on the heels of former President Yoon Suk
www.koreaherald.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The first Rush Hour is a perfect buddy comedy. No notes.
November 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
1) @washingtonpost.com reported Thursday on a controversial policy downgrading how nooses and swastikas are labeled in the Coast Guard.

2) Admin officials attacked The Post, falsely alleging the reporting of "fake crap."

3) The CG said it would review policy language.

4) The CG reversed course.
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
WAPO SCOOP: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols

wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
wapo.st
November 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
New: I can confirm hasty US-Russia proposal being pushed to Ukrainians via Dmitriev-Witkoff to Umerov. It would amount to Ukraine’s capitulation, with people familiar saying it’s Kremlin’s maximalist demands.
-Ukraine army cut 1/2
-Give up certain weapons
-Give up Donbas
-Zelensky displeased
More tk
November 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The Spider-Man pointing at himself meme, except everyone is irradiated
Problem: AI needs massive amounts of power to thrive. Nuclear makes lots of power. Nuclear takes a long long time to do safely.

Proposed solution that I'm sure will have no unpleasant consequences: Use AI to speed up the construction of new nuclear plants.
Power Companies Are Using AI To Build Nuclear Power Plants
Tech companies are betting big on nuclear energy to meet AIs massive power demands and they're using that AI to speed up the construction of new nuclear power plants.
www.404media.co
November 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
In which an Army JAG officer explains the legal history behind how we got to strikes on boats in SOUTHCOM. I learned a ton from this piece.
November 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
a “Space Force”, if you will
we need a department of kerning
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Hegseth is announcing that he's killing JCIDS today as if it's a big move, but that was announced back in August. breakingdefense.com/2025/08/pent...
Pentagon terminating JCIDS process as part of larger acquisition reform: Memo   - Breaking Defense
“So, the way I read the memo is great, we can go a lot faster now but the big question that remains is, ‘Are we moving faster in the right direction?’” a service official said.
breakingdefense.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to unveil major changes to how the US military buys weapons and vehicles. Here's what you need to know ahead of his speech to industry this afternoon. https://ow.ly/HAg350XosoM
November 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
An inside look at the Hill during a historic government shutdown breakingdefense.com/2025/11/an-i...
An inside look at the Hill during a historic government shutdown - Breaking Defense
Breaking Defense's Daniel Woolfolk goes inside an eerily quiet Capitol building as the shutdown drags on.
breakingdefense.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
A 34-year-old as a politician: My god he's like a baby. It's like they just elected an infant to be their mayor.

A 34-year-old as an athlete: You have to admire the bravery of him attempting that dunk, knowing full well the grim reaper is right behind him.
November 5, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
The Pentagon press corps has taught me so much in my career. @sirenspod.bsky.social extended our chat with @valerieinsinna.bsky.social to explore what makes it different, what DOD owes Americans in terms of transparency and access, and where we go from here. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Sirens: A Bombshell production
News Commentary Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Sirens, a new podcast from the ladies of Bombshell, dissects the institutions of American power. With their trademark wit and charm, join Loren DeJonge Sch...
podcasts.apple.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Evergreen tweet.
a shocking amount of "I was wrong. Here's why that makes me right" commentary today
November 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
ulysses s grant
who won virginia
November 5, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
So happy to talk with the phenomenal @sirenspod.bsky.social about something near and dear to my heart: the Pentagon press corps.
NEW episode with the spectacular @valerieinsinna.bsky.social to explore Pentagon Press Corps dynamics; plus, shutdown impacts, waking up to a totally new world in SOUTHCOM, and, what protest costume calls to you? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Shutdown, Southcom, and Pentagon Press
Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/30/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Crazy level of stability at the CEO spot for DRS: One ceo from 1994-2012, then Lynn from 2012-2025. Baylouny, who takes over on Jan 1, has been with DRS for 35 years and COO since 2018.
October 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Need a laugh? We did a Halloween-themed Break Out episode this week. There are costumes. I did a whole voice. It's fun. breakingdefense.com/2025/10/zomb...
Zombie planes and other Pentagon ghost stories
Trick or treat? The Breaking Defense team talks about something truly scary — which Pentagon programs have been killed this year.
breakingdefense.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
taskandpurpose.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Sometimes a reporter has a moment arrive that is so squarely in their wheelhouse they have to swing. And Geoff, unsurprisingly, doesn't miss.
A House of Dynamite is a gripping nuclear thriller... that makes no sense?

Here, finally, is my piece about what experts have to say about the movie (short 🧵 and then I'll do another 🧵 on what I think about it)....

www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
Here's what experts say 'A House of Dynamite' gets wrong (and right) about nuclear war
Some praised realistic elements like the depiction of the White House situation room. But others said parts of the plot didn't ring true.
www.npr.org
October 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Went on the National Press Club's podcast to discuss the Pentagon press situation and explain some more about why every major news outlet refused to sign. www.press.org/newsroom/def...
Defense Editor Explains Opposition To Controversial Pentagon Reaccreditation Process
October 14 marked a deadline set by the Pentagon for accredited members of the media to sign a controversial pledge to retain access rights to the building. Dozens of outlets, including right-leaning ...
www.press.org
October 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Aaron Mehta
Here's a sample piece of "journalism" from one of the "news" outlets that signed the DoD rules. Welcome to the new press corps.
October 23, 2025 at 6:19 AM