Paul McLeary
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paulmcleary.bsky.social
Paul McLeary
@paulmcleary.bsky.social
2.5K followers 270 following 87 posts
National security reporter for Politico, Buffalo sports fan despite all of it.
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Reposted by Paul McLeary
phelimkine.bsky.social
"South Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear submarine capability reflects Seoul’s jitters over China’s increasingly aggressive military footprint in the Indo-Pacific as well as alarm about a growing threat from North Korea" w/ @paulmcleary.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Trump will arm South Korea with a nuclear submarine
South Korea’s nuclear submarine development plans reflect Seoul’s concerns about potential Chinese and North Korean aggression.
www.politico.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:56 AM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Trump today told several hundred generals that American cities should be “training grounds,” calling on the military leaders to “handle” the “enemy from within…before it gets out of control.”

The president's comments can often be viewed as orders.

www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Hegseth uses rare meeting of generals to announce new military standards
He warned commanders who don’t support the changes could leave the service.
www.politico.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Reposted by Paul McLeary
alivitali.bsky.social
It’s Tuesday w/ @waytooearly.bsky.social and unless something major changes, the government will shut down at midnight. That & more, with…
☀️ @jonallendc.bsky.social
☕️ @mpolymer1.bsky.social
🌅 @paulmcleary.bsky.social

Email why you’re up with us to [email protected] #waytooearly
September 30, 2025 at 8:06 AM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Per the White House - legally it is still the Department of Defense. The Department of War is a "secondary title."

So, it's a nickname.
September 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Despite crime in DC being at a 30 year low, Trump orders 800 National Guard troops to the capital www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Trump will send National Guard into Washington
About 800 troops will assist local law enforcement amid the president’s pledge to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital.
www.politico.com
August 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
NEW: Army says that of the 800 National Guard soldiers activated, "100-200 Soldiers will be supporting law enforcement at any given time. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement."
August 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Confirmed that USS Nimitz left the South China Sea and is heading for the Middle East - making TWO U.S. carrier strike groups there once it joins the USS Vinson. Also, a wave of US refueling aircraft just left for Europe.

Lots of hardware moving.

www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
US builds up military presence in Middle East
The Pentagon is routing another aircraft carrier to the region and sending additional aircraft to Europe as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.
www.politico.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
The US is "using its air defenses in the region" to assist Israel in engaging Iranian missiles targeting Israel, per US defense official. www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
US moves warships closer to Israel
The move comes as Israel braces for a retaliatory attack from Iran.
www.politico.com
June 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
A must-read deep dive into the chaos inside the highest offices inside the Pentagon: www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
The vicious rivalries tearing apart Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon
A feud between the secretary's advisers and his chief of staff created backbiting and distrust that has erupted into the open.
www.politico.com
April 23, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Paul McLeary
kylegriffin1.bsky.social
The Pentagon is in "total chaos" and Pete Hegseth is unlikely to remain in his role, according to its former top spokesperson, who painted a scene of dysfunction, backstabbing and missteps at the highest levels of the department.

"The building is in disarray." www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Former Pentagon official warns department's dysfunction could topple Hegseth
“The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon,” John Ullyot, the former top Defense Department spokesperson, wrote in a POLITICO Magazine opinion piece.
www.politico.com
April 20, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Reposted by Paul McLeary
kyledcheney.bsky.social
BREAKING: The DC Circuit has *rejected* DOJ's effort to lift Judge Boasberg's block on Alien Enemies Act deportations.

Ruling is 2-1, with Judge Walker dissenting. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
March 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is spiraling through yet another overseas trip eclipsed by a controversy largely of his own doing.

www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Hegseth slips up during an international trip — again
Every international trip the Pentagon chief has taken has been clouded by controversy.
www.politico.com
March 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
“The information that you have fighter aircraft launching off of an aircraft carrier, flying over enemy territory and impending combat operation is the most sensitive information we have” said Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot.

www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
‘It is highly classified’: Hegseth leaked sensitive attack details, former officials say
Hegseth and the White House have denied sharing classified information or war plans.
www.politico.com
March 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Elon Musk Musk was briefed on China by Indo-Pacom chief Adm. Samuel Paparo and SecDef Pete Hegseth this morning, showing "the extraordinary level of access Musk, a defense contractor with billions of dollars in government contracts, holds over the administration." www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Musk won’t hear classified war plans in Pentagon visit
A meeting about China’s threat with the Defense Secretary and a U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific, even if unclassified, shows the billionaire’s extraordinary level of access.
www.politico.com
March 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Paul McLeary
nahaltoosi.bsky.social
SCOOP: The Trump team is taking a hatchet to the State Department's annual — and world-renowned — human rights report. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Trump drastically cutting back annual human rights report
Sections on women’s rights and the security of LGBTQ+ people are among those being axed.
www.politico.com
March 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
The @DeptofDefense appears to have shuttered its @DoDMinerva research program, which funded studies designed to help policymakers in the military. The Web site is down, and several academics tell me they received project termination letters.

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Pentagon announces DOGE cuts, but won’t say what they are
subscriber.politicopro.com
March 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
The first big challenge for Donald Trump’s top military adviser pick isn’t the Ukraine-Russia war or even his lack of qualifications. It’s the legend about a red MAGA hat.

www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
MAGA hat drama could taint Trump’s top military adviser pick
The president said Dan Caine once offered to kill for him and slapped a signature red hat on his head, a violation of military rules.
www.politico.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Trump and his defense secretary today said they're looking to relieve any military officer or civilian involved in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal

www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Trump signals more firings of military leaders
Senior officers involved in the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan are “going to be largely gone,” he said.
www.politico.com
February 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Last year, now-SecDef Hegseth wrote “should we follow the Geneva conventions ... Aren’t we just better off in winning our wars according to our own rules?”

And now he fired the Pentagons top military legal advisors

www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
'Roadblocks' or supports? Military lawyers question Hegseth’s firings.
The Pentagon chief said he doesn’t want lawyers who are “roadblocks” to decisions he or military commanders make.
www.politico.com
February 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Pete Hegseth’s firing of top Pentagon legal staff has alarmed military lawyers: “It will keep the lawyer out of the rooms where the decisions are made.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
'Roadblocks' or supports? Military lawyers question Hegseth’s firings.
The Pentagon chief said he doesn’t want lawyers who are “roadblocks” to decisions he or military commanders make.
www.politico.com
February 26, 2025 at 3:19 AM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
Don't let this slip by: Trump is also firing the senior judicial officers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

They're the services' top lawyers.
February 22, 2025 at 1:46 AM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
WIPED OUT: Trump gutted the Joint Chiefs Friday night, firing Chairman Gen. CQ Brown - while he was visiting troops in Texas - and SecDef Hegseth said he will also replace Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti and UASF vice chief Gen. James Slife.
February 22, 2025 at 1:42 AM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
NEW: Pentagon says it is firing 5,400 civilians next week as part of an effort to cull up to 8% of the civilian workforce, while implementing a hiring freeze. 46% of DoD civilians are veterans.
@politico.com

www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Pentagon prepares to fire thousands of civilian employees in dramatic culling
The Department of Defense is preparing to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce
www.politico.com
February 21, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by Paul McLeary
davebrown.bsky.social
BREAKING: The Pentagon is planning to fire 5,400 civilian employees starting next week as it prepares to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce, the department announced Friday www.politico.com/news/2025/02... @paulmcleary.bsky.social
Pentagon prepares to fire thousands of civilian employees in dramatic culling
The Department of Defense is preparing to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce
www.politico.com
February 21, 2025 at 10:12 PM
paulmcleary.bsky.social
NEW: Half of all U.S. military flights transporting detained migrants out of the country have gone to Guantanamo Bay over the past month, officials told me. In total, 14 of 28 total flights have brought about 100 detainees to the base. @politico
February 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM