Shane Harris

Somehow we keep coming back to Iran… Always great to talk to Mary even when the subject is grim.

“Let them sing.”

CIA, Pentagon investigated secret ‘Havana syndrome’ device in Norway The CIA investigated a Norwegian government experiment with a pulsed-energy machine in which a researcher built and tested a “Havana syndrome” device on himself.

Significant new reporting from Warren Strobel and @ellenwapo.bsky.social on a secret “Havana Syndrome” device in Norway.

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

Please remember that this is not your fault. You did everything you could, everything that was asked of you and more. I was and remain proud to be your colleague.

...I'm going to channel my fury into love, for the people in my old newsroom who are about to lose their livelihoods, and the ones who will be expected to pick up the pieces. I'm sending you all every good thought I can muster.

I spent 7 years at the @washingtonpost.com. Did some of the best work of my career. Had some of the best times of my life. The people responsible for the misery that is about to unfold will probably fail up, which is a damn shame. There will be a time for recriminations. But today...

a woman with a #schittscreek logo on the bottom right ALT: a woman with a #schittscreek logo on the bottom right

To you, Ms. O’Hara. And thank you. 💔

Tim Walz Fears a Fort Sumter Moment in Minneapolis The Minnesota governor warns of a national unraveling.

Tim Walz tells @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social he fears a Ft. Sumter moment in Minneapolis. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

“.. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks on the phone while standing inside a vehicle loaded with boxes outside the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center after the FBI executed a search warrant there.”

@reuters.com

Yes, It’s Fascism Until recently, I thought it a term best avoided. But now, the resemblances are too many and too strong to deny.

“Americans who support liberal democracy need to recognize what we’re dealing with in order to cope with it, and to recognize something, one must name it. Trump has revealed himself, and we must name what we see.” — @jonrauch.bsky.social

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Back on the pod!

The Sacrifice of the Danes After September 11, Denmark fought alongside its ally. The families of fallen soldiers have a message for Trump.

“We have done so much for America”: Denmark fought alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now, as Trump eyes Greenland, the families of fallen soldiers have a message for him, @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social reports:
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

The Consensus on Havana Syndrome Is Cracking After long denying the possibility, some intelligence agencies are no longer willing to rule out a mystery weapon.

Note: Towards the end of the Biden administration, NSC officials briefed victims that new information--which they didn't describe at the time--had come to light that undercut the official assessment on Havana/AHIs. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

Pentagon bought device through undercover operation some investigators suspect is linked to Havana Syndrome | CNN Politics The Defense Department has spent more than a year testing a device purchased in an undercover operation that some investigators think could be the cause of a series of mysterious ailments impacting sp...

Fascinating story from the nat sec team at CNN. Through an undercover operation, the Pentagon paid eight figures for a device some investigators suspect is linked to Havana Syndrome. www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/p...

"Why I joined the Navy!"

Feels right.

Aldrich Ames, most damaging CIA traitor in agency history, dies at 84 He reportedly caused the deaths of at least 10 recruited CIA or allied intelligence agents.

Aldrich Ames, most damaging CIA traitor in agency history, dies at 84

www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

Always a pleasure to talk to Mary and the team at Slate.

Is Greenland Next? After Venezuela, Europeans think Trump may actually be serious.

Here’s how Trump takes Greenland—and ends NATO. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec... w/ @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social and @jonlemire.bsky.social

Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader With a Fate Worse Than Maduro’s The president told The Atlantic that Delcy Rodríguez needs to comply with U.S. wishes—or else.

Trump on Venezuela’s new leader: “If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro.”

More here from @michaelscherer.bsky.social’s interview this morning with the president.

www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Even Close Allies Are Asking Why Trump Wants to Run Venezuela Nicolás Maduro was plucked out of Caracas, but the more shocking news was that the White House plans to run Venezuela.

New tonight: More surprising than Maduro’s capture was that the White House plans to run Venezuela.

www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Opinion | How Did We Get to Such a Bad Question?

How Did We Get to Such a Bad Question? www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/o... To Carlos’ excellent list of useless questions I would add, “What keeps you up at night.”

No. At 300 the oven doesn’t get hot enough for that. But you can overcook it. You’re making caramel, just slowly. I wouldn’t cook it more than an hour or 70 mins.

Ha! Sort of. :)

Main things to remember:
300 degree oven
Bacon (not thick) and loads of dark brown sugar. Like 1.5 lbs.
Cook 30 mins. Flip. Cook 15 more. Flip. And 15 more. It will look almost burned and smell like very strong caramel and bacon grease. It’s odd. But trust me. It’s fabulous.

Bacon: The best-kept secret in Washington - The Washington Post Today on “Post Reports,” we follow reporter Shane Harris in search of a secret recipe for candied bacon. The story behind the closely guarded cooking technique unlocks a forgotten chapter of Washingto...

You can hear the whole delicious bacon story on the podcast. The (verbal) recipe is near the end.

www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/pos...

If it stands on its own, it’s done.

Cool.

Flip. Color and smell check.

It resembles one!