Laicie Heeley

‘Let’s Go Bash Some Skulls’: Inside the Militarization of Trump’s America As the Trump administration expands its push to militarize US cities, critics rail against the heavy-handed impact on marginalized groups.

Trump said he and Hegseth talked about using U.S. cities as “training grounds.” Unfortunately, this @inkstickmedia.com story feels even timelier now.

Coming Soon: MIC Drop We’re watching — in DC, LA, Chicago — what happens when the military comes to town. But what about the military that’s been there all along?

A brand new season of #ThingsThatGoBoom from @inkstickmedia.com and @prx.org is coming soon! (And we're talking about the military-industrial complex.) inkstickmedia.com/coming-soon-...

Write Before Midnight Announcing the Bulletin's new short fiction contest! You have until September 30 to send in your stories. At what time you ask? It couldn't be midnight, could it?

You have two weeks to submit your story to the Bulletin's first-ever writing contest, judged by acclaimed sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson.

No fee to enter. Winners will be published in our January magazine. The first place winner will receive $3,000, with $500 each going to four runners-up.

Yeah that’s it, no more work today, Taylor Swift is getting married.

this is why everyone I know isn’t having kids btw

About Inkstick Media is an award-winning nonprofit newsroom that covers war where it lands: in people’s lives. We dig into the places where power hides — defense budgets dressed up as jobs programs, corpora...

Snuck in a new 'About' page over @inkstickmedia.com — It was due for a refresh. inkstickmedia.com/about/

Broadcasting Studio Equipment Washington DC An international broadcast company has ceased operations in the United States and will make a complete liquidation of their late model digital radio, video and podcast technology assets, studio equipm...

This is absolutely heartbreaking. As a colleague said, the appropriate title is "For Sale: VOA." rasmus.com/auctions/fUN...

Hi who else is listening to their kids’ favorite show on repeat?

Italy to issue half million non-EU work visas over next three years The move is part of a strategy to expand legal immigration channels in response to labor shortages.

I had to read this twice to believe it...Meloni, who ran for office on an anti-immigration platform, has now announced plans to let in hundreds of thousands of immigrants, in order to deal with the Italian labor shortage
www.reuters.com/world/italy-...

Inside the US Military’s 'Dehumanization' Crisis Under Trump As the Trump administration slashes counterextremism programs, veterans worry about the risks that could follow.

As the Trump administration slashes counterextremism programs, veterans worry about the risks.

By: @tylerfromtexas.bsky.social

inkstickmedia.com/inside-the-u...

2025 NATO summit group photo.

So very many men.

You guys, I got a little distracted (I can't imagine why) and forgot to tell you: We won an IWPA!!

Watching the NATO press conference: We should really stop asking regular people why they can't keep facts straight. This isn't about media literacy; they're stuck in the middle of an information war.

“Well Mr. President at least we don’t have to worry about Iran for another few…” *checks notes* “months. Another few months.”

I guess ‘reducing nuclear threats’ doesn’t sound like such a silly idea now, huh?

Things That Go Boom News Podcast · Updated Semiweekly · Stories about the ins, outs, and whathaveyous of what keeps us safe. Hosted by Laicie Heeley.

Oh hey if you wanna go back and listen to a whole season about why pulling out of the JCPOA during Trump’s first term was a terrible idea and would probably lead to war, we did that here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... (Season two.)

Table of Iran's Missile Arsenal Iran has over 3,000 ballistic missiles, the largest arsenal in the Middle East. This table presents the known capabilities of Iran's major missile systems.

In case you find yourself wondering tonight, a handy table of Iran’s max missile ranges: www.iranwatch.org/our-publicat...

I am meeting the moment by pouring another g&t.

It certainly is, Hoka. It certainly is.

That right there.

I truly never thought this would happen. In my brain, the US launching an attack on Iran lives in the same all-bets-are-off room as China invading Taiwan.

This is fine.

Never in the history of the world has someone so devastatingly stupid held so much unchecked power.

Netanyahu played Trump like a fiddle. And mark my words: it won’t just be Iranians who pay the price.

probably my most unfair but steadfast position is that if you use the phrase "but I digress" even once I stop reading and never return to whatever you were saying, ever

2. Israel sees Trump as weak and malleable and went ahead despite his opposition.

Would love to hear others’ thoughts. /3

1. The administration has publicly asked Israel not to attack, but privately waffled, allowing for an opening. The move fits with Trump’s favorite negotiating tactic: see the threat below.

Israel (specifically Netanyahu) has wanted this attack on Iranian nuclear facilities for many years. Successive US presidents have refused to be drawn in and succeeded in staying Israel’s hand. Why not Trump? It seems there are two options. 1/

I've seen folks talk about how "in four years" they'll be able to get back to their planned projects and I really don't think that's going to work out. People & projects losing funding now will not be able to hit pause and come back once funding is restored. Hard-won progress & capacity will be lost

A young Pope Francis.

Okay then Pope Francis, I see you.

Trump EPA moves to weaken drinking water limits on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ The administration said it wants to rescind and reconsider whether limits are needed for four PFAS that chemical companies are still producing and using in the U.S. despite known health risks.

BREAKING: The EPA says it will reverse most of the drinking water standards aimed at protecting people from toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.

Even low levels of the chemicals known as PFAS are linked with cancer and other health problems.

www.politico.com/news/2025/05...