Mike Hirschberg

YouTube video by Design Your Life Your Way This Time with Mike Hirschberg | The Wild Ride from Rocket Enthusiast to Vertical Flight Maestro

I was interviewed in another podcast this week. I'm always a little embarrassed talking about myself, but hope it might offer some insights into leadership, vertical flight and the future of aviation:

"The Wild Ride from Rocket Enthusiast to Vertical Flight Maestro"
youtu.be/Qdvsp4EALMc?...

Measles detected at Dilley immigrant family detention center The cases come amid renewed nationwide scrutiny of the facility following the transfer there of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy who federal agents arrested along with his father in Minneapolis.

Children at an ICE family detention facility have been denied clean drinking water, medical care, and legal access. Now they may be exposed to measles.

Toddlers don't belong in detention, and Congress must end funding for these sites of abuse.

Black graphic with text "ICE out of Minneapolis NOW"

ICE and CBP agents are out of control and put everyone in danger.

We're calling for ICE agents to withdraw from Minneapolis, and for Congress to rein in ICE’s abuses in our communities.

Venezuela: Maduro's enforcer Cabello still central to power The ousting of Venezuela's president raised hopes of change — but the politician now controlling the streets shows how little has really shifted.

The ousting of Venezuela's president raised hopes of change — but the politician now controlling the streets shows how little has really shifted. n.pr/4k5BVpn

Opinion | The White House’s pro-crime manifesto The Jan. 6 website is an embarrassing waste of resources.

Trump’s Jan. 6 truther webpage is an embarrassing misuse of government resources, and some White House staffers clearly have too much time on their hands, the Editorial Board writes.

NPR has an update on the flooding in Alaska from Typhoon Halong. I wrote about the helicopter rescues there and elsewhere in a post on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/mikehi...

(DVIDS image)

Alaska Air National Guard personnel survey the devastation of remote indigenous communities during a search and rescue mission in Kipnuk, Alaska, on Oct. 13, 2025. (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service via AP) Public Domain

I wrote about the flooding in Alaska and the helicopter rescues there, in Texas, and elsewhere in a post on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/mikehi...

(DVIDS image)

Arthur means Bristol, which is only 11 m (36 m) above sea level. Bristol won't be under water, but the water will be closer, perhaps close enough to be a "fishing village" — but only if technology investments don't slow or stop global warming.

Great pleasure presenting last Thursday on accommodating #hydrogen-powered electric VTOL (H2eVTOL) #aircraft techs at #vertiports to the @vtolsociety.bsky.social Arizona Chapter. Watch the recording here: buff.ly/l4OIvzB. 🚁 #aaminfra #aerospace #aviation #engineering #verticalflight #vtols

Opinion | Trump is sending a clear message to the free world Trump’s national security strategy slams Europe, not Russia.

And the great @maxboot.bsky.social (also @cfr.org!) adds the most disheartening conclusion of all in @postopinions.bsky.social: the NSS “makes clear that, for the first time since Dec. 7, 1941, America no longer sees itself as the leader of the free world.”

More and more American and foreign researchers are leaving the US as the Administration makes draconian cuts to federal science & technology funding.

@postopinions.bsky.social also highlights the threat to American #ScientificDominance that I wrote about on Forbes:
www.forbes.com/sites/mikehi...

Wow. Crazy.

My latest article on @forbes.com: "Artificial Intelligence Engenders Human Stupidity." A recent aviation summit highlighted the benefits and pitfalls of using #AI in aviation and everyday life ... like the #AIslop we see online so much these days.

www.forbes.com/sites/mikehi...

Retired judges warn that the rule of law is unraveling In interviews, former state and federal judges describe the consequences when the rule of law begins to falter, warning that democracy’s guardrails may already be weakened.

Retired federal and state judges say President Trump’s attacks on the judiciary strain its integrity. They cite partisanship, antagonistic rhetoric from public officials and ambiguous decisions handed down by the Supreme Court.

Helicopters Save Lives During Natural Disasters And Every Day Every day, helicopters provide vital services to communities, including saving and protecting lives. Recent massive natural disasters showcased helicopters saving lives.

Today and every day, give thanks for the lifesaving role of vertical flight. Millions of people around the world are here today because of the incredible capabilities of #helicopters, #rotorcraft and #VTOL #drones.

2025 was a busy year for helicopter rescues. Check out my latest article on Forbes.

The war will end when the Ukrainian army withdraws from Ukraine.

Subscribe to the Electric VTOL News for advanced air mobility news and updates! Read #avgeek developments on #hydrogen / #electric #rotorcraft and other #eVTOL aircraft like the AIR ONE: mailchi.mp/evtol/evtol-...

Join VFS to learn more at #TVF2026 in January 2026! vtol.org/tvf2026

Senate Democrats are investigating the Kennedy Center for 'cronyism, corruption' Senate Democrats say the new Kennedy Center leadership has led to "millions in lost revenue, luxury spending, and preferential treatment for Trump allies." The performing arts center denies the allegations.

Senate Democrats say the new Kennedy Center leadership has led to "millions in lost revenue, luxury spending, and preferential treatment for Trump allies." The performing arts center denies the allegations. n.pr/4pk6IzW

Over 30,000 Charlotte students absent from school in protest of ICE operation, reports say Over 30,000 Charlotte students were absent on Monday, according to school officials.

Students know: ICE doesn't belong in our schools or our community.

Czech-based Zuri partners with Ambitious Air Mobility Group to accelerate development of Zuri’s hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft and uncrewed aerial systems for cargo, defense and regional passenger flights: zuri.com/news/zuri-aa...

Vertical Flight Society welcomes Zuri as our newest corporate member!

Gary Tyler Spent 42 Years on Death Row. Racism Put Him There. | ACLU Tyler’s case shows how bias, fear, and discrimination drive wrongful convictions — and why confronting racial injustice in the legal system remains urgent today.

At 17, Gary Tyler was sentenced to death by an all white jury for a crime he didn’t commit. He was released from prison at age 57, after spending 42 years behind bars.

Wrongful convictions are a feature, not a bug, of the death penalty. We must end it once and for all. 

40 years ago, Calvin and Hobbes' raucous adventures burst onto the comics page The adventures of a precocious 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger debuted on November 18, 1985. NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with the comic strip's editor, Lee Salem, in 2005.

The adventures of a precocious 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger debuted on November 18, 1985. NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with the comic strip's editor, Lee Salem, in 2005.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announces she is resigning from House The longtime MAGA supporter says she is stepping down from office as of Jan. 5.

Breaking news: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced that she will resign from Congress as of Jan. 5, a surprise announcement that came days after a public spat between President Trump in which he lobbed public insults at his longtime ally.

From Secret Law (2001-2024) to None at All (2025-present) The Trump administration's lethal strikes are the apotheosis of the last quarter century's often always secret and often unreviewable executive branch legal reasoning.

President Trump's refusal to share the legal justification for his airstrikes on civilian boats at sea is shocking, but not unprecedented. For too long, both parties have looked the other way as presidents abuse their power and evade accountability.

Opinion | The dulling of America’s scientific edge U.S. researchers are increasingly looking to do their work abroad.

"The U.S., which has benefited greatly from its ability to draw the best minds from across the globe over the past century, can ill afford to lose its academic sheen," the Editorial Board writes.

NASA has lost thousands of workers. Here’s what that means for science. Staffers told The Post about months of turmoil and sweeping changes that, if fully implemented, could transform NASA and American science beyond the Trump years.

For 13 consecutive years, NASA has been named the best place to work in the federal government.

But since the Trump administration took over and proposed deep budget cuts, there has been an exodus from the agency.

America is losing its #ScientificDominance. So many cuts to #NASA, #NSF and #DoD research and technology. Check out my article on this:
www.forbes.com/sites/mikehi...

Passports don't say "Sex at Birth", they say just "Sex" — meaning "Current Sex", just like "Given names" means current names. Or will married people who change their name have to revert to their birth name? This is crazy. Who cares what someone was at birth? Only the current status is germane.

The brain drain of American engineers, scientists and intellects accelerates as US federal policies drive them away.

Layoffs rise to recession-like levels through October, new report says Layoffs are rising to recession-like levels, with U.S. employers announcing 1.1 million job cuts so far this year, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

More than 1 million U.S. workers have been laid off in 2025 so far, a level typically seen in recessions, according to new data.