What do you get when you merge the failures of the war on terror and the failures of the war on drugs? A boat strike campaign where the U.S. concedes privately what it won't tell you publicly: it's not accomplishing its goals. In fact, it's sharpening cartel strategies. wapo.st/4yHb0qF

Deadly U.S. boat strikes have failed to curb cocaine supply, Pentagon and DEA officials say

The president says Operation Southern Spear has virtually ended drug trafficking by sea. Pentagon and DEA analysts have concluded otherwise.

wapo.st

this is good reporting by @taracopp.bsky.social and @alexhorton.bsky.social. I have not seen the u.s. report but their description of it makes it seem like the conclusion will be "no one screwed up, a bad thing just happened to happen" www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Survivors of Iranian attack that killed 6 U.S. troops say generals ignored warnings

The drone strike on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait occurred on the second day of the war. Those who were there say they fear no one will be held accountable.

washingtonpost.com

Unfortunate that it is necessary, but shared my LOAC thoughts with @alexhorton.bsky.social. “A threat to attack all bridges or power plants or to attack them without distinguishing between lawful and unlawful targets would be a threat to commit war crimes.” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump threatens Iran with ‘Hell’ over Strait of Hormuz in profane post

Trump escalated threats against Iran’s power plants, bridges and other infrastructure in an expletive-laden post on Truth Social on Easter morning.

washingtonpost.com

The Pentagon’s airstrikes in Nigeria didn’t accomplish much beyond giving local bomb techs practice handling dangerous remnants. Four missiles did not explode, and mediocre intel could be a factor www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Unexploded missiles, witnesses undercut Trump account of Nigeria strike

Of the 16 U.S. Tomahawk missiles fired at militants in Nigeria, at least four appeared not to explode, according to officials and imagery reviewed by The Post.

washingtonpost.com

New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows. A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j

ICE plans $100 million ‘wartime recruitment’ push targeting gun shows, military fans for hires

An internal ICE document shared among immigration officials details plans to use influencers and geo-targeted ads to rapidly hire thousands of deportation officers.

wapo.st

Here you have it—an ALL NEW @talkingfeds.bsky.social w/ @natashabertrand.bsky.social, @alexhorton.bsky.social & #StevenJLepper. We examine the damage Trump has done to the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth’s tenure, and the dangerous logic behind new uses of U.S. military power. bit.ly/MilitaryTF

This is true. Some narco subs have mechanisms to scuttle the vessel before they are boarded to destroy evidence linked to larger cartel operations. In this case, the US did it themselves, and even the lowest level drug runners eluded charges

Zeddy@zeddary.bsky.social · 7mo ago

The only outcome more preferable to drug cartels would be flawless delivery. The evidence is destroyed, no one talked and they even got some of the expendable crew back free of charge. Coast Guard interdiction would have seen them all in federal lockup right now looking to cut deals.

OF ALL THE VESSELS SUNK BY THE U.S. it was the likeliest to have been carrying drugs: a semisubmersible with at least one convicted trafficker on board. The U.S. blew it up, destroyed the evidence and let the survivors go GIFT LINK @schmidtsam.bsky.social @alexhorton.bsky.social wapo.st/4qq5ymS

The U.S. sank the alleged narco-terrorists’ boat — and let them go

In blowing up the vessel, destroying evidence and repatriating the survivors, the U.S. cut short a process that’s helped bring down traffickers.

washingtonpost.com

A drug boat in the Atlantic was likely heading to Europe, not the US, when an AC-130J attacked it. What happened next with two survivors defied what the admin and Pentagon have said about alleged “narco-terrorists.” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

The U.S. sank the alleged narco-terrorists’ boat — and let them go

In blowing up the vessel, destroying evidence and repatriating the survivors, the U.S. cut short a process that’s helped bring down traffickers.

washingtonpost.com

Pleased to speak with the @washingtonpost.com about the US disposition of the survivors of the October 16th maritime strike. “Once they had custody of these people, it was clear … they were going to try to get rid of them expeditiously.” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

The U.S. sank the alleged narco-terrorists’ boat — and let them go

In blowing up the vessel, destroying evidence and repatriating the survivors, the U.S. cut short a process that’s helped bring down traffickers.

washingtonpost.com

INSIDE EL CECOT (GIFT LINK) The Post's reporting on the Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration sent migrants deported from the United States, based on interviews with 16 former detainees wapo.st/3KUUv6n

‘Welcome to hell’: Inside the megaprison where the U.S. deported migrants

Interviews with 16 former detainees of El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center offer the most complete view yet of conditions inside the notorious prison.

wapo.st

extraordinary forensic reporting from my investigative colleagues at @washingtonpost.com : @imogenpiper.bsky.social + @abtran.bsky.social + @alexhorton.bsky.social + John Farrell + Brian Perlman

Imogen Piper@imogenpiper.bsky.social · 8mo ago

For our new visual investigation into how night vision and city lights may have played a part in the DCA crash we flew a drone along the helicopters route, filmed incoming planes through night vision goggles, and analyzed it all within a 3D model of Washington, D.C. Watch here wapo.st/4atdTBI

The brightness of the DC skyline (National Harbor has gotten 3x brighter in a decade) and lights from inbound aircraft may have contributed to the deadliest US airline crash in 20 years. By @imogenpiper.bsky.social, @abtran.bsky.social, @alexhorton.bsky.social, @jb1prod.bsky.social & Brian Perlman:

In deadly D.C. plane crash, city lights may have played a role. See how.

The Post examined the bright skyline around Reagan National Airport and whether it may have been a factor in the January accident, which killed 67 people.

washingtonpost.com

Excellent breakdown of potential contributing factors to the tragic air collision over the Potomac. Class B information overload + lights & NVGs potential contributors via @imogenpiper.bsky.social @jb1prod.bsky.social @abtran.bsky.social @alexhorton.bsky.social Brian Perlman wapo.st/4atdTBI

In deadly D.C. plane crash, city lights may have played a role. See how.

The Post examined the bright skyline around Reagan National Airport and whether it may have been a factor in the January accident, which killed 67 people.

wapo.st

For the last few months, I've been working on a story about January's crash near Washington, D.C. What I learned was that it was simply an accident waiting to happen. Special Report: The night everything at DCA finally went wrong (via @theaircurrent.com) theaircurrent.com/aviation-saf...

Special Report: The night everything at DCA finally went wrong

D.C. midair crash was the result of a complete collapse of the protections designed to keep aviation safe — and the institutions that design and maintain them

theaircurrent.com

POST EXCLUSIVE (GIFT LINK) Miller and others wanted to strike cartels in Mexico. But as the administration hardened the border, Mexico curbed cartel action, leaving them to look for other targets @ellenwapo.bsky.social @alexhorton.bsky.social and @danlamothe.bsky.social report wapo.st/4p66tIm

Stephen Miller’s hard-line Mexico strategy morphed into deadly boat strikes

President Donald Trump’s homeland security adviser, Stephen Miller, had a plan to target Mexican drug cartels. That strategy morphed into lethal boat strikes.

wapo.st

The Trump admin wanted to be tough on drugs by striking Mexican cartels. Their allies produced good results, so Stephen Miller and others went looking for another venue. How we got to boat strikes, and a focus on Venezuela. Free to read link: wapo.st/4p66tIm

Stephen Miller’s hard-line Mexico strategy morphed into deadly boat strikes

President Donald Trump’s homeland security adviser, Stephen Miller, had a plan to target Mexican drug cartels. That strategy morphed into lethal boat strikes.

wapo.st

NEW — I put together a list of independent journalism subscriptions that would make great holiday gifts. From music to politics, astronomy to alcohol, tech to social justice, there’s something for [almost] everyone. Support indie media *and* surprise and delight your loved ones! My guide:

Giving the gift of independent journalism: a guide

The Handbasket has subscription suggestions for almost everyone on your list.

thehandbasket.co

NEW: Hegseth asked SOUTHCOM Adm. Alvin Holsey to step down, a de facto ouster that was the culmination of months of discord between the two that intensified when Holsey had initial concerns about the legality of lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Exclusive | Hegseth Asked Top Admiral to Resign After Months of Discord

The relationship between the Pentagon chief and Adm. Alvin Holsey had been rocky since Trump’s inauguration.

wsj.com

I went on @nprfreshair.bsky.social with Terry Gross to lay out what we know and don’t know about the administration’s second deadly strike on Sept 2, which killed two survivors in the Caribbean www.npr.org/2025/12/03/n...

Did the Trump administration commit a war crime in its attack on a Venezuelan boat?

Washington Post reporter Alex Horton talks about the Sept. 2 U.S. military strike on a boat with alleged "narco terrorists," in which a second strike was ordered to kill two survivors in the water.

npr.org

If the U.S. was at war, Pete Hegseth's order would be a war crime, a military lawyer said. Instead, it might just be murder. wapo.st/49KbUJ1

Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.

washingtonpost.com

Exclusive: Hegseth ordered everyone killed in the first alleged drug boat strike on Sept. 2, prompting a second hit to finish off survivors in the water in a mission led by SEAL Team 6. Ordering no quarter could legally perilous www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.

washingtonpost.com

Exclusive: the White House considered dropping leaflets over Caracas, touting a $50M reward for info leading to Maduro's arrest and conviction. They eyed a mission for tomorrow -- Maduro's 63rd birthday. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

White House considers leaflet drop to pressure Maduro on his birthday

The White House has proposed a leaflet drop over Caracas, reminding citizens about the $50 million U.S. bounty on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

washingtonpost.com

Happy Veterans Day to all the NDSM recipients, the true heroes after KBR 🫡

Trump’s suggestion of military action in Nigeria met reality with AFRICOM, which expressed doubts that a military response to violence would do anything. Free to read: wapo.st/3JECubO

National Guard personnel focused on nuclear disasters and terrorist attacks will instead be given riot-control gear and sent into cities, a sign that Trump military deployments into urban centers "could become the norm" wapo.st/433N9Dk @alexhorton.bsky.social @davidovalle.bsky.social

Pentagon readying thousands of Guard ‘reaction forces’ as U.S. mission widens

The Defense Department’s newly established “quick reaction force” within the National Guard is being readied for civil unrest missions in U.S. cities.

wapo.st

Q: What are the Pentagon’s military objectives in the Western Hemisphere, and how do the strikes help reach that outcome? A: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Pleased to speak to @alexhorton.bsky.social for @washingtonpost.com about the disposition of the survivors from the latest U.S. strike in the Caribbean. Repatriating them appears to have been the least worst option from the administration’s standpoint. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. to repatriate survivors of drug boat strike to Colombia, Ecuador

It is unclear if the two surviving alleged drug smugglers have any links to Venezuelan criminal organizations.

washingtonpost.com

Correct. This story would have violated the Pentagon’s new restrictions had we signed it.

Matthew Hay Brown@matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · 10mo ago

A fine example of a story that would require the Pentagon’s approval under the new media policy that The Post and others refused to sign Strong work from @alexhorton.bsky.social and @samueloakford.bsky.social

Exclusive: Special Operations helos, flying in a configuration best suited for ground assaults, were less than 90 miles from Venezuela last week. Official says they were training. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. Special Operations helicopters near Venezuela expand Caribbean mission

U.S. Special Operations helicopters flew within 90 miles of Venezuelan territory, according to a Post analysis. Trump authorized CIA covert action inside the country.

washingtonpost.com