Dan Lamothe
@danlamothe.bsky.social
Military affairs reporter with The Washington Post. State-school alum. Beer-league softball enthusiast. Dog guy. Signal for encrypted tips: danlamothe.30
Pinned
Dan Lamothe
@danlamothe.bsky.social
· Oct 1
I remain reachable on Signal at danlamothe.30
First ship in this new battleship will be called the USS Defiant. Typically, that also would be the ship class's name.
December 23, 2025 at 12:33 AM
First ship in this new battleship will be called the USS Defiant. Typically, that also would be the ship class's name.
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
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
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
December 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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
wapo.st/4p66tIm
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
My generation got to know him as one of three CNN reporters coming live from their Baghdad hotel room during the start of the first Gulf War. It was a new kind of war, carried live on air and he was one of the voices that brought it to us.
RIP
RIP
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Peter Arnett, who reported on the Vietnam and Gulf wars, has died
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnett, who traveled the world covering wars from Vietnam to Iraq, has died.
apnews.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:30 AM
My generation got to know him as one of three CNN reporters coming live from their Baghdad hotel room during the start of the first Gulf War. It was a new kind of war, carried live on air and he was one of the voices that brought it to us.
RIP
RIP
"Hegseth’s decision ... is a glimpse into the depth of the administration’s concern that becoming too transparent about what is happening on the high seas could turn the American public against the strikes."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
For Hegseth, There Is One Boat Strike He Doesn’t Want the Public to See
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
"Hegseth’s decision ... is a glimpse into the depth of the administration’s concern that becoming too transparent about what is happening on the high seas could turn the American public against the strikes."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
Stephen Miller to Vanity Fair photographer: “You know, you have a lot of power in the discretion you use to be kind to people.”
Photographer to Miller: “You know, you do, too.”
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/... @shaneisland.bsky.social
Photographer to Miller: “You know, you do, too.”
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/... @shaneisland.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Stephen Miller to Vanity Fair photographer: “You know, you have a lot of power in the discretion you use to be kind to people.”
Photographer to Miller: “You know, you do, too.”
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/... @shaneisland.bsky.social
Photographer to Miller: “You know, you do, too.”
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/... @shaneisland.bsky.social
Yes.
Three ships with the ARG/MEU. About 4,000 there.
Four ships with carrier group, including the Ford. That's about another 6,000.
Then the last four on the list, deployed independently and in addition to the two task forces.
Three ships with the ARG/MEU. About 4,000 there.
Four ships with carrier group, including the Ford. That's about another 6,000.
Then the last four on the list, deployed independently and in addition to the two task forces.
So this is the 22nd MEU and the Ford Strike Group. Which has to be thousands of Marines and Sailors?
Wow.
Wow.
December 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Yes.
Three ships with the ARG/MEU. About 4,000 there.
Four ships with carrier group, including the Ford. That's about another 6,000.
Then the last four on the list, deployed independently and in addition to the two task forces.
Three ships with the ARG/MEU. About 4,000 there.
Four ships with carrier group, including the Ford. That's about another 6,000.
Then the last four on the list, deployed independently and in addition to the two task forces.
The Navy presently has 11 warships in the southern Caribbean Sea area, officials say.
They are:
USS Iwo Jima
USS Fort Lauderdale
USS San Antonio
USS Gerald R. Ford
USS Bainbridge
USS Mahan
USS Winston S. Churchill
USS Stockdale
USS Thomas Hudner
USS Lake Erie
USS Gettysburg
They are:
USS Iwo Jima
USS Fort Lauderdale
USS San Antonio
USS Gerald R. Ford
USS Bainbridge
USS Mahan
USS Winston S. Churchill
USS Stockdale
USS Thomas Hudner
USS Lake Erie
USS Gettysburg
December 17, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The Navy presently has 11 warships in the southern Caribbean Sea area, officials say.
They are:
USS Iwo Jima
USS Fort Lauderdale
USS San Antonio
USS Gerald R. Ford
USS Bainbridge
USS Mahan
USS Winston S. Churchill
USS Stockdale
USS Thomas Hudner
USS Lake Erie
USS Gettysburg
They are:
USS Iwo Jima
USS Fort Lauderdale
USS San Antonio
USS Gerald R. Ford
USS Bainbridge
USS Mahan
USS Winston S. Churchill
USS Stockdale
USS Thomas Hudner
USS Lake Erie
USS Gettysburg
Trump calls for a "blockade" of Venezuela.
Lots of questions here -- about legality, about end game, about growing risks to U.S. sons and daughters in uniform.
Lots of questions here -- about legality, about end game, about growing risks to U.S. sons and daughters in uniform.
December 17, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Trump calls for a "blockade" of Venezuela.
Lots of questions here -- about legality, about end game, about growing risks to U.S. sons and daughters in uniform.
Lots of questions here -- about legality, about end game, about growing risks to U.S. sons and daughters in uniform.
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
Exclusive: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, people familiar with the matter said.
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military
If adopted, the changes would fulfill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pledge to disrupt the status quo and slash the number of four-star generals.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Exclusive: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, people familiar with the matter said.
Unique, exclusive reporting like this aided by sources who share what they see. Reach out on Signal at danlamothe.30 any time with tips. Thanks.
EXCLUSIVE: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, in a major consolidation sought by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military
If adopted, the changes would fulfill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pledge to disrupt the status quo and slash the number of four-star generals.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Unique, exclusive reporting like this aided by sources who share what they see. Reach out on Signal at danlamothe.30 any time with tips. Thanks.
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
How are the house snd senate armed services committees going to react to this?
For a generation of wars in the Middle East, Central Command was the main effort and dominated Pentagon discussions about resources.
Under this plan, it wouldn't even be a combatant command.
Sign of the times.
Under this plan, it wouldn't even be a combatant command.
Sign of the times.
EXCLUSIVE: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, in a major consolidation sought by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
December 16, 2025 at 4:11 AM
How are the house snd senate armed services committees going to react to this?
For a generation of wars in the Middle East, Central Command was the main effort and dominated Pentagon discussions about resources.
Under this plan, it wouldn't even be a combatant command.
Sign of the times.
Under this plan, it wouldn't even be a combatant command.
Sign of the times.
EXCLUSIVE: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, in a major consolidation sought by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military
If adopted, the changes would fulfill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pledge to disrupt the status quo and slash the number of four-star generals.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:10 AM
For a generation of wars in the Middle East, Central Command was the main effort and dominated Pentagon discussions about resources.
Under this plan, it wouldn't even be a combatant command.
Sign of the times.
Under this plan, it wouldn't even be a combatant command.
Sign of the times.
EXCLUSIVE: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, in a major consolidation sought by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military
If adopted, the changes would fulfill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pledge to disrupt the status quo and slash the number of four-star generals.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:09 AM
EXCLUSIVE: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, in a major consolidation sought by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
INBOX: "Today, Congressman Pat Ryan launched a national push to remove Secretary of Defense Hegseth, debuting FireHegseth.com. Since Trump and MAGA refuse to hold Hegseth accountable, Ryan is making the comprehensive case against Hegseth’s tenure as Secretary of Defense, and includes a petition..."
Sign the Petition to Fire Hegseth!
Pete Hegseth has put our troops in harm's way and failed the American people. He needs to go and we need your help.
FireHegseth.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:40 PM
INBOX: "Today, Congressman Pat Ryan launched a national push to remove Secretary of Defense Hegseth, debuting FireHegseth.com. Since Trump and MAGA refuse to hold Hegseth accountable, Ryan is making the comprehensive case against Hegseth’s tenure as Secretary of Defense, and includes a petition..."
"The investigation, which included several interviews with TSA staff and police officers, found Mace told officers 'I’m sick of your s---,' said that they were 'f---ing idiots' and 'f---ing incompetent' and yelled ... that she is a 'f---ing representative.'"
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Police investigation faults Nancy Mace for profanity-laced airport tirade
A report found Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) turned a “minor miscommunication” by police into a “spectacle” during a recent encounter at Charleston International Airport.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:55 AM
"The investigation, which included several interviews with TSA staff and police officers, found Mace told officers 'I’m sick of your s---,' said that they were 'f---ing idiots' and 'f---ing incompetent' and yelled ... that she is a 'f---ing representative.'"
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
The show is up and it’s SPICY! Ft. @danlamothe.bsky.social on leaving the pentagon, @annamerlan.bsky.social on the new pentagon press corps and Laura Poitras on her new movie “Cover Up.” Oh and pod bonus @micahloewinger.bsky.social spoke with Cam Higby about his new role. pca.st/episode/f23f...
Covering the Pentagon, from Sy Hersh to Laura Loomer
pca.st
December 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The show is up and it’s SPICY! Ft. @danlamothe.bsky.social on leaving the pentagon, @annamerlan.bsky.social on the new pentagon press corps and Laura Poitras on her new movie “Cover Up.” Oh and pod bonus @micahloewinger.bsky.social spoke with Cam Higby about his new role. pca.st/episode/f23f...
NEW: ‘Signalgate’ report contradicts Pete Hegseth’s claim of ‘total exoneration’
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
‘Signalgate’ report contradicts Hegseth’s claim of ‘total exoneration’
The defense secretary’s actions “created a risk to operational security,” according to an independent assessment by the Pentagon’s inspector general.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NEW: ‘Signalgate’ report contradicts Pete Hegseth’s claim of ‘total exoneration’
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable telling diplomats to destroy visas that had been approved and printed to give to Afghans. And diplomats are told to do scheduled interviews but not grant visas. US shuts all legal entry routes for Afghans. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/u...
Trump Pauses All Asylum Applications and Halts Visas for Afghans
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 AM
NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable telling diplomats to destroy visas that had been approved and printed to give to Afghans. And diplomats are told to do scheduled interviews but not grant visas. US shuts all legal entry routes for Afghans. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/u...
The Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee promises tonight to conduct "vigorous oversight" to determine what happened in boat strikes following new reporting today from the @washingtonpost.com raising questions about orders issued in the operation.
November 29, 2025 at 5:05 AM
The Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee promises tonight to conduct "vigorous oversight" to determine what happened in boat strikes following new reporting today from the @washingtonpost.com raising questions about orders issued in the operation.
And so concludes another week w/ no routine Pentagon news briefing or gaggle.
Previously:
March 17: Sean Parnell, Lt. Gen. Grynkewich
June 22: Pete Hegseth, Gen. Caine
June 26: Hegseth, Caine
July 2: Parnell
Aug 7: Kingsley Wilson
Aug 14: Wilson
Previously:
March 17: Sean Parnell, Lt. Gen. Grynkewich
June 22: Pete Hegseth, Gen. Caine
June 26: Hegseth, Caine
July 2: Parnell
Aug 7: Kingsley Wilson
Aug 14: Wilson
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 AM
And so concludes another week w/ no routine Pentagon news briefing or gaggle.
Previously:
March 17: Sean Parnell, Lt. Gen. Grynkewich
June 22: Pete Hegseth, Gen. Caine
June 26: Hegseth, Caine
July 2: Parnell
Aug 7: Kingsley Wilson
Aug 14: Wilson
Previously:
March 17: Sean Parnell, Lt. Gen. Grynkewich
June 22: Pete Hegseth, Gen. Caine
June 26: Hegseth, Caine
July 2: Parnell
Aug 7: Kingsley Wilson
Aug 14: Wilson
Today's shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was horrific. It also has triggered a wide array of unverified rumors, allegations and theories.
We're all making sense of this together. But best to share information with care.
We're all making sense of this together. But best to share information with care.
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Today's shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was horrific. It also has triggered a wide array of unverified rumors, allegations and theories.
We're all making sense of this together. But best to share information with care.
We're all making sense of this together. But best to share information with care.
1) @washingtonpost.com reported Thursday on a controversial policy downgrading how nooses and swastikas are labeled in the Coast Guard.
2) Admin officials attacked The Post, falsely alleging the reporting of "fake crap."
3) The CG said it would review policy language.
4) The CG reversed course.
2) Admin officials attacked The Post, falsely alleging the reporting of "fake crap."
3) The CG said it would review policy language.
4) The CG reversed course.
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
1) @washingtonpost.com reported Thursday on a controversial policy downgrading how nooses and swastikas are labeled in the Coast Guard.
2) Admin officials attacked The Post, falsely alleging the reporting of "fake crap."
3) The CG said it would review policy language.
4) The CG reversed course.
2) Admin officials attacked The Post, falsely alleging the reporting of "fake crap."
3) The CG said it would review policy language.
4) The CG reversed course.
If you are in the Coast Guard and received an email from Adm. Lunday tonight about the service's new policy on hate symbols, we'd love to see it. Please and thank you. Dan.Lamothe (at) washpost.com
washpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:48 PM
If you are in the Coast Guard and received an email from Adm. Lunday tonight about the service's new policy on hate symbols, we'd love to see it. Please and thank you. Dan.Lamothe (at) washpost.com
Reposted by Dan Lamothe
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
WAPO SCOOP: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
wapo.st
November 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
WAPO SCOOP: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6