Konstantin Toropin
@ktoropin.bsky.social
Pentagon Reporter at @apnews.com | Military.com, CNN, and US Navy alum | Opinions are mine. RT, ♥️ ≠ endorsement.
It was my pleasure to let trans troops speak about their experiences of being discharged in their own words.
Great work by @militarydotcom.bsky.social ‘s @ktoropin.bsky.social “Having this code, as best I understand, was last used for discharging homosexuals during the Lavender Scare in the McCarthy era"
www.military.com/daily-news/i...
www.military.com/daily-news/i...
'Open Cruelty': Transgender Troops Describe Indignities as They're Kicked Out of the Military
Leaders in the Trump administration have minced few words in articulating how they feel about transgender troops.
www.military.com
August 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM
It was my pleasure to let trans troops speak about their experiences of being discharged in their own words.
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to take steps to encourage troops to consider being part of the agencies that handle immigration enforcement and border security though a new policy unveiled Thursday.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Pentagon Encourages Troops to Join Immigration Enforcement, Border Security Job Training Program
Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize and broadly advertise" opportunities troops who are nearing separation or retirement from the military have with either Customs and Border Protection or Imm...
www.military.com
June 13, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to take steps to encourage troops to consider being part of the agencies that handle immigration enforcement and border security though a new policy unveiled Thursday.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
"Pentagon Encourages Troops to Join Immigration Enforcement, Border Security Job Training Program
In a memo made public Thursday, Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize & broadly advertise" opportunities [for] troops who are nearing separation or retirement"
From @ktoropin.bsky.social
In a memo made public Thursday, Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize & broadly advertise" opportunities [for] troops who are nearing separation or retirement"
From @ktoropin.bsky.social
Pentagon Encourages Troops to Join Immigration Enforcement, Border Security Job Training Program
Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize and broadly advertise" opportunities troops who are nearing separation or retirement from the military have with either Customs and Border Protection or Imm...
www.military.com
June 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
"Pentagon Encourages Troops to Join Immigration Enforcement, Border Security Job Training Program
In a memo made public Thursday, Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize & broadly advertise" opportunities [for] troops who are nearing separation or retirement"
From @ktoropin.bsky.social
In a memo made public Thursday, Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to "prioritize & broadly advertise" opportunities [for] troops who are nearing separation or retirement"
From @ktoropin.bsky.social
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
Fort Bragg soldiers who cheered Trump’s political attacks (and jeered the press) were checked for allegiance, appearance via @stevenbeynon.bsky.social @ktoropin.bsky.social @militarydotcom.bsky.social www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance
As President Donald Trump viciously attacked his perceived political foes, he whipped up boos from the gathered troops directed at California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.
www.military.com
June 11, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Fort Bragg soldiers who cheered Trump’s political attacks (and jeered the press) were checked for allegiance, appearance via @stevenbeynon.bsky.social @ktoropin.bsky.social @militarydotcom.bsky.social www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
A battalion of active-duty Marines -- around 700 troops -- based out of Twentynine Palms, California, received deployment orders to Los Angeles on Monday.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social, @stevenbeynon.bsky.social and @dflawrence.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social, @stevenbeynon.bsky.social and @dflawrence.bsky.social
Trump Deploys Hundreds of Marines to LA in Growing Military Response to Immigration Raid Protests
The deployment marks a sharp escalation in the military's role in domestic unrest in the city caused by immigration raids by the Trump administration.
www.military.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
A battalion of active-duty Marines -- around 700 troops -- based out of Twentynine Palms, California, received deployment orders to Los Angeles on Monday.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social, @stevenbeynon.bsky.social and @dflawrence.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social, @stevenbeynon.bsky.social and @dflawrence.bsky.social
The ship is named after a gay rights icon.
One official told me that the timing of the decision - amid Pride Month - is not an accident.
One official told me that the timing of the decision - amid Pride Month - is not an accident.
The USNS Harvey Milk will be renamed on the orders of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Hegseth Orders Navy to Strip Name of Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk from Ship
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to take the rare step of renaming a ship, one that bears the name of a gay rights icon, documents and sources show.
www.military.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The ship is named after a gay rights icon.
One official told me that the timing of the decision - amid Pride Month - is not an accident.
One official told me that the timing of the decision - amid Pride Month - is not an accident.
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
The USNS Harvey Milk will be renamed on the orders of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Hegseth Orders Navy to Strip Name of Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk from Ship
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to take the rare step of renaming a ship, one that bears the name of a gay rights icon, documents and sources show.
www.military.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The USNS Harvey Milk will be renamed on the orders of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
In a move that pushes the boundaries of Constitutional prohibition against a state religion, Hegseth hosted an evangelical prayer service in the middle of the day at the Pentagon in which a pastor praised President Donald Trump as "sovereignly appointed."
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Hegseth Starts Evangelical Prayer Services at Pentagon with His Tennessee Church Pastor
The defense secretary's personal pastor from a Tennessee church whose leaders have a documented history of advocating for male-led Christian authority over society.
www.military.com
May 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In a move that pushes the boundaries of Constitutional prohibition against a state religion, Hegseth hosted an evangelical prayer service in the middle of the day at the Pentagon in which a pastor praised President Donald Trump as "sovereignly appointed."
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
ICYMI: A Congressional probe into the safety of the V-22 Osprey following multiple deadly crashes has stalled for nearly a year. A Gold Star widow tells @militarydotcom.bsky.social she is “beyond disappointed” by this.
More from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social here:
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
More from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social here:
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Osprey Safety Investigation Stalls in Congress, Angering Gold Star Families
Congress' probe into the safety of the military's V-22 Osprey last summer following multiple deadly crashes has been stalled for nearly a year, angering Gold Star family members who lost loved ones ab...
www.military.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
ICYMI: A Congressional probe into the safety of the V-22 Osprey following multiple deadly crashes has stalled for nearly a year. A Gold Star widow tells @militarydotcom.bsky.social she is “beyond disappointed” by this.
More from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social here:
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
More from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social here:
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
Excellent points by @ktoropin.bsky.social!
“More than a month after announcing a… bombing campaign against Houthi… in Yemen, (DOD) has offered little information and… refusing to answer even basic questions on what U.S. forces have accomplished … or whether troops have been under fire or injured.”
“More than a month after announcing a… bombing campaign against Houthi… in Yemen, (DOD) has offered little information and… refusing to answer even basic questions on what U.S. forces have accomplished … or whether troops have been under fire or injured.”
That because there's no strategy, no theory of victory, no metrics for success --- just vibes ("it's been a bad three weeks for the Houthis and it's about to get a lot worse").
Just bombing for the sake of "doing something"
Just bombing for the sake of "doing something"
Military Refuses to Provide Details About Ongoing Bombing Campaign in Yemen
While some level of secrecy or information delay has always been part of military operations, the shift to actively refusing to provide even the most basic details about what service members are doing...
www.military.com
April 18, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Excellent points by @ktoropin.bsky.social!
“More than a month after announcing a… bombing campaign against Houthi… in Yemen, (DOD) has offered little information and… refusing to answer even basic questions on what U.S. forces have accomplished … or whether troops have been under fire or injured.”
“More than a month after announcing a… bombing campaign against Houthi… in Yemen, (DOD) has offered little information and… refusing to answer even basic questions on what U.S. forces have accomplished … or whether troops have been under fire or injured.”
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
Big one for military folks ...
Hegseth's Pentagon looking to hand on-base grocery stores and shops designed to save service members and their families money to the private sector.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social + @tomnovelly.bsky.social
Hegseth's Pentagon looking to hand on-base grocery stores and shops designed to save service members and their families money to the private sector.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social + @tomnovelly.bsky.social
Privatized Commissaries? Pentagon Looking to Turn Over Retail, Recreation Services to Companies
The Pentagon’s newest push to trim its workforce and spending could mean that on-base grocery stores and shops designed to save service members and their families money could ultimately be sold off to...
www.military.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Big one for military folks ...
Hegseth's Pentagon looking to hand on-base grocery stores and shops designed to save service members and their families money to the private sector.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social + @tomnovelly.bsky.social
Hegseth's Pentagon looking to hand on-base grocery stores and shops designed to save service members and their families money to the private sector.
Story by @ktoropin.bsky.social + @tomnovelly.bsky.social
It was a treat to join @wardcarroll.bsky.social and chat about the Navy’s latest efforts to cut costs while battling drones in the Red Sea
New episode just posted (featuring @ktoropin.bsky.social):
Deep Intel on the Navy's New Houthi Drone Killers
YouTube video by Ward Carroll
youtu.be
March 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
It was a treat to join @wardcarroll.bsky.social and chat about the Navy’s latest efforts to cut costs while battling drones in the Red Sea
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
"How are soldiers supposed to interpret this?" an Army brigade commander said. "It's a cartoonish lapse in security."
Story by @stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @ktoropin.bsky.social, @dflawrence.bsky.social + @kheel.bsky.social
Story by @stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @ktoropin.bsky.social, @dflawrence.bsky.social + @kheel.bsky.social
'Different Spanks for Different Ranks': Hegseth's Signal Scandal Would Put Regular Troops in the Brig
Despite what amounts to among the most startling security snafus in recent memory -- one that would almost certainly trigger severe disciplinary action for lower-level personnel -- Hegseth and others ...
www.military.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:08 PM
"How are soldiers supposed to interpret this?" an Army brigade commander said. "It's a cartoonish lapse in security."
Story by @stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @ktoropin.bsky.social, @dflawrence.bsky.social + @kheel.bsky.social
Story by @stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @ktoropin.bsky.social, @dflawrence.bsky.social + @kheel.bsky.social
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
Had the pleasure of speaking with @ktoropin.bsky.social for this latest @militarydotcom.bsky.social article on Kingsley Wilson.
BLUF: she’s a white nationalist.
BLUF: she’s a white nationalist.
Pentagon's No. 2 Spokesperson Has Long History of Antisemitic, Bigoted Social Media Posts
Pentagon's No. 2 Spokesperson Has Long History of Antisemitic, Bigoted Social Media Posts
Kingsley Wilson, the Pentagon's new deputy press secretary, has a yearslong history of making social media posts that traffic in a variety of extremist rhetoric, ranging from antisemitic conspiracy…
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Had the pleasure of speaking with @ktoropin.bsky.social for this latest @militarydotcom.bsky.social article on Kingsley Wilson.
BLUF: she’s a white nationalist.
BLUF: she’s a white nationalist.
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
NEW from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social: Ethics experts raise concerns about Trump’s pick to lead the Joint Chiefs given his role with a Kushner investment firm. Also, the officer’s VMI classmates worry that Trump may try and put the general in a precarious position.
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Dan Caine's Nomination: Trump Family Business Connection, Fellow Classmates' Concerns
President Donald Trump's choice last week to nominate Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine as his pick to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff marks uncharted territory for the military.
www.military.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:09 PM
NEW from me and @ktoropin.bsky.social: Ethics experts raise concerns about Trump’s pick to lead the Joint Chiefs given his role with a Kushner investment firm. Also, the officer’s VMI classmates worry that Trump may try and put the general in a precarious position.
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
In the last month the Defense Secretary has fired the only two female four-stars, the top rank for military officers. @ktoropin.bsky.social and @stevenbeynon.bsky.social on how women in uniform are reacting to the loss of women at the top.
No More Female 4-Stars: Franchetti Firing Leaves Top Ranks Filled by Men
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy's first female chief, last week without any clear explanation -- part of a purge of top uniformed leadership that included the Joint...
www.military.com
February 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
In the last month the Defense Secretary has fired the only two female four-stars, the top rank for military officers. @ktoropin.bsky.social and @stevenbeynon.bsky.social on how women in uniform are reacting to the loss of women at the top.
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
The firing of Brown is going to get most of the attention, but the firings of the JAGs might be more significant in some ways. They're responsible for ensuring the military follows the law. - @ktoropin.bsky.social and @tomnovelly.bsky.social with the news www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Fired: Joint Chiefs Chairman, Top Navy Leader, Air Force Vice Chief, Service Judge Advocates General
In a historic and unprecedented move, the Trump administration on Friday night fired the Joint Chiefs chairman, the Navy's top officer, the Air Force vice chief of staff, and the judge advocates gener...
www.military.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:35 AM
The firing of Brown is going to get most of the attention, but the firings of the JAGs might be more significant in some ways. They're responsible for ensuring the military follows the law. - @ktoropin.bsky.social and @tomnovelly.bsky.social with the news www.military.com/daily-news/2...
It was a pleasure to chat with @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social on our newsroom’s reporting over the impact of Trump’s DEI bans on the military!
ICYMI: @robertpjones.bsky.social, @ryanburge.bsky.social and @ktoropin.bsky.social on Trump's anti-Christian bias taskforce and anti-DEI policies:
www.wnyc.org/story/trump-...
www.wnyc.org/story/trump-...
Trump Policies on Religion and Identity | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC
Robert P. Jones, Ryan Burge, and Konstantin Toropin discuss the overlap and contradictions in the Trump administrations policies toward identity and religious affiliation.
www.wnyc.org
February 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
It was a pleasure to chat with @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social on our newsroom’s reporting over the impact of Trump’s DEI bans on the military!
The Secretary of Defense appears to have posted a document on X that shows he owes more than $33,000 in taxes following an audit.
Aside from his calls to defy the IRS, this raises a myriad of questions from the quality of the vetting that was done to his vulnerability to bribes.
Aside from his calls to defy the IRS, this raises a myriad of questions from the quality of the vetting that was done to his vulnerability to bribes.
February 17, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The Secretary of Defense appears to have posted a document on X that shows he owes more than $33,000 in taxes following an audit.
Aside from his calls to defy the IRS, this raises a myriad of questions from the quality of the vetting that was done to his vulnerability to bribes.
Aside from his calls to defy the IRS, this raises a myriad of questions from the quality of the vetting that was done to his vulnerability to bribes.
NEW from @militarydotcom.bsky.social -
We spent all week trying to figure out what's going on with Sec Hegseth and his $137K house repairs
Seems the DoD doesn't want to offer details
They did confirm he'll pay rent
w/@stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @kheel.bsky.social
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
We spent all week trying to figure out what's going on with Sec Hegseth and his $137K house repairs
Seems the DoD doesn't want to offer details
They did confirm he'll pay rent
w/@stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @kheel.bsky.social
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Pentagon Offers Few Details on Hegseth's $137,000 Housing Upgrades, But Secretary Will Pay Rent
Hegseth is eyeing a move into military family housing at Fort McNair, a historic Army installation tucked away in southwest D.C., where the Anacostia and Potomac rivers meet.
www.military.com
February 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
NEW from @militarydotcom.bsky.social -
We spent all week trying to figure out what's going on with Sec Hegseth and his $137K house repairs
Seems the DoD doesn't want to offer details
They did confirm he'll pay rent
w/@stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @kheel.bsky.social
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
We spent all week trying to figure out what's going on with Sec Hegseth and his $137K house repairs
Seems the DoD doesn't want to offer details
They did confirm he'll pay rent
w/@stevenbeynon.bsky.social, @kheel.bsky.social
www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
We're going to keep asking until we get some actual answers. - @ktoropin.bsky.social @stevenbeynon.bsky.social @kheel.bsky.social
Pentagon Offers Few Details on Hegseth's $137,000 Housing Upgrades, But Secretary Will Pay Rent
Hegseth is eyeing a move into military family housing at Fort McNair, a historic Army installation tucked away in southwest D.C., where the Anacostia and Potomac rivers meet.
www.military.com
February 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM
We're going to keep asking until we get some actual answers. - @ktoropin.bsky.social @stevenbeynon.bsky.social @kheel.bsky.social
Jack McCain, one of the board members (Naval Academy) impacted reacts to his seeming ouster on Twitter/X -
February 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Jack McCain, one of the board members (Naval Academy) impacted reacts to his seeming ouster on Twitter/X -
BREAKING: President Trump says he is dismissing the boards of all the service academies.
In the last days of his last term, Trump packed the boards with loyalists like Kellyanne Conway and now-AG Pam Bondi.
Biden removed them when he got into office.
In the last days of his last term, Trump packed the boards with loyalists like Kellyanne Conway and now-AG Pam Bondi.
Biden removed them when he got into office.
February 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
BREAKING: President Trump says he is dismissing the boards of all the service academies.
In the last days of his last term, Trump packed the boards with loyalists like Kellyanne Conway and now-AG Pam Bondi.
Biden removed them when he got into office.
In the last days of his last term, Trump packed the boards with loyalists like Kellyanne Conway and now-AG Pam Bondi.
Biden removed them when he got into office.
🚨BREAKING: US IndoPacific Command says that an aircraft crash in the Philippines has claimed the life of a U.S. servicemember and three contractors.
February 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
🚨BREAKING: US IndoPacific Command says that an aircraft crash in the Philippines has claimed the life of a U.S. servicemember and three contractors.
Reposted by Konstantin Toropin
One reason so many people are so unclear on what’s happening is the hesitation to deliver a more general theory of the case. Go ahead, break out the big type
In 2016 the NYT ran multiple front page stories page about the grave national security risk of Hillary Clinton's server.
Today's front page, and nary a mention of the successful "plutocratic coup" (said by a sitting House member) or "constitutional crisis (said by a sitting Senator) unfolding
Today's front page, and nary a mention of the successful "plutocratic coup" (said by a sitting House member) or "constitutional crisis (said by a sitting Senator) unfolding
February 5, 2025 at 4:25 AM
One reason so many people are so unclear on what’s happening is the hesitation to deliver a more general theory of the case. Go ahead, break out the big type