Laicie Heeley
@laicie.bsky.social
Founder & CEO @inkstickmedia.com. Host of Things That Go Boom from PRX & Inkstick. Former wonk.
Pinned
Laicie Heeley
@laicie.bsky.social
· Jan 15
Hey there look who’s new & noteworthy. Thanks, Apple Podcasts! @inkstickmedia.com @prx.org
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
Wow.
Anduril’s planned autonomous weapons factory in rural Ohio is projected to destroy/reroute wetlands and waterways - so the Ohio EPA went ahead and approved a “lowering of water quality” for the area.
In order to protect “economic considerations”
sciotovalleyguardian.com/2026/01/16/o...
Anduril’s planned autonomous weapons factory in rural Ohio is projected to destroy/reroute wetlands and waterways - so the Ohio EPA went ahead and approved a “lowering of water quality” for the area.
In order to protect “economic considerations”
sciotovalleyguardian.com/2026/01/16/o...
Ohio EPA signs off on water quality degradation for Arsenal‑1 project, citing “necessary” tradeoffs
ASHVILLE, Ohio — In a decision that is already drawing scrutiny from environmental advocates and residents, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has formally determined that a lowering of water…
sciotovalleyguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Wow.
Anduril’s planned autonomous weapons factory in rural Ohio is projected to destroy/reroute wetlands and waterways - so the Ohio EPA went ahead and approved a “lowering of water quality” for the area.
In order to protect “economic considerations”
sciotovalleyguardian.com/2026/01/16/o...
Anduril’s planned autonomous weapons factory in rural Ohio is projected to destroy/reroute wetlands and waterways - so the Ohio EPA went ahead and approved a “lowering of water quality” for the area.
In order to protect “economic considerations”
sciotovalleyguardian.com/2026/01/16/o...
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
@tkbarnes.bsky.social reports: “Raytheon was allowed to claim about half a million dollars in tax refunds for jobs it did not create due to a loophole in its economic development contract with Buncombe County.”
Exclusive: We Followed the Money to Raytheon in North Carolina
We got hundreds of pages of public records about a controversial deal to offer tens of millions of state and local subsidies to a new Raytheon/Pratt & Whitney plant in Asheville.
inkstick.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
@tkbarnes.bsky.social reports: “Raytheon was allowed to claim about half a million dollars in tax refunds for jobs it did not create due to a loophole in its economic development contract with Buncombe County.”
We’re over the moon — Things That Go Boom just picked up 8 Signal Awards! 🥇🥈🥉
Including Gold for Public Service and Conversation Starter — plus Writing and Best Host!
Huge thanks to everyone who voted and supported our work. 💛
signalaward.com/winners
#SignalAwards #PodcastAwards
Including Gold for Public Service and Conversation Starter — plus Writing and Best Host!
Huge thanks to everyone who voted and supported our work. 💛
signalaward.com/winners
#SignalAwards #PodcastAwards
Winners - Signal Awards
The Signal Awards seeks to honor and celebrate the people and content that raise the bar for podcasting.Luminaries and leaders within the industry will judge Shows, Limited Series & Specials, Individu...
signalaward.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
We’re over the moon — Things That Go Boom just picked up 8 Signal Awards! 🥇🥈🥉
Including Gold for Public Service and Conversation Starter — plus Writing and Best Host!
Huge thanks to everyone who voted and supported our work. 💛
signalaward.com/winners
#SignalAwards #PodcastAwards
Including Gold for Public Service and Conversation Starter — plus Writing and Best Host!
Huge thanks to everyone who voted and supported our work. 💛
signalaward.com/winners
#SignalAwards #PodcastAwards
OMGGGGGG you guys, we won EIGHT @signalawards.bsky.social!!!
October 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
OMGGGGGG you guys, we won EIGHT @signalawards.bsky.social!!!
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
A new report takes a hard look at the at least $21.7 billion in American military aid to Israel during its war on Gaza.
inkstickmedia.com/deep-dive-th...
inkstickmedia.com/deep-dive-th...
Deep Dive: The US Aid Fueling Israel's Two-Year Gaza War
A new report takes a hard look at the at least $21.7 billion in American military aid to Israel during its war on Gaza.
inkstickmedia.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:40 AM
A new report takes a hard look at the at least $21.7 billion in American military aid to Israel during its war on Gaza.
inkstickmedia.com/deep-dive-th...
inkstickmedia.com/deep-dive-th...
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
@laicie.bsky.social @joecirin.bsky.social: This new reality requires new thinking: old theories don't really fit what we're in right now. We're in a new nuclear arms race, the first since the 1980s... our goal has to be to minimize those losses and prevent the worst from happening.
October 7, 2025 at 9:57 PM
@laicie.bsky.social @joecirin.bsky.social: This new reality requires new thinking: old theories don't really fit what we're in right now. We're in a new nuclear arms race, the first since the 1980s... our goal has to be to minimize those losses and prevent the worst from happening.
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
My panel (with @jonatomic.bsky.social, Mallory Stewart & @laicie.bsky.social) starts at 5:30pm ET. I am going to try out my new analysis of how the most dangerous feature of our current nuclear age is that authoritarian regimes now control almost of the world's nuclear weapons. Love to get feedback.
Here is the line up for the arms control conference starting at 4:30. Hit the link below to sign up for FREE and participate on line: secure.everyaction.com/rhSOFnj8ekO4...
October 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
My panel (with @jonatomic.bsky.social, Mallory Stewart & @laicie.bsky.social) starts at 5:30pm ET. I am going to try out my new analysis of how the most dangerous feature of our current nuclear age is that authoritarian regimes now control almost of the world's nuclear weapons. Love to get feedback.
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
Trump said he and Hegseth talked about using U.S. cities as “training grounds.” Unfortunately, this @inkstickmedia.com story feels even timelier now.
‘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.
inkstickmedia.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Trump said he and Hegseth talked about using U.S. cities as “training grounds.” Unfortunately, this @inkstickmedia.com story feels even timelier now.
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-...
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?
inkstickmedia.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
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-...
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
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.
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.
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?
thebulletin.org
September 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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.
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.
August 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Yeah that’s it, no more work today, Taylor Swift is getting married.
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
this is why everyone I know isn’t having kids btw
The median cost of putting one child through daycare for 5 years in the U.S. is $43,000. That masks much higher costs in many large cities. It’s nearly $150,000 (almost $30,000 for one year) in Arlington, VA. This is for one kid www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
From $24,000 to $147,000: How Much Daycare Costs Across America
For working parents, the first five years of a child’s life are often the most financially draining. Explore this interactive map to see how costs vary across the U.S.
www.wsj.com
August 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
this is why everyone I know isn’t having kids btw
Snuck in a new 'About' page over @inkstickmedia.com — It was due for a refresh. inkstickmedia.com/about/
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...
inkstickmedia.com
August 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Snuck in a new 'About' page over @inkstickmedia.com — It was due for a refresh. inkstickmedia.com/about/
This is absolutely heartbreaking. As a colleague said, the appropriate title is "For Sale: VOA." rasmus.com/auctions/fUN...
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...
rasmus.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
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?
August 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Hi who else is listening to their kids’ favorite show on repeat?
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
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-...
www.reuters.com/world/italy-...
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.
www.reuters.com
July 3, 2025 at 1:12 PM
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-...
www.reuters.com/world/italy-...
Reposted by Laicie Heeley
As the Trump administration slashes counterextremism programs, veterans worry about the risks.
By: @tylerfromtexas.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/inside-the-u...
By: @tylerfromtexas.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/inside-the-u...
Inside the US Military’s 'Dehumanization' Crisis Under Trump
As the Trump administration slashes counterextremism programs, veterans worry about the risks that could follow.
inkstickmedia.com
June 30, 2025 at 1:33 PM
As the Trump administration slashes counterextremism programs, veterans worry about the risks.
By: @tylerfromtexas.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/inside-the-u...
By: @tylerfromtexas.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/inside-the-u...
You guys, I got a little distracted (I can't imagine why) and forgot to tell you: We won an IWPA!!
Inkstick is thrilled to announce that the Things That Go Boom podcast is one of the winners of the 2025 International Women's Podcast Award!
See all of the winners and runner-ups here:
everybody-media.com/awards
See all of the winners and runner-ups here:
everybody-media.com/awards
June 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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.
June 25, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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.”
June 25, 2025 at 1:49 AM
“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?
June 22, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I guess ‘reducing nuclear threats’ doesn’t sound like such a silly idea now, huh?
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.)
Things That Go Boom
News Podcast · Updated Semiweekly · Stories about the ins, outs, and whathaveyous of what keeps us safe. Hosted by Laicie Heeley.
podcasts.apple.com
June 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
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.)
In case you find yourself wondering tonight, a handy table of Iran’s max missile ranges: www.iranwatch.org/our-publicat...
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.
www.iranwatch.org
June 22, 2025 at 2:33 AM
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.
June 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I am meeting the moment by pouring another g&t.