Sig Christenson
@saddamscribe.bsky.social
I’m a journalist with 43 years in the business, and I’ve reported extensively in Iraq and some in Afghanistan. I’ve covered the military and veterans for the San Antonio Express News and Hearst Newspapers since 1997.
Judge Criticizes Immigration Agents in Chicago: ‘Use of Force Shocks the Conscience’ www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Judge Criticizes Immigration Agents in Chicago: ‘Use of Force Shocks the Conscience’
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Judge Criticizes Immigration Agents in Chicago: ‘Use of Force Shocks the Conscience’ www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Call it a near-death experience: Congressman steps in to sabe Veterans Day at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery after the government shitdown kills it. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Rep. Tony Gonzales steps in to save Veterans Day at Fort Sam Houston
After hearing that the VA planned to kill the annual Day ceremony, Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Navy veteran, stepped in to rescue it.
www.expressnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Call it a near-death experience: Congressman steps in to sabe Veterans Day at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery after the government shitdown kills it. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall: Who will our military be told to execute next? What other orders might Trump or Hegseth give involving lethal force by the military? Is there any use of force the president’s handpicked legal authorities would find unlawful? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...
Opinion | Whom Will Our Military Be Ordered to Execute Next?
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall: Who will our military be told to execute next? What other orders might Trump or Hegseth give involving lethal force by the military? Is there any use of force the president’s handpicked legal authorities would find unlawful? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared. Article 88 is the key. 'The Trump administration is using the law as a weapon to go after its enemies, exact revenge and suppress dissent.'- Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared.
Under military law, generals who speak out could be prosecuted for "contemptuous" statements about the president. "I have worried about retribution," says one.
expressnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared. Article 88 is the key. 'The Trump administration is using the law as a weapon to go after its enemies, exact revenge and suppress dissent.'- Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared. 'I have worried about retribution,' one senior military figure said. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared.
Under military law, generals who speak out could be prosecuted for "contemptuous" statements about the president. "I have worried about retribution," says one.
www.expressnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared. 'I have worried about retribution,' one senior military figure said. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Retired generals are staying silent about Donald Trump. Why? One senior military figure told me, 'I have worried about retribution...If you do planning as long as I have, you sit down and you write out the pros and cons of everything.' expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared.
Under military law, generals who speak out could be prosecuted for "contemptuous" statements about the president. "I have worried about retribution," says one.
expressnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Retired generals are staying silent about Donald Trump. Why? One senior military figure told me, 'I have worried about retribution...If you do planning as long as I have, you sit down and you write out the pros and cons of everything.' expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Hegseth's homework assignment: Everyone in military has to watch his anti-woke speech, and as Colonel Sink in 'Band of Brothers' would tell you, get it done. Time is running out. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth homework: Everyone in military has to watch his anti-woke speech
On Sept. 30, Hegseth railed against 'woke' policies he said amounted to a 'war on warriors.' Now, service members are under orders to view or read the speech.
www.expressnews.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Hegseth's homework assignment: Everyone in military has to watch his anti-woke speech, and as Colonel Sink in 'Band of Brothers' would tell you, get it done. Time is running out. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
In San Antonio, and probably elsewhere as well, the government shutdown is killing Halloween fun at U.S. military bases. Here's a look at the what's dead at JBSA. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Government shutdown kills Halloween fun at military bases, including JBSA
The annual Boo Bash and Fall Fest at Lackland Air Force Base have been scrubbed. It's the same at military installations across the country.
www.expressnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:02 PM
In San Antonio, and probably elsewhere as well, the government shutdown is killing Halloween fun at U.S. military bases. Here's a look at the what's dead at JBSA. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
The Army Fitness Test is a challenge for 'Meal Team 6' and anyone else who's been digging into that Chicago deep pan pizza lately. Take a look at just how fit Army National Guardsmen have to be. Can you measure up? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Here’s how fit Army National Guardsmen have to be. Could you cut it?
A photo of chunky Texas National Guard troops in Chicago went viral, and 7 were sent home. But there's nothing soft about Guard fitness standards.
www.expressnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The Army Fitness Test is a challenge for 'Meal Team 6' and anyone else who's been digging into that Chicago deep pan pizza lately. Take a look at just how fit Army National Guardsmen have to be. Can you measure up? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Some folks called the chunky Texas National Guard soldiers in Illinois members of 'Meal Team 6.' But passing the Army's fitness test is no joke. Here's a look at how fit Army National Guardsmen have to be. Would you measure up? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Here’s how fit Army National Guardsmen have to be. Could you cut it?
A photo of chunky Texas National Guard troops in Chicago went viral, and 7 were sent home. But there's nothing soft about Guard fitness standards.
www.expressnews.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Some folks called the chunky Texas National Guard soldiers in Illinois members of 'Meal Team 6.' But passing the Army's fitness test is no joke. Here's a look at how fit Army National Guardsmen have to be. Would you measure up? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
The Dutch are pulling away from US bc of Trump. ‘That we sometimes don’t tell things anymore, that is true,” Reesink said, while Akerboom added that sharing is case by case. “We are very alert to the politicisation of intelligence and to human rights violations.” www.dutchnews.nl/2025/10/dutc...
Dutch intelligence services now share less information with US - DutchNews.nl
The Dutch intelligence services are sharing less information with the United States and working more closely with European partners, AIVD director Erik Akerboom and MIVD director Peter Reesink have to...
www.dutchnews.nl
October 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
The Dutch are pulling away from US bc of Trump. ‘That we sometimes don’t tell things anymore, that is true,” Reesink said, while Akerboom added that sharing is case by case. “We are very alert to the politicisation of intelligence and to human rights violations.” www.dutchnews.nl/2025/10/dutc...
So being against this is somehow against the troops? A defender of the exercise suggests just that: Military Plans to Fire Artillery Over California Freeway on Saturday. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/u...
Military Plans to Fire Artillery Over California Freeway on Saturday
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
So being against this is somehow against the troops? A defender of the exercise suggests just that: Military Plans to Fire Artillery Over California Freeway on Saturday. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/u...
San Antonio losing 2 Army commands. The change will come in 6-8 weeks, tho the Army won't say how many GIs will be lost. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones says the decision may have “a minimal impact" on the Army's footprint, but how does she know that? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Pentagon orders Army commands out of San Antonio in major shake-up
The headquarters of Army North and Army South, both now at Fort Sam Houston, will be merged into a new Western Hemisphere command based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
www.expressnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
San Antonio losing 2 Army commands. The change will come in 6-8 weeks, tho the Army won't say how many GIs will be lost. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones says the decision may have “a minimal impact" on the Army's footprint, but how does she know that? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
San Antonio to lose two Army commands to North Carolina. Army North and Army South, both at Fort Sam Houston, were caught up in Pete Hegseth’s efforts to merge organizations in what he characterized a bloated Defense Department. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
San Antonio to lose two Army commands to North Carolina
The headquarters of Army North and Army South, both now at Fort Sam Houston, will be merged into a new Western Hemisphere command based at Fort Bragg, N.C.
www.expressnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:26 AM
San Antonio to lose two Army commands to North Carolina. Army North and Army South, both at Fort Sam Houston, were caught up in Pete Hegseth’s efforts to merge organizations in what he characterized a bloated Defense Department. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
One of the GIs in this pic looks like a Chicago Bears defensive nose guard. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth isn't happy about that and likely won't be thrilled to learn the number of Texans sent home from Chicago for being unfit for duty has gone up. expressnews.com/news/article...
via @expressnews
via @expressnews
Number of out-of-shape Texas Guardsmen sent home from Chicago goes up
The Texas National Guard said seven soldiers "who did not meet mission requirements" were called back home. Previously, the number was pegged at four.
expressnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:02 AM
One of the GIs in this pic looks like a Chicago Bears defensive nose guard. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth isn't happy about that and likely won't be thrilled to learn the number of Texans sent home from Chicago for being unfit for duty has gone up. expressnews.com/news/article...
via @expressnews
via @expressnews
The number of Texas Guardsmen sent home from Chicago for being unfit has gone up. The San Antonio Express-News has the scoop. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Number of out-of-shape Texas Guardsmen sent home from Chicago goes up
The Texas National Guard said seven soldiers "who did not meet mission requirements" were called back home. Previously, the number was pegged at four.
www.expressnews.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The number of Texas Guardsmen sent home from Chicago for being unfit has gone up. The San Antonio Express-News has the scoop. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Military Reporters & Editors urges journalists not to sign the Pentagon’s new restrictive press policy. Make no mistake, this is an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment, and on the American people and their right to know what the military is doing. www.militaryreporters.org/2025/10/mre-...
MRE Remains Opposed to Pentagon Pledge - Military Reporters and Editors
News from Military Reporters and Editors - MRE for reporters, editors, digital, photo and visual journalists covering the military, national security and defense.
www.militaryreporters.org
October 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Military Reporters & Editors urges journalists not to sign the Pentagon’s new restrictive press policy. Make no mistake, this is an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment, and on the American people and their right to know what the military is doing. www.militaryreporters.org/2025/10/mre-...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls himself the secretary of war. 'We are not the woke department anymore. We are not the Defense Department anymore. We are the War Department.' Well, no, he's not sec'y of war and it's not War Dept. Here's why. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth calls himself secretary of war but he's not. Here's why.
Hegseth says the titles secretary of war and War Department better reflect the military's mission to fight and win wars. But it's not his call. Or Trump's.
www.expressnews.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls himself the secretary of war. 'We are not the woke department anymore. We are not the Defense Department anymore. We are the War Department.' Well, no, he's not sec'y of war and it's not War Dept. Here's why. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
@secdef Pete Hegseth opined on 'fat troops' when he addressed the generals in Quantico and that might have been a mistake. The fallout over his comments continues after some Texas Guardsmen were sent home because they were a little porky. expressnews.com/politics/art... via @expressnews
'Fat troops' fallout continues as some Texas Guardsmen sent home
The switch comes after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he was tired of seeing “fat troops” who give the military “a bad look.”
expressnews.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
@secdef Pete Hegseth opined on 'fat troops' when he addressed the generals in Quantico and that might have been a mistake. The fallout over his comments continues after some Texas Guardsmen were sent home because they were a little porky. expressnews.com/politics/art... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth calls himself ‘secretary of war,’ but he's actually not. And it’s the Department of Defense, not ‘Department of War,’ no matter how many times he says it. We explain why. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Pete Hegseth calls himself secretary of war but he's not. Here's why.
Hegseth says the titles secretary of war and War Department better reflect the military's mission to fight and win wars. But it's not his call. Or Trump's.
www.expressnews.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Pete Hegseth calls himself ‘secretary of war,’ but he's actually not. And it’s the Department of Defense, not ‘Department of War,’ no matter how many times he says it. We explain why. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Texas National Guard troops sent to Chicago are working for free. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Texas National Guard troops sent to Chicago aren't getting paid
When President Trump called them to active duty, the Texas troops went on the federal payroll. But the government shutdown has cut off paychecks indefinitely.
www.expressnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Texas National Guard troops sent to Chicago are working for free. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Texas National Guard fought in two world wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. What's it doing in Chicago? www.expressnews.com/news/border-...
Texas National Guard fought in two world wars. Why is it in Chicago?
Guardsmen are citizen-soldiers with jobs and families. President Donald Trump is sending them into blue cities. Here's a primer on the Texas Guard.
www.expressnews.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Texas National Guard fought in two world wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. What's it doing in Chicago? www.expressnews.com/news/border-...
This Air Force program forged ties with U.S. allies but is now in jeopardy. Foreign troops here study English so they can operate jets and other equipment, and the stakes are high. Disaster could strike if a pilot’s command of English fails. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Lackland program that forged ties with foreign militaries could be over
Thousands of foreign troops and pilots have studied English and sampled American culture at Lackland Air Force Base. The program's days could be numbered.
www.expressnews.com
October 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This Air Force program forged ties with U.S. allies but is now in jeopardy. Foreign troops here study English so they can operate jets and other equipment, and the stakes are high. Disaster could strike if a pilot’s command of English fails. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
'Here we are again': Government shutdown stops military paychecks, stresses families. The last shutdown in 2018-19 ran 35 days. Military families who lived thru it had flashbacks this week as it happened once more. 'It's going to be stressful.' www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
'Here we are again': Shutdown stops military pay, stresses families
The last shutdown in 2018-19 lasted 35 days. Military families who lived through it had flashbacks when they awoke Wednesday to find it was happening again.
www.expressnews.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
'Here we are again': Government shutdown stops military paychecks, stresses families. The last shutdown in 2018-19 ran 35 days. Military families who lived thru it had flashbacks this week as it happened once more. 'It's going to be stressful.' www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
This Air Force program forged ties with foreign militaries. Now it's on the chopping block because Pete Hegseth wants to cut ‘nonlethal’ Pentagon programs by 8%. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Lackland program that forged ties with foreign militaries could be over
Thousands of foreign troops and pilots have studied English and sampled American culture at Lackland Air Force Base. The program's days could be numbered.
www.expressnews.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This Air Force program forged ties with foreign militaries. Now it's on the chopping block because Pete Hegseth wants to cut ‘nonlethal’ Pentagon programs by 8%. www.expressnews.com/news/article...