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.
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough' and hands on. The armed services turned away from that rough style of indoctrination after a string of hazing scandals, some of which led to deaths and suicides. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough' and hands on. The armed services turned away from that rough style of indoctrination after a string of hazing scandals, some of which led to deaths and suicides. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Au Revoir, Brigitte Bardot: 'These women, of a passing generation, expected nothing from anyone, and gave little grace in return. I wish they had known how to be gentler — with the world, and with themselves.' www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
Opinion | Au Revoir, Brigitte Bardot
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Au Revoir, Brigitte Bardot: 'These women, of a passing generation, expected nothing from anyone, and gave little grace in return. I wish they had known how to be gentler — with the world, and with themselves.' www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
The U.S. Supreme Court was right to block Trump's deployment of Texas Guard to Chicago, and what a waste of time and money. The feds spent millions to deploy hundreds of guardsmen in October who were restricted to training and doing nothing. www.expressnews.com/opinion/edit... via @expressnews
Blocking Trump's deployment of Texas Guard to Chicago was the right call
Deploying Texas troops to Illinois was a massive overreach and a waste of money.
www.expressnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The U.S. Supreme Court was right to block Trump's deployment of Texas Guard to Chicago, and what a waste of time and money. The feds spent millions to deploy hundreds of guardsmen in October who were restricted to training and doing nothing. www.expressnews.com/opinion/edit... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp's too soft and wants to make it 'scary, tough.' He says, 'Yes, they can shark attack, they can toss bunks, they can swear, and yes, they can put their hands on recruits.' Generals, lawmakers worry he's gone too far. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp's too soft and wants to make it 'scary, tough.' He says, 'Yes, they can shark attack, they can toss bunks, they can swear, and yes, they can put their hands on recruits.' Generals, lawmakers worry he's gone too far. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough,' but much of what he'd like to see isn't done anymore and at least one thing isn't even legal. Generals and retired JAGs we talked to worry he's crossing the line. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough,' but much of what he'd like to see isn't done anymore and at least one thing isn't even legal. Generals and retired JAGs we talked to worry he's crossing the line. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Elon’s company town is like a secret municipality: Musk’s Texas space city again sues Paxton over public information requests www.expressnews.com/business/art...
Musk’s Texas space city again sues Paxton over public information requests
Starbase has filed at least four lawsuits against the Texas Attorney General’s Office over its rulings that information should be released.
www.expressnews.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Elon’s company town is like a secret municipality: Musk’s Texas space city again sues Paxton over public information requests www.expressnews.com/business/art...
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier: “This is so far beyond the pale,” Mr. Weiser, the attorney general, said. “No one has thought to do this because it is so clearly against our constitutional system of government.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/u...
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier
www.nytimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier: “This is so far beyond the pale,” Mr. Weiser, the attorney general, said. “No one has thought to do this because it is so clearly against our constitutional system of government.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/u...
Fort Hood OBGYN formally charged with 54 counts of visual indecent recording, Army says www.expressnews.com/news/crime/a...
Fort Hood OBGYN in custody, formally charged with 61 counts of misconduct
Maj. Blaine McGraw faces 54 counts of indecent visual recording. An Army investigation identified at least 44 alleged victims, most of whom were patients when the violations occurred.
www.expressnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Fort Hood OBGYN formally charged with 54 counts of visual indecent recording, Army says www.expressnews.com/news/crime/a...
In a world of lies, core values still matter. Retired Gen. Donald Cook, who led the Air Force's training command, explains it here. 'Integrity is simple: doing what's right when no one is looking or doing the harder right than easier wrong.' Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/local/m...
'Core values' in question at Lackland
As the first of a series of basic training instructors prepares to go on trial this week...
www.expressnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:40 AM
In a world of lies, core values still matter. Retired Gen. Donald Cook, who led the Air Force's training command, explains it here. 'Integrity is simple: doing what's right when no one is looking or doing the harder right than easier wrong.' Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/local/m...
We’ve followed this story for a reason: The potential losses are the worst since Brooks City-Base was realigned in 2011. Here's what we know: Many soldiers at U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South are likely moving to Fort Bragg. I’m guessing most. Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Many GIs at Army North, Army South likely moving in Hegseth-ordered merger
San Antonio could pay a high cost for the merger of three commands ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A "majority of functions and majority of duties" will move to Fort Bragg.
www.expressnews.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
We’ve followed this story for a reason: The potential losses are the worst since Brooks City-Base was realigned in 2011. Here's what we know: Many soldiers at U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South are likely moving to Fort Bragg. I’m guessing most. Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Nobody with the Army or city (and forget about the congressional delegation, which has nothing to say) wants to talk numbers. Maybe no one yet knows, but one thing is clear: Many GIs at 2 Army commands in S.A. are likely moving to Fort Bragg. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Many GIs at Army North, Army South likely moving in Hegseth-ordered merger
San Antonio could pay a high cost for the merger of three commands ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A "majority of functions and majority of duties" will move to Fort Bragg.
www.expressnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Nobody with the Army or city (and forget about the congressional delegation, which has nothing to say) wants to talk numbers. Maybe no one yet knows, but one thing is clear: Many GIs at 2 Army commands in S.A. are likely moving to Fort Bragg. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
{{{BREAKING}}} A top official at a DoD language school that teaches English to foreign troops, including many from Islamic countries, has quietly resigned after a probe into posts bearing his name — one calling for gunning down Muslim protesters. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Air Force official quits after scrutiny of anti-Muslim social media posts
Randall Conrad was the top civilian at an Air Force language academy in San Antonio that teaches English to foreign military personnel, many of them Muslims.
www.expressnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
{{{BREAKING}}} A top official at a DoD language school that teaches English to foreign troops, including many from Islamic countries, has quietly resigned after a probe into posts bearing his name — one calling for gunning down Muslim protesters. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
My paper recently ran a story, "Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump." Some didn't want to go on the record w/me, and one today pointed to Pete Hegseth saying DoD would investigate Sen. Mark Kelly. It's all about retribution. www.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.
www.expressnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
My paper recently ran a story, "Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump." Some didn't want to go on the record w/me, and one today pointed to Pete Hegseth saying DoD would investigate Sen. Mark Kelly. It's all about retribution. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
A federal judge dismisses Justice Department's criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding the acting U.S. attorney who secured the indictments against the Trump critics was unlawfully appointed. www.npr.org/2025/11/24/g...
Judge tosses Comey, James cases after finding prosecutor unlawfully appointed
Lindsey Halligan, who brought the cases, is a former insurance attorney who once served as President Trump's personal lawyer before his return to office.
www.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A federal judge dismisses Justice Department's criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, finding the acting U.S. attorney who secured the indictments against the Trump critics was unlawfully appointed. www.npr.org/2025/11/24/g...
Sen. Angus King, and independent who votes w/Dems, and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said they and fellow senators at the forum spoke with Rubio. King said Rubio told them the plan "was not the administration's plan" but a "wish list of the Russians." State Dept denies it. x.com/tomjcrane/st...
Thomas J. Crane on X: "This the most inept administration ever- they don't know where the so-called Ukraine peace plan came from. https://t.co/W4bTPprL1p" / X
This the most inept administration ever- they don't know where the so-called Ukraine peace plan came from. https://t.co/W4bTPprL1p
x.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Sen. Angus King, and independent who votes w/Dems, and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said they and fellow senators at the forum spoke with Rubio. King said Rubio told them the plan "was not the administration's plan" but a "wish list of the Russians." State Dept denies it. x.com/tomjcrane/st...
Trump’s Neville Chamberlain Prize: As David Sanger observed in his analysis of the plan’s content: “Many of the 28 points in the proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan offered by the White House read like they had been drafted in the Kremlin.” They likely were. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Neville Chamberlain Prize
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Trump’s Neville Chamberlain Prize: As David Sanger observed in his analysis of the plan’s content: “Many of the 28 points in the proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan offered by the White House read like they had been drafted in the Kremlin.” They likely were. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/o...
In an Air Force language school full of Muslims, a top official was investigated for social media posts that urged violence against Islamic protesters. He denied writing them, but the Air Force told us it took 'administrative actions.' www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Social media posts urging violence against Muslims spark Air Force probe
The posts bear the name of a top official at a Defense Department language school in San Antonio. He says he didn't write them. The Air Force has taken action.
www.expressnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:22 AM
In an Air Force language school full of Muslims, a top official was investigated for social media posts that urged violence against Islamic protesters. He denied writing them, but the Air Force told us it took 'administrative actions.' www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones faces an uphill battle in push for Spurs arena agreements. She still wants a better deal, one focused on regular folks. Example: "Now is the time to be intentional about an affordable, livable downtown” -- one not like Austin. expressnews.com/news/article...
via @expressnews
via @expressnews
Mayor Jones faces uphill battle in push for Spurs arena agreements
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is reiterating her calls for revenue-sharing and an independent economic analysis. And she hasn’t ruled out trying to put the city’s contribution up to a public vote.
expressnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones faces an uphill battle in push for Spurs arena agreements. She still wants a better deal, one focused on regular folks. Example: "Now is the time to be intentional about an affordable, livable downtown” -- one not like Austin. expressnews.com/news/article...
via @expressnews
via @expressnews
Social media posts urging violence against Muslims spark Air Force probe. A Feb. 1 post on X — one of those Randall Conrad has told the Air Force he did not write — called for using a machine gun 'on the back of a jeep' on Muslim protesters. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Social media posts urging violence against Muslims spark Air Force probe
The posts bear the name of a top official at a Defense Department language school in San Antonio. He says he didn't write them. The Air Force has taken action.
www.expressnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Social media posts urging violence against Muslims spark Air Force probe. A Feb. 1 post on X — one of those Randall Conrad has told the Air Force he did not write — called for using a machine gun 'on the back of a jeep' on Muslim protesters. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Patti Smith | If you want to call me something, call me a worker. Because that’s what I do. I work every day and try to do the best work I can. I don’t say I am not a musician out of modesty. I’m just not. I’m a performer,... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/o...
Opinion | Patti Smith on the One Desire That Lasts Forever
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Patti Smith | If you want to call me something, call me a worker. Because that’s what I do. I work every day and try to do the best work I can. I don’t say I am not a musician out of modesty. I’m just not. I’m a performer,... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/o...
Anti-Muslim social media posts spark AF probe. Randall R. Conrad, associate dean of academics at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center, denied writing some posts, one urging US Sen. Elizabeth Warren to kill herself “for the good of the tribe.” www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Social media posts urging violence against Muslims spark Air Force probe
The posts bear the name of a top official at a Defense Department language school in San Antonio. He says he didn't write them. The Air Force has taken action.
www.expressnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Anti-Muslim social media posts spark AF probe. Randall R. Conrad, associate dean of academics at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center, denied writing some posts, one urging US Sen. Elizabeth Warren to kill herself “for the good of the tribe.” www.expressnews.com/news/article...
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