Sam Fellman
@samfellman.bsky.social
Journalist, 🇺🇸 veteran at Business Insider | Giving voice to veterans | Been there, done that: Military Times, Iraq, USS Nimitz, bear pits, shellback🤢 | "Too easy"
Contact me securely:
(Signal) Samfellman.16
(Email) sfellman [at] proton.me
Contact me securely:
(Signal) Samfellman.16
(Email) sfellman [at] proton.me
Pinned
Reposted by Sam Fellman
“When Dan Bongino was a podcaster, he repeatedly asserted that undercover agents embedded in the crowd had helped orchestrate January 6; now that Trump has made him deputy director of the FBI, why isn’t Bongino releasing the evidence?” www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Donald Trump Wants You to Forget This Happened
January 6, five years later
www.theatlantic.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:29 PM
“When Dan Bongino was a podcaster, he repeatedly asserted that undercover agents embedded in the crowd had helped orchestrate January 6; now that Trump has made him deputy director of the FBI, why isn’t Bongino releasing the evidence?” www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
American deployed roughly 8,000 seats and 50 extra flights to recover stranded passengers across the Caribbean on Sunday and Monday, via @trainsonplanes.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/american-air...
Inside American's flight ops center that managed the Caribbean chaos
American's 149,000-square-foot operations center is responsible for moving nearly 6,000 flights and supporting half a million customers every day.
www.businessinsider.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:54 PM
American deployed roughly 8,000 seats and 50 extra flights to recover stranded passengers across the Caribbean on Sunday and Monday, via @trainsonplanes.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/american-air...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
Watch tonight on PBS (9 PM eastern, 8 PM central) and PBS Passport:
January 6, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Watch tonight on PBS (9 PM eastern, 8 PM central) and PBS Passport:
Reposted by Sam Fellman
Smart piece by @hoanssolo.bsky.social: "the raid’s very success poses a strategic danger: It reinforces a U.S. military culture excessively focused on precision strikes and special operations raids."
The Maduro raid reinforces a U.S. strategic culture favoring quick tactical fixes over long-term planning.
The Venezuela Raid Is Great TV—but Won’t Win America’s Next War
Donald Trump’s obsession with quick strikes and flashy successes is bad news for military readiness.
foreignpolicy.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Smart piece by @hoanssolo.bsky.social: "the raid’s very success poses a strategic danger: It reinforces a U.S. military culture excessively focused on precision strikes and special operations raids."
Reposted by Sam Fellman
I mean in any academic or historic sense this is incorrect. stable countries are *not* ruled by force and neither are stable regions. world wars happen because of the dynamic he is describing
*societies formed because it worked better than everyone fighting for resources all the time*
*societies formed because it worked better than everyone fighting for resources all the time*
Here is the Trump Doctrine, as articulated by Stephen Miller in his truly frightening interview with Jake Tapper this afternoon. It is very much like the doctrine of the dictators we fought and defeated in World War II and of Putin today. It is un-American at its very core.
January 6, 2026 at 10:49 AM
I mean in any academic or historic sense this is incorrect. stable countries are *not* ruled by force and neither are stable regions. world wars happen because of the dynamic he is describing
*societies formed because it worked better than everyone fighting for resources all the time*
*societies formed because it worked better than everyone fighting for resources all the time*
Reposted by Sam Fellman
Amazing situation where the six large European NATO members (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom) issue joint statement with Denmark reaffirming Greenland/Denmark autonomy, NATO membership after threat from Trump regime to take Greenland. stm.dk/statsministe...
January 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Amazing situation where the six large European NATO members (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom) issue joint statement with Denmark reaffirming Greenland/Denmark autonomy, NATO membership after threat from Trump regime to take Greenland. stm.dk/statsministe...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
the donroe doctrine is our third risk, and this weekend, you saw why.
trump is reasserting power over the western hemisphere
not just to deter adversaries like china, but to assert american primacy.
the consequences here--across the region and for the world--should not be underestimated
trump is reasserting power over the western hemisphere
not just to deter adversaries like china, but to assert american primacy.
the consequences here--across the region and for the world--should not be underestimated
January 5, 2026 at 9:10 PM
the donroe doctrine is our third risk, and this weekend, you saw why.
trump is reasserting power over the western hemisphere
not just to deter adversaries like china, but to assert american primacy.
the consequences here--across the region and for the world--should not be underestimated
trump is reasserting power over the western hemisphere
not just to deter adversaries like china, but to assert american primacy.
the consequences here--across the region and for the world--should not be underestimated
"Mechanized warfare is conditional, not obsolete. It may no longer define entire campaigns, but it can still deliver decisive results under rare, carefully created conditions."
warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-...
warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-...
Why Mechanized Warfare Will Still Be Decisive in the Next Land War
Mechanized warfare is not dead. Observers have been debating this topic since the Ukrainian military and volunteers beat back the Russian assault on Kiev
warontherocks.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:31 PM
"Mechanized warfare is conditional, not obsolete. It may no longer define entire campaigns, but it can still deliver decisive results under rare, carefully created conditions."
warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-...
warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
USG social media under Trump continues its "Or Bust" campaign, tweeting from an iPhone is also a nice touch too.
January 5, 2026 at 8:08 PM
USG social media under Trump continues its "Or Bust" campaign, tweeting from an iPhone is also a nice touch too.
Reposted by Sam Fellman
1/ The preponderance of US military power around precision strikes creates a strategic culture favoring quick tactical fixes—ostensibly low-cost but very high-risk—over long-term strategic planning. The maturation of the precision strike regime has amplified this institutional bias.
January 5, 2026 at 7:15 PM
1/ The preponderance of US military power around precision strikes creates a strategic culture favoring quick tactical fixes—ostensibly low-cost but very high-risk—over long-term strategic planning. The maturation of the precision strike regime has amplified this institutional bias.
Reposted by Sam Fellman
In Europe, officials are - at least rhetorically - turning up the pressure over the spread of nonconsensual sexualized imagery on X.
In the United States ... crickets.
www.reuters.com/business/med...
In the United States ... crickets.
www.reuters.com/business/med...
EU calls Grok's sexualised AI photos 'illegal,' Britain demands answers
The European Commission said on Monday that the images of undressed women and children being shared across Elon Musk's social media site X were unlawful and appalling, joining a growing chorus of offi...
www.reuters.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:19 PM
In Europe, officials are - at least rhetorically - turning up the pressure over the spread of nonconsensual sexualized imagery on X.
In the United States ... crickets.
www.reuters.com/business/med...
In the United States ... crickets.
www.reuters.com/business/med...
This WSJ article makes clear 2 top officials the Trump administration is trying to coerce are hardened anti-US leftists, one of whom appears on TV with a spiked club: www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Venezuela’s Men With Guns Remain the Ultimate Power After Maduro’s Ouster
Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino command Venezuela’s police and military, and represent a wild card for Trump.
www.wsj.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:19 PM
This WSJ article makes clear 2 top officials the Trump administration is trying to coerce are hardened anti-US leftists, one of whom appears on TV with a spiked club: www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
OFCOM has put out this statement about X creating sexualised images of children on X, (but not BlueSky.)
January 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM
OFCOM has put out this statement about X creating sexualised images of children on X, (but not BlueSky.)
Reposted by Sam Fellman
This unregulated intentional dehumanization of women and extreme misogyny has real world consequences for women and girls. It normalizes non consensual acts and violence against women and girls. There’s extensive research showing that dehumanization leads to actual crimes and atrocities.
One example of how Grok is being used to target women. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch being sexualised, degraded, and humiliated step-by-step by Grok. All the images accurately reflect the prompts provided.
January 5, 2026 at 5:57 PM
This unregulated intentional dehumanization of women and extreme misogyny has real world consequences for women and girls. It normalizes non consensual acts and violence against women and girls. There’s extensive research showing that dehumanization leads to actual crimes and atrocities.
"This raid will likely be regarded as one of the classics in military history," CSIS's Mark Cancian writes, and warns about its endgame: "This will never work. A government of Maduro loyalists will not willingly follow directions from Washington."
www.csis.org/analysis/mad...
www.csis.org/analysis/mad...
The Maduro Raid: A Military Victory with No Viable Endgame
The capture of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed, but Maduro’s officials remain in charge. The administration’s plans to work through these officials and ignore the opposition will likely f...
www.csis.org
January 5, 2026 at 5:07 PM
"This raid will likely be regarded as one of the classics in military history," CSIS's Mark Cancian writes, and warns about its endgame: "This will never work. A government of Maduro loyalists will not willingly follow directions from Washington."
www.csis.org/analysis/mad...
www.csis.org/analysis/mad...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
This is designed to have a chilling effect on all retired service members. The message is that if you speak out, you risk your retirement pay.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
January 5, 2026 at 3:27 PM
This is designed to have a chilling effect on all retired service members. The message is that if you speak out, you risk your retirement pay.
BI's Kelsey Baker found many Marine recruiters in the Rust Belt falsified records to meet their goals. "You have to live with that feeling that your heart's beating out of your chest," one told her.
Read part 2 of her investigation:
www.businessinsider.com/marine-recru...
Read part 2 of her investigation:
www.businessinsider.com/marine-recru...
Marine recruiters were under pressure to 'do more.' Some turned to forging signatures and faking documents.
Current and former Marine recruiters describe immense pressure to find enlistees. Amid the desperation, a culture of fraud bloomed in the Rust Belt.
www.businessinsider.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:15 PM
BI's Kelsey Baker found many Marine recruiters in the Rust Belt falsified records to meet their goals. "You have to live with that feeling that your heart's beating out of your chest," one told her.
Read part 2 of her investigation:
www.businessinsider.com/marine-recru...
Read part 2 of her investigation:
www.businessinsider.com/marine-recru...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
Intervention in Venezuela epitomizes U.S. way of war since 9/11: stunningly effective at the tactical and operational levels, dangerously divorced from the achievement of strategic and political outcomes that actually make U.S. more secure.
January 4, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Intervention in Venezuela epitomizes U.S. way of war since 9/11: stunningly effective at the tactical and operational levels, dangerously divorced from the achievement of strategic and political outcomes that actually make U.S. more secure.
Reposted by Sam Fellman
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
January 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
Reposted by Sam Fellman
The Washpost editorial board just realized this Venezuela thing could go, erm, south pretty quickly
From “A victory for America” to “Grave challenges remain”
From “A victory for America” to “Grave challenges remain”
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 AM
The Washpost editorial board just realized this Venezuela thing could go, erm, south pretty quickly
From “A victory for America” to “Grave challenges remain”
From “A victory for America” to “Grave challenges remain”
Reposted by Sam Fellman
"there is a risk that the army splits. Some factions may back Ms Rodríguez; others may want power for themselves or Mr Padrino; a few, perhaps joining with dissident soldiers who have already fled... could push for Ms Machado’s return." www.economist.com/the-americas...
The many risks to Donald Trump’s plans to “run” Venezuela
The regime that was led by Nicolás Maduro may well prove tricky to control
www.economist.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:45 PM
"there is a risk that the army splits. Some factions may back Ms Rodríguez; others may want power for themselves or Mr Padrino; a few, perhaps joining with dissident soldiers who have already fled... could push for Ms Machado’s return." www.economist.com/the-americas...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
A huge amount of research shows that leaders balancing external and internal threats/interests usually prioritize the latter, esp. with their own armies. E.g. see @proftalmadge.bsky.social's great book The Dictator's Army @cornellupress.bsky.social 6/ www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
The Dictator's Army by Caitlin Talmadge | Paperback | Cornell University Press
A compelling new argument to help us understand why authoritarian militaries sometimes fight very well—and sometimes very poorly. Talmadge's framework for understanding battlefield effectiveness focus...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
January 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM
A huge amount of research shows that leaders balancing external and internal threats/interests usually prioritize the latter, esp. with their own armies. E.g. see @proftalmadge.bsky.social's great book The Dictator's Army @cornellupress.bsky.social 6/ www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
Update: Tim Walz has released a statement announcing he will not seek a third term as governor of Minnesota. kstp.com/kstp-news/to...
Governor Walz announces he will not seek reelection
Amid questions surrounding his political future, Gov. Walz has called a news conference for Monday morning.
kstp.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Update: Tim Walz has released a statement announcing he will not seek a third term as governor of Minnesota. kstp.com/kstp-news/to...
Reposted by Sam Fellman
US seems to have no plan to deal w/ powerful Venezuelan security forces, who can threaten/thwart political leaders if they comply w/ US demands. Authoritarian politics 101 & major reason US approach could lead to military escalation and/or civil conflict.
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Venezuela’s Men With Guns Remain the Ultimate Power After Maduro’s Ouster
Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino command Venezuela’s police and military, and represent a wild card for Trump.
www.wsj.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:05 PM
US seems to have no plan to deal w/ powerful Venezuelan security forces, who can threaten/thwart political leaders if they comply w/ US demands. Authoritarian politics 101 & major reason US approach could lead to military escalation and/or civil conflict.
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
www.wsj.com/world/americ...