Valerie Insinna
@valerieinsinna.bsky.social
Covering Congress and the defense industry for breakingdefense.com, but also destroying your feed with cat photos, aviation memes and ramblings about fandoms you couldn't care less about
So happy to talk with the phenomenal @sirenspod.bsky.social about something near and dear to my heart: the Pentagon press corps.
NEW episode with the spectacular @valerieinsinna.bsky.social to explore Pentagon Press Corps dynamics; plus, shutdown impacts, waking up to a totally new world in SOUTHCOM, and, what protest costume calls to you? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Shutdown, Southcom, and Pentagon Press
Podcast Episode · Sirens: A Bombshell production · 10/30/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So happy to talk with the phenomenal @sirenspod.bsky.social about something near and dear to my heart: the Pentagon press corps.
Reposted by Valerie Insinna
"‘Fuck it. Finally clean those bastards out. Get rid of them. I’ll take the hit for a year.’”
@valerieinsinna.bsky.social wrote the edgiest piece on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program you'll ever read.
breakingdefense.com/2025/10/clea...
@valerieinsinna.bsky.social wrote the edgiest piece on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program you'll ever read.
breakingdefense.com/2025/10/clea...
‘Clean those bastards out’: Small business fund used by DoD teeters on the edge - Breaking Defense
Senate lawmakers are at an impasse over the Small Business Innovation Research program, a key program used by the Pentagon to provide seed funding for small firms.
breakingdefense.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:55 PM
"‘Fuck it. Finally clean those bastards out. Get rid of them. I’ll take the hit for a year.’”
@valerieinsinna.bsky.social wrote the edgiest piece on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program you'll ever read.
breakingdefense.com/2025/10/clea...
@valerieinsinna.bsky.social wrote the edgiest piece on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program you'll ever read.
breakingdefense.com/2025/10/clea...
Reposted by Valerie Insinna
SCOOP: Gen. Ken Wilsbach will be your new Air Force Chief of Staff, multiple sources tell @valerieinsinna.bsky.social
and I. Announcement expected in the next few days. breakingdefense.com/2025/09/wils...
and I. Announcement expected in the next few days. breakingdefense.com/2025/09/wils...
Wilsbach expected to become next Air Force chief of staff: Sources - Breaking Defense
Former Air Combat Command head Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach had emerged as the frontrunner for the Air Force’s top uniformed job shortly after Gen. Dave Allvin announced his retirement in August.
breakingdefense.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
SCOOP: Gen. Ken Wilsbach will be your new Air Force Chief of Staff, multiple sources tell @valerieinsinna.bsky.social
and I. Announcement expected in the next few days. breakingdefense.com/2025/09/wils...
and I. Announcement expected in the next few days. breakingdefense.com/2025/09/wils...
SCOOP: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Anduril and General Atomics are under contract for conceptual designs for a Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Lockheed is under contract to provide "common control" for the autonomous, carrier based combat drone:
breakingdefense.com/2025/09/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2025/09/excl...
EXCLUSIVE: Navy taps four aerospace primes to design autonomous drone wingmen - Breaking Defense
Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics and Anduril are all in line to produce conceptual designs for the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, according to a Navy slide reviewed by Breaking...
breakingdefense.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
SCOOP: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Anduril and General Atomics are under contract for conceptual designs for a Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Lockheed is under contract to provide "common control" for the autonomous, carrier based combat drone:
breakingdefense.com/2025/09/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2025/09/excl...
SCOOP: Lockheed Martin is out of the Navy's F/A-XX fighter program, leaving Boeing and Northrop as the remaining competitors:
breakingdefense.com/2025/03/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2025/03/excl...
EXCLUSIVE: Lockheed out of Navy’s F/A-XX future fighter program - Breaking Defense
A source with knowledge of the program told Breaking Defense that Lockheed submitted a bid for the next-gen fighter effort, but the proposal did not satisfy the Navy’s criteria, leaving Boeing and Nor...
breakingdefense.com
March 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
SCOOP: Lockheed Martin is out of the Navy's F/A-XX fighter program, leaving Boeing and Northrop as the remaining competitors:
breakingdefense.com/2025/03/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2025/03/excl...
"What the fuck is going on?" Confusion is sweeping the defense industry as an Army email circulates that seemingly halts further contracting activity. Story by Ashley Roque, @aaronmehta.bsky.social and myself:
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/what...
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/what...
‘What the f— is going on?’ Confusion, uncertainty in industry as Army contracts seemingly halted
The fear among industry now is that this move is just the first in what would amount to a Pentagon-wide halt on new awards, for an indefinite period of time.
breakingdefense.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
"What the fuck is going on?" Confusion is sweeping the defense industry as an Army email circulates that seemingly halts further contracting activity. Story by Ashley Roque, @aaronmehta.bsky.social and myself:
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/what...
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/what...
NEW: In exclusive interview, SASC chairman Sen. Roger Wicker says he'd to see $100B/year for the next two years in the reconciliation bill, which could help fund US Iron Dome, NGAD sixth-gen fighter, and shipbuilding programs:
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/excl...
EXCLUSIVE: New SASC chair sets sight on $200B defense boost, major acquisition reform push
“I hope and believe that President Trump's pledge to restore peace through strength so that we can avoid conflict is going to be followed through with adequate funding,” Senate Armed Services Committe...
breakingdefense.com
January 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM
NEW: In exclusive interview, SASC chairman Sen. Roger Wicker says he'd to see $100B/year for the next two years in the reconciliation bill, which could help fund US Iron Dome, NGAD sixth-gen fighter, and shipbuilding programs:
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/excl...
Current status: disengaging from today’s political sideshow (the Hegseth nomination hearing) by eating Taco Bell and watching an old 1998 Raw episode where Stone Cold Steve Austin infiltrates a hospital to attack an injured Vince McMahon
January 15, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Current status: disengaging from today’s political sideshow (the Hegseth nomination hearing) by eating Taco Bell and watching an old 1998 Raw episode where Stone Cold Steve Austin infiltrates a hospital to attack an injured Vince McMahon
At Pete Hegseth hearing to be defense secretary, Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, states that he does not believe Hegseth to be qualified for the top DoD leadership post.
January 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
At Pete Hegseth hearing to be defense secretary, Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, states that he does not believe Hegseth to be qualified for the top DoD leadership post.
Spotlighting this scoop from my colleague Michael Marrow: Turns out China could beat the U.S. to fielding a sixth gen fighter, the Air Force’s acquisition chief says.
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/chin...
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/chin...
China ‘could beat us to the punch’ to a 6th-gen fighter, Air Force official warns
“It's fair to say we pay a lot of attention to what the Chinese are doing. And so, not everything that becomes public is a shock,” Andrew Hunter said when asked about new images of purported Chinese f...
breakingdefense.com
January 14, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Spotlighting this scoop from my colleague Michael Marrow: Turns out China could beat the U.S. to fielding a sixth gen fighter, the Air Force’s acquisition chief says.
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/chin...
breakingdefense.com/2025/01/chin...
The only Pentagon I recognize from this day forward:
Penta is using the Sacrifice and Penta Driver in WWE
January 14, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The only Pentagon I recognize from this day forward:
I like Bluesky because I definitely see fewer posts about how women aren’t fulfilling their destinies unless they have 3+ kids, and that’s pretty rad.
But also this place is really boring and it feels like no one interacts with each other (at least in the defense/aerospace sector).
But also this place is really boring and it feels like no one interacts with each other (at least in the defense/aerospace sector).
January 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I like Bluesky because I definitely see fewer posts about how women aren’t fulfilling their destinies unless they have 3+ kids, and that’s pretty rad.
But also this place is really boring and it feels like no one interacts with each other (at least in the defense/aerospace sector).
But also this place is really boring and it feels like no one interacts with each other (at least in the defense/aerospace sector).
New House Armed Services GOP subcommittee chair announcements:
Cyber IT and Innovation: Bacon (incumbent)
Intel/Spec Ops: Bergman --> Jackson
Readiness: Waltz --> Bergman
Milpers: Banks --> Fallon
Seapower: Kelly (incumbent)
Stratfor: Lamborn --> DesJarlais
TacAirLand: Wittman (incumbent)
Cyber IT and Innovation: Bacon (incumbent)
Intel/Spec Ops: Bergman --> Jackson
Readiness: Waltz --> Bergman
Milpers: Banks --> Fallon
Seapower: Kelly (incumbent)
Stratfor: Lamborn --> DesJarlais
TacAirLand: Wittman (incumbent)
January 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
New House Armed Services GOP subcommittee chair announcements:
Cyber IT and Innovation: Bacon (incumbent)
Intel/Spec Ops: Bergman --> Jackson
Readiness: Waltz --> Bergman
Milpers: Banks --> Fallon
Seapower: Kelly (incumbent)
Stratfor: Lamborn --> DesJarlais
TacAirLand: Wittman (incumbent)
Cyber IT and Innovation: Bacon (incumbent)
Intel/Spec Ops: Bergman --> Jackson
Readiness: Waltz --> Bergman
Milpers: Banks --> Fallon
Seapower: Kelly (incumbent)
Stratfor: Lamborn --> DesJarlais
TacAirLand: Wittman (incumbent)
Reposted by Valerie Insinna
going into 2025 with this energy
December 29, 2024 at 12:29 AM
going into 2025 with this energy
MY FAVORITE BOYS
December 29, 2024 at 2:02 AM
MY FAVORITE BOYS
I am begging for a rock album. BEGGING.
December 26, 2024 at 10:09 PM
I am begging for a rock album. BEGGING.
Reposted by Valerie Insinna
Buying fireworks so when Santa arrives we can give him Dave Batista’s entrance
December 24, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Buying fireworks so when Santa arrives we can give him Dave Batista’s entrance
Me when I’m acting extremely macabre about very normal, mundane things
December 23, 2024 at 12:00 AM
Me when I’m acting extremely macabre about very normal, mundane things
PLEASE. THIS MAN IS NOT LISTENING TO ARTEMAS
December 21, 2024 at 12:43 AM
PLEASE. THIS MAN IS NOT LISTENING TO ARTEMAS
He’s literally so beautiful
December 20, 2024 at 10:17 PM
He’s literally so beautiful
Filed a scoop on a next-gen fighter, made cookies for my husband and now am sitting down to watch the CR vote before making another batch of cookies. Nara Smith could NEVER
December 20, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Filed a scoop on a next-gen fighter, made cookies for my husband and now am sitting down to watch the CR vote before making another batch of cookies. Nara Smith could NEVER
SCOOP: A new Air Force analysis supports the development of a manned sixth-gen fighter known as Next Generation Air Dominance, amid questions about the program's future.
breakingdefense.com/2024/12/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2024/12/excl...
EXCLUSIVE: New Air Force review supports manned 6th-gen NGAD fighter concept
Military analysis supports the fielding of a sixth-generation stealth fighter, Breaking Defense has learned, though a final decision on the Next Generation Air Dominance platform now rests with the Tr...
breakingdefense.com
December 20, 2024 at 7:12 PM
SCOOP: A new Air Force analysis supports the development of a manned sixth-gen fighter known as Next Generation Air Dominance, amid questions about the program's future.
breakingdefense.com/2024/12/excl...
breakingdefense.com/2024/12/excl...
Multitasking watching anime and the CR fight on the House floor the way George Washington intended
December 19, 2024 at 10:48 PM
Multitasking watching anime and the CR fight on the House floor the way George Washington intended
Reposted by Valerie Insinna
Hey look we made a show: Coming in 2025, it's The Break Out.
Every week, we'll bring you a short (5 minutes or so), entertaining roundup of things you need to know in the world of defense. I updog'd @leeferran.bsky.social in our first test show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WeD...
Every week, we'll bring you a short (5 minutes or so), entertaining roundup of things you need to know in the world of defense. I updog'd @leeferran.bsky.social in our first test show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WeD...
The Weekly Break Out web news show - Coming soon!
YouTube video by Breaking Defense
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Hey look we made a show: Coming in 2025, it's The Break Out.
Every week, we'll bring you a short (5 minutes or so), entertaining roundup of things you need to know in the world of defense. I updog'd @leeferran.bsky.social in our first test show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WeD...
Every week, we'll bring you a short (5 minutes or so), entertaining roundup of things you need to know in the world of defense. I updog'd @leeferran.bsky.social in our first test show. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WeD...
I’m sorry whaaaaaaat
Scoop: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in NJ tells me there have been several cases this year of drones flying over the base...to smuggle contraband into the prison on the facility.
New Jersey Base Confirms Multiple Past Drone Incursions... By Contraband Smugglers
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has provided details of how it has dealt with persistent drone problems involving contraband smuggling. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has provided details of intens...
www.twz.com
December 19, 2024 at 2:15 AM
I’m sorry whaaaaaaat