Paul Szoldra
@paulszoldra.com
Managing Editor @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social 🇺🇸 Marine vet. National security reporter & editor. Former EIC @taskandpurpose.com. Founder of @duffelblog.com. More: https://www.paulszoldra.com
Pinned
Paul Szoldra
@paulszoldra.com
· Dec 3
I just created this starter pack for people looking to follow national security folks! Please let me know if I’m missing anyone.
go.bsky.app/DNVQ7JQ
go.bsky.app/DNVQ7JQ
For years, Guam residents feared U.S. military activity was poisoning their land and water.
New records reveal decades of pesticide contamination at Andersen Air Force Base.
A months-long investigation by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social and @themarginus.bsky.social:
thewarhorse.org/guam-militar...
New records reveal decades of pesticide contamination at Andersen Air Force Base.
A months-long investigation by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social and @themarginus.bsky.social:
thewarhorse.org/guam-militar...
Guam Military Contamination: Records Reveal Toxic Pesticides
Previously unreleased military records reveal decades of pesticide contamination at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam and what officials knew about it.
thewarhorse.org
September 22, 2026 at 2:56 PM
For years, Guam residents feared U.S. military activity was poisoning their land and water.
New records reveal decades of pesticide contamination at Andersen Air Force Base.
A months-long investigation by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social and @themarginus.bsky.social:
thewarhorse.org/guam-militar...
New records reveal decades of pesticide contamination at Andersen Air Force Base.
A months-long investigation by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social and @themarginus.bsky.social:
thewarhorse.org/guam-militar...
Your new Pentagon workstation wallpaper just dropped.
September 20, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Your new Pentagon workstation wallpaper just dropped.
Reposted by Paul Szoldra
Weirdly missing the key ending phrase of "... and will fight this unconstitutional ban on freedom of the press in court."
September 19, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Weirdly missing the key ending phrase of "... and will fight this unconstitutional ban on freedom of the press in court."
"Five of the officials said there have been at least 22 military fatalities — four more than what appears in the Pentagon’s public database, known as the Defense Casualty Analysis System, or DCAS."
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
More U.S. troops have died amid Iran war than Pentagon has disclosed publicly
Officials who spoke with The Post expressed frustration that the additional loss of life in the Middle East is not reflected in the Defense Department’s casualty database.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:46 PM
"Five of the officials said there have been at least 22 military fatalities — four more than what appears in the Pentagon’s public database, known as the Defense Casualty Analysis System, or DCAS."
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
what an absolute goat rodeo www.war.gov/News/Feature...
September 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
what an absolute goat rodeo www.war.gov/News/Feature...
haven't seen it... cannot confidently assess... here's my assessment.
The whole graf is hilarious
The film (that I have not seen) “falls short on every dimension”
The film (that I have not seen) “falls short on every dimension”
September 17, 2026 at 8:23 PM
haven't seen it... cannot confidently assess... here's my assessment.
Reposted by Paul Szoldra
This is exactly why we need to pass the WARRIOR Act.
Pete Hegseth continues raising the hurdles to prevent women from serving our country. They keep clearing them.
Women meet and exceed these standards, but it’s Hegseth who refuses to accept it.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Pete Hegseth continues raising the hurdles to prevent women from serving our country. They keep clearing them.
Women meet and exceed these standards, but it’s Hegseth who refuses to accept it.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Hegseth Made the Fitness Test Harder for Women in Combat Roles. Most Female Marines Are Passing
Data shows almost all Marine females serving in combat roles have met or exceeded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new physical fitness standard.
thewarhorse.org
September 17, 2026 at 5:01 PM
This is exactly why we need to pass the WARRIOR Act.
Pete Hegseth continues raising the hurdles to prevent women from serving our country. They keep clearing them.
Women meet and exceed these standards, but it’s Hegseth who refuses to accept it.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Pete Hegseth continues raising the hurdles to prevent women from serving our country. They keep clearing them.
Women meet and exceed these standards, but it’s Hegseth who refuses to accept it.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
The Pentagon wants its workforce to embrace AI.
We filed a FOIA seeking records showing how Pete Hegseth and other senior officials are using it.
The Pentagon didn't produce them.
So we're suing, w/ @democracydefendersfund.org's help.
Read more:
www.democracydefendersfund.org/news/ddf-sue...
We filed a FOIA seeking records showing how Pete Hegseth and other senior officials are using it.
The Pentagon didn't produce them.
So we're suing, w/ @democracydefendersfund.org's help.
Read more:
www.democracydefendersfund.org/news/ddf-sue...
DDF Sues Department of Defense Over Failure to Disclose Senior Leadership’s Records on AI Use
Democracy Defenders Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of The War Horse News, an independent nonprofit news organization, against the Department of Defense, challenging its refusal to disclose how senior ...
www.democracydefendersfund.org
September 17, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The Pentagon wants its workforce to embrace AI.
We filed a FOIA seeking records showing how Pete Hegseth and other senior officials are using it.
The Pentagon didn't produce them.
So we're suing, w/ @democracydefendersfund.org's help.
Read more:
www.democracydefendersfund.org/news/ddf-sue...
We filed a FOIA seeking records showing how Pete Hegseth and other senior officials are using it.
The Pentagon didn't produce them.
So we're suing, w/ @democracydefendersfund.org's help.
Read more:
www.democracydefendersfund.org/news/ddf-sue...
Reposted by Paul Szoldra
BREAKING: We’re suing the Department of Defense on behalf of The War Horse after the Pentagon refused to disclose how senior officials are using generative AI tools—including whether sensitive or classified information could be exposed.
The American public deserves answers.
The American public deserves answers.
DDF Sues Department of Defense Over Failure to Disclose Senior Leadership’s Records on AI Use
Democracy Defenders Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of The War Horse News, an independent nonprofit news organization, ag
www.democracydefendersfund.org
September 15, 2026 at 7:59 PM
BREAKING: We’re suing the Department of Defense on behalf of The War Horse after the Pentagon refused to disclose how senior officials are using generative AI tools—including whether sensitive or classified information could be exposed.
The American public deserves answers.
The American public deserves answers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants women in combat roles to meet the same fitness scoring standards as men.
Marine Corps data obtained by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social show more than 91% of women tested in combat specialties are passing.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Marine Corps data obtained by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social show more than 91% of women tested in combat specialties are passing.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Hegseth Made the Fitness Test Harder for Women in Combat Roles. Most Female Marines Are Passing
Data shows almost all Marine females serving in combat roles have met or exceeded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new physical fitness standard.
thewarhorse.org
September 15, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants women in combat roles to meet the same fitness scoring standards as men.
Marine Corps data obtained by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social show more than 91% of women tested in combat specialties are passing.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Marine Corps data obtained by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social show more than 91% of women tested in combat specialties are passing.
thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...
Apparently Iran is going to announce its unconditional surrender on Nov. 4 for no reason whatsoever.
Q: Do you expect negotiations with Iran to restart?
TRUMP: Ahhhhhh. We're not looking for it. This war with end immediately after our election.
TRUMP: Ahhhhhh. We're not looking for it. This war with end immediately after our election.
September 10, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Apparently Iran is going to announce its unconditional surrender on Nov. 4 for no reason whatsoever.
Sure this won't have any negative consequences, like deterring military service members from being open and honest with mental health providers about their struggles or anything
federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main...
federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main...
Pentagon searching medical records to identify transgender troops | Federal News Network
Military officials are using medical and personnel data to uncover troops with current or past gender dysphoria as the Pentagon moves ahead with separations.
federalnewsnetwork.com
September 9, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Sure this won't have any negative consequences, like deterring military service members from being open and honest with mental health providers about their struggles or anything
federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main...
federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main...
You can be proud of the people you served with and still question what the war accomplished.
@davidroza.bsky.social spoke with three veterans about living with that reality, 25 years after 9/11.
thewarhorse.org/septemper-11...
@davidroza.bsky.social spoke with three veterans about living with that reality, 25 years after 9/11.
thewarhorse.org/septemper-11...
They Served Through America’s Post-9/11 Wars. 25 Years Later, What Did That Service Mean?
Three veterans who served in the post-9/11 wars wonder what they accomplished during their service and deployments.
thewarhorse.org
September 8, 2026 at 3:21 PM
You can be proud of the people you served with and still question what the war accomplished.
@davidroza.bsky.social spoke with three veterans about living with that reality, 25 years after 9/11.
thewarhorse.org/septemper-11...
@davidroza.bsky.social spoke with three veterans about living with that reality, 25 years after 9/11.
thewarhorse.org/septemper-11...
The defense secretary glanced at the card and passed it back to his chief of staff.
“I don’t care,” Mr. Hegseth told Mr. Kasper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
“I don’t care,” Mr. Hegseth told Mr. Kasper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
The Battle to Save General Donahue From Hegseth’s Army Purge
Gen. Christopher T. Donahue’s vision for fighting future wars won him powerful supporters around the world. Could they save his career?
www.nytimes.com
September 6, 2026 at 3:48 PM
The defense secretary glanced at the card and passed it back to his chief of staff.
“I don’t care,” Mr. Hegseth told Mr. Kasper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
“I don’t care,” Mr. Hegseth told Mr. Kasper.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
Reporting by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social prompted a VA OIG investigation into veterans being pushed out of individual mental health therapy.
Investigators found therapists felt pressured to end treatment, sometimes against their clinical judgment.
Read more: thewarhorse.org/va-oig-inves...
Investigators found therapists felt pressured to end treatment, sometimes against their clinical judgment.
Read more: thewarhorse.org/va-oig-inves...
VA Probe Opened in Response to The War Horse Coverage
Veterans Affairs opens Inspector General probe in response to War Horse investigation alleging veterans were being cut off from one-on-one therapy
thewarhorse.org
September 2, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Reporting by @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social prompted a VA OIG investigation into veterans being pushed out of individual mental health therapy.
Investigators found therapists felt pressured to end treatment, sometimes against their clinical judgment.
Read more: thewarhorse.org/va-oig-inves...
Investigators found therapists felt pressured to end treatment, sometimes against their clinical judgment.
Read more: thewarhorse.org/va-oig-inves...
Nearly 81,000 American troops remain missing from past wars.
In the Philippines, a small nonprofit went searching for three WWII soldiers in a place official U.S. recovery teams can’t go.
@thewarhorsenews.bsky.social was there with them.
thewarhorse.org/missing-troo...
In the Philippines, a small nonprofit went searching for three WWII soldiers in a place official U.S. recovery teams can’t go.
@thewarhorsenews.bsky.social was there with them.
thewarhorse.org/missing-troo...
Where the Pentagon Can’t Go, a Small Nonprofit Searches for America’s War Dead
War Horse reporter follows a nonprofit as it searches for the three American soldiers executed during World War II in Marawi.
thewarhorse.org
September 1, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Nearly 81,000 American troops remain missing from past wars.
In the Philippines, a small nonprofit went searching for three WWII soldiers in a place official U.S. recovery teams can’t go.
@thewarhorsenews.bsky.social was there with them.
thewarhorse.org/missing-troo...
In the Philippines, a small nonprofit went searching for three WWII soldiers in a place official U.S. recovery teams can’t go.
@thewarhorsenews.bsky.social was there with them.
thewarhorse.org/missing-troo...
The war is not over. More than 750 U.S. service members have been wounded and 18 are dead. The average price of gas at the pump is now 38% higher and few ships are moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
August 28, 2026 at 3:17 PM
The war is not over. More than 750 U.S. service members have been wounded and 18 are dead. The average price of gas at the pump is now 38% higher and few ships are moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
First, @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social obtained records showing 400+ U.S. casualties in the Iran war.
Then the wounded began talking.
Some soldiers were delayed care, turned away at Landstuhl, and are still fighting for treatment months later.
Leah Rosenbaum’s latest:
thewarhorse.org/iran-war-wou...
Then the wounded began talking.
Some soldiers were delayed care, turned away at Landstuhl, and are still fighting for treatment months later.
Leah Rosenbaum’s latest:
thewarhorse.org/iran-war-wou...
They Survived an Iran War Drone Attack. Six Months Later, They're Struggling to Get Care
Troops wounded in the Iran War say their healthcare treatment is riddled with delayed testing and inconsistent care.
thewarhorse.org
August 27, 2026 at 4:28 PM
First, @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social obtained records showing 400+ U.S. casualties in the Iran war.
Then the wounded began talking.
Some soldiers were delayed care, turned away at Landstuhl, and are still fighting for treatment months later.
Leah Rosenbaum’s latest:
thewarhorse.org/iran-war-wou...
Then the wounded began talking.
Some soldiers were delayed care, turned away at Landstuhl, and are still fighting for treatment months later.
Leah Rosenbaum’s latest:
thewarhorse.org/iran-war-wou...
It took 59 years for Vietnam hero James Capers Jr. to receive the Medal of Honor.
It took Ethan Rocke 17 years to tell the full story of why for @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social.
An extraordinary story of heroism, bureaucracy, and the long fight for recognition:
thewarhorse.org/jim-capers-m...
It took Ethan Rocke 17 years to tell the full story of why for @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social.
An extraordinary story of heroism, bureaucracy, and the long fight for recognition:
thewarhorse.org/jim-capers-m...
He Earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Why Did It Take Decades To Receive It?
Retired Marine Maj. James Capers Jr. served with "the lost detachment" in Vietnam. He was award the highest military honor for his heroism.
thewarhorse.org
August 21, 2026 at 9:40 PM
It took 59 years for Vietnam hero James Capers Jr. to receive the Medal of Honor.
It took Ethan Rocke 17 years to tell the full story of why for @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social.
An extraordinary story of heroism, bureaucracy, and the long fight for recognition:
thewarhorse.org/jim-capers-m...
It took Ethan Rocke 17 years to tell the full story of why for @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social.
An extraordinary story of heroism, bureaucracy, and the long fight for recognition:
thewarhorse.org/jim-capers-m...
“It’s unclear what the Navy is seeking to change the name of the carrier to, though two of the sources said there have been internal conversations about renaming it to honor Trump. It would be an unprecedented move to name an aircraft carrier after a sitting president.”
www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/p...
Exclusive: Navy weighs renaming carrier slated to honor Black war hero, potentially switching it to Trump | CNN Politics
The US Navy is working to rename an aircraft carrier under construction that was set to honor a Black sailor hailed for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor, three sources familiar wit...
www.cnn.com
August 21, 2026 at 3:05 PM
“It’s unclear what the Navy is seeking to change the name of the carrier to, though two of the sources said there have been internal conversations about renaming it to honor Trump. It would be an unprecedented move to name an aircraft carrier after a sitting president.”
www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/p...
“Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., a former Navy SEAL who told police that he accidentally shot himself while visiting a national park, filed a bill this week to allow special operations veterans and service members to carry concealed firearms nationwide…” www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/pentago...
Bill seeks nationwide concealed carry for special operators
A senator and special operations veteran with a scrutinized story of a gunshot wound filed a bill to let special operators carry nationwide.
www.marinecorpstimes.com
August 17, 2026 at 3:08 PM
“Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., a former Navy SEAL who told police that he accidentally shot himself while visiting a national park, filed a bill this week to allow special operations veterans and service members to carry concealed firearms nationwide…” www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/pentago...
Reposted by Paul Szoldra
Exclusive: The U.S. Navy is considering a major redesign of its new aircraft carriers to better match President Trump’s preferred aesthetic for the warships.
Navy weighs major warship redesign to match Trump’s preferences
The president wants the new fleet of aircraft carriers to more resemble those from World War II. Such a change could cost billions.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 15, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Exclusive: The U.S. Navy is considering a major redesign of its new aircraft carriers to better match President Trump’s preferred aesthetic for the warships.
Their deployment was supposed to end three months ago. It was extended indefinitely and neither the thousands of sailors nor their families know when they will be able to come home.
Reporter: Family members of service members are concerned about conditions on the LIncoln.
Trump: No they’re not.
Reporter: Has the deployment gone on too long?
Trump: No. Not nearly long enough.
Trump: No they’re not.
Reporter: Has the deployment gone on too long?
Trump: No. Not nearly long enough.
August 14, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Their deployment was supposed to end three months ago. It was extended indefinitely and neither the thousands of sailors nor their families know when they will be able to come home.
What if I told you—please, stick with me here, don’t go to AI—that the purpose of reading books is not to ‘plow through’ but to enjoy the story an author tells. I know, I know. It’s absolutely insane.
August 12, 2026 at 3:27 PM
What if I told you—please, stick with me here, don’t go to AI—that the purpose of reading books is not to ‘plow through’ but to enjoy the story an author tells. I know, I know. It’s absolutely insane.