iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

So how much crude oil is going through the Strait of Hormuz? What’s with the recent rise in tensions? It’s a three day weekend (for some), which is good because here’s a little bit of a lengthy piece trying to answer these questions. news.usni.org/2026/09/04/u...

news.usni.org

U.S., Iran Trade Strikes in Strait of Hormuz as Both Battle on Social Media - USNI News

The U.S. resumed attacking Iranian targets along the Strait of Hormuz this week as tensions over the waterway rose once again. In a video published by U.S. Central Command on the social media site X, ...

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Hey reporters, a first reported by is great. But let’s take the next step and link to those stories (especially if it is a local paper). I’m guilty of this, too.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Destroyer USS Benfold was stalled in the South China Sea for four days late last month after an engineering casualty caused it to lose power. Air conditioning, toilets and potable water all affected. (For @usni.org) news.usni.org/2026/08/14/u...

news.usni.org

USS Benfold Was Stalled in the South China Sea for Four Days - USNI News

Guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) spent four days in the South China Sea without power after an engineering failure, USNI News has learned. Benfold suffered the engineering casualty result...

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Day two of IRE. So far, I’ve filed three stories in addition to attending the conference.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I love watching other journalists take notes at a conference. It’s always a split of computers and notebook/pen.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I’m at #IRE2026 this week. I’ll be following tomorrow’s predicted opening of the Strait of Hormuz, but for the rest of naval news, check out news.usni.org.

news.usni.org

USNI News

Maritime News and Analysis

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

HM2 Carolyn McKiernan jumped into action when EMTs rolled a woman on a gurney, arm covered in gauze, into the trauma bay. McKeirnan was not in a field hospital but WakeMed-Raleigh Campus. The Navy has turned to civilian hospitals to teach trauma care.

news.usni.org

'Trauma Alert' : Sailors Learn to Treat Combat Wounds in U.S. Hospitals - USNI News

RALEIGH, N.C. — Emergency medical technicians rolled a combative 43-year-old woman on a gurney through the brown double doors of the trauma bay at WakeMed-Raleigh Campus. A tourniquet dug into the ski...

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

I will be at Sea-Air-Space tomorrow. If the tensions in the strait could simmer down for a few days, my brain would appreciate it. Want to talk Strait of Hormuz or personnel issues (recruiting, suicide, quality of life)? Let’s meet up. DM me here or on Signal (HMongilio.52).

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

It is March, and the most recent @deptofwar.bsky.social suicide data is quarter two, 2025. At this point, we should have at least the third and fourth quarters' data. Annual report is also missing.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Live look at reporters every time they think there might be a break in the news cycle:

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Takeaways from the last day of U.S. Figure Skating Championships: Ice dance and men’s face a very similar problem. The top spot is practically set before competition. Silver and Bronze are often toss ups. That is how it could go with the selection committee.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Takeaways from day 3: Amber! Alysa! It’s clear who the top three women’s skaters are in the U.S. Alysa Liu’s outfit was amazing, and it fit the program so well. I’m excited to see how she continues to develop it during the Olympics and Worlds.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

It is always wonderful watching Amber Glenn land that triple axel. For those who don’t follow skating, an axel always has an extra half rotation because the jump starts with a front entrance. So that means she rotates 3.5 times.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

I miss the days of a long spiral moment in a figure skating program.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

In case anyone wonders, a figure skating short program would make a lot of people out of breath. As we go into the freeskate, just remember this is a lot of endurance, power hard work made to look pretty and graceful.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

My takeaways from day 2 of the skating championships: We’re lucky Ilia Malinin skates for the U.S. Jason Brown wasn’t perfect, but he is far more consistent on an international stage than the other men competing for spots. It’s a toss up for the third spot. The freeskate will be interesting.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Ilia Malinin is skating on new boots, two weeks old. That is unheard of.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Crazier things have happened, but I think if Jason Brown doesn’t make the Olympic team, there will be a riot in the figure skating world.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Jacob Sanchez is only 18, so he’s definitely on my list to watch as he continues in this sport. And the shoutout to using a sport psychologist!

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I think my second pick for the third spot would be Andrew Torgashev, but he has had serious consistency issues. But so have all the men vying for this spot.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

This is the best I’ve seen Tomoki Hiwatashi, and what a time to bring it.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Petition to stop asking Maxim Naumov about his parents’s death. We all know it’s affecting him. We all know he’s skating for them. But we don’t need to torture him and make him relive it for our entertainment.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Personally, I would love to see Maxim Naumov make the Olympic team. I was so moved watching him skate after the deaths of his parents. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he has the consistency for the team.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

A message to all adults: if you watch figure skating, like the current national championships right now, or the Olympics, and think I’d love to learn, you can! The adult skating community grows every day, and you’re not too old to learn. (Or return to the ice)

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Embedded microphones in the ice is my nightmare.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I love a Les Mis moment. On ice, off ice.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Another U.S. figure skating championship, another season of me asking my coach to let me do a cartwheel in my program.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I give extra points for men who go all in with their outfits. And I deduct points for who go boring.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

On to men’s skating. Of course the story here is Ilia Malinin’s dominance. But the other story is not who will take the first two Olympic team spots, but who will take the third. A good @washingtonpost.com story on that: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olymp...

washingtonpost.com

For U.S. men’s figure skaters, an intense battle for the third Olympic spot

Andrew Torgashev and Maxim Naumov are among those competing to join the favorites in Milan at next month’s Winter Olympics.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I have only been closely following ice dance (and skating in general) closely the past couple of years, but I am enjoying the fact that there are less love stories and more upbeat, fun music programs.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Another day, another issue with @peacock and the US skating championships. This time switching broadcasts halfway through the rhythm dance.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Ice dancing is not my discipline, but one of the differences between ice dance and pairs is that lifts don’t go above the head. (There are also no jumps or throws in ice dance.)

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

On to ice dance. This is probably one of the more controversial of disciplines. The return of the Shibutanis, talk of favoritism and issues of abuse to name a few controversies from the past couple of years.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

This is a good time to say that if anyone knows a good angle between the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard and figure skating, I’m all ears. Help me write about figure skating as a defense reporter.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Some thoughts on the U.S. figure skating championships from last night: When Amber Glenn is on, she’s on. The problem is she’s not always on. And I totally get that. Her short program is one of my favorites, and I would love to see it on an Olympic stage.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Amber Glenn actually looks like she’s having fun and loving the program. Wow, does that just elevate the program to a whole new level. Similar to Alysa Liu’s long program.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

One of my favorite programs this season is Amber Glenn’s. I love the music choice. It builds as the program does. It’s fun to watch.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I don’t love Isabeau Levito’s program, but she does it well. I also love the detail of the neck of her dress designed to look like a necklace.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I honestly can’t tell if there’s a message being sent by Alysa Liu being on the ice before Isabeau Levito. Amber Glenn as the defending champ makes sense as the last skater.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I want to like Sarah Everhardt’s program, but I don’t know if it was the best choice with Jason Brown bringing back his version.

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I love Elyse Lin-Gracey’s dress so much. And that Ina Bauer moment!

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Heather Mongilio @heathermongilio.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Fun fact: in ice skating, all jumps basically take off forward. Even when we’re entering jump backward (as you do for everything but axel), you tend to turn on the ice right as you’re jumping into the air.

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