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Sam Fellman

@samfellman.bsky.social
1.3K followers 212 following 1.8K posts

Journalist + 🇺🇸 veteran / 2026-7 Knight fellow @MIT / Priors: Business Insider, Military Times, Iraq / "Too easy" Contact me securely: (Signal) Samfellman.16 (Email) sfellman [at] proton.me

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Reposted by Sam Fellman
John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Days since USS Abraham Lincoln deployed: 282 Iran war began: 183 USS George HW Bush deployed: 152 SecDef briefed reporters on the war: 117 USS George Washington deployed: 99 2nd naval blockade: 48 USS George Washington arrived in C5F: 11 Last known US strike on Iran: 0
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Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Some LOAC issues raised by Trump’s latest version of this threat: —threat of indiscriminate attacks (not against specific military objectives) —threat of attacks against civilian objects (not all those targets will be military obj) —threat of violence intended to terrorize civilian population
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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
“The Israeli military is quietly but quickly building a giant earthen barrier separating the over 50% of the Gaza Strip it controls from the rest of the territory…”
apnews.com
Israel is building a miles-long earthen barrier inside Gaza, entrenching its division
The Israeli military is rapidly constructing a large earthen barrier in the Gaza Strip, further entrenching the division of the tiny Palestinian enclave.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
"For the military to defy policy direction from a Minister appointed by the President and Parliament to implement a reform agenda therefore brought into question the premise of Ukraine’s war effort," RUSI's Jack Watling writes: www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
rusi.org
The Dismissal of Ukraine’s Defence Minister
Fedorov’s removal leaves critical issues unresolved between the Defence Ministry and General Staff.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
A Ukrainian manufacturer said they are "deeply concerned" that the country has gone through three defense ministers in a little over a year: Via Sinéad Baker and @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-arms...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine's weapons makers fear a costly slowdown after their tech champion was pushed out of the defense ministry
Defense industry sources worry about what Mykhailo Fedorov's dismissal could mean for battlefield innovation at a pivotal moment in the war.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
"There is no training for the anticipation, the hum of orders, or how the air weighs down with the threat of violence." Powerful account of Stockdale's reaction to Houthi attacks from the ship's conning officer: www.usni.org/magazines/pr...
usni.org
Under Fire in the Red Sea
September 2024. The guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106) is about to enter one of the most contested waters of the world: the Red Sea’s Bab el Mandeb Strait.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
When Russian sailors opened fire on Ukraine's explosive-laden boats, nearby drones launched small aerial drones to kill them. Uncrewed boats are evolving rapidly, as @byjepstein.bsky.social reports: www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-dro...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine's war drones are catching new rides into battle
Motherships are helping Ukraine send small drones farther into battle and strike from less predictable directions.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Colleagues from BILD saw Ukraine's long-range drone war up close on a secret launch mission. via the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network: www.businessinsider.com/inside-ukrai...
businessinsider.com
Inside Ukraine's secret mission to devastate Russian energy facilities
In eastern Ukraine, soldiers furtively readied Fire Point drones to fly attack runs deep into Russia. Their biggest fear is being discovered.
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Reposted by Sam Fellman
Hope Seck @hopeseck.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Marines working with DoD to build direct-hire path for civilian jobs www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...
militarytimes.com
Marines working with DoD to build direct-hire path for civilian jobs
The Corps is scheming up a way for troops to seamlessly land their first civilian jobs, up to a year before their end of active service date arrives.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
"From what I see, Fedorov is the best defense minister so far — the most active and willing to reorganize [the] old corrupted machine," an Unmanned Systems Forces officer told BI. www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-pro-...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine is ousting its pro-tech defense minister after just 6 months. Troops fear it's a monumental victory for Russia.
Mykhailo Fedorov set out to transform Ukraine's military into a modern fighting force. Soldiers praised many of his reforms.
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Dr. Jonathan Schroden @jjschroden.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
"In the 19th century, the great Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz observed that war is politics by other means. In this conflict, only one side truly acted on that insight." [Spoiler: It's not us 😑] warontherocks.com/outgunned-bu...
warontherocks.com
Outgunned, But Not Outplayed: Iran's Theory of Victory
Nineteen weeks ago, Iran faced the combined might of the most powerful country in the world and the most advanced military in the Middle East. Today, it
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Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
There are *four* takeovers in this picture: Canada, Greenland, Venezuela, and (h/t eagle-eyed @trs1998.bsky.social) Cuba!
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
It is easier to fantasize about future wars than to end ongoing ones. Exhibits A, B, C: 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇮🇷
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Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Assuming this math is correct, it means that the US plans to charge 15X as much as the Islamic Republic of Iran. So if you're a shipper, whom do you want to do business with -- Trump or the ayatollah?
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Dr. Jonathan Schroden @jjschroden.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
If GWOT taught us anything, it’s that beards make you more lethal 🧔 🔥
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Reposted by Sam Fellman
Mike Hixenbaugh @mikehixenbaugh.com · 13/07/2026
Have you noticed it can cost hundreds of dollars for a family bowling outing? Thank private equity. @spettypi.bsky.social reports. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
nbcnews.com
Wall Street goes bowling for profits, driving up the price of a middle-class pastime
Fueled by private equity investments, Lucky Strike Entertainment went on a buying spree and now owns more than 1 in 10 American bowling alleys.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Gripens are great for Ukraine's air force, but they are not a silver bullet, as BI's Sinéad Baker reports: www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-get...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine is finally going to get Gripen fighters built for a Russia fight, but new jets come with new challenges
Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets have long been viewed as ideal for Ukraine's fight against Russia and it's long-term security.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Whiskey Friday can't come too soon 🥃
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The 737's flight path crossed the region affected by the collapsing US-Iran ceasefire before its crash. via @trainsonplanes.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-p...
businessinsider.com
What may have caused the 737 plane to crash off the coast of Pakistan
The K2 Airways cargo plane from Pakistan, carrying five crew members, plummeted before losing contact. Small clues point to possible causes.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
New details on the AI 'kill web' NATO has begun building, in partnership with a colleague at BILD: www.businessinsider.com/nato-builds-...
businessinsider.com
NATO is building an AI 'Kill Web' to stop Russian attackers in their tracks
The new strategy creates a vast network to detect and strike targets, an approach shaped by lessons from Ukraine.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This is exactly the opposite of what candidate Trump called for: Ending the Ukraine war in 24 hours. Now President Trump says he's letting them fight. With less US arms support to Ukraine, that has generally favored Russia www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-co...
businessinsider.com
What Trump's own words tell us about what a White House win could mean for Ukraine
Russia's war in Ukraine is a major issue in the 2024 election. If Trump wins the White House, Ukraine's future is more uncertain than ever.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Trump keeps playing the same card (threats of massive retaliation) and expects a different result
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This is a significant misspeak by Trump. The United States is treaty-bound to defend Japan
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
A 2020 law bans the US from selling Turkey F-35s stealth fighters until the secretary of state certifies Turkey has not purchased or accepted Russia's S-400 air defense system (which are now in Turkey's possession). www.fddaction.org/policy-alert...
fddaction.org
Policy Alert: Why Congress Must Block Any F-35 Transfer to Turkey
Bot...
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Reposted by Sam Fellman
Jon Collins @jcollins.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
It was a decade ago my newsroom got word of a police shooting in a nearby suburb. The victim's name was Philando Castile. His death would trigger a surge of protest for police accountability, the first criminal charges against an officer and would change the state. (1) share.google/B3Ogmudw35eb...
share.google
‘Nobody was supposed to know what his name was’: Philando Castile’s legacy grows a decade after his death
A decade after he was killed by a St. Anthony police officer, the legacy of Philando Castile looms large in how people view policing in the Twin Cities.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
"You have to be careful when you sleep next to a bear." See how Europe's eastern edge is preparing for war: www.businessinsider.com/nato-eastern...
businessinsider.com
NATO's eastern flank prepares to fend off Russia — with or without America
Reporters traveled to three exposed stretches of Europe's eastern frontier and found varied strategies and uneven progress to deter Russia.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
These makeshift drone defenses look as effective as a screen door on a submarine -> www.businessinsider.com/russia-anti-...
businessinsider.com
Russia equipped its submarines with anti-drone cages to protect against Ukraine's deep strikes, Western intel says
Cages are common on the battlefield to give armored vehicles more protection against drones. They are increasingly used to shield infrastructure.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Foreign volunteers can earn as much as $10,000 a month fighting for Ukraine. An official described it as the "highest salaries in the world for infantry." via @byjepstein.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-payi...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine is paying big to get foreign fighters to the front. Keeping them there is the hard part.
Foreign fighters told Business Insider that new contracts and higher pay could fix manpower issues if soldiers stick around long enough.
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Reposted by Sam Fellman
Adam J Schmidt @adamjschmidt.com · 06/07/2026
So many questions about this incident. Can only hope a full and transparent investigation answers them. As a former Guard Soldier I'm particularly curious what Rules for the Use of Force (RUF) they're operating under and what their law enforcement training consists of. www.npr.org/2026/07/05/n...
npr.org
National Guard troops fatally shoot a man in downtown Memphis
Memphis police say National Guard troops fired their weapons in the early morning hours of July 5, killing a man who was armed with a handgun. State investigators will handle the case.
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Jack Murphy @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New High Side article out today about the JSOC 0400 counter-WMD mission, and the proposed plan to snatch highly enriched Uranium out of Iran. thehighside.substack.com/p/iran-wmd-r...
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Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
More than 2 million troops have been killed or wounded since Putin's invasion, per @csis.org study, including 1.4 million Russians and up to 625,000 Ukrainians. Russian deaths are four times greater than US has had in all wars since WWII combined. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/u...
nytimes.com
Troop Casualties in Ukraine War Top 2 Million, Study Finds
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Most recent offensives in the Ukraine war have slogged forward at the pace of 1916's Battle of the Somme, this striking chart from @csis.org shows:
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Paul Rieckhoff @rieckhoff.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Unfortunately, this trash is also happening. It’s the opposite of the unifying Team USA we will see and root for tonight.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
1/ The VP used a speech commemorating America's 250th anniversary to take potshots at a Democratic president before sailors at a Virginia naval air station. It's a vivid reminder of the norms breakdown toward the nonpartisan military:
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
1/ A recent wargame challenged German leaders to react to a security crisis without clear American support. Now NATO leaders are facing issues similar to those seen in the game. www.businessinsider.com/us-pullback-...
businessinsider.com
US pullback from NATO echoes the set-up of an unsettling German wargame
The new podcast "Ernstfall" examines the challenges Germany would face in a war crisis without US support.
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Jake Lahut @jakelahut.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Quick mini thread on some new polling out of New Hampshire for 2028. Purely interesting in terms of what it says about voter expectations and which names are breaking through.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
More evidence that a relentless US bombing campaign against Iran has left the US in a *weaker* condition in the Middle East: from NYT: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/w...
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John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The dumbest idea ever. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/u...
nytimes.com
Inside Intelligence Agencies, a Fight Over Building a Master List of Spies
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Bulgaria and Israel scrambled fighter jets to escort this airliner that transmitted an alert: www.businessinsider.com/lot-polish-a...
businessinsider.com
Erroneous hijack alert on a flight to Tel Aviv triggered fighter escorts and an emergency landing
Passengers on a LOT Polish Airlines flight to Tel Aviv found themselves in a tense mid-air situation. It proved to be a false alarm.
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
"Ironically, the hardest thing in FPV piloting is flying very slowly or hovering in one place, said Radio, a Ukrainian drone instructor. @byjepstein.bsky.social went inside Ukraine's drone academy: www.businessinsider.com/ukrainians-w...
businessinsider.com
Ukraine's war drone pilots must first survive the 'Killhouse'
As drones radically change how wars are fought, Ukraine is putting would-be pilots through a test of nerves and skill before sending them to fight.
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Mike Hixenbaugh @mikehixenbaugh.com · 30/06/2026
For a half-century, U.S. policy has pushed to keep disabled Americans out of institutions. Now Rebecca Anger and many others fear that era could be coming to an end. Here's my latest on the Trump administration's growing attacks on Medicaid-funded home-care programs.
nbcnews.com
Paralyzed at 7, she fought for the life she wanted. Medicaid cuts threaten to take it away.
For a half-century, U.S. policy has pushed to keep disabled Americans out of institutions. Now Rebecca Anger and others fear that era could end.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 30/06/2026
there were more people in my garage watching the World Cup last weekend
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
It's a stretch to believe a Signal chat among US officials named "Iran/Ukraine planning" did not include classified information. From this eye-opening Atlantic scoop: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
theatlantic.com
Hegseth, Rubio, and Caine Had an Auto-Deleting Signal Chat
New records reveal that officials kept using the app, even after the president suggested they stop.
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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 30/06/2026
A Ukrainian drone strike on a house outside Moscow has killed a 6-month-old baby. The boy died of burns en route to the hospital, the mother had both legs amputated and remains unconscious, and the father lost a foot. t.me/ostorozhno_n...
t.me
Осторожно, новости
Шестимесячный младенец погиб от тяжёлых ожогов, его мама потеряла обе ноги после украинского удара по Подмосковью. «Осторожно, новости» выяснили подробности удара БПЛА по дому в подмосковном Егорьевс...
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
> @ericlipton.nytimes.com @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/06/28/w...
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Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
US Central Command announces its forces today (Friday) conducted strikes against Iran "as a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz."
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
This was "stupid," "reckless," "insanely bad" Via @trainsonplanes.bsky.social www.businessinsider.com/pilots-react...
businessinsider.com
Pilots react to a Boeing 777 freighter that came within feet of the ground in a 'reckless' stunt over Texas
A Boeing 777 nearly clipped the ground during an unusually low flyover in Texas, a stunt veteran pilots called "reckless" and "stupid."
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Sam Fellman @samfellman.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
​This eye-opening paper from CNAS's Paul Scharre argues that tomorrow's wars will be won far differently than those before. Wars will be decided, narrowly, and based on national "compute" power and the militaries that most effectively employ AI www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
Losing the War of the Future
How new technologies threaten America’s military advantage.
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Caitlin Talmadge @proftalmadge.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
More evidence that US-Iran agreement has not effectively addressed Iran's continuing ability to interfere with traffic in the Strait-- a source of Iranian strategic leverage that did not exist before the war. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/w...
nytimes.com
After Attacking Cargo Ship, Iran Presses Its Claim to Authority Over Strait
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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Garrett Graff (@vermontgmg.bsky.social), who wrote a defining book about Watergate, calls JD Vance's comments "shockingly a-historical" and an "immature understanding of what Watergate was and wasn’t." (But Garrett agrees with Vance that Nixon would've survived Watergate in the modern era.)
doomsdayscenario.co
JD Vance and the Latest Nixon Cover-Up
The vice president is utterly wrong about Watergate—but correct about its legacy.
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