iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Very much enjoyed having the chance to shoot a sit down interview with Janet Yellen as she wraps up her tenure as the 78th Secretary of the Treasury. The Cash Room at the Treasury did not disappoint.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Sundays in the garage. Propane heater edition.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

We joked that I was more of “helicopter dad” than him… we joked about how we were on Twitter before it was cool and after it collapsed. I can’t believe he’s gone. I’ll miss my friend. My thoughts are with Kara, and their daughter Oliva, his family, and his WRC colleagues who loved being around him.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Later in life, our conversations shifted from news nerdom to parenthood. He thought it was funny when I had a daughter that I called her “beanie”. When he had Olivia, he called her “bean”. He told me, “I get it now”. We were both proud #girldads. Olivia was the love of his life. Saw him a recently.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

When he started working exclusively for WRC he was so proud. I congratulated him and he said I played a huge part of his success, which is comical. But I always appreciated his ability to make everyone feel important.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

We were all so proud to look up and say, “hey, I know that guy!” as he hovered overhead. We worked together for years at ABC 7, on slow days I’d go hang at his hanger. We talked about him perusing an on air position. I told him if you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never be ready. Chase it.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Brad did it effortlessly. At work, I’d text him every time he flew over head. He’d text me back a picture of me on the scene of some news event from 1000ft. My favorite was when he took a photo of my reporter Bob Barnard and I stuck on a hut down I-270 during the 2014 blizzard....

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

He captured some amazing moments. Everyone knew CHOPPER BRAD and we always knew wherever he was is where we were supposed to be. Those who have never done it can’t fathom the complexity of using a robo camera, while the chopper is spinning, and all the while describing the scene below LIVE on air.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

We were both news nerds, aviation geeks, and astronomy buffs. He hated when I traded my jeep in for a minivan. I hated his orange jeep. He was quick to share his Capitals tickets with his friends. I was always quick to jump on an offer.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Coming up on a year since I lost my friend to suicide. A post from my old twitter: Loss is hard. Brad Freitas was a friend since my early days in the business. We actually met before we knew each other were headed for a full time news career at our old stomping ground, Bushwallers…

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Bummer. Cops told them they actually have to leave.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Some info about the chopper flying low in the DC today... Don't be alarmed. Belongs to NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. It's sweeping DC for some baseline readings ahead of Inauguration.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

The departure from Union Station, DC this evening on MARC 875. 🚊 @mtamaryland.bsky.social

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

300+ people in attendance. Most all of them were family of the 92 victims or first responders. This was the first formal memorial ever held or monument ever placed. Amazing, when you consider this incident changed aviation forever. This crash brought ground proximity to all commercial airliners.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Yesterday, I had the honor of attending a ceremony remembering the lives lost 50 years ago when TWA Flight 514 slammed into a mountain side in Bluemont, Virginia. I co-produced a short documentary about crash 10 years ago while at WJLA. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy was keynote speaker.

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

SuperCOW install happening in front of the Capitol ahead of Inauguration Day. 📶

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Van Applegate @vanapplegate.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Today’s goal: Don’t block the entry way.

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