John Ismay
@johnismay.bsky.social
2.4K followers 120 following 220 posts
Reporter, The New York Times. Former U.S. Navy EOD & Iraq vet. Reach me securely via Signal at: johnismay.01 or by email at: [email protected]
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Reposted by John Ismay
Reposted by John Ismay
navmecheng.bsky.social
> It is 2025 BC. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

> It is 2025 AD. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis
Soldiers at the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis, TN.
Reposted by John Ismay
nytimes.com
Pope Leo XIV placed the poor at the center of the Christian message in his first major document, which was released on Thursday, urging people to defend and protect the most vulnerable as Jesus did while carrying out acts of charity like almsgiving.
Pope Leo Calls on Christians to Care for the Poor in His First Teaching
The message signaled a continuation of one of the priorities of his predecessor, Francis.
nyti.ms
Reposted by John Ismay
wesleymorgan.bsky.social
West Point graduate who eventually went Guard, did two Iraq deployments and Afghanistan deployment, and then a fourth Kuwait/Iraq/Syria one commanding the California Guard’s aviation brigade. Has also commanded the Oregon Guard’s main unit, the 40th Infantry BCT.
isabelsantos.bsky.social
Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold stated that if the Oregon National Guard were deployed, they would protect protesters, not ICE, prioritizing citizens’ safety and civil liberties—a strong stance earning widespread approval.
Reposted by John Ismay
ewong.bsky.social
NEW: While Qatar helps with Gaza talks, it's trying to mediate the US-Venezuela conflict. But Trump is cold on diplomacy. He has put 10,000 troops in the Caribbean and is continuing airstrikes on civilian boats. And Rubio pushes to oust Maduro. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...
Qatar Pushes U.S.-Venezuela Diplomacy as Trump Focuses on Military Action
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by John Ismay
wesleymorgan.bsky.social
Yesterday's Syria strike puts US combat actions during the second Trump administration at:

—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (March-April)
—75+ air strikes in Somalia
—7 air strikes and 3 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—4 air strikes in the Caribbean
—B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq
Reposted by John Ismay
aric.bsky.social
Our New York Times Visual Investigations team is hiring a reporter. It's the same job I have -- use visual investigation/OSINT/etc. skills to report on the world.

You'll need to be based in/near NYC. Pay range is ~110-130k.

www.nytco.com/careers/job-...
Open-Source Reporter (Video Journalist), Visual Investigations | The New York Times Company
www.nytco.com
Reposted by John Ismay
adamweinstein.bsky.social
Years ago, I got a fellowship from the Marine Corps to research counterinsurgency in Vietnam, and in part of it I wrote specifically about the Vietnam stab-in-the-back thesis, its historical precedents and motivations, and how it persisted in political and military thought. That was 2007
Reposted by John Ismay
bcfinucane.bsky.social
TFW you’re reading a profile of a war criminal and realize you probably have multiple mutual acquaintances.

Sigh
johnismay.bsky.social
Thursday night: @nekocasefans.bsky.social playing Deep Red Bells at the Lincoln Theater in DC
johnismay.bsky.social
Bobbie Scholley, one of the Navy's first deep-sea dive officers, and Kate Wilder, the first woman to graduate from Army Special Forces training, shared their thoughts after watching Pete Hegseth's remarks about women in combat www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
What Women Heard in Hegseth’s Remarks About Physical Standards
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by John Ismay
charliesavage.bsky.social
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told

A notice calls the people the U.S. military recently killed on suspicion of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea “unlawful combatants.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
johnismay.bsky.social
"Military policy and norms evolved from [Gen. Ulysses S.] Grant’s example. The military discourages political rallies in front of troops, and those on active duty are urged to avoid partisan politics" - via Helene Cooper www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/u...
‘Dangerous Cities,’ the Military, Trump and the Founding Fathers
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by John Ismay
carolrosenbergnyt.bsky.social
During his address today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited the U.S. military’s generals and admirals to quit, “if the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink.” Here's a confidential questionnaire for any flag officers resigning their commissions.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/u...
Are You Quitting the Military? We Want to Hear From You.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by John Ismay
nytimes.com
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of the military’s most senior officers and their enlisted counterparts to attend a gathering on Tuesday at a military base in Virginia. Military officials and historians say the event is without precedent in size and scope.

Here's what we know.
Hegseth and Trump to Meet With Military Brass: What We Know
Tuesday’s meeting at a Marine Corps base appears to be without precedent, and a lack of explanation for it has led to speculation and fear.
nyti.ms
Reposted by John Ismay
adamweinstein.bsky.social
I think a lot about my exchange trip to Uzbekistan and Russia as a teen in 1995, watching street cops saunter around in tactical cammies like soldiers and thinking to myself, man, I'm glad I'm American
johnismay.bsky.social
$578 million for Stingers. The Biden Administration sent more than 3,000 of them to Ukraine
johnismay.bsky.social
The Hong Kong Police Bureau EOD team is world-class, and they do these kinds of high profile UXO call-outs all the time. Got to work with them in 2009 and have nothing but respect for those folks
starsandstripes.bsky.social
About 6,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Hong Kong overnight so experts could defuse a large U.S.-made bomb left over from World War II that was discovered at a construction site.
Thousands evacuated in Hong Kong after discovery of large WWII-era bomb
www.stripes.com
Reposted by John Ismay
nhannahjones.bsky.social
One stark marker of how much our society has devolved in just a few years is Bob Iger personally got on a call to convince us to let Disney/HULU make the 1619 Project. That America no longer exists.
Reposted by John Ismay
nhannahjones.bsky.social
My friend and colleague Wesley Morris and I had a very sobering conversation about America since the 1619 Project published and how it feels to be falling back under the veil that W.E.B. Du Bois so mournfully wrote about. I hope you’ll listen to this episode of Cannonball @nytimes.com