Jim LaPorta
@jimlaporta.bsky.social
National Security Editor at CBS News | Marine infantryman + Afghanistan veteran
“There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time.” — 1984 (re-reading)
January 26, 2026 at 9:30 PM
“There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time.” — 1984 (re-reading)
“We have done so much for America”: Denmark fought alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now, as Trump eyes Greenland, the families of fallen soldiers have a message for him, Isaac Stanley-Becker reports: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
The Sacrifice of the Danes
After September 11, Denmark fought alongside its ally. The families of fallen soldiers have a message for Trump.
www.theatlantic.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:49 PM
“We have done so much for America”: Denmark fought alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now, as Trump eyes Greenland, the families of fallen soldiers have a message for him, Isaac Stanley-Becker reports: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
U.S. President Donald Trump calls the vessel a new class of “battleship” graced by his own name, but China just calls the U.S. Navy’s latest concept a larger and “easier target” for its growing array of anti-ship drones and missiles.
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
China calls Trump battleship ‘easier target’ amid mixed US reception
Some analysts have suggested the battleship proposal may ultimately not be realistic and instead a move by Trump to jolt awake U.S. shipbuilders.
www.militarytimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:52 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump calls the vessel a new class of “battleship” graced by his own name, but China just calls the U.S. Navy’s latest concept a larger and “easier target” for its growing array of anti-ship drones and missiles.
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...
A Danish soldier gave me this patch in 2013. Denmark lost 43 in Afghanistan, one of the highest per capita death rates among troop-contributing nations, with casualties primarily from combat in Helmand (where I was) between 2002 and 2014. Now Pres. Trump won’t rule out taking Greenland by force.
January 20, 2026 at 5:15 PM
A Danish soldier gave me this patch in 2013. Denmark lost 43 in Afghanistan, one of the highest per capita death rates among troop-contributing nations, with casualties primarily from combat in Helmand (where I was) between 2002 and 2014. Now Pres. Trump won’t rule out taking Greenland by force.
Busy week in news. In case you missed it. From Olivia Gazis of CBS News - Device that may be tied to Havana Syndrome obtained by U.S. government www.cbsnews.com/news/device-...
Device that may be tied to Havana Syndrome obtained by U.S. government
The device was purchased by Homeland Security officials under the Biden administration and cost millions, two sources said.
www.cbsnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Busy week in news. In case you missed it. From Olivia Gazis of CBS News - Device that may be tied to Havana Syndrome obtained by U.S. government www.cbsnews.com/news/device-...
New: President Trump briefed on U.S. military options which include cyber and psychological options for Iran, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...
Trump briefed on military, cyber, psychological options for Iran, sources say
President Trump has been briefed on a wide array of military and covert tools that can be used against Iran that go well beyond conventional airstrikes, including cyber operations and psychological ca...
www.cbsnews.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:58 PM
New: President Trump briefed on U.S. military options which include cyber and psychological options for Iran, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...
Sen. Mark Kelly sues Hegseth to block move to cut rank and pension over illegal orders video www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-ke...
Sen. Mark Kelly sues Hegseth to block move to cut rank and pension over illegal orders video
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking to block the Pentagon's efforts to downgrade his retirement rank and pay.
www.cbsnews.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Sen. Mark Kelly sues Hegseth to block move to cut rank and pension over illegal orders video www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-ke...
Thinking about John this morning. It’s been 13 years. I wrote this about him for The Washington Post - we served in Afghanistan together. www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpo...
January 12, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Thinking about John this morning. It’s been 13 years. I wrote this about him for The Washington Post - we served in Afghanistan together. www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpo...
U.S. forces seize 5th oil tanker linked to Venezuela www.cbsnews.com/news/us-forc...
U.S. forces seize 5th oil tanker linked to Venezuela
Two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that the Coast Guard, supported by the Navy, were the process of seizing the Olina oil tanker.
www.cbsnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
U.S. forces seize 5th oil tanker linked to Venezuela www.cbsnews.com/news/us-forc...
A Chinook helicopter pilot who helped plan the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was wounded in the leg during the pre-dawn mission via me and Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News - NY Times first reported. x.com/jimlaporta/s...
January 8, 2026 at 7:44 PM
A Chinook helicopter pilot who helped plan the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was wounded in the leg during the pre-dawn mission via me and Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News - NY Times first reported. x.com/jimlaporta/s...
8-years ago around this time President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were publicly comparing the size of their respective nuclear arsenals in a mine is bigger than yours tit for tat. www.npr.org/sections/the...
January 8, 2026 at 1:05 AM
8-years ago around this time President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were publicly comparing the size of their respective nuclear arsenals in a mine is bigger than yours tit for tat. www.npr.org/sections/the...
New this morning at CBS News - U.S. carrying out operation to seize Venezuela-linked oil tanker, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/us-oper...
U.S. carrying out operation to seize Venezuela-linked oil tanker, sources say
The U.S. is carrying out an operation to seize the Marinera, a Venezuela-linked oil tanker formerly known as Bella-1, according to sources.
www.cbsnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:21 PM
New this morning at CBS News - U.S. carrying out operation to seize Venezuela-linked oil tanker, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/us-oper...
#BREAKING The U.S. is carrying out an operation to seize the Venezuela-linked oil tanker formerly known as Bella-1, three U.S. officials tell @cbsnews.com - on Monday, CBS News broke the news that the U.S. was planning to seize the sanctioned oil tanker. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
U.S. plans to intercept tanker involved in Venezuelan oil trade, days after Maduro's capture
Two U.S. intelligence officials said Venezuelan officials had discussed placing Soviet-era defense systems and armed military personnel on tankers — disguising them as civilians for defense purposes.
www.cbsnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:11 PM
#BREAKING The U.S. is carrying out an operation to seize the Venezuela-linked oil tanker formerly known as Bella-1, three U.S. officials tell @cbsnews.com - on Monday, CBS News broke the news that the U.S. was planning to seize the sanctioned oil tanker. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
New: A Russian submarine and other naval vessels have been deployed to escort a sanctioned tanker that has historically carried Venezuelan oil, as the U.S. continues its weeks-long pursuit of the ship, two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. WSJ reported first. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
Venezuela's ex-president Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans next steps
Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spent the night in jail after he appeared in a U.S. courtroom — as questions linger about President Trump's plans for Venezuela.
www.cbsnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:33 AM
New: A Russian submarine and other naval vessels have been deployed to escort a sanctioned tanker that has historically carried Venezuelan oil, as the U.S. continues its weeks-long pursuit of the ship, two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. WSJ reported first. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Russia, dies at age 84 www.cbsnews.com/news/aldrich...
Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Russia, dies at age 84
Aldrich Ames was a counterintelligence officer for the CIA who spied for the Soviet Union and later Russia.
www.cbsnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Russia, dies at age 84 www.cbsnews.com/news/aldrich...
From Ellee Watson of @cbsnews.com - two U.S. service members are still recovering from injuries sustained during Operation Absolute Resolve. Five additional service members suffered injuries but have already returned to duty, per a Pentagon official.
January 6, 2026 at 11:30 PM
From Ellee Watson of @cbsnews.com - two U.S. service members are still recovering from injuries sustained during Operation Absolute Resolve. Five additional service members suffered injuries but have already returned to duty, per a Pentagon official.
From me and Ellee Watson - During the U.S. operation in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were injured trying to escape to their safe room. U.S. forces threw flash-bangs into the area where they were found. When they were bleeding when arrested. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
Venezuela's ex-president Maduro held in NYC jail as Trump administration plans next steps
Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spent the night in jail after he appeared in a U.S. courtroom — as questions linger about President Trump's plans for Venezuela.
www.cbsnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:17 PM
From me and Ellee Watson - During the U.S. operation in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were injured trying to escape to their safe room. U.S. forces threw flash-bangs into the area where they were found. When they were bleeding when arrested. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
New from me: U.S. forces plan to interdict an evading Russian-flagged oil tanker. Also, Venezuelan officials discussed placing armed military personnel on oil tankers — disguising them as civilians — as well as giving them portable Soviet-era MANPADS. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
U.S. plans to interdict tanker involved Venezuelan oil trade, days after Maduro's capture
Two U.S. intelligence officials said Venezuelan officials had discussed placing Soviet-era defense systems and armed military personnel on tankers — disguising them as civilians for defense purposes.
www.cbsnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:58 PM
New from me: U.S. forces plan to interdict an evading Russian-flagged oil tanker. Also, Venezuelan officials discussed placing armed military personnel on oil tankers — disguising them as civilians — as well as giving them portable Soviet-era MANPADS. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
January 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
Looking forward to watching season 2 bsky.app/profile/cbsn...
January 4, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Looking forward to watching season 2 bsky.app/profile/cbsn...
#BREAKING via Jennifer Jacobs - Nicolas Maduro was captured by Delta Force, the U.S. military's top special mission unit, according to U.S. officials. Army Delta Force was also responsible for the mission that killed al-Baghdadi in 2019.
January 3, 2026 at 9:47 AM
#BREAKING via Jennifer Jacobs - Nicolas Maduro was captured by Delta Force, the U.S. military's top special mission unit, according to U.S. officials. Army Delta Force was also responsible for the mission that killed al-Baghdadi in 2019.
U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela as Trump escalates pressure on Maduro regime, sources say www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela as Trump escalates pressure on Maduro regime, sources say
President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, U.S. officials told CBS News, ratchet up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
www.cbsnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 AM
U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela as Trump escalates pressure on Maduro regime, sources say www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, U.S. officials told CBS News, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
January 3, 2026 at 7:41 AM
President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, U.S. officials told CBS News, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Here’s what we know at the moment: U.S. strikes ISIS targets in Syria, after 2 soldiers and interpreter were killed last week - CBS News www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-str...
U.S. strikes ISIS targets in Syria, after 2 soldiers and interpreter were killed last week
The airstrikes on ISIS targets are being conducted in response to the killing of two U.S. Army soldiers and an civilian contractor by a lone terrorist in Palmyra, Syria.
www.cbsnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Here’s what we know at the moment: U.S. strikes ISIS targets in Syria, after 2 soldiers and interpreter were killed last week - CBS News www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-str...