J Lee
@washingtonhorizon.com
I write about federal #acquisition, #travel, and #aviation, and edit WashingtonHorizon.com. #hereforit #202horizon #proudAmerican
Rolando Mendoza, a senior associate director of design at Woolpert, told me the firm made a deliberate decision to feature the president's name [in its proposal for redevelopment of IAD]. "We're not shying away from that ... We know our audience, and you play to your audience." buff.ly/XUaBame
www.bizjournals.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Rolando Mendoza, a senior associate director of design at Woolpert, told me the firm made a deliberate decision to feature the president's name [in its proposal for redevelopment of IAD]. "We're not shying away from that ... We know our audience, and you play to your audience." buff.ly/XUaBame
Shady sic boots from the Journal.
January 13, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Shady sic boots from the Journal.
Finally, the Journal does its job. Raise your hand if you looked to the whore times for cultural criticsm. No hands raised? I #gag. www.wsj.com/business/ene...
www.wsj.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Finally, the Journal does its job. Raise your hand if you looked to the whore times for cultural criticsm. No hands raised? I #gag. www.wsj.com/business/ene...
Do folks think David Haskell is doing a good job?
January 11, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Do folks think David Haskell is doing a good job?
"Avelo Airlines will stop operating deportation flights, as it closes its base in Mesa. Along with this, the airline will get rid of six Boeing 737-700s, in order to simplify its fleet. As it turns out, though, those are the planes that are going directly to ICE."
Avelo Airlines Ends Deportation Flights, But Company's Planes Sold To ICE
Avelo Airlines will stop operating its controversial deportation flights, but instead, six of its planes will be sold to the government.
buff.ly
January 9, 2026 at 5:12 PM
"Avelo Airlines will stop operating deportation flights, as it closes its base in Mesa. Along with this, the airline will get rid of six Boeing 737-700s, in order to simplify its fleet. As it turns out, though, those are the planes that are going directly to ICE."
As the president’s national-security team was preparing for the incursion into Venezuela, the director of national intelligence was posting photos from a Hawaiian beach. buff.ly/L1qzl9f
buff.ly
January 9, 2026 at 2:52 PM
As the president’s national-security team was preparing for the incursion into Venezuela, the director of national intelligence was posting photos from a Hawaiian beach. buff.ly/L1qzl9f
"If successful, the plan could effectively give the U.S. stewardship of most of the oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere, when factoring in deposits in the U.S. and other countries where U.S. companies control production."
buff.ly
January 9, 2026 at 12:27 PM
"If successful, the plan could effectively give the U.S. stewardship of most of the oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere, when factoring in deposits in the U.S. and other countries where U.S. companies control production."
In today’s cutting-room links, House passes $180B spending package, US cyber ops in Venezuela mark new era in warfare transparency. Meanwhile Trump seeks record $1.5T defense budget (+50%), wants contractor exec pay caps at $5M. Federal telework scaled back. buff.ly/8WP1o7j
Horizon cutting-room links: Friday, 9 January 2025
"House Passes Spending Package Before Another Shutdown Deadline," New York Times On 8 January 2026, the House passed a bipartisan spending package, avoiding steep cuts proposed by President Trump.…
buff.ly
January 9, 2026 at 12:11 PM
In today’s cutting-room links, House passes $180B spending package, US cyber ops in Venezuela mark new era in warfare transparency. Meanwhile Trump seeks record $1.5T defense budget (+50%), wants contractor exec pay caps at $5M. Federal telework scaled back. buff.ly/8WP1o7j
"Dell Technologies is broadening its personal computer portfolio to target a wider range of price points after the unit underperformed in 2025, losing market share to competitors." “We’ve got a bit off course.”
buff.ly
January 8, 2026 at 10:12 PM
"Dell Technologies is broadening its personal computer portfolio to target a wider range of price points after the unit underperformed in 2025, losing market share to competitors." “We’ve got a bit off course.”
I grew up in Minnesota surrounded by people proud of their heritage, which was German and Norwegian and Danish, among others, but was never "white."
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I grew up in Minnesota surrounded by people proud of their heritage, which was German and Norwegian and Danish, among others, but was never "white."
"The New York gaming commission’s facility location board said visitation would be anchored by locals within a two-hour drive, but they also expect the casinos to attract domestic and international tourists."
New York City Casinos Get Final Approval. What Does it Mean for NYC Tourism?
Three full-scale casinos are set to open in New York City after receiving the green light Monday from the state’s gaming commission.
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 12:27 PM
"The New York gaming commission’s facility location board said visitation would be anchored by locals within a two-hour drive, but they also expect the casinos to attract domestic and international tourists."
"The changes at WC Smith come as the development community continues to face challenges. Office occupancies for Class B and C space remain low, and the interest rate climate has made it difficult to refinance maturing debt."
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 10:12 PM
"The changes at WC Smith come as the development community continues to face challenges. Office occupancies for Class B and C space remain low, and the interest rate climate has made it difficult to refinance maturing debt."
"The ultrawealthy are able to buy and sell shares of the buzziest private companies via invite-only transactions long before they list their shares on public stock exchanges."
buff.ly
December 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
"The ultrawealthy are able to buy and sell shares of the buzziest private companies via invite-only transactions long before they list their shares on public stock exchanges."
"Specifically, it would appear that the 13-year-old jet with the registration code D-ABYD is leaving the fleet in January 2026, while the 12-year-old jet with the registration code D-ABYG is leaving the fleet in the third quarter of 2026."
Surprise: Lufthansa Sells Two Boeing 747-8s... To The US Air Force?!
Lufthansa is reportedly selling two of its Boeing 747-8s, unexpectedly. Could the buyer for these planes be the US Air Force?
buff.ly
December 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM
"Specifically, it would appear that the 13-year-old jet with the registration code D-ABYD is leaving the fleet in January 2026, while the 12-year-old jet with the registration code D-ABYG is leaving the fleet in the third quarter of 2026."
Reagan negotiated from strength after building up US power and rejected détente; today’s defense posture and China/Russia concessions don’t match that playbook.
buff.ly
December 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Reagan negotiated from strength after building up US power and rejected détente; today’s defense posture and China/Russia concessions don’t match that playbook.
Kyle "then lays it all out in the world’s dumbest blind item, telling us she fell very hard for 'this person' and was deeply in love during a vulnerable time in her life. She acknowledges that they were dating, that it was a relationship, and that there were intense feelings."
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: Finally, Answers
The women finally get honest about what is going on in their lives, including Kyle finally admitting what’s happening in her love life.
buff.ly
December 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Kyle "then lays it all out in the world’s dumbest blind item, telling us she fell very hard for 'this person' and was deeply in love during a vulnerable time in her life. She acknowledges that they were dating, that it was a relationship, and that there were intense feelings."
In announcing #State's return to Times New Roman as its default #font, a new memo does the most with the least.
What’s new is old at State: Times New Roman is back
In Everything Is Semiotics, the Verge reports that the State Department is returning to Times New Roman as its default font. Biden’s SecState Antony Blinken converted State to Calibri, a sans serif…
buff.ly
December 12, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I say fuck the halcyon days of Conde Nast et al. The sepia hides the sameness of exclusivity. We are lucky to have pieces like this, available to everyone for free.
Here's my dispatch from a week of pre-trial hearings in the Luigi Mangione case: The supporters, the media frenzy, and the simmering tensions between all factions on how to talk about a case that is maybe too viral for its own good.
www.theverge.com/policy/83905...
www.theverge.com/policy/83905...
One week at the Luigi Mangione media circus
Frog costumes, Luigi hats, and the press frenzy at the viral murder trial.
www.theverge.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I say fuck the halcyon days of Conde Nast et al. The sepia hides the sameness of exclusivity. We are lucky to have pieces like this, available to everyone for free.
In Wedneda's cutting-room, Musk’s DOGE ended early after overstated savings; 26k rehired amid fallout. Army warns of foreign spy recruitment targeting soldiers and families. FAA gives $10k to 776 staff who kept skies safe during shutdown.
Horizon cutting-room links: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Happy Thanksgiving, from the Horizon. We will be dark until Monday, 1 December. See you then. "DOGE 'Cut Muscle, Not Fat'; 26K Experts Rehired After Brutal Cuts," Ars Technica DOGE, created by Elon…
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
In Wedneda's cutting-room, Musk’s DOGE ended early after overstated savings; 26k rehired amid fallout. Army warns of foreign spy recruitment targeting soldiers and families. FAA gives $10k to 776 staff who kept skies safe during shutdown.
GAO backs the VA’s literal reading of bed‑width MTRs and upholds the exclusion of a bidder whose products failed tape‑measure inspection.
Joerns Healthcare, LLC (B-423455.2, B-423455.3, B-423455.4)
You should not care. Category: Technical specifications, physical inspection Date: 9 September 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423455.2%2Cb-423455.3%2Cb-423455.4 Joerns Healthcare, LLC,…
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
GAO backs the VA’s literal reading of bed‑width MTRs and upholds the exclusion of a bidder whose products failed tape‑measure inspection.
GAO backs the Air Force’s holistic past‑performance assessment and cost‑conscious tradeoff in an MQ‑9 trainer award.
SOFIS-TRG, LLC (B-423667)
You should care. Category: Past performance, best value tradeoff, technical evaluation Date: 16 September 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423667 SOFIS‑TRG, LLC, of Alexandria, Virginia,…
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
GAO backs the Air Force’s holistic past‑performance assessment and cost‑conscious tradeoff in an MQ‑9 trainer award.
SBIR firm lacks standing to challenge Army's $43,342 DocuSign purchase through mandatory CHESS program without demonstrating connection to prior research. buff.ly/AGKd0dg
Inkit Inc. (B-423724)
You should not care. Category: SBIR, standing Date: 9 September 2025 URL: https://www.gao.gov/products/b-423724 Inkit, an SBIR program participant, protested after the Army issued a $43,342 task…
washingtonhorizon.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:46 PM
SBIR firm lacks standing to challenge Army's $43,342 DocuSign purchase through mandatory CHESS program without demonstrating connection to prior research. buff.ly/AGKd0dg