Behold, the most clutch powerpoint slide I've ever seen in my entire defense reporting career. My colleague
@maeday22
was lucky enough to witness it in person and send my way.
@giantcat9
@NPR
I'm going to be open about this and I am bracing myself for hate tweets. I HAD TO terminate a pregnancy at 14 weeks because a chromosomal abnormality was rapidly killing my baby. Continuing to carry the baby until she died could have prevented future pregnancies. (1/2)
This morning before 6:00 a.m. I got a harassing email from some random reader calling me a moron and a slew of other things based on a story he'd read of mine published in December. Did he email the other reporter -- a male colleague -- on the byline to tell him the same? Nope.
@NPR
As impossibly hard as it was, if I had not done this, I would not have my 2 boys. I got my rainbow baby just 6 weeks or so after my termination, then at 8 months post-partum, I got pregnant with my second healthy baby. I am so grateful for the choices I have where I live. (2/2)
This morning the Army fired an Excalibur round out of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) and had a direct hit on target 70km or 43 miles away. This is believed to put the US ahead of even the most high-end artillery capability from adversaries.
@NPR
I am also grateful for the short life my first and only little girl had. I like to think she is watching out for her brothers from heaven. This is one of the many reasons why we can't take choices away from women after just six weeks of pregnancy.
I ended a pregnancy when I learned my baby was dying at 15 weeks. It was the saddest thing I’ve ever had to do but it was not a hard choice and I had that choice and no matter the circumstance women should choose. Imagine now if I had to make that decision at 16 weeks.
Alright guys, I’ve been quiet on here but it’s because I was busy with this little chubby cheeked angel named Frank. Born on 11/27 via c-section after a horrible 30 hours of labor. Good thing he’s a champ!
New tank in development. Fielding expected April 2020. This is an additive capability to the family. Will not replace tank already in the field.
#AUSA2019
He also responded to a slew of my tweets from several weeks ago to insult each one including ones commenting about my kids. So he's blocked now. This is a snapshot of what it's like to be a female journalist.
Maj. Katie Lunning’s calm and skill under pressure ensured 22 patients survived the suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. She is the
#SMOY
Airman of the Year. Congratulations to Maj. Lunning!
INBOX: Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated its next-generation, extended range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System in a 150-km flight at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. I'll be watching for a second flight test in September.
I'm also a little freaked out because I got a creepy text on my personal phone around the same time as the email asking if it was me. I deleted and did not respond.
Biden Budget Proposal Replaces ‘Mother’ with ‘Birthing Person’ - which makes me feel … less human for some reason. I’m just an oven I guess. Call me oven.
OK everyone, I ordered American flag patches for my son’s costume to be overnighted so there is no confusion. I did not mean to disrespect what has happened in recent weeks in Israel. My son was so proud of his WWII paratrooper costume and I allow my kids to pick their costumes.
Thank you to the members of the
@PressClubDC
for your votes and support. I am honored to serve as the next NPC president in 2022. I hope I can make all of you proud.
Fun day in Florida. I’ve covered this aircraft since it was literally a nameless paper design roughly a decade ago and I got to see it fly in person today.
I just want to make clear: If you give birth to a child, you are a mother. If you raise a child, you are a mother. Mothers come in many forms, but I don’t think it’s a question that if you grow a baby in your body that you are a mother. Not a birthing person.
Thank you to you and all of those fighting against the Russian invaders in Ukraine. One important aspect of this fight is to preserve democracy and the right to free speech and freedom of the press. Journalists are not only in danger reporting this war they are targets.
In Ukraine we are fighting against Russian fascism.
Last night I presented this Ukrainian Flag to the
@PressClubDC
, signed by the Kharkiv Media Hub, to thank journalists everywhere for their commitment to the truth and bravery in the face of Russian terrorism.
Thanks to my friend
@CrispinBurke
for donating some patches and even some jump wings to my little guy. His pint-sized paratrooper costume is all set in time for Halloween.
What a night last Wednesday at
@PressClubDC
when I was given the privilege to honor three amazing journalists at our Fourth Estate awards gala.
@clarissaward
@RanaAyyub
and
@Kirkman
are an inspiration. Thank you for your bravery and dedication to reporting.
#pressfreedom
@karlarosehanson
I have a lot of nightmares where I realize I’m maskless and surrounded by people. I bet in my next dream, a Crown Royal bag materializes to save the day.
@chitribopinions
Easy breezy millennials? Not all, but most Millennials entered the work force during an economic downturn and struggled to even get started. This generation is hamstrung by student debt like no other generation before it. Not to mention seeing decades of war. I could go on.
Dear Journalists, we know that some of you have been laid off in the last few weeks. And it sucks. And we would like to buy you a drink and let you gather in a spot with lots of people who understand. You are invited to the National Press Club
@PressClubDC
Friday for Taco Night.
I won something! Super honored to win this award tonight
@PressClubDC
at the Defence Media Awards. Great way to kick off
#AUSA2018
and thanks to
@defense_news
for trusting me to run all over the country and the world covering land warfare.
Today I officially became the VP
@PressClubDC
! I'm so honored to serve in this role and especially excited to work with new NPC president
@LisaNMatthews
- also it was a pleasure to work with 2020's president
@radiobroadcast
- Time to get to work and do good things for the club!
I guess I should just quit my job then since I should not be writing about the military. Especially about all that classified stuff military and industry officials tell me on the record.
Guys, I fit very comfortably into GOAL pants I've had in my closet for 6 years (couldn't fit them even before the baby weight). Two relatively back-to-back pregnancies were not my friend, but I'm down 70 freaking lbs!
Gen. VanHerck, USNORTHCOM commander, said China "just demonstrated" a "very fast" hypersonic vehicle. He said he would not add further detail, but said it would challenge current threat warning systems.
#SMDSymposium
#SMD2021
People always look forward to hearing that first ever “I love you” from their significant other but nothing compares to when your first born says it to you for the first time on his 2nd birthday.
@DefenseBaron
I haven't been covering the Pentagon as long as you but I had the same thought. A hospital stay that long is pretty serious. When the commandant was hospitalized in October, the public was informed literally that day.
@TheStroBro
He’s a 4 year old who dreams of being an Army paratrooper one day. While what happened this month was horrific, history of heroic American paratroopers is long and that is what is in his mind and heart. This is Halloween and my son is having fun and deserves that.
I’ll have more on this Monday morning but it’s the dang weekend right before Christmas and I’ve got two little boys who need some attention. :) ERCA cannon story can wait, even though it’s a cool accomplishment, so stay tuned.
I’ll be posting more about this wonderful night last night, but here’s the family all decked out for my
@NPCPresident
inaugural at the
@PressClubDC
last night. We postponed it from January due to COVID. It was worth the wait! I am also proud I got these little buds into tuxedos!
Couple of things I'm catching on the news: U.S. is sending a few hundred more troops to Hungary amid the Russian-Ukraine situation and the Russians have turned on their S-400s at the border of Ukraine.
Hey people, stop saying anyone who wants to be vaccinated against COVID can be. You are completely leaving out our helpless little ones under 5. I’ve got 2 of them and my worries in this pandemic are not over. Don’t forget our little ones still deserve protection.
Visited the Stinger Dome - a training simulator at Fort Sill, OK, today. Here a soldier defends a simulated Washington DC from enemy air threats. This is a new and improved simulator which became operational last summer. Trainees tout the realism and high fidelity of the system.
@washingtonpost
I haven't read this story yet because I don't want to be introduced to the actual, real human beings who would like to see kids go hungry all while trying to focus at school. What a recipe for success.
Today a significant majority of my colleagues at
@MilitaryTimes
and
@defense_news
filed to form
@SightlineUnion
We are dedicated and passionate about doing our jobs at a news organization that goes back 8 decades. We want to continue to do excellent work to keep these widely
If I had a dollar for every time the architects of a major battlefield communications network can't patch into a virtual conference, I'd probably have about $10 but that's still a lot of times that's happened.
Thanks to the
@PressClubDC
for the beautiful flowers upon the arrival of this little guy. He can’t wait to hang out at the Reliable Source with his new club pals!
Last night
@PressClubDC
honored Shireen Abu Akleh with the President's Award for her courage in reporting. We called for a THOROUGH US-led investigation into her killing, to bring her killer(s) to justice and to learn from it in order to protect reporters in conflict zones.
This showed up in my phone photo memories today. Me and what is literally called a Sky Truck. I flew around Anakonda in one of these throughout Poland. Its landings can be pretty sporty. I rode with a German general on one trip and as we were landing he just said “wooaaaaah!”
INBOX: SecDef has ordered the deployment of around 7,000 additional troops to Europe. This would comprise an armored brigade combat team with enablers. They will deploy to Germany to reassure NATO Allies and deter Russian aggression. They will deploy in the next few days.
Today is the day. I'm back to work after a 3-month maternity leave. I have some thoughts on maternity leave in this country now, but I'll leave that for another time. Anyway, hit me up with your pitches and tips!
I'm still a little shocked I had to write this today. He was so central to my beat for almost half of my defense reporting career: Odierno, former Army chief of staff, dies at 67
@sikorsky
@BoeingDefense
Defiant flies low along the tree line with no prop. This shows the aircraft could lose the propeller and still fly unlike a conventional helicopter with a tail rotor. If a tail rotor is hit, the helicopter would struggle to fly.
Aaaack! I won! Best Land Systems Submission at the
#DefenceMediaAwards
tonight! So honored to win this. It was for a story that was seriously one of the hardest stories I’ve written and beautifully edited by Marjorie Censer. I owe a lot of this to excellent editing.
Congrats to
@Oriana0214
for winning the Defence Media Awards Best Young Journalist. Even though she’s on another beat now, she has left a significant mark in defense reporting! Flanked by previous winners
@maeday22
and missing
@VivienneMachi
!!
@PressClubDC
2022 Aubuchon press freedom award winner
@RanaAyyub
talks about the dangers associated with doing journalism in India: "We are the New Enemies of the State,” Says Indian Journalist Rana Ayyub... via
@YouTube
Another subtle dig on the Tuberville hold, Rear Adm. Williams, acting MDA director, in his speech at the SMD Symposium, said he became a rear admiral "back when they were confirming flag officers."
Got to drive
@GMDefense
electric Infantry Squad Vehicle at its Milford, MI, proving ground. It participated in a demo at Fort Benning several weeks back to help the Army get more clarity in possible tech for an electric light reconnaissance vehicle.
Welp, I spent the night in the hospital at Children’s with my little bear cub. He’s doing fine now but being monitored after a vomiting and lethargic episode yesterday. Not sure what caused it for sure. Prayers please! Hope we can go home this evening.