In his first meeting with new Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, U.S. defense chief Pete Hegseth said Washington never demanded Tokyo further hike its defense spending, calling Japan's current spending plans "wonderful." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/29/japan/politics/koizumi-hegseth-defense-talks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #usjapanrelations #us #defense #petehegseth #shinjirokoizumi
Alex Akselrod
boosted
#Hegseth says #US carried out 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific, murdering 14
#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth announced that the US #military carried out 3 strikes Monday in the waters of the Eastern #Pacific against boats *suspected* of carrying drugs, killing 14 & leaving one survivor.
#Trump #law #InternationalLaw #murder #Congress #WarPowers
https://apnews.com/article/drug-cartels-hegseth-pacific-8f9f65dd67c0bc55b6dd70b109df0216?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-10-28-Breaking+News
#Hegseth says #US carried out 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific, murdering 14
#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth announced that the US #military carried out 3 strikes Monday in the waters of the Eastern #Pacific against boats *suspected* of carrying drugs, killing 14 & leaving one survivor.
#Trump #law #InternationalLaw #murder #Congress #WarPowers
https://apnews.com/article/drug-cartels-hegseth-pacific-8f9f65dd67c0bc55b6dd70b109df0216?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-10-28-Breaking+News
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will make a stop in Japan during a visit to the Indo-Pacific region this week, during which he is scheduled to meet Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi for talks. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/27/japan/politics/us-defense-chief-japan-visit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #petehegseth #shinjirokoizumi #usjapanrelations #defense #defenseministry
Alex Akselrod
boosted
New #Trump Order Among ‘Scariest Things I’ve Seen in US Politics,’ #CivilRights Attorney Says
The new order, he says, would essentially allow “random #fascist #vigilantes” to “sign up to be a #Brownshirt” for Trump’s militarized occupation forces.
Stephen Prager
Aug 26, 2025
"An executive order signed Monday by US President Donald Trump may permit 'random #FascistVigilantes' to help him #crackdown on protests across the country, according to one prominent civil rights lawyer.
"The new order, which comes amid wider concern about Trump’s #militarized takeover of #WashingtonDC, directs Secretary of Defense #PeteHegseth to ensure that each state’s #NationalGuard is equipped to 'assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances and ensuring the public safety.' "
Read more / listen:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-vigilante-portal
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/H30Nm
#USPol #Fascism #TrumpIsAFascist #Authoritarianism #BellRiots #Brownshirts #CorporateColonialism #Corporatocracy #CapitolGuards #HungerGames #SilencingDissent #CharacteristicsOfFascism
Alex Akselrod
boosted
JFC
#Congress has to stop this!
The #Trump admin carried out another deadly strike against alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, targeting a vessel in the eastern #Pacific Ocean for the second straight day, #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth said in a social media post.
#law #murder #WarPowers #war #AbuseOfPower
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/22/us/trump-news/fc56d2b3-335a-576e-8524-73265a5fddb4?smid=url-share
JFC
#Congress has to stop this!
The #Trump admin carried out another deadly strike against alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, targeting a vessel in the eastern #Pacific Ocean for the second straight day, #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth said in a social media post.
#law #murder #WarPowers #war #AbuseOfPower
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/22/us/trump-news/fc56d2b3-335a-576e-8524-73265a5fddb4?smid=url-share
In a surprise move, the admiral who leads U.S. military forces in Latin America said he will step down at the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule, amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/17/world/us-latin-america-admiral-step-down/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #us #venezuela #alvinholsey #petehegseth
John Bolton, a former national security adviser of U.S. President Donald Trump who later became one of his most vocal critics, has been charged with mishandling classified information. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/17/world/crime-legal/bolton-indicted-classified-information-mishandle/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #crimelegal #us #donaldtrump #johnbolton #espionageact #justicedepartment #petehegseth
It was unclear why Admiral Holsey is leaving now, less than a year into his tenure, & in the midst of the biggest operation in his 37-year career.
…Since early Sept, #US Special Ops forces have struck at least 5 boats off the coast of #Venezuela that the #Trump admin claims were transporting drugs, killing 27 people. US officials have privately made it clear that the main goal is to drive Nicolás #Maduro, #Venezuela’s #authoritarian leader, from #power.
…Admiral Holsey, who is #Black, becomes only the latest in a line of more than a dozen #military leaders, many of them people of color &/or #women, who have left their jobs this year. Most have been fired by #Defense Secretary #PeteHegseth or pushed out.
#Trump #US #Venezuela #Caribbean #USSouthCom #Pentagon #law #murder #war #Venezuela #NonInternationalArmedConflict
The association representing journalists who cover the U.S. Department of Defense on Wednesday condemned a new press access policy that could see reporters lose their access as early as next week. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/09/world/politics/press-us-defense-media-access/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #journalism #pressfreedom #censorship #newspapers #magazines #pentagon #petehegseth #us #donaldtrump
A new Pentagon policy mandating pre-approval for unclassified information poses a serious threat to press freedom and government transparency, potentially undermining established First Amendment protections. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/06/world/pentagon-press-policy-a-threat-to-free-speech/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #firstamendment #usconstitution #freedomofspeech #petehegseth #penagon
Alex Akselrod
boosted
This will drive Pete Hegseth batshit. Good.
In ‘Boots,’ a Closeted Marine Comes of Age
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/arts/television/boots-netflix.html
#FireHegseth #PeteHegseth #RepublicansOwnThis #Trumpkakistocracy #GOPIdiot #GOPRapist #GOPDrunkard #WhiteSupremacist #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol
This will drive Pete Hegseth batshit. Good.
In ‘Boots,’ a Closeted Marine Comes of Age
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/arts/television/boots-netflix.html
#FireHegseth #PeteHegseth #RepublicansOwnThis #Trumpkakistocracy #GOPIdiot #GOPRapist #GOPDrunkard #WhiteSupremacist #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol
Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth advocate a more militaristic approach to military preparedness with an inward-looking defense strategy focused on domestic issues while sidelining global threats and alliances. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/10/03/trump-and-hegseth-address-to-military-officers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #us #usmilitary #defense #donaldtrump #china #petehegseth #indopacific
Alex Akselrod
boosted
@BrianJopek Alt Text: 2 panels.
Panel 1 shows military top brass sitting together looking bored AF. Caption: "800 people who would be in prison if they texted war plans on Signal like..."
Panel 2 shows #PeteHegseth, wearing a suit and lots of foundation. Caption: "This guy."
Heidi Li Feldman
boosted
I was informed by the Secretary of War that this is a bad look.
ICE officers should only be SVELTE pieces of shit.
#FireHegseth #PeteHegseth #RepublicansOwnThis #Trumpkakistocracy #GOPIdiot #GOPRapist #GOPDrunkard #WhiteSupremacist #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol
With remarks about making U.S. cities “training grounds” for the military, it would be easy to overlook another signal in Trump’s speech to U.S. commanders — his foreign policy is about to turn even more inward-looking. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/01/world/politics/trump-national-defense-strategy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #usmilitary #defense #donaldtrump #china #immigration #petehegseth #indopacific
President Donald Trump told top military brass that the U.S. is fighting an "invasion from within,” as he used a highly unusual gathering of officers stationed around the world to deliver a largely political speech. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/01/world/politics/trump-hegseth-military-speeches/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #petehegseth #donaldtrump #us #usmilitary
VoteVets is ripping the fuck outta Whiskey Pete.
@BrianJopek Alt Text: 2 panels.
Panel 1 shows military top brass sitting together looking bored AF. Caption: "800 people who would be in prison if they texted war plans on Signal like..."
Panel 2 shows #PeteHegseth, wearing a suit and lots of foundation. Caption: "This guy."