Kristen L. Rouse

Projects & policy impacting New York's military-connected & first responder communities. I consult & write a great weekly newsletter. Sign up:

[Kristen L. Rouse @TrueBoots]

This is good work.

[Rep. Dan Goldman @RepDanGoldman]

On what would have been his 34th birthday today, we remember Private Danny Chen, a proud son of our district’s Chinatown who dedicated his life to serving and protecting our nation. His tragic death, driven by horrific, racist hazing from his fellow soldiers, was a profound loss that shattered his family and our entire community.

No one who steps up to defend our country should ever face hate and abuse from their own peers. I am deeply honored to partner with @RepJudyChu and @RepJillTokuda to introduce the Harry Lew and Danny Chen Military Justice Reform Act. We must root out this toxic culture, protect our servicemembers, and ensure what happened to Danny never happens again.

https://t.co/VNLCCQdrvy

[Kristen L. Rouse @TrueBoots]

Want news and insights focused on military-connected and first responder New Yorkers? I put out a pretty great e-newsletter once a week that includes a bunch of stories you might otherwise be missing out on. And some gentle insights, too. Sign up at https://t.co/GO2qfiWAms

[Kristen L. Rouse @TrueBoots]

Small detail, but I got got by Gov Hochul's budget deal announcement this morning. Plus my walkthrough of the week for military-connected and first responder New Yorkers. https://t.co/JcgqOpiPTS

[Kristen L. Rouse @TrueBoots]

Deal, no deal.

[Spectrum News NY1 @NY1]

Hochul says she’s reached a “general agreement” on a $268 billion state budget that includes changes to the state’s climate law, auto insurance reforms, immigration protections and more — though Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says there’s still no final deal.

Read more: https://t.co/tYtscKoGPH

[Dan Lamothe @DanLamothe]

EXCLUSIVE: It could take six months to fully clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines deployed by the Iranian military, and any such operation is unlikely to be carried out until the U.S. war with Iran ends, the Pentagon has informed Congress — an assessment that means the conflict’s economic impact could extend late into this year or beyond.

[Jim Sciutto @jimsciutto]

I’ve met many of these Afghan vets - both in Afghanistan and here in the U.S. - as have many lawmakers from both parties. They risked their lives alongside U.S. forces and believed the U.S. would honor its commitments. This is a stunning blow to this community.

[Phil Klay @PhilKlay]

“We think this is just them wanting to send these people back to Afghanistan, where they know they will face certain death,”

[Paul Rieckhoff🇺🇸🇺🇦 @PaulRieckhoff]

“You May Have Heard That Mayor Mamdani Stole Our Ruck March. Let's Talk About It.

The Truth Behind The Rumors & Why Honoring The Post-9/11 Generation of Veterans Requires More Attention To Detail.”

Powerful and important piece from @Michael_A_Matos and @5BoroVeterans.

As I covered on my show last week, Mayor Mamdani messed up. Let’s see if he makes it right. https://t.co/1rqhHIcfyX @indy_americans @errollouis

[Merriam-Webster @MerriamWebster]

We have a standing meeting about this word twice a week every two weeks.

[Brian Stelter @brianstelter]

Can members of the media think twice before using the term "boots on the ground" in every other sentence about the war? Those boots belong to people. We're talking about American service members in harm's way.

[Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes]

The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 more ground troops to the Middle East to potentially support operations in Iran.

https://t.co/qnVeKLMzcM

[BILAL SARWARY @bsarwary]

The release of an American detainee in Kabul is not an abrupt breakthrough, but the outcome of months of quiet, behind-the-scenes negotiations. Kandahar has finally agreed to release one detainee.

Importantly, there is no sign at this stage of an immediate plan to free the remaining American detainees. This indicates a deliberate, step-by-step process rather than a comprehensive agreement.

The Taliban are acting pragmatically, offering limited concessions while maintaining their leverage. Having experienced detention in Guantanamo Bay themselves, they have learned how to leverage hostage diplomacy as a negotiation tool.

This is calculated engagement: progress made carefully, with the Taliban keeping their cards close.

[Haley Britzky @halbritz]

Confirming news that ~1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy to the Middle East in coming days — including a battalion from 1st Brigade, currently the Immediate Response Force, and a HQ element including MG Tegtmeier, sources tell me and @ZcohenCNN

Additional elements from 1st Brigade are expecting to join at a later date. The brigade will be the “ready unit” in theater, similar to their deployment in 2020 after Soleimani was killed.
https://t.co/IiK8kjtDD5

[Zach Iscol 🗽🍎 @zachiscol]

As a father with young kids and someone who has seen the worst of war and its lasting effects, it pains me to say that I believe we must bring back the military draft…

As I say in the piece,

“Over the past two decades, something has gone badly wrong with how our country decides to use military force. Presidents have sent troops into harm’s way with thin congressional support, thinner public debate, and no endgame or strategy in sight….”

(And)

“As someone who believes there are likely compelling cases for confronting Iran or acting in Venezuela, I want those arguments put before the American public, debated in Congress, and treated with a seriousness that requires a clear strategy and a frank case for why American lives are worth the risk.”

https://t.co/39yRnTPtuq

[Dan Lamothe @DanLamothe]

Can confirm that there is planning -- not yet approved -- to potentially send a few thousand soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division to Iran, per two officials.

This comes after @WashingtonPost first reported earlier this month that the HQ of the 82nd Airborne had abruptly canceled a training exercise, fueling internal speculation it could be involved in any ground operation President Trump approves.

[Habib Khan @HabibKhanT]

For thousands of years women and men in Afghanistan celebrated Nowruz together. This video from Mazar-e-Sharif, the heartland of the festival, was filmed just before the Taliban’s return. Now the Taliban ban Nowruz celebrations and bar women from public festivities.

[Heather Barr @heatherbarr1]

“He was here legally and he was a hero, a war veteran…He served the US and very proudly so, and it has given him this death.” https://t.co/gDD7vIT8Cp

[CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil @CBSEveningNews]

An Afghan father who served with U.S. forces died while in immigration custody after being arrested in North Texas. ICE officials say Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal was detained after two arrests by local authorities on fraud and theft charges. He was not convicted. CBS News’ @CamiloReports spoke with his family.

[Rep. Dan Goldman @RepDanGoldman]

The already struggling and understaffed World Trade Center Health Program is now having its workers taken away to support ICE operations. (Yes, ICE.)

These people were hired to serve the heroic 9/11 first responders, not Trump’s inhumane immigration agenda.

They should be returned to their original posts immediately.

https://t.co/Lp2A5C8lAw

[Asad🗽🍎 @AsadFromNYC]

Absolutely horrifying and indefensible bombing of a hospital by the Pakistani military in Kabul. There are monsters everywhere.