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Midterms and Iran: Congress could change hands, but Trump would still control the war
On January 10, 2007, President George W. Bush announced a surge of tens of thousands of additional troops to Iraq — among the least popular decisions of his presidency. As a senior adviser, I watched from National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley’s West Wing office.
Eagle Scout nominated for Service Award
Eagle Scout John Casper of Round Rock Troop 157 has been nominated for a Distinguished Conservation Service Award by the Capitol Area Council. DCSA is Scouting America’s highest conservation honor.
Hegseth wrong to say most non-US Nato forces in Afghanistan did not fight, says No 10
Downing Street emphasises sacrifices of UK troops and reasserts ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine amid softening US policy towards Russia
Hegseth’s military imposes testosterone testing despite concerns about the science
Former military doctors say the new policy won’t do what the Pentagon wants. Troops worry it will affect their careers.
After surging troops to the border, US Army showcases a quieter Rio Grande
The U.S. Army is deploying hundreds of soldiers to Texas' Rio Grande Valley in response to what it says are signs of elevated activity from Mexican drug cartels.
After surging troops to the border, US Army showcases a quieter Rio Grande
The U.S. Army is deploying hundreds of soldiers to Texas' Rio Grande Valley in response to what it says are signs of elevated activity from Mexican drug cartels.
After surging troops to the border, US Army showcases a quieter Rio Grande
The U.S. Army is deploying hundreds of soldiers to Texas' Rio Grande Valley in response to what it says are signs of elevated activity from Mexican drug cartels.
Who Won August and September: Original Films or Franchises?
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) I just heard someone say that if you’re reading a pundit or data analyst, and they don’t tell you that they got anything wrong, they’re not a pundit but an “influencer”. I agree with that. You have to tell your audience when you get things wrong, or they won’t (or shouldn’t) trust you as much. Today, we’ve got another edition of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. In general, I’m patting myself on the back (and patting very hard) about a few things like IP at the box office, LIV golf, horror films, crowdfunding movies, superheroes, and old people going to the theaters. That said, I also made a couple of data mistakes on the streaming bubble popping and HBO’s datecdotes, so I’m not perfect. But first, I need your feedback... Subscribe Follow-Ups: What Should We Call Mid-Budget Movies Which Aren’t Cinematic Enough for Theaters But Are Too Expensive to Make Money on Streaming? After I asked for feedback on what we should call straight-to-streaming films that are too big to pencil out on streaming but not really big enough to resonate in theaters, I got some great suggestions from you all, including... “Moldilocks” from John Aboud “Little Big Indie” from Travis Frick1 “Midflicks” from Jonathan Funke. “Extra-Medium” from Jona Nwuke. (Read the explanation in the footnote.) Between these and Brandon Katz—who suggested “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”—we’ve got some excellent suggestions. And they’re better than my suggestion, the “Streaming Budget Dead Zone”, so let’s take a poll! The winning entry becomes the new term. Loading... RIGHT: LIV Golf is Fully Bankrupt…Is Anyone Else Next? A few years ago, I was always a bit perplexed at all the articles I’d read praising LIV Golf and their strategy to disrupt the PGA. LIV Golf, a brand new professional golf league, offered PGA stars ten times what they made on the PGA Tour to join their new league. And folks praised this strategy for its initial “success” in that a lot of big names did indeed leave the PGA. Yeah, of course the players came over. LIV Golf paid them so, so, so much more! But LIV Golf hadn’t discovered a way to increase potential revenue. So think about this in basic business terms… They paid much more in costs… …but had no real way to increase revenue. That’s not a strategy! That’s deficit financing. It won’t work unless you bankrupt the competition (and then turn around and pay those same golfers much, much less). It’s not a sustainable strategy and only lasts as long as the company/person/nation backing it decides they’re cool with losing money. For LIV Golf, that meant Middle East oil wealth, in particular Saudi Arabian money. Clearly, the current Iran War has hurt Middle East finances, so they need to trim their more exorbitant spending. And LIV Golf was part of that trimming. This should be a major warning for others. TGL’s parent company, TMRW Sports, just got a $1 billion valuation, despite TGL’s (the indoor golf league) horrible TV viewership of less than half a million viewers per match. Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league, just secured a $650 valuation, despite its horrible TV viewership and a new rival (Project B) entering the scene next year. To relate this to streaming, Hollywood should ask which streamers may have wealthy patrons funding their losses. (Let’s be clear: Google, Amazon and Apple.) Could those patrons lose their appetite? For Amazon, probably not. But Apple has a new boss, so maybe! WRONG: My Analysis of the Streaming Bubble Was Missing a Week I’m going to be congratulating myself a lot today, but I make mistakes too, like this data goof. When I last compiled the data on the decline in TV shows, I was missing one week at the end of June. If you look at the first image, you can see that one week was mislabelled as “July”. Mainly, this image got updated to show a 27% decline, not 29%: This change doesn’t really impact the overall analysis, but it is two percent better. By the way, through the third quarter, the decline increased and it’s now a 30% decrease since 2022. (I’ll write/visualize this in an upcoming article.) But I want you to trust me and my data. Especially these days, when many people are using LLMs that I know are inserting faulty data into their charts, I want to keep earning my audience’s faith. So that’s the accurate data. RIGHT: IP Remains Very, Very Popular In July, I wrote a giant (and I mean giant) article on Backrooms, Obsession, and the box office, going over what we know, what we don’t know about what works in theaters, looking at YouTubers, IP, the horror genre, comic book movies, and a whole lot more. The month of August really tested a lot of my theses and, being honest, mostly supported my arguments. Let’s start with IP. Looking at 8-Aug (the weekend after Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out) to 18-Sep (the weekend that Resident Evil came out, which I think provides a nice bookend to this time period), there were seven films based on pre-existing IP: Resident Evil (2026) ($126 million) Practical Magic 2 ($65 million) _Insidious: Out of the Furthe_r ($65 million) Coyote Vs. Acme ($59 million) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie ($53 million) Tony ($15 million) Super Troopers 3 ($7 million) Compare those to the notable original films from the past month—I actually could have included more movies, but here are just thirteen, bringing us to an even twenty films—including.... The End of Oak Street ($54 million) Buddy ($26 million) Mutiny ($15 million) By Any Means ($15 million) The Dog Stars ($14 million) Runner ($14 million) One Night Only ($11 million) Hope ($8 million) Spa Weekend ($7 million) The Uprising ($6 million) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($6 million) Onslaught ($3 million) Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man ($2.8 million) Here’s that in chart form: Five of the top six films in this time period were all based on IP. I made a big chart of films that grossed over $200 million at the box office before Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey hit theaters. Let’s update that chart! By the way, if you want to see how I categorized each film—so another bar chart—here it is: I know that many of my fellow critics/pundits/analysts dislike films based on IP and how Hollywood is making so many of them. And I’m sympathetic to this point of view. As I’ve written many, many times before, you need a balance between existing franchises, new IP, and original films. And Hollywood clearly needs to make more films like Resident Evil (a well-made film from a visionary director) and fewer Practical Magic 2’s (which didn’t get critical or customer buzz). But at some point, critics and pundits need to contend with what audiences are telling them: Movie-goers aren’t showing up to original films. Audiences are speaking with their dollars, telling you they want more IP and franchises. You can try to convince studio heads to make fewer IP-based films and franchises, but the data and numbers aren’t there. Instead, critics need to work harder to convince audiences to show up for original films. Aim your ire/concern at the average person, not studio heads.2 Because they’re just making the films that audiences are telling them to make. WRONG: Original Horror Films Didn’t Break Out I’ll be honest, even though I wrote an article casting some skepticism on the horror genre in July, if you asked me to make a prediction, I would have predicted that, in August, a new, original horror film would have blown up. No, seriously, I just assumed that Obsession and Backrooms presaged a change in audience behavior. But none of the buzzy new original horror films from August—Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Onslaught (not an action film in spite of the ads), The End of Oak Street, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, or _Buddy—_broke out. To be clear, exactly one of those films (Buddy) had good “ROI”, but again—I try to be specific in my language—none were “popular” in any broad sense of the word. None of them will be “saving” movies theaters like Backrooms or _Obsession_helped save the summer. The new Insidious film and Resident Evil, both based on IP, were far and away the biggest horror films since July. (We’ll see if this changes in October/Halloween season.) RIGHT: Stay Skeptical about Crowdfunding... I’ve long been skeptical about crowd-investing platforms as one of Hollywood’s saviors, mainly because there’s so much hype/buzz. People need to stay more skeptical about more things, explaining both the potential upside but also the downsides. In particular, the media often hypes crowdfunding at the start and never checks in on the actual results after they’ve come in later. And August gave us our first update! _Ice Cream Man—_directed by Eli Roth—grossed $6 million off of a $5.5 million budget. This is a production of The Horror Section, which was one of the first “crowd investing” studios with 2,400 investors, which means that 2,400 investors probably lost money. They certainly aren’t getting as great of returns as if they had just invested their dollars in the stock market. Hopefully Stiletto (Tagline: “Someone’s Going to Make it Rain Blood!”) does better next month. WRONG: Another Data Goof Here’s another data error. When the first episode of House of the Dragon came out, HBO put out that it had 21.5 million viewers in the first three days, and I read that to mean in the US…but no, it was global. So my US-only datecdotes charts shouldn’t have included it. We never got US-only numbers for the first episode, but for the final episode, HBO put out that it had 11 million US viewers. (And that global dropped to 21 million viewers.) Here’s the updated chart (which I’ve since used in the Streaming Ratings Report): Still, this show is absolutely huge. RIGHT: Superhero Films Remain Very, Very Popular After Supergirl flopped, I read a few takes that “comic book movies are going the way of the Western”. Post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that take didn’t age well. To be fair, I have a very nuanced take on the superhero genre right now; it’s down right now, for a lot of reasons. But it’s not “dead”. Maybe _Spider-_Man is just a really popular character? I saw that take, and it’s a fair counter-argument. (But pundits arguing that superhero movies were dead should have mentioned this $1.5 billion counter-argument…) But is it just Spider-Man? The next Avengers film already has $50 million in pre-sales (and I was skeptical that that film would do well) and the Avengers: End Game re-release topped the box office two weekends ago (over three original films). And I wouldn’t bet against Batman or Superman. So maybe it’s just Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and the Avengers. Oh, and Deadpool, of course. And Black Panther. And Wolverine. And probably the X-Men. Plus a well-made Wonder Woman or the Hulk film could break out. But that’s it! It’s just those ten characters/teams. Oh, what’s that? Lanterns is also doing well on HBO? (See previous section…) To be fair, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to the argument that more popular characters—like Spider-Man and Batman—anchor more popular films. In fact, I made that exact argument three years ago when I first wrote about the “Marvel-cession”. In many ways, you can blame The Guardians of the Galaxy for fooling Marvel Studios (and the rest of us) into believing that any character could pop. It turns out, the list of iconic characters is probably smaller than most people think. But it’s probably too early to say that superhero films and comic book movies are dead unless “death” means a slight decline over a longtime. RIGHT: Who Killed Theaters? Old People I get frustrated whenever I see headlines or analysis about how young people are “returning” to theaters. As I’ve detailed(for years), young people have always powered the US box office, despite narratives about “kids these days” and their “phones”. Really, what’s changed post-2020/pandemic is that old people aren’t going to the movies nearly as much. This summer, I saw a movie (from an older director) in a theater near a retirement community, and multiple older people at the theater were talking about how this was their first time seeing a movie in years. I dislike personal anecdotes, so YouGov can fill in the data, best summarized by this headline: “Who killed movie theaters? Not the youths”. According to them, 64% of people aged 18-29 have seen a movie in the last year, but only 30% of 65-and-older. 20% of 18-29 have seen a movie in theaters in the last week and 42% in the last month. Here’s the polling data: Most concerning? Many Americans (17%) think theaters are a worse or much worse experience than watching films at home. Slight WRONG: Hadestown Opens Big A live theater capture of the Broadway musical, Hadestown, made $20 million at the US box office, which begs the question: was I wrong to be skeptical about musicals a few years ago? Yes and no. On the one hand, $20 million is a far cry from being “popular”, so yeah, the genre isn’t that popular overall and Hadestown is one of the more popular musicals from recent years (i.e. the “Taylor Swift Data Fallacy” in action). On the other, I doubt filming this cost all that much, and I don’t think that they spent much on marketing, so this is a good source of ancillary revenue. Smaller Updates WRONG: As I mentioned in a Streaming Ratings Report, I underestimated the budget for Enola Holmes 3. It probably cost more like $50 million, if not more. But... I’m not sure that it really matters? At sub-10 million hours, prices have to come down to make this work. WRONG: Netflix is giving Ink a 27-day in theaters! To quote the kids/YouTubers these days, let’s go! Now I might actually have a chance to see Danny Boyle’s latest in theaters. I’d complained about this in a “Coming Soon” section, but I was heartened to read that Netflix is giving multiple films longer theatrical windows this year. RIGHT: Netflix is sending 4-5 films per year to theaters. Netflix is slowly but surely sending more and more films to theaters, as I cautiously predicted earlier this year. For now, it’s just three big films and a number of awards contenders, but still, this is great news. And they’ll be releasing box office grosses! Just this week, Ted Sarandos confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters 2 will come to theaters (and my guess is it performs in the box office top ten at a minimum). WRONG: Angel has 3 million subscribers! How do I know this? Well, they told Deadline, who reported it. I marked this as “wrong”, since they’ve doubled their subscribers in one year but, you know, they don’t really have a hit film to speak of and they’re still losing money. WRONG: Furious was only renewed for one more season. I accidentally wrote “two more seasons” in my latest “Renewals, Cancellations, Un-Orders and Removals Update”. RIGHT: House of David is ending with its third season. In July, Prime Video renewed House of David for a third season, as I just wrote in my latest “Renewals and Cancellations” report. Well, now it’s ending after that third season. Why? As I’ve been writing, its viewership wasn’t great. I got feedback that this show didn’t cost very much, but it cost enough that its limited viewership didn’t save it. WRONG: Adults was a Hulu original! So I missed Adults when it first came out last year; I saw that it aired on FX and just assumed that it was a linear-first program. Turns out, it aired three episodes on FX, but binge-released the rest of its episodes the next day on Hulu. Huh. So I should have covered it last year! But I just wrote about it. 1 “When I was a kid in the 90s, if you wore a t-shirt to school that wasn’t too big and also wasn’t too small, but somehow didn’t quite fit, we’d say you were wearing an “extra-medium” shirt.” 2 As always, a huge exception is Disney, which barely makes anything original anymore.
I’m Convinced That Pete Hegseth Doesn’t Actually Care About Our Armed Service Members
If the Secretary of Talking About War would take a few hours off from preparing Instagram videos, he’d notice that the military medical system is failing his troops in the Middle East.
Soldiers wounded in Iranian drone strike say military medical system failed them
The attack on the second day of the U.S. war with Iran killed six troops and injured dozens
'A kind of Rosetta Stone': AI decodes 217-year-old secret letter ordered by Napoleon
GPT-6 Astra has been used to solve a centuries-old cipher used to convey strategic military information between Napoleon's troops.
Church Street businesses appeal directly to Gov. Scott for public safety help
The group outlined four specific requests, including redeploying Vermont State Police troopers to Burlington.
US troops leave Iraq and Syria, but double down in the region
Why 30 September should be understood less as a US exit from the Middle East than as the end of a particular model of American intervention
Denise Richards honors late ex Patrick Muldoon on his first birthday after death, posts photo of their ‘last hug’
Richards shared a tribute to her “Starship Troopers” costar and former partner on what would’ve been his 58th birthday.
Friday Morning Football 2026: Dinuba High School
Next Friday, the Exeter Monarchs will take on the Emperors of Dinuba High School and the students in Dinuba just didn't want to wait to rally the troops!
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'Primetime' and 'Heart of the Beast' in theaters, rent or buy 'Super Troopers 3,' stream 'Tuner' on Paramount+
In theaters now: Robert Pattinson wows in his turn as "To Catch a Predator" host Chris Hansen — and don't underestimate the power of Brad Pitt and a dog.
Russia's neighbor reveals personal appeals to Trump as US weighs NATO troop pullback in Europe
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda revealed he sent two letters to Trump urging U.S. troops to stay on NATO's eastern flank amid Russia threat.
Man City v Sunderland: Key stats and talking points
Manchester City will look to maintain their 100% league record under Enzo Maresca when they welcome Sunderland to Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Maresca's tenure got off to a wobbly start with the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, but his troops have rallied to ensure they are level on points with the table-topping Gunners at this early stage, trailing only on goal difference. In fact, the Italian is aiming to become just the sixth manager to win his first five Premier League games in charge of a club.
The US Army has the drones. Now it needs trained operators.
The service is buying tens of thousands of drones and delivering them to troops. The next challenge is ensuring they know how to use them.
Russians begin voting in controlled election as war drags
It will be Russia's first parliamentary election since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022
White House pulls ICE director nominee
The White House is pulling former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer’s stalled nomination to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ECU Health, Brody School of Medicine to host sickle cell disease conference
A suspect died after being shot by a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper following a pursuit and roadside struggle Tuesday night, according to a prelimi
Germany: Chancellor Merz tries to rally his troops
Following the CDU's crushing defeat in the Saxony-Anhalt election, many are expressing doubts about Chancellor and party leader Friedrich Merz. But they don't appear to have any viable alternative.
Military dentists warn toothaches could sideline troops in next war.
Army dentists warn toothaches and infections could sideline troops and strain evacuation systems in a future large-scale war.
Putin warns European troops in Ukraine would mean war with Russia
The Russian president issued the warning ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
David Petraeus: George W. Bush, Political Courage, and the Surge in Iraq
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush launched what he called the War on Terror. It began with the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, which quickly toppled the Taliban and expelled al-Qaeda from its most crucial sanctuary. Then, in early 2003, American forces—with the support of foreign allies like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland—attacked Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime and installing an occupation force in hopes of quickly transforming the country into a free and democratic state. Instead, the post-regime coalition authority made significant missteps, and a devastating insurgency erupted. And despite President Bush’s 2004 reelection, the war quickly lost popular support among the American public. In early 2007, Bush appointed General David Petraeus, who had already served in Iraq as a two- and three-star general, to lead allied forces in Iraq, which heralded a sea change in American strategy known as “the surge.” As part of our coverage looking back on 9/11 and the world it created, General Petraeus tells the inside story of one of the most consequential moments in the War on Terror. The general’s essay today is both a crucial history and a profile in political courage. It demands reflection as we take stock of the last 25 years. —The Editors By the end of 2006, the war in Iraq was failing. There is no useful purpose in softening that judgment with the passage of time. The bombing of the al-Askari mosque in Samarra by terrorists that February had accelerated sectarian violence and pulled Iraq into an increasingly vicious Sunni-Shia civil war. Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Sunni insurgent groups controlled substantial areas, Shi’ite militias operated with growing impunity in other parts of the country, and the Iraqi security forces were no longer capable of arresting the downward spiral. The strategy of transitioning security responsibilities to Iraqi forces, consolidating American troops on large bases, and progressively reducing the U.S. presence had clearly been invalidated by the escalating violence. The numbers conveyed the horror imperfectly but unmistakably. In December 2006, an average of 53 Iraqi civilians were killed by violence every 24 hours in Baghdad alone. Washington, meanwhile, was approaching its own breaking point. Public support for the war had fallen dramatically, President George W. Bush’s Republican Party had just lost control of both houses of Congress, and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group—of which future defense secretary Robert Gates was a member—had recommended a course that anticipated a substantially reduced American combat role. Many senior military leaders were deeply skeptical of sending substantial additional forces, advocating instead for an accelerated transition to Iraqi forces, the deployment of additional trainers and advisers, or other more modest measures with an eye to withdrawing U.S. forces. Virtually every political incentive pointed toward reducing America’s commitment. President Bush chose instead to increase it, a decision that remains, in my view, one of the most courageous presidential decisions of the 21st century.
Trump Boasts New Space Force Uniforms Are “Inspired” by ‘Starship Troopers,’ a Famous Satire of Nazism
Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers literally wears its aesthetic influences on its sleeve.
Michigan politicians spent Monday shaking hands with voters, a day after an armed man charged at an Ohio candidate
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says an armed assailant charged toward the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Amy Acton, during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair, injuring several people before he was stopped by troopers.
Armed man charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor at fair, law enforcement says
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says an armed assailant charged toward the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Amy Acton, during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair, injuring several people before he was stopped by troopers.
Armed man charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor at fair
He injured several people before he was stopped by troopers
Ukrainian troops take casualties just moving in and out of trenches
Ukraine's drone-filled front lines have made even routine movement in and out of trenches a deadly risk for troops.
Will the Trump administration send federal officers or troops to the polls? Here’s what we know
With less than two months to go until this year’s midterm elections, Democrats are becoming increasingly unnerved about the possibility of President Donald Trump deploying federal immigration officers or troops to polling places.
Three killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, health ministry says
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon "in response to Hezbollah’s attempted attack yesterday against IDF troops operating in the security zone."
Mental health counselor offers support for families during extended deployments
A veteran counselor is encouraging military families to seek support and communicate openly as some U.S. troops face extended deployments in the Middle East.
GOP brings unusual midterm convention to Dallas next week
Republicans will rally the troops in Dallas next week in an effort to keep control of Washington, D.C. NBC 5’s Phil Prazan talked with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker about the reason for this historic event.
‘The Cardinal Countdown: 2 Days Until Kickoff’
DEMECO KENNEDY #2 Height: 6’3” Weight: 305lb Position: DL Class: Junior Hometown: Lexington, KY Summary: The Cards needed some beef in the middle of the defensive line, but instead of calling Kroger’s Alex The Butcher, they rang ‘Kennedy, the Boilermaker’. Hailing from Lexington, Kennedy correctly averted the mess in the army of Stoops Troops and […]
Argentina’s Milei escalates Falklands dispute, seizing on Trump comments
Over four decades later, the conflict with the United Kingdom that killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British service members and three islanders, remains a sore point in Argentina.
Hegseth Extends Mideast Deployments Into 2027, Escalating Strain on Troops
The move is part of an open-ended military strategy designed to give President Trump options in the Iran war.
Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand
Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational systems to scale his footprint across the state.Cooke got his start in the Army’s Boots to Business program.“Boots to Business was instrumental in preparing me to start a company. The program taught me how to develop a business plan, conduct market and financial analysis and critically evaluate whether a business concept was actually viable,” shared Cooke. “What made the program particularly valuable was that the instructors and mentors had real-world business experience…At the end of the course, I had to present and defend that plan. From there, they directed me to SCORE, where mentors helped me further refine the plan. I eventually presented it to a bank, which was impressed with the level of preparation, and I secured the financing necessary to build the business.”As Cooke neared the end of his military career, he began to wonder what would come next. Through his faith and some valuable mentors, he found the right avenue for his entrepreneurial interests.“While working on my instrument pilot rating, my flight instructor happened to tell me about escape rooms and the economics behind building them. He thought they could make for an interesting business. I took the analytical skills I had developed in the military, along with what I learned through Boots to Business, and began comparing the escape-room model against other opportunities I was considering,” explained Cooke. Cooke opened his first Escapology location in Fayetteville in 2019.“My approach was to start small and prove the model. Fayetteville made sense because I was already there, understood the market and could minimize my initial risk. It also became clear very quickly that I needed a partner that could provide the creative design, branding and industry knowledge that I did not have. After researching a number of options, Escapology became that partner,” added Cooke.Following the success of his initial venue in Fayetteville and a venue in Charlotte that opened in 2023, Cooke recently expanded into Raleigh with his third Escapology venue at Crabtree Valley Mall.His North Carolina footprint now includes:Fayetteville: A 5-room venue launched right after his Army transition in 2019.Charlotte: A 10-room venue opened in 2023, doubling his original operational footprint.Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall): A 6-room venue opened in May 2026, with plans to expand to 10 full rooms.Beyond his venues, Cooke expanded his local footprint by launching Jade Solutions in Aberdeen, N.C., an OEM manufacturing business that now builds prop and technical solutions for Escapology venues systemwide.Cooke shared that his long-term goal is to continue expanding Escapology in a healthy and sustainable way while enjoying the journey. “I actually did not start an entertainment business because I personally loved escape rooms. I started a business because I love the game of business itself. Growing up, I loved military simulation games and business tycoon games. I eventually had the opportunity to experience the first of those in the real world — I went to war, led troops and played my part in the military. Today, I would much rather apply that same drive to the real-world game of building businesses.I don't play business computer games anymore. I get to wake up and do it for real every day,” shared Cooke.
US military carries out new strikes on Iranian targets
The US military conducted additional strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran on Tuesday, in response to recent attempted attacks against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American troops deployed to the region, according to US Central Command.
Annual training manuals too slow to train Ukraine soldiers: commander
Training for Ukrainian troops on NATO soil aims to mirror the battlefield, but the commander in charge says bureaucratic manuals can't keep up.
U.S. military does not plan to deploy troops to the polls in November, general says
Responding to a senator’s questions, Gen. Dan Caine said the Pentagon did not plan to send military personnel to voting sites or to seize ballots or voting machines.
Western training for Ukraine's troops is purposefully close to the war
Norway is leading training for Ukrainian troops in eastern Poland to preserve training time and keep lessons tied to the battlefield.
Troops, taxes, war dominate Colorado’s 5th CD debate between Jeff Crank, Jessica Killin
Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank and Democratic challenger Jessica Killin on Thursday night clashed over the war in Iran, the federal budget and healthcare when they took the stage in Colorado Springs for a sold-out debate in the race to represent Colorado’s 5th Congressional District. The debate, which came just over five weeks before general […]
Pentagon faces challenges in tracking troop brain health: GAO report
The GAO says the military is struggling to assess brain health and track troops' exposure to potentially harmful blast waves from weapons and attacks.
Ex-counterterrorism chief advocates for Trump to 'walk away from' Iran war, yank troops out of Middle East
Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent is advocating for President Donald Trump to get the U.S. out of the Iran war and remove U.S. troops from the Middle East.
Sen. Slotkin presses Hegseth, Caine to commit to keeping U.S. military out of the midterm elections
“I’d ask you to confirm a simple statement: the Department of Defense will not send Federal troops to the polls or to seize election materials of any kind,” Slotkin wrote to Hegseth and to Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in letters Tuesday.
Centcom commander addresses mental health concerns for troops on USS Abraham Lincoln
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) commander Adm. Brad Cooper on Sunday addressed concerns over the mental health of service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as it returns home after 265 days in …
New West's training for Ukraine troops not teaching drone pilot skills
Ukrainian troops are getting trained in Norway-led Operation Legio, and Ukraine didn't request pilot skills as it already has such good education.
How is the National Guard deployment changing D.C. politics?
At-Large D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson speaks to WAMU about the anniversary of President Trump's federal troop surge and how a year of National Guard presence is shaping city politics.
Congressional Dems launch probe into efforts to deport U.S. military members
The Democrats said the apparent collaboration between DHS and the military to deport troops' families "raises both ethical and legal concerns"
Congressional Dems launch probe into efforts to deport U.S. military members
The Democrats said the apparent collaboration between DHS and the military to deport troops' families "raises both ethical and legal concerns"
Norwegian soldiers training Ukraine's soldiers for 'Viking mentality'
Norwegian troops are bringing battlefield skills and a Viking-inspired warrior mentality to training Ukrainian soldiers on NATO soil.
‘Super Troopers’ crew tricked actors into chugging too much maple syrup, found them lying on the ground
The stars of ‘Super Troopers 3’ explain how the crew once pranked them. Of course it involved maple syrup.
Trump can declare Iran victory now and withdraw troops, former counterterror official argues
Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent continues to call for President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from the Middle East.
Ukraine giving AWOL troops choice of 70 units to rejoin the war with
Kyiv says troops can use a mobile app to skip much of the return process and deploy immediately to their new, preferred unit.
Exclusive: US military asks troops for ‘creative and unconventional’ ideas to punish Iran
The request from a senior officer at the US military command carrying out President Donald Trump’s war with Iran came in an email: We need ideas.
Few signs of talks between US and Iran as Trump hears from different corners on path forward
Despite President Donald Trump’s claims Iran is “begging” for a deal, some US officials fear regime figures appear more committed than ever to wielding leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and firing missiles toward American troops.
Critics call Trump admin's testosterone replacement therapy 'hypocritical'
The Trump administration announced earlier this month that it is offering supplemental testosterone replacement therapy for men currently serving in the military that are 30 and older. But critics call it "hypocrisy," as the administration kicks out transgender troops.
Delaware State Trooper accused of taking advantage of woman experiencing mental health crisis
A suspended Delaware State Trooper has been indicted for allegedly taking sexual advantage of a 21-year-old woman who was experiencing a mental health crisis in his patrol car.
Hegseth offers soldiers testosterone and FDA loosens safety warnings. Is the science there?
Last week, the Pentagon posted a video on X announcing they will be mandating testosterone screening for troops in the military aged 30 and above. If they test low, they will be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy. This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube. At the same time, FDA has announced it […]
Ukraine's troops are placing their hopes in a new top general
As Ukraine reels from the ousting of Fedorov, troops say they believe 43-year-old Mykhailo Drapatyi will bring the modern solutions Kyiv needs to win.
Memphis pizza shop says business is booming after refusing service to National Guard troops
Miles Tamboli says the Memphis Safe Task Force makes the city less safe, and his pizza shop is seeing a surge of local supporters after the boycott call.
Iran may be stronger than we thought
Three US troops were killed in the past week, and the risks are only growing.
When US troops die, Trump often reaches quickly for politics
The Iran war has now seen the first US troop deaths since March, with the announcements that three service members have died in recent days.
MTG pounces on Hegseth, claiming US troop casualties 'fuel' his 'bloodlust for a senseless war'
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused War Secretary Pete Hegseth of "bloodlust" in response to a post Hegseth issued about fallen U.S. service members.
Almost Half of Americans View SCOTUS as Political
Plus, Trump’s ban on transgender troops will likely return to the Supreme Court.
Hegseth’s testosterone mandate carries risks, raises questions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth kicked a hornet’s nest with his move this week to test troops’ testosterone levels. Hegseth argues the effort, to become part of the military’s periodic health …
2 US troops killed during Iranian attack, Pentagon says
The US service members were killed in Jordan on Friday after American and partner forces came under Iranian missile and drone fire, the Pentagon says.
Russian troops live an average of 30 minutes on battlefield: CIA chief
John Ratcliffe said the deadly conditions have been spurred mainly by Ukraine's AI-powered drones. He urged the US to learn quickly from Kyiv.
Pete Hegseth’s Plan for ‘High T’ Troops Is a Junk Science Fever Dream
The defense secretary’s idea of administering testosterone therapy to service members of the US Armed Forces reveals little understanding of the complexity of hormones.
"High-T Department": Hegseth approves testosterone screening in military
Hegseth says he is authorising hormone screening to ensure US troops "operate at your absolute best".
Hegseth touts a high-testosterone military, as doctors question his claims
The defense secretary said the Pentagon will test the testosterone levels of troops 30 and over. It was unclear if the plan would affect women or military fitness rules.
Hegseth announces new policy to test troops for low testosterone
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that he is rolling out a new screening program for “testosterone deficiency” among troops, calling it necessary to allow them to operate at their “absolute best.”
Trump revives his decades-old Iran warning as US ramps up military pressure: 'remarkably consistent'
A 1980 video clip shows Trump urging the U.S. to send troops into Iran during the hostage crisis, resurfacing as CENTCOM resumes a naval blockade.
Lowcountry trooper, business owner creating teen outreach event
Higgins believes a connection between adults, specifically law enforcement and teens is the way to help get them on the right path. That's why he, through the Police Activity League, is creating the 3...
Create Horus Heresy veterans with new combi-weapons and shotguns
Check out the new upgrade kit of combi-weapons and pouches for your troops in Warhammer: The Horus Heresy.
House Democrat Ro Khanna says he was detained by armed Israeli settlers in West Bank
Ro Khanna claims armed Israeli settlers with U.S.-made M4 rifles detained his group in the West Bank before IDF troops arrived on the scene.
FIFA's red card reversal: Fair play or political interference?
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended US striker Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year.The decision was announced after President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the red card.The suspended red card means Balogun can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium.But the decision has faced harsh criticism from fans and The Union of European Football Associations, which said the red card suspension "crossed a red line."What does the red card debacle tell us about political interference in elite soccer?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Kai McNamee.It was edited by William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Or interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.
Top general fired by Trump administration criticizes use of military for political missions
The former top US general whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired last year offered a sharp criticism of the Trump administration in an op-ed published Friday, pointing to its political use of the military, such as deploying troops to clamp down on crime in major cities.
How Trump chose a former Oklahoma state trooper to lead ICE — and handed Markwayne Mullin a win
After an occasionally rocky start in his new post, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin won an internal debate when President Donald Trump announced he was nominating Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement, five sources familiar with the dynamic told CNN.
Trump says he is nominating former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director
Schroyer's nomination comes after former ICE director Todd Lyons resigned at the end of May. David Venturella, a former executive at a private prison operator, has been serving as the acting head of the agency.
Trump says he’ll nominate former Oklahoma state trooper as ICE director
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will nominate Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper and Marine, to be the next director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Israeli Soldiers Fatally Shoot 2 People in Southern Lebanon, Health Officials Say
The shooting came a day after Israeli troops began operating under new orders intended to reduce the risk of flare-ups in its conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Office of Naval Research rolls out new science and technology strategy
The office also wants closer ties to industry and troops to get new equipment to the field faster.
Hegseth announces 6-month review of American forces in Europe, blasts NATO allies for putting troops 'at risk'
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announces six-month review of U.S. force deployment in Europe, pressing NATO allies to take primary responsibility for defense.
Far-right general upends Italian politics
Ahead of next year’s election, Meloni has to decide whether to embrace firebrand ex-paratrooper Roberto Vannacci.
Exclusive: US military rushed to prepare ground mission to capture Iran’s uranium, but Trump paused it, sources say
The US’ top general made a secret, rushed visit to US Central Command headquarters in Florida late last month to be briefed in person on plans for the US military to send ground troops into Iran to forcibly seize its highly enriched uranium, the key component necessary to produce a nuclear weapon, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Who is Dan Jarvis, the new defence secretary replacing John Healey?
Ex-paratrooper, once touted as a leadership contender, described by MPs as ‘honourable’ and ‘generally a good bloke’
Soldiers have a new app for mortar firing solutions
Picatinny Arsenal says troops are finding the app easy to use and modern, picking up the upgraded system with little training.
Politics, public safety collide as feds investigate MARTA security
Two days after President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate for Georgia governor called for placing state troopers on MARTA trains, the federal government launched an inquiry into the transit system’s security and safety protocols.
Hegseth warns of 'invasion' and 'dangerous ideologies' in D-Day anniversary speech
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary speech on Saturday to appear to link immigration by sea to the wartime liberation of Europe, warning that the freedom won by Allied troops could prove temporary if leaders failed to defend it.
7-month-old baby killed after Israeli troops open fire on a car, Palestinian health officials say
The Palestinian health ministry said that a 7-month-old baby was killed after Israeli troops opened fired at his parents’ vehicle in the occupied West Bank, with the bullet striking the boy in the face.
D‑day’s secret weapon: How wetland science stopped Normandy landings from getting bogged down
Beneath the roar of gunfire and the chaos of D-day, an unlikely hero played a vital role — wetland science. Often overlooked amid military strategies and troop movements, the study of mud proved critical to the success of the largest amphibious invasion in history.
Israeli forces kill a Palestinian infant in the occupied West Bank, say health officials
HEBRON, West Bank (AP) — Israeli troops killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby boy after firing at his parents’ vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. Sam Fahd …
Israeli forces kill a Palestinian infant in the occupied West Bank, say health officials
HEBRON, West Bank (AP) — Israeli troops killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby boy after firing at his parents’ vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.
Trump’s troop reversals in Europe could cost taxpayers millions, officials say
The U.S. military is waiting for clarity from the Pentagon following President Donald Trump's back-and-forth on troop levels in Europe, upending the lives of military personnel and potentially costing taxpayers millions of dollars, two U.S. defense officials told The Associated Press.
More patrols coming to Houston entertainment districts as Texas ramps up summer security
If you’re heading to a concert, sporting event or entertainment district in Houston this summer, don’t be surprised if you notice more Texas Department of Public Safety troopers on patrol.
Trump suffers rare House defeat as bipartisan vote moves to withdraw troops from Iran conflict
The House voted to curb Trump's war powers in Iran after Democrats and several Republicans bucked the president in a rare bipartisan rebuke of his policy.