Arete is a hand-picked weekly list of the most thought-provoking articles, essays, and links I come across—curated for mountain and tactical athletes. Not always the newest, but always worth your time. It’s what I’d forward to a sharp teammate or training partner.
— Rob Shaul
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MILITARY / NATIONAL SECURITY
These Air Force ‘rods from God’ could hit with the force of a nuclear weapon, We are the mighty
Navy Is Flying Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, The War Zone
Marines flew to Norway on the New England Patriots’ jet, Task & Purpose
Sweden weighs Franco-British nuclear weapons cooperation, Breaking Defense
Is it Time for a Nordic Nuke?, War on the Rocks
NATO chief warns Europe cannot defend itself without US, UK Defense Journal
Trump’s Head-Scratching Turn Toward China, The Atlantic
Trump says US used ‘Discombobulator’ secret weapon during Maduro capture, Defense News
Trump’s national defense strategy is unlike anything that’s come before it, Defense One
Intelligence tensions rock NATO as Danish government issues espionage advisory, Intelnews.org
Troop Casualties in Ukraine War Near 2 Million, Study Finds, NY Times
5 of the most legendary soldiers of United Kingdom’s Special Air Service, We are the Mighty
The U.S. Drew Up A Plan To Invade Canada In 1930, Real Clear Defense
A U-Boat Killed 763 American Soldiers on Christmas Eve in 1944. The Army Kept It Secret for 50 Years, military.com
Breaking Away From the Pack: The Case for the Acquisition of Greenland, Real Clear Defense
Trump’s Greenland Obsession Is Madness. Can’t We Just Say That?, Foreign Policy
New Military Purge Rocks the CCP, Foreign Policy
The Battle for the Arctic Runs Through Greenland, Real Clear Defense
Space Force probably needs twice as many guardians, vice chief says, Defense One
As combat evolves, leaders seek not ‘super-athletes’ but ‘human weapon systems’, Defense One
The Closing of the Marine Corps Mind? Strategy, Credentialism, and the Pursuit of Intellectual Depth, Modern War Institute
China’s Cyber Forces Are Impressive, and Growing, Real Clear Defense
Was the Intervention in Venezuela a War?, American Conservative
Military Is Dumbing Down to the Detriment of National Security, RepStateCraft
How Trump Could Hit Iran, Unheard
Navy fires First Naval Construction Regiment commodore for ‘loss of confidence’, Task & Purpose
Map shows what would happen to Gaza under the US ‘master plan’, Al Jazeera
FIRST RESPONDER / HOMELAND SECURITY / WILDLAND FIRE
Spain Offers Undocumented Migrants a Legal Way to Stay, NY Times
Gun-Rights Groups Clash With Trump Officials Over Fatal Shooting of Armed Protester, WSJ
The American City That Found Itself at War With the U.S. Government, WSJ
The Costs of Collective Suspicion: Afghans in America in the Aftermath of a Killing, War on the Rocks
Why DHS is investigating its own killings, briefly explained, Vox
Identifying ‘Less-Lethal’ Weapons Used By DHSAgents in US Immigration Raids and Protests, Bellingcat
DHS: No judicial warrant? No problem., Washington Post
Agents Voice Frustration With DHS Leadership’s Handling of Crisis, Real Clear Politics
‘Not here in Alabama’: PD chief warns against interfering with immigration policing after woman’s arrest, Police1
10 S.C. PD officers ousted after investigation into cheating on state certification exam, Police1
4 Fla. firefighters arrested over paintball ‘prank war’ that hit cruiser, Police1
Two Hose-Related Lawsuits in the Fire Law Headlines, Fire Law Blog
U.S. Revamps Wildfire Response Into Modern Central Organization, Forbes
Nearly 30 Ariz. firefighters to lose jobs after contract change replaces fire department, FireRescue1
The Role of Canopy Turbulence in Wildland FireBehavior, Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
Boise (ID) Fire Plans Large-Scale Training at Shuttering Outlet Mall, FireEngineering
Six Injured as Charter Bus Catches Fire on Highway During CT Snowstorm Travel Ban, FireEngineering
Calif. sheriff warns bystanders approaching scenes to record video: ‘Bullets can be very unforgiving’, Police1
‘Until you’re in that mix, you can’t tell me anything’: Uvalde school officer speaks out after acquittal, Police1
Man Arrested for Punching, Grabbing Hose from NC Firefighter at Fire Scene, Fire Engineering
MOUNTAIN / OUTSIDE
Hut Skiers Stranded, Frostbitten, Rescued on Third Attempt, GearJunkie
Patagonia Sues Drag Queen Activist ‘Pattie Gonia’ for Trademark Infringement, GearJunkie
Seven Backcountry Skiers Rescued After Suffering Cold Related Injuries In Colorado, Unofficial Networks
This Alaskan Lake Offers Some Of The Most Incredible Ice Skating In The World, Unoffical Networks
Watch the Wild Ski Runs That Crowned Freeride World Tour Winners in France, Powder
Trip Report: “Hanging Snowfield” — Wasatch Mountains, UT, SnowBrains
A Maine Ski Resort’s Snowstorm “Apology” Perfectly Captures Skiers’ FOMO, Powder
A “Normal” Sport Climbing Fall Ended in a Traumatic Thumb Amputation. What Happened?, Climbing
I Lost My Vision Fly Fishing on a Jungle River. Here’s What It Was Like., Outside
Watch: We Just Caught and Released a Huge Great White Shark from the Beach, Outdoor Life
Oregon To Legalize Corner Crossing, Eastman’s
Sarah Hueniken and Ines Papert on Climbing, Age and Partnership, Gripped
Arc’teryx Appoints Avery Baker Chief Brand Officer, Outdoor Industry News
Meet Mallory Duncan, One of Skiing’s Foremost Creatives, Powder
The Making of ORNADA, Armada’s Bold, Two-Year Film Project, Powder
How Far Should We Push Our Kids in the Outdoors?, Outdoor Life
Is Telemark Skiing Dying? Veteran Skiers Share Their Honest Take, Powder
Quick Strike Podcast: Secrets of a Great Lakes Steelhead Guru, Outdoor Life
Sean Bailey Proposes 5.15d for His New ‘Duality of Man’ in the U.S.A., Gripped
The Dust Bowl Jackrabbit Drives Were the Darkest Days of Small-Game Hunting in America, Outdoor Life
Governor Asks Utahns To “Seek Help From a Higher Power” Amid Lackluster Winter, Powder
Oregon Introduces the ORCA Act of 2026 to Address the State’s Liability Insurance Crisis, SnowBrains
The Epic First Ascent of a 2,500-Metre Alpine Wall on Canada’s Tallest Mountain, Gripped
Watch the World of Downhill Skiing Unfold in Prime Video’s New Series: Downhill Skiers, Unofficial Networks
Corbet’s Couloir Champion Joins Blizzard Tecnica Ski Team, SnowBrains
6-Year-Old Skier Hit Cobert’s Couloir Like It’s Nothing, Unoffical Networks
Skiers Tackle the Best of Alaska’s Backcountry Ski Lines In New Film, Powder
FITNESS / NUTRITION / HEALTH
Koreans and Chinese are “enhancing” their children shortly after birth. No wonder so many are now 6’2″ & 230#, SNAFU
6 Ironman Races on 6 Continents in 1 Year with Ariana Luterman, REI
New diet guidelines say to double up on protein, but nutrition experts are wary, Daily Herald
I Ate a Pro Cyclist’s High-Carb Race-Day Diet for One Day. Could My Body Handle It?, Bicycling
Lenny Kravitz Is *Still* Shredded at 61 Thanks to This Rigid Diet and High-Volume Training Routine, Men’s Health
Why Bodyweight Training Builds Stronger, More Durable Athletes Than Heavy Lifting Alone, Muscle & Fitness
Intensity techniques for maximum mass, RP Strength
9 Low-Calorie Snacks to Help You Break Up with Sugar, EatingWell
Are Fermented Foods Really That Good for You?, MedPageToday
High-Carb Sports Nutrition May Be Quietly Accelerating Aging, Men’s Health
How Many Hours of Video Games Is Too Much? Science Reveals the Health Risks, Muscle & Fitness
Does Intermittent Fasting Live Up to the Hype?, NY Times
The New Science of Tendon Strength Can Help You Move Better and Get Stronger, Men’s Health
Machine Learning Applications in Non-Contact Lower Limb Sports Injury Prediction: A Systematic Review, Journal of Sports Science & Medicine
The Seven Deadly Sins of Weight Loss Drugs, Real Clear Health
‘Taming The Beast’ Official Trailer | Starring Strongman Eddie Hall, Generation Iron
The 6-Minute Routine That Restores Muscle Faster Than Morning Gym Sessions After 55, Eat This Not That
High volume vs high intensity: which builds more muscle?, Stronger by Science
Hospital Pricing Has Become Highway Robbery, Real Clear Health
Australia Banned Kids from Social Media. Is the U.S. Next?, Real Clear Health
GEAR
After 5 Years, Apple Finally Upgrades the AirTag, Gear Latest
We Strapped on Exoskeletons and Raced. There’s One Clear Winner, Gear Latest
SHOT Show 26 – Arc’teryx PRO Konseal Trek Boot, Soldier Systems
SHOT Show 26 – FAST SideKar from UNITY Tactical, Soldier Systems
SHOT Show 26 – Irregular Defense Disruptive Hinterland Camo Pattern, Soldier Systems
Knives in a Gun Fight: The Best Knives of SHOT Show 2026, GearJunkie
Salomon Just Unveiled Its Boldest Ski Boot Redesign in Years, Outside
I Tested Nortiv 8’s $70 Shoes Against Name Brands. The Results Blew Me Away, Outside
SHOT Show 26 – Crye Precision G3 Cut Resistant (CR) Combat Shirt & Pant, Soldier Systems
Nordica Just Updated a Near-Perfect Ski Boot. Here’s What Changed., Outside
Blue Force Gear Further Shatters Conventional Gear Design, Soldier Systems
SHOT Show 26 – Arktis Multispectral Camouflage Cloak, Soldier Systems
2026 Subaru WRX Gets $5K Cheaper Than Last Year, GearJunkie
GARMIN TACTIX 8 CERAKOTE, Bless this Stuff
SIG Teams with IAI for the Firestorm Armed Quadcopter, Soldier Systems
Hot from SHOT: Top 10 Items for Backcountry Hunters, NRA
Atomic Pays Homage To The “Herminator” With Retro-Inspired Hermann Maier Skis, Snow Industry News
This 2008 FJ Cruiser Is Built for the Long Haul, Tread