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
MILITARY / NATIONAL SECURITY
America the Fearful, Foreign Affairs
How The Starlink Cutoff Affects Russia’s Moves in Ukraine, Al Jazeera
‘Hangar Queens’: Osprey Readiness Rates Declining, USNI News
In the Next Pacific War, America Will Be Imperial Japan, National Interest
Why Tethered Drones Are The U.S. Military’s Next Big Challenge, Forbes
Navy admiral removed by Hegseth announces run for Congress, Defense News
Defense industry flummoxed by Trump’s executive order on profits , Defense News
Turkey could join nuclear arms race if Iran acquires bomb, Hakan Fidan warns, Jpost.coom
Blue Water Autonomy Unveils Details For 190-Foot USV With Eyes On MASC, Defense Daily
Pentagon holds off on naming and shaming defense contractors, Defense One
F-35A Stealth Fighters Moving Closer To Middle East As U.S. Military Buildup Continues, The War Zone
Russian Soldiers Call Telegram ‘Indispensable’ for Frontline Operations, Pravda Report
Europe Needs an Army, Foreign Affairs
NATO innovation chief: Alliance must speed up, or risk Russian invasion, Defense One
As naval combat evolves, there will be few ‘safe havens’ in a future war, Task & Purpose
Ex-Army Colonel at Macdill Shared Classified Battle Plans to Woo Woman, military.com
The US military is taking control of more Texas borderland, Defense One
How U.S. Special Forces Are Training in an Arctic Warfare Bootcamp, Wall Street Journal
Russia And Ukraine Adopt New Tactics, Weapons To Defeat Hedgehog Tanks, Forbes
NATO Has Become a Zombie Alliance, Foreign Policy
The Army is writing the book on using small drones in a tank formation, Defense One
IDF says it killed Hamas terrorist behind 2004 bus bombings that killed 16 civilians, The Times of Israel
Laser-Guided Rocket-Armed F-15E Strike Eagles Make Super Bowl Cameo Appearance, The War Zone
Best Battalion in the Army, Modern War Institute
What Rubio Gets Right (and Wrong) About the Western Hemisphere, Foreign Policy
Generation Jihad | The West’s greatest threat is still Al Qaeda, Long War Journal
Poland’s Mass-Army Turn Is Reshaping NATO’s Eastern Flank, Real Clear Defense
NATO shake-up sees US ousted from 2 warfighting-level commands, Breaking Defense
Mexican cartel drones were behind the brief El Paso airspace chaos, says Trump administration official. The US military took them out., Business Insider
‘The Iron Major:’ James Capers Jr.’s long road to the Medal of Honor, We Are the Mighty
Will V-22s Resume Restriction-Free Flight By The End of 2026?, Defense Daily
Hegseth says Pentagon cutting academic partnership with ‘woke’ Harvard, Defense Daily
FIRST RESPONDER / HOMELAND SECURITY / WILDLAND FIRE
The Coast Guard is now using ‘tactical’ jet skis, Task & Purpose, Task & Purpose
Coast Guard Awards Davie Defense $3.5 Billion Contract For Five Arctic Security Cutters, Defense Daily
With Cuba On The Ropes, America Is Unready For Massive Cuban Exodus, Forbes
DHS: Federal officer shoots out tires of suspect vehicle that rammed cruiser as man tried to strike LEOs, Police 1Battles Are Raging Inside the Department of Homeland Security The Atlantic
Who Might Succeed Noem If Trump Shakes Up DHS?, Real Clear Politics
Here’s the Company That Sold DHS ICE’s Notorious Face Recognition App, Security Latest
4 Mass. State Police academy staff indicted in recruit’s 2024 death, Police1
Calif. federal judge blocks state’s ban on federal agents wearing masks, upholds visible badge law, Police1
US wildfires had mix of highs and lows nationwide in 2025, new report shows, Wildfire Today
Former Salt Lake City Fire Battalion Chief Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges, Fire Law Blog
The declining murder rate., Tangle
Austin Fire Captain Indefinitely Suspended Following Timekeeping Fraud Investigation, Fire Law Blog
‘I hope somebody blows your f***ing head off’: Sheriff’s union calls for firing of dispatcher after DUI arrest, Police1
D.C. Battalion Chief Dies Following Medical Emergency During Stress Test, FireRescue1
Veteran Firefighter Drowns Under River Ice at NJ Marina, FireFighterNation
Trump’s new Wildland Fire Service is failing to ignite, Vox
MOUTAIN / OUTSIDE
Skydiving Legend Dies in Wingsuit Accident, GearJunkie
Why I Stopped Taking Dates to the Climbing Gym, GearJunkie
Ski Resorts Are Changing Fast. Here’s What Nobody Wants To Admit., Unoffical Networks
The Origins of Skijoring and Modern Competition Today, SnowBrains
Landowner Tag Bill Dies, Eastmans
Nerds Are Ruining Backcountry Skiing, Powder
After Shaun White’s retirement, Japan has lapped the U.S. in snowboarding, Washington Post
Climber Free Solos to Save Life of Unconscious Hang Glider , Gripped
This Is One of the Worst Ski Seasons the Western U.S. Has Ever Seen — And the Maps Are Brutal, Unofficial Networks
Alaska, A Place Known for Massive Snow Totals, Records Snowiest January in Recorded History, SnowBrains
The Search and Rescue Stories Our Editors Will Never Forget, Outside
Jakob Schubert Climbs His Third V17, Gripped
Behind the Scenes of Search and Rescue Outdoors, Outside
Wild Hogs Nearly Killed Me, My Buddy, and His Dog Deep in the Jungle of Hawaii. It Was the Most Fun I’ve Ever Had, Outdoor Life
Colorado Ski Resort Offering $999 3-Year Season Pass, Unoffical Networks
Climbers Rappelled into Hanging Glacier to Make First Ski Descent, Gripped
I Just Broke the Speed Record on 22,837-Foot Aconcagua. Here’s What It Was Like., Outside
Meet Team USA’s First-Ever Ski MountaineeringAthletes at Milan-Cortina 2026, Powder
Why You Don’t See Fighting in Olympic Ice Hockey, Men’s Journal
I’ve Been a National Park Ranger for 5 Years. This Is What It’s Really Like., Outside
Alta Lifty Pulls Off Mission Impossible To Ski Main Baldy Chute During 45-Minute Work Break, Unofficial Networks
FITNESS / NUTRITION
2 to 3 Cups of Coffee a Day May Reduce Dementia Risk. But Not if It’s Decaf., NY Times
How America Got So Sick, The Atlantic
27 High-Protein Breakfasts You Can Prep the Night Before, Eating Well
When ‘Eat Less, Train More’ Doesn’t Work: What Most Miss About Thyroid Health, Muscle & Fitness
Deciding Between ACL Reconstruction, Repair, and Conservative Treatment in Young Athletes: A Systematic Narrative Review, Journal of Sports Medicine
Mind‐Muscle‐Environment Interactions: Psychophysiological Determinants of Optimal Pacing in Olympic Winter Endurance Sports, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine
Stop Prescribing Zone 5: Build Better VO₂max Intervals, Training Peaks
Peter Attia’s Ties to Epstein Spark a Backlash From Doctors, NY Times
Mike Tyson’s Super Bowl Ad Tried To Fat-Shame America — Here’s Why It Won’t Work, Huffington Post
Olympic Speed Skater Jordan Stolz Never, Ever Skips Leg Day, Men’s Health
A.I. Is Making Doctors Answer a Question: What Are They Really Good For?, NY Times
How to use TrumpRx to find cheaper cash prices on medications, FoxNews
Does Caffeine Burn Fat?, Generation Iron
Can a Keto Diet Really Help With Depression? Studies Offer Insight, Healthline
The Ozempic Winter Games, Substack
Generation Iron Supplement Awards 2025, Generation Iron
Do You Need These Popular Supplements?, NY Times
GEAR
I Spent Months Testing Headphones. I Didn’t Expect This Pair to Win Best Overall, Men’s Journal
Hunting Brand Casts New Fishing Line: SITKA Fish, GearJunkie
Outdoor Vitals Vantage Alpine Puffer Jacket Review: Perfect Spring Puffer, Wired
Which Load Rating is Best for Your Truck? 10 Ply versus 12 Ply, Tread
Hoka’s Presidents’ Day Sales Feature First-Time Markdowns, Men’s health