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
American warship downs drones with laser weapon, UK Defence Journal
Russia’s only aircraft carrier was a floating hell for the crew, We are the Mighty
Marine drill instructor sentenced over boot camp hazing death arrested after early release, Task & Purpose
The 2025 National Security Strategy and the 2026 National Defense Strategy Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier, Small Wars Journal
Why the US–Iran War Still Has Not Begun — and What Is Really Stopping Trump, Pravda Report
Could a Castro become our man in Havana?, Morning Defense
Saudi Arabia, Israel Get Nod For $15.7 Billion In Combined U.S. Arms Sales, Daily Defense
Did Iran Drop a Dirty Bomb on U.S. Forces?, Real Clear Defense
Xi the Destroyer, Foreign Affairs
Trump’s Global Gunboat Diplomacy Leaves the U.S. Overstretched, Real Clear Defense
NATO soldiers say they can’t let their guns get too warm if they want them to work on frozen battlefields, Business Insider
China aggression renews question of whether Trump would defend Taiwan with US military, Small Wars Journal
NATO Is Doing Military Exercises—Without America,. Real Clear Defense
Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division are headed back to the Middle East, Task & Purpose
Sweden and Denmark Launch Joint Procurement to Supply Ukraine With Tridon Mk2 Air Defense, World Defence News
Strategy??, Small Wars Journal
UK denies F-35 kill switch claim despite US reliance, UK Defence Journal
Fleet of NATO warships heads for Baltic Sea, UK Defense Journal
Trump’s Taiwan retreat, Morning Defense
US military used new ‘non-kinetic’ cell to guide cyber ops during Maduro capture, Defense One
Army unit created for Afghanistan will now run jungle school in Panama, Task & Purpose
Forget Greenland — Securing Diego Garcia Should Come First, Asia Times
Troop Casualties In Ukraine War Near 2 Million, NY Times
The First Soldier Awarded the Medal of Honor During GWOT, Military Times
The Uncontainable Consequences Of A War With Iran, Real Clear Defense
TacJobs – Daniel Defense Seeks Military Sales Manager, Soldier Systems
AFSOC Releases CV-22B Accident Investigation Board Report, Soldier Systems
Military Kayaks in Special Operations: A Quiet Lineage, Soldier Systems
FIRST RESPONDER / HOMELAND SECURITY / WILDLAND FIRE
What It Took for George H.W. Bush to Invoke the Insurrection Act, Foreign Policy
Modi to Kevin Rudd: How Epstein files set off a storm far beyond the US, Al Jazeera
What Would the 2nd Civil War Look Like, Real Clear Defense
‘A once-in-a-career opportunity’: Idaho firefighters use donated shopping center for live fire training, FireRescue1
‘Stand united as one’: Colo. union, firefighters issue no-confidence in board, in support of fire chief, FireRescue1
Chicago mayor orders PD to investigate alleged federal LE misconduct incidents, Police1
Congress Has Doubts About the Trump Administration’s New Wildfire Management Plans, Inside Climate
LAPD homicide clearance rate rose to nearly 70% in 2025, Police1
‘Are you through the floor?’: Helmet cam captures rookie Texas firefighter’s fall through floor, FireRescue1
Ohio officer reinstated to active duty after acquittal in fatal 2023 OIS, Police1
Swiss Alpine Bar Fire Claims 41st Victim, FireEngineering
MAYDAY CALLED, FOUR FIREFIGHTERS INJURED IN HOUSE FIRE – VIRGINIA, FFCC
The Gritty Realities of Firefighting, FireFighterNation
BWC: Person wielding knife, electric shock device runs at Baltimore officers before OIS, Police1
US: Federal officers in Minneapolis to start wearing body cameras, Tribune online
$6.8M awarded to Army veteran after suing LAPD over mental health 5150 hold, Police1
LAPD would delete nearly 12 million body camera videos under proposed policy change, Police1
Tenn. deputy fatally shot while responding to shots fired call, Police1
Worker Critically Injured in WI After Crane Drops 28,000-Pound Beam, Fire Engineering
Calif. fire chiefs fault local leadership in Senate hearing about Palisades Fire, FireRescue1
FEMA wildfire official facing questions after claims of receiving priority payout for New Mexico wildfire, Wildfire Today
Watch: Mich. FFs, dive team rescue 4 horses trapped in golf course pond, Police News
ederal LE misconduct incidents, Police1
Jury recommends death sentence for man in 2023 killing of Mo. officer, Police1
Three Dogs Were Stuck in a Canyon. Rescuers Lured Them to Safety with the Help of Hot Dogs., Outside
Bride Arrested After Shutting Down Park City, UT, Gondola to Accuse Fiancé of Cheating, SnowBrains
Measles Overtakes ICE Detention Center, Real Clear Health
MOUNTAIN
FPV Drones Have Changed Skiing—Meet The Best Pilot In The World, Powder
Finally, a Novel That Captures the Soul of Climbing—and the Relentless Need to Be Great, Climbing
Hunting for Meat Is Widely Accepted. Wearing Fur from the Predators You Hunt and Trap Should Be, Too, Outdoor Life
Freeride Skiing Takes a Another Step Toward the Olympics With This New Event, Powder
Ski The Only Lift In The US That Requires A Beacon Just To Get On, Unofficial Networks
U.S. Olympic Athletes to Receive $200,000 Each Thanks to Massive Donation From Billionaire, SnowBrains
Are Any Of The Cold Feet Solutions Actually Worth It?, Unoffical Networks
North America’s Scariest Ski Run Now Has a Livestream. The Footage Is Hilarious. Outside
How Kayak Fishing Saved Lance Clinton’s Life, Outdoor Life
The Rescue of a Climber Left for Death on Mount Everest 20 Years Ago, Gripped
The First-Ever Freeride World Champions Have Been Crowned, but Not Without Controversy, Powder
Tommy Caldwell and Siebe Vanhee Take on a Patagonia Big Wall Challenge, Gripped
Aggressive Skier Berates Snowboarder After Collision At Vermont Ski Resort, Unofficial Networks
Friends Question Why Novice Climber Who Died on Mount Hood Was Free Soloing, Climbing
The Climber Who Broke Both Legs and Crawled off a Himalayan Mountain, Gripped
‘Split 5’ Was One of the Most Photographed Bull Elk from Rocky Mountain National Park. A Hunter Tagged Him This Fall, Outdoor Life
“The most pure testpeice of all time” – Zach Galla Sends Lucid Dreaming V15, Gripped
22-Year-Old Australian Snowboarder Dies After Chairlift Accident at Tsugaike Mountain, Japan, SnowBrains
Which Region of the United States Produces The Best Skiers? (Poll), Powder
Ikon Wants You to Ski So Bad, It’s Offering $20 Vouchers, GearJunkie
How Carv’s ‘Digital Ski Coach’ Uses Data to Make Skiing More Fun, Blister
From Skater Sequins to Skier Speed Suits, the Evolution of Winter Olympics Gear, Outside
Wyoming Hunters Accuse Ranchers of Using a Plane to Herd Elk, Meateater
FITNESS / NUTRITION / HEALTH
The Army’s new neural limb lets soldiers ‘feel’ again, We are the Mighty
Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study, The Guardian
Tried and Tested: The 8 Best At-Home Saunas in 2026, Muscle & Fitness
Top 5 NFL Combine Bench Press Records of All Time: Who Has the Most Reps?, Muscle & Fitness
How Weight Lifting Took Over America, NY Times
Half-Kneeling Pallof Press: The Anti-Rotation Core Exercise That Helps Build Stronger Lifts, Muscle & Fitness
Is Carb-Cutting Healthy?, NY Times
3 Main Meals vs. Multiple Small Meals: Which Is Better For Your Brain?, Huffington Post
Andrew Huberman’s 5 Non-Negotiable Health Pillars for Peak Mental & Physical Health, Men’s Journal
Front Squat Setup Guide: Master Bar Position, Elbow Drive & Perfect Form, Muscle & Fitness
What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Regular Soda Every Day, Health.com
New Mexico warns against consuming raw milk after newborn dies from listeria, NBC News
The Real Reason Creatine May Affect Your Weight, Everyday Health
Want a New Year’s Health Goal That Will Last? Enlist Your Dog, Outside
GEAR
Hamskea R7 vs Vaportrail Victor, ArcheryTalk
Salomon Reveals New S/Lab Shift AT Boot + Other Freeride Skis, Bindings, Blister
SHOT Show 26 – Arc’teryx PRO Kneepads, Soldier Systems
I’ve Tested 1,000+ Sex Toys. These 8 Are What I Always Recommend, Gear Latest
SQUAM LAKE TREE HOUSE, Bless This Stuff
Featherweight Firepower: The Outdoor Vitals Zulu Down Jacket, The Collector
MILLRITE SP.01 SPATULA, Bless This Stuff
Building a Watch Collection on a Budget? Here’s Where to Start (2026), Gear Latest
From British Sleeping Bags to PFAS-Free Ski Jackets | Rab’s Origins & Latest Lineup, Blister
The Most Specialized (And Fun) Tool in My Quiver: 4FRNT Renegade Review, GearJunkie
I Tested Pocket Knives That I’d Actually Carry Every Day—Here’s the One That Won, Men’s Journal
Military Precision For Your Wrist: The Elliot Brown Holton Professional, The Collector
2026 INEOS GRENADIER, Bless This Stuff
FREESCAPE ADVENTURE CAMPER, Bless This Stuff
INTERESTING
I Infiltrated Moltbook, the AI-Only Social Network Where Humans Aren’t Allowed, Gear Latest
Novo Nordisk’s stock tumbled as drugmaker lays out case for declining sales in 2026, Marketwatch
Seven Books to Read When You Have No Time to Read, The Atlantic
The Tech Elites in the Epstein Files, Wired
Catalina Island’s Entire Deer Population to Be Killed, GearJunkie