I will be at Sea-Air-Space tomorrow. If the tensions in the strait could simmer down for a few days, my brain would appreciate it. Want to talk Strait of Hormuz or personnel issues (recruiting, suicide, quality of life)? Let’s meet up. DM me here or on Signal (HMongilio.52).
It is March, and the most recent @deptofwar.bsky.social suicide data is quarter two, 2025. At this point, we should have at least the third and fourth quarters' data. Annual report is also missing.
A shipyard worker died after an attack on a port in Bahrain that also resulted in a fire on a U.S.-flagged commercial ship. For @USNINews news.usni.org/2026/03/02/s...
The Marine Corps declared a Marine deceased Tuesday after he fell overboard from USS Iwo Jima on Feb. 7. (This is unrelated to yesterday's crash involving USS Truxton.) news.usni.org/2026/02/12/m...
Live look at reporters every time they think there might be a break in the news cycle:
For Maxim Naumov, he’s been consistently fourth at U.S. championships until today. His international competitions are not great. But people do want to see him go.
For Jason Brown, his international record over the past three years speak for itself, and he’s performed much better than the other men in international competitions. But today was disasterous. The selection committee will have to decide if that’s a one off or a sign that he’s done.
It was great seeing Andrew Torgashev do so well. But I’m still a bit burned by his NHK trophy performance. And he did not do great at Worlds. But with back to back silver at U.S. championships, it would make sense to send him.
No one expected that performance from Jason Brown, and that was just heartbreaking. For him, it’ll come down to his body of work. I don’t know if that’ll be enough that time.
Takeaways from the last day of U.S. Figure Skating Championships:
Ice dance and men’s face a very similar problem. The top spot is practically set before competition. Silver and Bronze are often toss ups. That is how it could go with the selection committee.
Also, you cannot overemphasize that Amber Glenn is 26. She is showing how skaters can have longevity in the sport. That and her openness about mental health are really important messages to bring to the sport.
If Amber Glenn skates like that in the Olympics, she has a really good chance at gold.
I also would not be surprised if Alysa Liu makes it on the Olympic podium as well.
It’s really cool to have such amazing women in the U.S.
Takeaways from day 3:
Amber! Alysa!
It’s clear who the top three women’s skaters are in the U.S.
Alysa Liu’s outfit was amazing, and it fit the program so well. I’m excited to see how she continues to develop it during the Olympics and Worlds.
It is always wonderful watching Amber Glenn land that triple axel. For those who don’t follow skating, an axel always has an extra half rotation because the jump starts with a front entrance. So that means she rotates 3.5 times.
I miss the days of a long spiral moment in a figure skating program.
Someone should just stroke around for the entire time just to show how out of breath an average person would be.
In case anyone wonders, a figure skating short program would make a lot of people out of breath. As we go into the freeskate, just remember this is a lot of endurance, power hard work made to look pretty and graceful.
Chock/Bates have their spot. But will they get gold? That’s more interesting.
The second, third spots in ice dance feel very similar to the men’s.
My takeaways from day 2 of the skating championships:
We’re lucky Ilia Malinin skates for the U.S.
Jason Brown wasn’t perfect, but he is far more consistent on an international stage than the other men competing for spots.
It’s a toss up for the third spot. The freeskate will be interesting.
See “Ice Princess” for why this matters: m.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ0s...
Ilia Malinin is skating on new boots, two weeks old. That is unheard of.
Crazier things have happened, but I think if Jason Brown doesn’t make the Olympic team, there will be a riot in the figure skating world.
HERE WE GO
Jacob Sanchez is only 18, so he’s definitely on my list to watch as he continues in this sport. And the shoutout to using a sport psychologist!
I think my second pick for the third spot would be Andrew Torgashev, but he has had serious consistency issues. But so have all the men vying for this spot.
This is the best I’ve seen Tomoki Hiwatashi, and what a time to bring it.
Petition to stop asking Maxim Naumov about his parents’s death. We all know it’s affecting him. We all know he’s skating for them. But we don’t need to torture him and make him relive it for our entertainment.
Personally, I would love to see Maxim Naumov make the Olympic team. I was so moved watching him skate after the deaths of his parents. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he has the consistency for the team.
A message to all adults: if you watch figure skating, like the current national championships right now, or the Olympics, and think I’d love to learn, you can! The adult skating community grows every day, and you’re not too old to learn. (Or return to the ice)
Embedded microphones in the ice is my nightmare.
