Kash Patel and the USS Arizona Incident

Aaron's most attention-grabbing engagement of the day involved a New York Times story confirming that Kash Patel and nine others were escorted by Navy SEALs on a "VIP Snorkel" next to the USS Arizona — an underwater war grave — in what a Pentagon email described in those exact terms. Aaron reposted commentary connecting this incident to broader concerns about institutional deference to political figures, with one post drawing a direct line between a military willing to accommodate such stunts and one willing to carry out other ethically troubling orders. The story was condemned by at least one Navy veteran as "horrifying." NYT story via Bluesky

Virginia Supreme Court and Democratic Accountability

Aaron engaged with coverage of the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling, which Jamelle Bouie — writing with rare personal candor — described as having thrown out his own ballot. Aaron reposted Bouie's frustration alongside analysis arguing that the ruling violated Virginia's own constitution, which explicitly makes the people's power to reform their constitution sovereign and inalienable. A separate piece floated the idea that Congress could use its power to judge the republican character of state governments to push back on gerrymandered maps. Liberal Currents analysis

AOC and 2028

Aaron reposted speculation about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's prospects in a potential 2028 presidential primary, with the argument that her notably good relationships within the House Democratic caucus — unlike Bernie Sanders — could translate into unusual levels of institutional support. The comparison to Zohran Mamdani's relationship with Governor Hochul was raised as a relevant parallel. Bluesky post