Month: October 2025

Col. Amy Nieman, a senior JAG officer stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, was scrolling through reactions to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk when she decided she needed a break from social media.

“Signing off for awhile. Facebook is just too awful a reminder of where we find ourselves,” she wrote in a post, which was visible only to her friends on Facebook. “Awful to see the number of people who say this is the fault of one side and in no way related to the proliferation of guns or the devolution of political discourse.”

Soon, Nieman’s private musings ended up in the hands of Sam Shoemate — an Army veteran whose X account has been a clearinghouse for leaks purporting to expose troops and military personnel he calls out as “woke.”

In the aftermath of Kirk’s murder, Shoemate has posted separately about a dozen people tied to the military. Nieman, a 24-year Army veteran and a senior lawyer in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, was his most prominent target.

Shoemate published a screenshot of her post to X, along with a message he said was from his anonymous tipster: “Team Woke is still holding the levers.”

Things escalated quickly. The address of Nieman’s home, where she lives with her husband, Seth, and two kids, briefly appeared in posts on X before they were taken down. Within days, Amy Nieman was suspended from her position as the staff judge advocate of the Army’s prestigious 101st Airborne Division.

The reactions shocked the Niemans. “We’re not liberals. That’s what I think is so laughable about some of this,” says Seth Nieman, a retired Army Special Forces major. “Nothing Amy said was hateful.”

What happened to Nieman is part of a broader crusade against so-called “woke” ideology in the military. Active-duty troops stationed at bases across the country say the effort has helped unleash a free-for-all of leaks and accusations, feeding an atmosphere of intense suspicion.

Screenshots of internal Defense Department emails, policies, images from military bases, private messages, and old social media posts, dredged up by a loose army of veterans and online sleuths and targeting troops of all ranks, now regularly pop up on X.

Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, the administration has fired more than a dozen high-ranking officials, including the top JAG officer in both the Army and the Air Force, often with little or no explanation. Five are women.

Conservative groups, as well as independent posters like Shoemate, have circulated lists of dozens of “woke” troops they believe should be dismissed.

“Some people need to hang to restore justice,” Shoemate posted to X in April, responding to a post from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the military’s support for service members ousted for refusing to get COVID vaccines during the pandemic. “That’s not hyperbole.”

Hegseth made it clear this week that, in his view, the future of the military is the past. In a speech to hundreds of generals and admirals on Tuesday, he announced a “1990 test,” where American troops would be held to the “highest male standard” and any changes to military standards in the last 35 years will be reviewed.

The White House says its rollback has boosted morale and contributed to a surge in recruitment. In a statement to Business Insider, Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that pre-Trump policies “such as reducing fitness requirements and forcing woke ideology” had “hindered readiness.”

Just as in corporate America, change in the military hasn’t always been universally welcomed. There were surely service members in the past who silently chafed at policies they believed were too progressive.

Senior leaders are “very wary of honest give and take. The folks on active duty are paralyzed.”

Some troops and military experts believe what’s happening now goes well beyond the typical course of institutional change.

Twenty-four active duty and recently retired troops who spoke to Business Insider, including generals, military lawyers, and junior and senior officers, say the administration’s actions have stirred up paranoia and challenged the uniformed service’s nonpartisan ethos.

Military lawyers say they’re so alarmed by the leaks coming from their offices that they avoid sending emails, while others say they have distanced themselves from past accomplishments for fear of being tied to programs that are now unpopular.

“Everyone is on eggshells,” says Dan Maurer, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and associate law professor at Ohio Northern University. “To me, it’s like ‘1984’ where neighbors are turning in neighbors for supposed violations of thought crime.”

A US Army general says he found recordings of his own meetings posted online.

“People are recording the mundane, bureaucratic operations of the military in hopes that someone will say something that can be painted in a light that they’ve somehow stepped out of bounds,” says the retired general, who, like other current and recent service members, requested anonymity to speak openly. “I think that makes senior leaders very wary of honest give and take. The folks on active duty are paralyzed.”

A three-star officer says he now checks his email first thing every morning “to see if I still have a job” — or if statements he made in support of diversity or the COVID vaccine mandate, back when those things were official military policy, have come back to haunt him.

People are too scared to even engage in conversations about what is happening. We just don’t trust each other.”

If targets keep their jobs, many are hit with waves of online harassment for having carried out their duties under previous administrations or, fairly or not, exercising free speech in a way that runs counter to, or annoys, the MAGA faithful.

The accusations have spread to much lower-ranking officers and enlisted troops. Among those dragged online are a staff sergeant whose email signature included her pronouns and a lieutenant who wrote a letter defending women’s submarine service.

“I’ve never seen a group get together and say, ‘I don’t agree with the policy positions of a certain administration, so I’m going to smear every officer who carried out those policies,'” says Brad Duplessis, a professor at the Army’s Command and General Staff College who retired from the Army in 2021. “I’ve never seen an ideological movement like this on the left or the right until now.”

Many of the anti-woke posters are among the 8,000 vaccine refusers who were forced from the military under President Joe Biden’s 2021 mandate. The Pentagon rescinded the mandate in 2023 after Congress repealed it, with Republicans arguing the mandate hurt recruiting and lacked reasonable exemptions. The Trump administration has encouraged the troops who were fired to return to the military with back pay; about 1% have taken them up on the offer.

JAGs like Nieman have come under particular scrutiny for their professional role in the vaccine mandate and DEI programs. Dozens have been doxxed or targeted online.

Several of these military lawyers say there have been so many leaks of emails, documents, and group chats that they now favor in-person meetings to discuss sensitive topics.

“People are too scared to even engage in conversations about what is happening,” says one active-duty JAG. “We just don’t trust each other.”

It’s unclear if the Department of Defense is investigating who is behind the leaks. The JAG says they’ve seen no evidence that they are, and the DoD declined to comment.

“We know they are still out there,” the JAG says of the leakers.

It’s ultimately up to civilian leaders to determine military policy, whether about diversity or vaccine requirements. Experts warn that targeting military officers who followed those policies and encouraging the military’s rank and file to weigh in could set a dangerous precedent.

“If everybody has this free rein to express political grievances down to the lowest private — and their squad leader doesn’t like that — then that’s going to drive them apart,” says Luke Baumgartner, a fellow researching extremism at George Washington University who served as an Army officer. “It’s mission first. It’s not politics first.”

The leaks and public accusations are increasingly attracting the attention of top Pentagon officials.

On September 3, Hegseth and Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, hosted a listening session at the Pentagon with some of the most prominent of the anti-woke figures operating online. Among them was Shoemate, the veteran who would post about Nieman about a week later. (Shoemate declined a request for an interview.)

Following Hegseth’s listening session, the number of posts and the variety of targets markedly increased.

The next day, another veteran in attendance at the Pentagon posted a screenshot of a US Navy doctor’s LinkedIn profile where she listed her pronouns and described her specialty as “transgender healthcare.” The post was picked up by Libs of TikTok, the popular right-wing account, who tagged Hegseth, writing: “Can you please look into this?”

“Pronouns UPDATED: She/Her/Fired,” Hegseth replied.

Trump has also welcomed high-profile critics of previous administrations back into the fold, including some who were disciplined for speaking out against military policies.

Matthew Lohmeier, a former Space Force commander and F-15 pilot, serves as Trump’s undersecretary of the Air Force, overseeing roughly 700,000 people and an annual budget of $220 billion.

Lohmeier was fired from command in the Space Force in 2021 after self-publishing a book about the spread of Marxism in the American military and criticizing its DEI policies in interviews. Lohmeier later served as a vice president at Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services, an anti-DEI nonprofit.

After attending a Trump campaign rally last fall, Lohmeier urged troops to gather training documents and emails that demonstrated the “pro LGBTQ agenda, pro trans, pro anti-white racism, anti-Americanism.”

“We will ensure we eliminate this rot from the military,” he wrote on X. “Capture the evidence.”

Lohmeier, who declined requests for comment, has kept a relatively low profile since his confirmation in July. Shortly after Kirk’s death, when a user on X flagged that a senior enlisted airman had called Kirk “a POS who spread hate,” Lohmeier sprang into action.

“I’ve asked our senior military leaders to read the member his rights, and place him and his entire chain of command under investigation,” Lohmeier said on X. “Zero tolerance for this.”

In April, the popular Facebook account US Army W.T.F! moments posted a photo from Fort McCoy, a training base in Wisconsin. Portraits of Trump and Hegseth had been turned around on a wall displaying the chain of command. “Fort McCoy just playing with fire,” the caption read.

The outrage was immediate, and spilled over onto X, where users began speculating about who might be responsible. Several prominent accounts — citing no evidence — named Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez, the garrison commander and a 26-year Army veteran, as a likely culprit. The first woman to hold the position, Baez Ramirez was soon being branded online as a “DEI plant.”

Within days, the Army announced Baez Ramirez had been suspended for unspecified “administrative reasons.” Her suspension fed another round of shaming, as social media users dug into her background and previous statements.

Baez Ramirez was quietly reinstated to her post in mid-August. She declined a request for comment.

Chris Hanson, the director of public affairs for the 88th Readiness Division at Fort McCoy, declined to elaborate on the reason for Baez Ramirez’s suspension but says she was never under investigation for the command board incident.

“Unfortunately, there are people across the political spectrum that are getting dragged through the mud right now,” he tells Business Insider. “Our focus is to make sure that we’re maintaining the truth. And the truth is that she wasn’t associated with the command board.”

Meanwhile, tensions over the leaks and accusations have crept into the most banal interactions among the operational force.

An Army major was recently planning a field exercise when a question from a junior officer caught him off guard. The lieutenant wanted to know whether a “DEI” advisor would be included in the head count.

The question itself wasn’t unusual, but the lieutenant’s reference to “DEI” landed like a verbal grenade.

The major’s immediate thought was that it might be a trap — that his response would be reported up the chain or leaked to someone online, who’d use it to brand him as “woke” and endanger his decade-long career.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever had to think about that,” the major says.

The troops and military experts who spoke to Business Insider say they were most concerned that the military’s men and women could start being judged by their politics rather than their effectiveness in their roles.

“We actually need people who are good at fighting and winning wars,” says Kori Schake, the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of a new history of the US military’s relations with civilian leaders.

“The right answer,” Schake says, “is for the military to have no politics at all.”

Sam Fellman is the deputy editor of Business Insider’s military and defense team

From the forests of Tanzania to the streets of Hollywood, tributes have poured in for Jane Goodall, after the global conservation icon died on Wednesday morning at age 91. 

Goodall passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed in a statement.

[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]

Known for her integral research work on chimpanzees in the 1960s, Goodall revolutionized the science of primates and transformed humans’ understanding of their closest biological relatives. 

The British primatologist is also remembered for being a vocal environmental activist, doing the groundwork until her final days. In a TIME interview in 2021, Goodall said: “I’m about to leave the world and leave it behind me with all the mess, whereas young people have to grow up into it. That’s why they need every bit of help they can.”

Read More: Jane Goodall’s Message of Hope Lives On

Goodall’s work has earned her recognition across the globe: she was awarded the U.S.’s Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, earlier this year and was appointed by the United Nations in 2002 to be a Messenger of Peace—becoming one of a handful of such honorees worldwide.

Former President Joe Biden, who conferred the Medal of Freedom on Goodall, posted on X that he and former First Lady Jill Biden were “deeply saddened” over her passing, lauding how her “activism, vision, and message of hope mobilized a global movement to protect the planet.”

“Jane taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves,” the former U.S. President said.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for Goodall’s “lifelong environmental protection efforts and her strong support for the [United Nations].” In his Instagram tribute, Guterres said: “She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and our planet.”

Activists, philanthropists call Goodall a ‘hero’

Goodall’s death has reverberated particularly in the communities she was prominent in, such as those focused on animal and environmental conservation efforts.

Ingrid Newkirk, who founded the animal welfare advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), celebrated Goodall’s “long and fine life” and remembered her as “a gifted scientist and trailblazer who forever changed the way we view our fellow animals.” Newkirk remembered how Goodall helped PETA in several campaigns, including stopping UPS from shipping animal trophies and calling for the closure of marine theme park SeaWorld. “She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, and we encourage everyone to follow in her animal-respecting footsteps,” Newkirk said.

“Jane Goodall’s legacy will be forever celebrated,” Tierra Curry, co-director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s endangered species initiative, said in a statement. “She died with a hammer in her hands, spreading good in the world, having inspired millions of people to take action on behalf of all that is wild and beautiful. She overcame obstacles, broke gender barriers, and made a career in conservation seem within reach for women and girls around the world. She was an amazing force for nature, and now we need to carry her mantle on.”

Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals, said in a statement that Goodall “made history by inspiring generations of people to love animals and to care deeply about their welfare.” Block added: “Goodall’s influence on the animal protection community is immeasurable, and her work on behalf of primates and all animals will never be forgotten.”

Audrey Azoulay, director general of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), posted on X that Goodall “was able to convey the lessons of her research to everyone, especially young people.” Azoulay added: “Her chimpanzee greetings at @UNESCO last year—she who so strongly supported our work for the biosphere—will echo for years to come.”

Several billionaires also honored Goodall for her work. Melinda French Gates, a noted philanthropist, remembered Goodall on X as “an extraordinarily powerful advocate, inspiring young people all over the world to stay curious, compassionate, and committed to building a brighter future for people, animals, and the environment. What a force she was.” Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, described Goodall on X as “a groundbreaking scientist and leader who taught us all so much about the beauty and wonder of our world.”

Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg posted on X that it “was an honor to have [Goodall] alongside us just last week”—referring to her September participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum—“to share with leaders a message that is more urgent than ever.” Goodall’s attendance at the event was one of the last things she did before her passing.

Maria Shriver, a journalist, philanthropist, and former First Lady of California who awarded Goodall the Minerva Award in 2009 to recognize her extraordinary contributions to society, posted a tribute to Goodall on Instagram after her passing: “I admired her, learned from her, and was so honored to get to spend time with her over the years. She stayed at her mission and on her mission. She changed the world and the lives of everyone she impacted. The world lost one of its best today, and I lost somone[sic] I adored.”

José Andrés, the Spanish-American restaurateur who founded global food relief charity World Central Kitchen, also took to Instagram to pay tribute to Goodall, calling her “the wisest and most compassionate person I’ve ever met.” Andrés said that Goodall wrote to him just this weekend about what she could do to alleviate the suffering in conflict-stricken areas like Gaza and Ukraine. “She could make anybody feel hopeful about the future, no matter the hardships of the present,” Andrés said. “She was my hero, my inspiration. I will miss her every single day.”

Goodall leaves lasting impression on Hollywood

Goodall’s work also inspired Hollywood stars. Fellow U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio, in a lengthy Instagram tribute to Goodall, honored the late conservationist and her dedication to environmental causes. DiCaprio and Goodall collaborated on projects like the upcoming film Howl, which they both served as executive producers for.

“Today we have lost a true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend,” DiCaprio said. “For decades, Jane traveled the world with tireless energy, awakening generations to the wonder of the natural world. She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference. She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped.”

DiCaprio extended his deepest condolences to Goodall’s family and urged others to support the Jane Goodall Institute and other conservation groups to prolong her legacy.

“My last message to Jane was simple: ‘You are my hero.’ Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home.”

Another U.N. Messenger of Peace, actor Michael Douglas, offered a brief but heartfelt tribute. “RIP to my fellow UN Messenger of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall,” Douglas posted on Instagram. “Her legacy will forever be remembered for her unwavering dedication to our planet. My deepest condolences to the Goodall family.” 

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres posted on Instagram a segment of her former show Ellen in which she interviewed then-85-year-old Goodall in 2019. “Thank you Jane for all the good you’ve done,” DeGeneres said. “You broke barriers for women all over the world.” 

Jon Stewart, who also previously had Goodall as a guest when he still hosted The Daily Show more than a decade ago, wrote on X: “Jane Goodall was just the best…damn.”

Jane Fonda, an actor and outspoken activist, posted on Instagram that her “heart breaks” over the news of Goodall’s passing. Fonda had interviewed Goodall for Interview Magazine in 2016. The two exchanged perspectives on activism, environmental challenges, and personal philosophy. “I loved her very much,” Fonda said on Instagram. “I think the best way we can honor her life is to treat the earth and all its beings like our family, with love and respect.”

Mia Farrow, another actor-activist, called Goodall “a magnificent inspiration.”

In October 2024, actress and comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus featured Goodall as the premiere guest for the third season of her podcast “Wiser Than Me.” When Goodall passed, Dreyfus posted on Instagram that Goodall “was a force for what is true and what is good. I am so blessed and so grateful to have crossed paths with this wise giant.”

Prince Harry, who was reportedly exceptionally close to Goodall, issued a joint statement with his wife, Meghan Markle, after news of Goodall’s death. “Dr. Jane Goodall DBE was a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us,” the royal couple said in a statement obtained by People magazine. “Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt…. She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed.”

Politicians honor Goodall’s ‘remarkable ability to inspire’

Besides Biden, other former U.S. Presidents also honored Goodall. Barack Obama paid tribute to her on X, saying that she “had a remarkable ability to inspire us to connect with the natural wonders of our world,” and he lauded how her work on primates and conservation “opened doors for generations of women in science.” Obama added: “Michelle and I are thinking of all those who loved and admired her.”

Former President Bill Clinton posted that Goodall, who worked with the Clinton Foundation as recently as last year, “not only taught us about the world around us, but about ourselves and our responsibility to protect the planet. The best tribute we can pay her is to redouble our efforts to defend the environment, so that all life on Earth can truly share the future.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted her own statement on Instagram alongside a picture with Goodall. “For over 60 years, Jane Goodall was a force for research about our precious planet—and climate change action to protect it—while breaking glass ceilings along the way,” Clinton said. “I’ll so miss her courage and commitment to help expand what we know about our world and preserve it for the generations to come.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D, N.J.), a longtime climate justice advocate who appeared on Goodall’s podcast “Hopecast” in 2022, posted on X: “Thank you Jane Goodall for a lasting legacy of conservation, service to all of us, and for always being brave.” 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, paid tribute to Goodall in a joint statement with his partner Jennifer, calling Goodall a “global legend,” a “towering inspiration,” and a “cherished friend.” They added: “Jane’s curiosity, strength, and kindness changed the world, and inspired countless people and bridged countries and cultures in pursuit of a better future.” Under Newsom, California’s Climate Action Corps committed to planting 90,000 trees and native plants across the state to honor Goodall’s 90th birthday last year.

Across the border, Canada’s politicians also eulogized Goodall. Prime Minister Mark Carney called Goodall a “tireless guardian of nature” whose advocacy “inspired generations,” while his predecessor Justin Trudeau posted that he was “heartbroken” to hear of Goodall’s passing and said that “her wisdom and compassion will live on in every act of conservation.”

And from Tanzania, the East African country where Goodall’s groundbreaking research on chimpanzees began, President Samia Suluhu called Goodall a “friend” of the country. “Dr. Goodall’s pioneering work at Gombe National Park transformed wildlife conservation, and placed our country at the heart of global efforts to protect chimpanzees and nature,” Suluhu posted on X. “Her legacy will live on.”

• Indy 500 champion Alex Palou, 28, says his workout routine involves CrossFit, weight training, and running.
• When it comes to recovery, he says he uses just one tool — air compression boots.
• Palou says he makes his workouts “super hard” so that racing feels easy by comparison.

For Indy 500 champion Alex Palou, the key to winning races starts long before he gets behind the wheel.

“What works for me — and what I’ve been doing for the six, seven years since I’ve been in IndyCar — has been doing CrossFit,” Palou told GQ in an interview published on Wednesday.

He also focuses on driving-specific exercises like neck work and grip work, Palou said.

“I normally start the day with movements to warm up, then I do weights. After the weights, I finish with a CrossFit workout at the end that’s just a little bit more explosive,” Palou said. “It’s quite similar to what we feel in the car, having to lift weights while the heart rate is up and you have tension. I do that every day, in-season or offseason.”

Cardio is a big part of his fitness routine. He used to mountain bike, but stopped after he broke his collarbone a decade ago, he said.

“I tried different cardios, like swimming or indoor biking. But what I do now is just running,” he said. Despite that, Palou says running is the hardest part of his training.

“I can’t. I don’t like it,” he said. Although he is starting to enjoy it “a little bit more,” it’s still difficult.

“It’s tough for me to go run and to get those cardio sessions. They are important, but they are not as fun as just lifting weights or competing against somebody when you’re working out,” Palou said.

When it comes to recovery, the race car driver says he does just one thing.

“I tried cold plunges, but it’s not really my style. I just have air compression boots for my legs. It’s good for traveling. We’re sitting so much in a race car that it’s good to try and just, I don’t know, recover! That’s the only thing I really use,” Palou said.

A four-time IndyCar Series champion and the 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner, Palou says he makes his workouts “super hard” so that racing feels easy by comparison.

“For me, it’s a lot tougher to work out and go do my normal routine than to go race an IndyCar on Sunday. Mentally, it’s just a lot more painful for me, which is good in a way. Then when you’re on race day you can be a lot more relaxed, or a lot more comfortable,” Palou said.

A representative for Palou did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.

Palou isn’t the only athlete who has spoken about his fitness and recovery routine.

In March, Stephen Curry told Business Insider that growing older made him realize the importance of rest and recovery.

“And for me, getting in cold tubs, the sauna, compression sleeves to make sure you got good blood flow in your legs, different supplements — they all give me a little boost,” the four-time NBA champion told Business Insider. “If I skip one of those, I feel it, and it doesn’t give me the maximum recovery that I need, especially at this stage.”

In July, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen said he trains four days a week and has recently added an infrared sauna with red-light therapy to his recovery routine.

“Me and my wife have been doing that almost daily,” he said.