July 27–August 2, 2025
Sam Brown Confirmed as VA Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs / White House Halts Hegseth’s Polygraph Use in Leak Investigation / From Thunderbird to Advocate: Nicole Malachowski’s Battle with Tick-Borne Illness
"RECAP is a deep dive into the top Intel shared on social media, spotlighting what resonated most with my audience. In this segment, I unpack why these topics matter, break down my findings, and provide the latest updates on the stories driving the conversation."
Today's Hits.
- Sam Brown Confirmed as VA Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs
- White House Halts Hegseth’s Polygraph Use in Leak Investigation
- From Thunderbird to Advocate: Nicole Malachowski’s Battle with Tick-Borne Illness
What else is smoking?
Sam Brown Confirmed as VA Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs
On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed retired Army Captain Sam Brown as the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with a 54-44 vote, marking a significant step in strengthening leadership for veteran services. A West Point graduate and Purple Heart recipient, Brown’s appointment comes after his nomination by President Donald Trump in January, lauded for his heroic service in Afghanistan, where he survived severe injuries from a roadside bomb in 2008. As the new head of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Brown will oversee the maintenance and operations of over 150 national cemeteries, which serve as the final resting place for approximately 4 million veterans. His confirmation, supported by a bipartisan vote including Nevada’s Democratic Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, reflects a shared recognition of his qualifications and commitment to honoring veterans.
Brown’s journey to this role is deeply rooted in his personal sacrifices and dedication to veterans. Severely wounded in Afghanistan, he endured burns to 30% of his body and over 30 surgeries, retiring medically in 2011. His resilience and post-military efforts, including founding Palisade Strategies to provide medications to veterans underserved by VA benefits, underscore his understanding of the sacrifices made by service members and their families. In his Senate testimony, Brown emphasized a message of hope inspired by a fellow soldier’s words during his rescue: “Sir, I’ve got you.” This ethos drives his commitment to ensuring the NCA delivers dignified burial services for over 100,000 veterans and eligible family members annually, while also managing initiatives like the Veterans Legacy Memorial Project, which honors over 10 million veterans through online tributes.
The confirmation process was not without challenges, as Senate Democrats initially delayed Brown’s approval, prompting criticism from Republicans, including Senator Jerry Moran, who argued that honoring veterans transcends partisanship. Despite the 54-44 vote largely splitting along party lines, the support from Nevada’s senators highlights Brown’s local ties and credibility. As he steps into this role, sworn in by VA Secretary Doug Collins on July 31, Brown is poised to address critical responsibilities, including cemetery development, federal grants for state and tribal cemeteries, and policies on memorial items like headstones and urns, which have faced recent scrutiny. His leadership is expected to reinforce the VA’s mission to provide solemn, respectful services, ensuring that the nation’s promise to its veterans is upheld with dignity.
White House Halts Hegseth’s Polygraph Use in Leak Investigation
In a dramatic turn of events, the White House intervened in late April 2025 to halt Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial use of polygraph tests to identify leakers within the Pentagon, following objections from senior adviser Patrick Weaver. The decision came amid a leak investigation launched in late March, prompted by a memo from Hegseth’s then-chief of staff, Joe Kasper, which cited “unauthorized disclosures of national security information” demanding urgent investigation. Weaver, a Trump loyalist with ties to the White House’s National Security Council and the Department of Homeland Security, raised concerns to senior officials after learning he might be subjected to a polygraph, prompting a swift phone call from an unidentified administration figure to cease the practice. The tests, already administered to members of the Joint Service Interagency Advisory Group and high-ranking military officials, stirred controversy due to their questionable reliability and the tense atmosphere they created within Hegseth’s inner circle.
The leak investigation, intensified by the “Signalgate” scandal in March, where sensitive discussions about U.S. military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen were inadvertently shared with a journalist via an unclassified Signal chat, exposed vulnerabilities in the Pentagon’s communication protocols. Hegseth, with approval from his legal adviser Tim Parlatore, had initiated polygraph tests on staff, including senior aides like Colonel Ricky Buria, whose test yielded inconclusive results, and even threatened tests for top military officials like Navy Admiral Christopher Grady and Army Lieutenant General Douglas Sims. The program’s abrupt end followed Weaver’s complaint, which highlighted internal distrust and raised questions about the tests’ legitimacy, especially after reports surfaced that some were conducted by a contractor rather than the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon’s upheaval was further compounded by Hegseth’s April firing of three senior aides—Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick—whom he accused of leaking without evidence, deepening the rift within his team.
The White House’s intervention underscores broader tensions within the Trump administration’s approach to secrecy and internal investigations. Critics, including Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth and Jack Reed, have argued that Hegseth’s tactics, including the polygraph campaign, reflect a chaotic leadership style that risks national security and stifles dissent. Polygraphs, which measure physiological responses like heart rate and perspiration, remain controversial due to their inconsistent accuracy in detecting deception, with experts warning they can intimidate rather than uncover truth. The Pentagon, through spokesman Sean Parnell, dismissed inquiries as “workplace gossip,” while Hegseth retains President Trump’s public support despite mounting criticism. As the dust settles, the episode raises questions about balancing security with workplace trust, leaving Hegseth’s leadership under scrutiny as the Pentagon navigates ongoing internal and external challenges.
From Thunderbird to Advocate: Nicole Malachowski’s Battle with Tick-Borne Illness
Retired Air Force Colonel Nicole Malachowski soared to historic heights as the first female pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, performing as Thunderbird #3 from 2005 to 2007 with her call sign "FiFi." A combat veteran with over 2,300 flight hours, including 188 in combat, she led the first fighter formation to secure Iraq’s historic 2005 democratic elections and later commanded the 333rd Fighter Squadron. However, her illustrious 21-year career came to an abrupt halt in 2012 when, during a training mission in her F-15E Strike Eagle, she experienced severe brain fog, unable to locate the radio switch—a control she had operated effortlessly for 15 years. This alarming episode was one of 63 symptoms, including chronic pain, night sweats, and neurological issues, that would leave her bedridden and force her medical retirement in 2017. After years of misdiagnoses, Malachowski was diagnosed in 2016 with five tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, at the Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness in Boston.
The journey to diagnosis was fraught with challenges, as Malachowski faced dismissal from military and civilian doctors who attributed her symptoms to stress or even suggested multiple sclerosis. It took over four years, 24 doctors, and persistent advocacy—including waiting outside the Air Force surgeon general’s office—to secure permission for specialized care. A tick bite during survival training in North Carolina, followed by another in Rhode Island, had infected her with multiple pathogens that spread to her brain stem, causing severe cognitive and motor impairments. At her lowest, she was housebound, unable to speak or walk without assistance, and reliant on her husband, Paul, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, as her caregiver. Treatment with antibiotics via a PICC line restored some abilities, but she remains at 50-60% of her former capacity, grappling with chronic fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. Malachowski’s experience exposed critical gaps in military medical systems, where inadequate testing and skepticism about tick-borne illnesses delayed her care and ended her career.
Now a passionate advocate, Malachowski channels her resilience into raising awareness about tick-borne illnesses, particularly for military personnel and veterans at high risk due to outdoor training. Her efforts led to the first tick-borne illness prevention program across the Air National Guard in May 2025, educating over 100,000 Guardsmen, 100 doctors, and 1,000 medical technicians, with materials shared with the Army National Guard. She serves on the LivLyme Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Dean Center’s Patient Advisory Board, and contributed to the Air Force’s Task Force on Support to Airmen with Complex Medical Conditions, driving systemic change. Malachowski’s mantra, “yield to overcome,” inspires her motivational speaking, where she urges others to rethink challenges and advocate for themselves. Her story, recognized by her 2019 induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the 2020 Mighty 25 award, underscores the need for better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to protect service members from the silent epidemic of tick-borne diseases.
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