Military

Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange in the U.S. Await Compensation

Hannah Norman, Patricia Kime / KFF Health News Apr 29, 2024 While the U.S. military used the herbicide to defoliate the jungles of Southeast Asia, it sprayed the same chemicals to kill poison oak and other weeds in northern California. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Military

The VA Is Failing Veterans on Mental Health

Kathleen McGrory / ProPublica Jan 10, 2024 A ProPublica analysis of 313 studies conducted by the agency’s inspector general in recent years shows repeated failures in behavioral care. The breakdowns have had fatal consequences. Dig deeper ( 14 Min. Read )

TD Original

Part II: Who’s Researching the Researchers?

Russell Hausfeld / Truthdig Mar 23, 2023 This is the concluding feature story in the multi-part Dig series, “The Ecstasy of Agony,” investigating the politics of psychedelic research and its commercialization, with a focus on the historic and present-day links between psychedelia and the military. The first feature explored how veterans were deployed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies' (MAPS) as public relations mascots to gain public sympathy for psychedelic pharmaceutical agendas. This piece delves deeper into the lived experiences of veterans recruited by MAPS and explores allegations of manipulation tactics on the part of MAPS and its researchers — allegations that raise serious questions about MAPS' methods and relationships with veterans over the last decade. Dig deeper ( 21 Min. Read )

TD Original

MAPS advances its agenda to treat active-duty soldiers with psychedelics

Russell Hausfeld / Truthdig Nov 10, 2022 Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Wounds of War

Veterans and the Wounds of War

Staff / Truthdig Nov 10, 2022 Truthdig reflects on America’s dubious treatment of its military veterans over the course of many conflicts, from Vietnam to Iraq. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

TD Original

Part I: A Long Strange Loop

Russell Hausfeld / Truthdig Nov 1, 2022 The emergence of veterans and active duty soldiers as the face of psychedelic research is the result of a controversial political strategy. Dig deeper ( 22 Min. Read )

The Pentagon Loves Wasting Our Tax Money

Mandy Smithberger / TomDispatch Mar 4, 2020 The U.S. spends more than the next seven countries combined on a military that is seemingly incapable of either winning or ending any wars. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

How Donald Trump Turned to a Comics Titan to Shape the VA

Isaac Arnsdorf / ProPublica Oct 23, 2019 A former VA Secretary describes how Marvel Entertainment’s Ike Perlmutter and two associates exerted influence over millions of veterans. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

VA ‘Shadow Rulers’ Had More Influence Than Previously Thought

Isaac Arnsdorf / ProPublica Dec 6, 2018 Emails indicate the president's associates, including Marvel CEO Perlmutter (pictured), have held sway over contracting, budgeting and more. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

VA Attracts Private Firms Pushing Dubious PTSD Treatments

Jaspar Craven and Suzanne Gordon / Reveal Aug 30, 2018 As the Department of Veterans Affairs attempts to address a mental health care crisis, top officials warn of medical claims "made falsely, with ill intent." Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Are Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Cronies Secretly Running the VA?

Isaac Arnsdorf / ProPublica Aug 8, 2018 An explosive reports finds Marvel Entertainment Chairman Ike Perlmutter and two others are shaping the department's policies. Dig deeper ( 15 Min. Read )

Trump Nominates Acting VA Secretary for the Permanent Job

ZEKE MILLER, HOPE YEN and DARLENE SUPERVILLE / The Associated Press May 18, 2018 In a surprise announcement, the president says he has chosen acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to permanently lead the beleaguered department. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )