The ‘Invasion’ Hoax, AI & Immigration, Murder at Sea, and More

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In new commentary, Lydia El-Sayegh breaks down the myths behind the Trump administration’s deadly air strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and asks when, if not now, Congress will step in and put an end to the lawless killings.

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While we’re on the topic of myths, I’ve also written a long essay about the centuries-old conspiracy theory that portrays immigration as an “invasion,” its overlap with widespread white nationalist propaganda, and its often lethal consequences.

And a note on programming: Inkstick will be closed until Jan. 5, but be sure to check the site throughout the coming weeks as we post pieces about our most-read reportage and commentary of 2025.

That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.

“Converting the American War Economy” by Things That Go Boom (Dec. 15)

For decades, the US economy has been deeply intertwined with war-making — from Cold War-era aerospace and nuclear weapons to today’s AI-driven military technologies. But this wasn’t always seen as inevitable.

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“The Long, Lethal History of Trump’s ‘Invasion’ Rhetoric” by Patrick Strickland (Dec. 15)

In 2018, US President Donald Trump began to routinely describe immigration as an ‘invasion.’ That rhetoric has fueled deadly violence for nearly two centuries — from the 19^th century Know Nothing Party to the current-day GOP.

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“Can the Global Order be Saved? Not Without Punishing Russia” by Nicholas Lokker (Dec. 16)

While it remains unclear whether a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement will materialize, it has become more and more evident that Washington is willing to sell out Kyiv at any cost to get a deal done quickly — even as Russian President Vladimir Putin jeopardizes the global order.

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“The United States is Committing Murder on the High Seas” by Lydia El-Sayegh (Dec. 17)

No matter how you look at it, the president of the United States is directing the US military to commit murder with each bombing of civilians on the high seas. Domestic law says so. International law says so. Morality says so.

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“What Will Unchecked Artificial Intelligence Mean for Immigration?” by Tyler Hicks (Dec. 18)

With ICE deployments around the country, critics say the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda is a “nightmare” brought about by unfettered mass surveillance and unregulated artificial intelligence.

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“Deep Dive: What to Make of Trump’s National Security Strategy” by Inkstick (Dec. 19)

Brookings scholars have collectively assessed the Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) and conclude that it represents a marked departure from recent US strategic orthodoxy, reorienting priorities toward the Western Hemisphere and economic instruments while downplaying the centrality of great‑power military competition.

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