Jim LaPorta
@jimlaporta
National Security Coordinating Producer at CBS News | Marine infantryman + Afghanistan veteran | Fan of Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s fair game for Sean Parnell to say the New York Times story is inaccurate or say the characterization of the story is false but violating the off record is different. It erodes trust. How can any reporter now trust that he won’t violate the next off record? Imagine if the roles were reversed.
President Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization last year who he thought “acted very professionally and smart” until now. Interested to hear from these previously professional acting members of a US designated FTO on how they have disappointed Mr. Trump
Every war incurs a debt, one whose true cost can never be fully measured. Everyone who serves pays something. Birthdays and wedding anniversaries are missed. A child’s first steps pass unseen. Time is surrendered. Yet war is an unforgiving creditor. These are the soldiers who paid the full measure.
Recent gift, first wear: I’m wearing an authentic Eagle, Globe and Anchor enlisted dress coat collar ornament (1920-1930) that was gifted to me. It’s one of the kindest gifts I’ve ever received. Long ago, I donated my grandfather’s EGAs from WWII to the new Museum of the Marine.
Aside from some of the numbers being wrong, did President Trump forget he also falls into the “other Presidents” category?
The Defense Department identified the two active duty service members who were killed on July 17 and July 18.
Dr. Christopher J. Scolese, who served as director of the National Reconnaissance Office since August 1, 2019, departed from the NRO Friday, July 10, after almost seven years in office. NRO’s Principal Deputy Director Bill Adkins will be performing the duties of the NRO director.
So happy to see my Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. Photo from 2008.
Factual thoughts: Scott Pelley and Henry Schuster were embedded with my Marine infantry unit in 2009—it was incredibly violent in Helmand. They told our story well. Years later, my unit suffered multiple suicides, they came back to cover that too.
Spent my afternoon with friends I served with and service members I’ve had the privilege to cover.
When a mini-drone blew up in a Special Forces soldier’s face, a Army safety specialist wrote that in the Defense Department’s “rush to solve future and enduring threats related to [unmanned aerial systems], basic explosive safety principles are being ignored.” www.cbsnews.com/news/pentago...
The @cbsnews.com team has a new national security office in our Washington bureau. Today, I purchased the first photo to go up on our bare walls.
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.
Multiple officials tell CBS News that Army Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke was a communications specialist supporting Joint Special Operations Command, the unit that oversees Tier 1 special mission units such as Delta Force and SEAL Team Six. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-spe...
I finally feel seen by this Onion news article theonion.com/man-torn-ove...
From @elleewatson.bsky.social of @cbsnews.com (current as of Apr. 14, 2026) - 399 U.S. service members have been wounded in action during Operation Epic Fury. 354 have returned to duty and three are currently considered seriously wounded. Increase in WIA due to "delayed symptoms" / TBIs.
New at CBS News - Army survivors of deadly attack in Kuwait dispute Pentagon's account, say unit "was unprepared" to defend itself — this is a photograph of the tactical operations center struck by an Iranian drone on March 1. www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-wa...
I’m seriously trying to keep my cool. Love you @markhamillofficial.bsky.social
I’ve received emails and messages from readers overnight regarding “Mr. Trump” in CBS News copy. When it comes to the sitting president, we use “President Trump” on first reference and “Mr. Trump” on subsequent references. No different during President Biden’s administration.
Deleted this tweet as some disagreed with me posting a screenshot of an AI generated message rather than the substance of what it says. Noted for future. Now back to the important part and in my own words: the publication of a news story should not increase the risk of harm to lives during crisis.
President Trump said all the Gold Star family members of service members killed during Operation Epic Fury told him to “finish the job” in Iran. Charles Simmons, father of Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, said he did not. www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
Last night, I spoke to former Army Pfc. Jeremy Watson who said this about Capt. Cody Khork: “[he] enjoyed being in the service…and was a great coach,” who taught him “Compassion, friendship, loyalty…[and] to always try to stay positive when you can.”
This is what the tactical operations center looked like in Kuwait. You can see the T-walls around it but there's no protection from above, especially if C-RAM or C-UAS system doesn't stop incoming. Strike appeared to be dead-center from above I'm told. www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-st...
I met Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down when I was 13. My Aunt was their promoter. He was kind and generous with his time. I commented that it must be awesome to have all these fans—he explained it was sometimes a burden, he never wanted them to waste their hard earned money so he had to always be on. RIP
A Danish soldier gave me this patch in 2013. Denmark lost 43 in Afghanistan, one of the highest per capita death rates among troop-contributing nations, with casualties primarily from combat in Helmand (where I was) between 2002 and 2014. Now Pres. Trump won’t rule out taking Greenland by force.