Lawrence Lease
Bio
Alaska born and bred, Washington DC is my home. I'm also a freelance writer. Love politics and history.
Stories (265)
Filter by community
National Popcorn Day: Celebrating the Snack That Never Lets Us Down
National Popcorn Day doesn’t get the hype of Thanksgiving or the marketing budget of Valentine’s Day, but it absolutely deserves respect. Celebrated every year on January 19, it honors one of the most reliable, democratic snacks ever invented. Popcorn doesn’t care if you’re rich or broke, watching an Oscar contender or a trashy reality marathon. It shows up, does its job, and asks very little in return.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in FYI
American Forces Capture Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro
At 4:21 a.m. Eastern on January 3, Donald Trump dropped a message that instantly rewired the geopolitical map of the Americas: Nicolás Maduro, the sitting president of Venezuela, had been captured by U.S. forces and flown out of the country. The operation—conducted alongside U.S. law enforcement—was over almost as soon as it began. From first explosions to extraction, it took roughly three and a half hours.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in Criminal
David Grunwald: Senseless Murder in Alaska
On November 13, 2016, the small town of Palmer, Alaska, was rocked by the news that 16-year-old David Grunwald had gone missing. Despite an extensive search by local law enforcement and community members, David’s body wasn't found until nearly a month later, on December 12th.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in Criminal
6 Lessons For Hollywood to Adapt in 2026
Over the past twelve months, moviegoers were treated to a slate of releases that didn’t just look good on paper, but actually delivered. Critics showed up. Audiences showed up. And awards season is already shaping up to reward several of the year’s standouts.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in FYI
How 2025 Changed the World
When historians eventually look back on 2025, they probably won’t treat it like 1914, 1939, or 2001. There was no single assassination, no mushroom cloud, no defining attack that instantly rewired the global system. Instead, 2025 belongs to a quieter but more consequential category of years — moments when the rules changed so thoroughly that the world before and after barely resemble one another.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in The Swamp
FIELD MANUAL FOR THE SAFE DECOMMISSIONING OF A HOUSE
Purpose: To provide clear, repeatable instructions for shutting down a house that no longer functions as intended. Follow all steps in order. Deviations may result in structural failure, emotional leakage, or reactivation.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in Poets
My Predictions for Hollywood in 2026
YouTube steamrolls traditional television. Netflix swallows Warner Bros. Bob Iger links Disney’s future to a boundary-pushing tech startup that redraws the rules of entertainment. Donald Trump decides which media empires thrive, extracts massive legal settlements from broadcast newsrooms, and pressures studios to quietly abandon diversity and inclusion initiatives. After a year where reality repeatedly outpaced imagination, trying to predict what 2026 holds may be the most unrealistic idea of all.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in Geeks
The French Defense Model Won't Work for Europe
In today’s increasingly multipolar world, power doesn’t just belong to superpowers anymore. It belongs to the states that understand leverage—how to move money, influence, and security through places where sovereignty is weak and attention is scarce. As the United States, China, Europe, and Russia focus on managing their own global rivalries, a different tier of actors has stepped into the gaps.
By Lawrence Leaseabout a month ago in FYI
