Lawrence Lease
Bio
Alaska born and bred, Washington DC is my home. I'm also a freelance writer. Love politics and history.
Achievements (1)
Stories (272)
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What NXT Stars Will Be on John Cena’s Farewell Show?
Every once in a while, pro wrestling delivers one of those rare moments where the outcome on paper completely contradicts the impact in reality. This past week at Madison Square Garden was exactly that kind of moment for Je’Von Evans. Despite losing matches on both Monday and Tuesday, he walked away looking more polished, more legitimate, and more obviously destined for superstardom than many wrestlers do after months of televised victories. It was a week built not on triumphs, but on transformation, and Je’Von Evans emerged from it as one of the most talked-about names in the industry.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in Geeks
What Happens to Child Abusers in Prison?
Some crimes are so disturbing that society can hardly speak about them without recoiling. People who harm children, the elderly, or the disabled occupy a level of infamy that sets them apart even from murderers and gang leaders. In the outside world, they’re viewed with disgust. Inside prison, that disgust transforms into something far more dangerous. What many people don’t realize is that stepping into a correctional facility doesn’t offer these offenders a clean slate or anonymity. Instead, it places them at the very bottom of a rigid social order that thrives on dominance, violence, and punishment administered from within.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in Criminal
North Korea has Infiltrated the Tech Sector.
North Korea, long known as the most sanctioned and isolated regime on Earth, has somehow managed to insert its workers into hundreds of American companies. These aren’t operatives sneaking across borders or Cold War sleeper agents hiding behind suburban picket fences. They’re remote developers who appear in Zoom meetings, clock in from supposedly legitimate addresses in Japan or South Korea or Seattle, write code that passes muster, and collect paychecks like any ordinary employee. They’ve landed roles in AI labs, fintech startups, media organizations, blockchain firms, and even defense contractors—the exact spaces most countries try desperately to secure from foreign interference.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in The Swamp
Europe Needs to Get its Shit Together. NOW
If you spent any time in left-leaning American spaces just before Thanksgiving, you probably noticed the frustration simmering beneath the surface. On November 10th, a group of Senate Democrats unexpectedly broke ranks, joined Republicans, and voted to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. They gained nothing. They protected nothing. They surrendered after weeks of chest-thumping about holding firm. For Americans on the left, it felt like their leaders had folded a winning hand without even looking at the cards.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in History
Forged in Fire: The Untold Story Behind China’s Most Powerful Leader
If you want to understand the world we’re stepping into, you have to understand Xi Jinping. That realization hit me years ago—quietly at first, and then with the force of a geopolitical earthquake. Every headline, every trade dispute, every military exercise in the Taiwan Strait, every shift in global alliances… somehow, it all traced back to a single man who, for most of his life, existed in the shadows.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in BookClub
How Gen Z Killed Chipotle: The Rise, Glory, and Slow Fade of America’s Fast-Casual King
For a long stretch of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Chipotle wasn’t just popular. It dominated. The chain that once redefined fast food with massive burritos, customizable bowls, and an aura of coolness practically owned the lunch crowd. College students swore by it. Young professionals stood in lines that wrapped out the door. Even people who normally couldn’t care less about fast food had an opinion on what protein belonged in a proper burrito bowl.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in FYI
The Cracks in the Coalition: Inside the Unraveling of Trump’s Once-Unstoppable Alliance
When Donald Trump descended that now-legendary golden escalator inside Trump Tower on June 16th, 2015, he launched what most pundits assumed would be a doomed vanity campaign. What followed, of course, was anything but. Trump assembled one of the most unusual political coalitions in modern American history: Rust Belt factory workers and Wall Street donors, rural evangelicals and suburban business owners, border hawks and free-market Republicans. Groups that historically regarded each other with suspicion—or outright hostility—somehow found themselves voting in the same direction.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in The Swamp
“Kill Everybody”: The Double-Tap Scandal Rocking Washington—and Why the World Is Paying Attention
For a story involving two words, the political fallout has been seismic. According to a bombshell Washington Post investigation, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly issued a verbal command on September 2nd that may go down as the most consequential utterance of his career—and perhaps the most dangerous for America’s global standing.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in The Swamp
7 Infamous Military Blunders that Should Not be Forgotten
Pancho Villa Expedition Before World War I, America was fighting in Mexico, after Mexican general Pancho Villa attacked mining executives in 1913. General John J. Pershing brought 10,000 troops into Mexico. Pershing managed to achieve some victories against Villa, but was never able to capture the general himself. The American military attempted to spin the expedition as a learning experience, while Pershing said their return was "sneaking home under cover."
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in FYI
The Case That Crumbled: Why Bryan Kohberger’s Guilty Plea Feels Like Justice Denied
Three years ago, Bryan Kohberger left the Poconos to study at Washington State University. He's wasn't your average graduate student, he had been accepted into their prestigious PhD program in criminal justice. On paper, it was the perfect start to a future career in law enforcement. Instead, it was the start of a freefall into darkness.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in Criminal
Debunking Four Myths About Israel and the Palestinian Conflict
For the past several months we have been flooded with disturbing images and reports from Gaza. These images depict atrocities that have sparked outrage and sympathy across the globe. However, it's important to address the misinformation and myths that surround the rather complex history of Israel and the Palestinians. These myths can lead to misunderstandings and cloud productive discussions about the conflict.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in FYI
The House of Saddam: A Look into the Reign of Iraq's Notorious Dictator
Saddam Hussein was a name that for decades invoked fear, intrigue, and complexity and served as the President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. His reign was characterized by brutal suppression of opposition, a plethora of regional and international conflicts, and a cult of personality that attempted to position him alongside history's great conquerors like Saladin and Nebuchadnezzar. The "House of Saddam" is not just a metaphor for his rule but a reference to his family, who were key players in the political saga of Iraq and the wider Middle East. This article delves into the life of Saddam Hussein, his rise to power, his family's involvement in the governance and downfall of Iraq, and the legacy he left behind.
By Lawrence Lease2 months ago in History
