After more than 20 years as a war correspondent, I’ve learned this: there’s no substitute for being there.
Satellite images can show destruction. Social media can spread stories. But until your boots are in the dust, until you’ve looked into the eyes of the displaced, the wounded, the forgotten—you haven’t truly seen the story.
Being on the ground isn’t just about reporting the facts. It’s about being a human bridge—between the chaos and those who care. Sometimes the most important thing I do isn’t hold a microphone, but hold a hand. That’s why I keep going back. Because the people in these crisis zones don’t just need their stories told. They need help. And someone willing to show up.
Very few media outlets are talking about this, but they should be — urgently.
While most of the world is distracted, U.S. troops are conducting live training exercises in Syria with the forces of the country’s new interim government, now led by Ahmed al-Sharaa — a man widely known as a former Al Qaeda affiliate.
Let that sink in.
Recent reports confirm that U.S. personnel at the Al-Tanf garrison have been training members of the so-called 70th Division, a unit formed from remnants of the Syrian Free Army, which now pledges loyalty to this new government. This comes right on the heels of a massacre of Druze civilians, allegedly carried out by those very same government-aligned forces.
Aiding the Next Generation of Jihadists?
This isn’t just a questionable policy — it could be morally catastrophic.
Druze communities, who have long sought neutrality in Syria’s civil war, were brutally attacked.
Christian populations in the region are living in fear, as radical factions become emboldened ...
Debunked: Following several accusations that Israel is causing famine in Gaza, COGAT has released drone footage of the hundreds of truckloads of supplies waiting to be delivered to Gaza by the UN. A statement accompanying the footage claims that 'There is enough food here to feed all of Gaza, if the UN ever came to pick it up.
“It is no small thing, when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.” - Charles Dickens
Chuck will be hosting an exclusive members-only live call this Saturday at 11 AM Eastern. He’ll share behind-the-scenes updates, take your questions, and talk openly about what’s happening on the front lines, stuff we can’t always say publicly.
If you’re already a supporter here on Locals, you’re in. Just watch for the link on Saturday morning.
Not a supporter yet? Join now to be part of this private call and support the work we’re doing at The Hot Zone: https://chuckholton.locals.com/
We need strong voices. We need community. And we need people like you who care about the truth.
See you Saturday.
I've been quietly working on a new venture in my spare time (snort!) for the last couple months.
I am priviledged to see so many beautiful places in my travels around the world, and as an avid hiker and nature lover, I started filming some of my walks and drives. Many people seem to enjoy the serene sounds of nature (punctuated by my ragged panting, unfortunately) and find the first-person views soothing.
So please subscribe to my new youtube channel, which I'll update from time to time with new content from some of the most beautiful places on earth.
There’s a storm coming and most people are too distracted or deceived to see it. I’ve been in war zones around the world, from Gaza to Ukraine, and I’ve seen what happens when hatred festers unchecked. Today, I want to raise the alarm, because the next October 7-style attack may not happen in Israel, it may happen in your backyard.
Inside Russia, the narrative is tightly controlled. Russian state media and pro-war bloggers carefully spin battlefield setbacks into stories of heroic advances. The Russian public, fed only state-approved information, sees a war effort progressing in Russia’s favor. Meanwhile, real figures tell a very different story.
In the last year alone, according to Western intelligence estimates, Russia has lost over 100,000 soldiers, with total casualties, including wounded and missing, surpassing 250,000. In contrast, Ukraine’s losses are significantly lower, estimated at around 13,000 for the same period. The disparity underscores Russia’s Soviet-style tactics: costly human wave assaults that sacrifice soldiers to gain just meters of ground.
Well folks, I was supposed to be on my way to Thailand right now to cover the war there. But thankfully, that war ended before I had to board a plane—praise God for that. Not just because it spared me 24 hours of cramped flights, but because it spared countless people the devastation of another conflict. So instead, I get a few extra days here in northern Armenia with my grandbaby before Nathan and I take off on our next adventure.
But let’s get to it—the big headline today is humanitarian aid. Everywhere you look, the narrative is the same: “More aid must go to Gaza. People are starving. Israel is to blame.” That’s what the media wants you to believe.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: aid is rarely just about saving lives. Too often, it’s a weapon—used to control populations, prop up corrupt regimes, and advance political agendas.
Global humanitarian aid tops $60 billion a year, yet places like Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, and much of sub-Saharan Africa remain locked in poverty and dysfunction. Why? Because aid has become an industry, not a solution.
As Graham Hancock writes in Lords of Poverty, it’s a “self-perpetuating complex” that feeds salaries, conferences, bureaucracy—and never gets judged on results. Billions pour in, but nobody asks, “Did this actually help anyone?”
