FRIENDS, some news:

This weekend, I made and consumed one of only 1,000 Kraft Mac and Cheese Pumpkin Spice kits in existence.

What follows is a thread. #PumpkinSpiceKMC
Some background: as many of you know, I have strong, correct opinions about seasonal foods. Specifically, that pumpkin flavored items should not be available before Oct. 1.

This in turn has led to many on this website trolling me for my - I must stress, correct - opinions.
Enter Kraft Mac and Cheese, which in September tweeted the following:

As you can imagine, a number of my “friends” here online tweeted at Kraft that I should be the winner. Among them was @TheDEWLine, a true Troll Legend who likes to take photos of other reporters who fall asleep on work trips.

Here he is, looking confused.
Anyway, in October, it turns out Steve actually won the damn thing. At which point, I knew my fate was sealed.

(In a next-level troll move, Kraft didn't actually send the kits out until after pumpkin spice season was done.)
Finally, in late November, the kit arrived at my house. And what a kit it was. Look how special this thing is packaged! It has heft and gravitas!
They really designed this thing for a prestige unboxing experience. Includes a special coffee to-go cup designed to make it look like an actual pumpkin spice latte. And a spork.

“! of 1,000 batches.” This is a collector’s item. I am honored, and also horrified. #PumpkinSpiceKMC
Instructions seem simple enough. If you were wondering what goes into a Kraft Mac and Cheese Pumpkin Spice packet, the answer seems largely to be “a shitload of sugar.”
Here we go, god help us all. Did you guys know you’re supposed to use half a stick of butter in Kraft Mac and Cheese? That seems like a lot?

Anyway, once it's all cheesy, in goes the spice.
Finally: the finish product. And as directed, I topped it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon for the true look.

This would prove to be an awful mistake I am still regretting.
Now, the first bites. You can hear my wife’s disgusted commentary running throughout this video. Also, I don’t know why I was unable to eat it without it falling everywhere. Maybe it’s a metaphor.
Ok, so that was my first, trying to be positive experience. Here, a minute later, was another take.
Ultimately, I had one more bite and then threw it out. The parts without the cinnamon were better, but…. guys I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty damn gross overall. Way too sweet, kinda cheesy, texturally weird?

It took me an hour to get the taste out of my mouth.
Final verdict: This has no place existing in a civilized country, so I think the Kraft Mac and Cheese Pumpkin Spice package is the perfect food to sum up 2020 in America.

God bless us, each and every one.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk, here's my soundcloud link, you should click on every story twice: defensenews.com/author/aaron-m…
I should have shared this earlier but as proof that the pumpkin spice pranking is A Thing, here is how my colleague @ValerieInsinna asked the office to celebrate her wedding

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More from @AaronMehta

14 Dec
If Lloyd Austin becomes Defense Secretary, who is the right person to fill the Pentagon's No. 2 role?

I looked at a few candidates, and more broadly, at what kind of experiences might best fit the requirements.

defensenews.com/smr/transition…
Some think the Deputy Secretary job should be cast to best counter the weaknesses of the secretary's experience. Got a policy SecDef? Put in someone who knows how the building works. Got a wonky SecDef? Go for a policy person.
However, Rudy deLeon, a former DepSecDef at the end of the Clinton administration, says not to overthink it.
Read 4 tweets
29 Jul
In opening remarks, Esper making the case that moving forces out of Germany is good for the alliance and Russian deterrence. That's a hard sell, given all the feedback from Europe about it.

11,900 troops out of Germany. Still 24,000 in Germany.
6,400 troops return to US, and then begin doing rotational deployments.

2,000 servicemembers to Belgium for HQ stuff.

4,500 2nd Cav returns to US as other Stryker units do rotations in Black Sea region

2,500 airmen in UK will remain there

Fight squadron reposition to Italy
Plan to rotate Army 5th Corp headquarters to Poland once a burden sharing deal is in place. May be opportunities for "additional forces" to move to "Poland and the Baltics."

Could see some moves "begin within weeks. Others will take longer."
Read 13 tweets
24 Jul
JUST IN: President Donald Trump has officially signed off on new rules making it easier to export military #drones to other countries (as we broke last night.) Details here via @ValerieInsinna , with updates to come defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
Our reporting from yesterday previewing this: defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
State Department's Chris Ford now talking with @RLHeinrichs at Hudson Institute about MTCR changes.
Read 16 tweets
3 Sep 19
Former SecDef Jim Mattis, speaking in DC, says while he had major concerns about modernization when he came in, "I left with almost no concerns about the trajectory we were on." Cites 5G, hypersonics as key areas.
Mattis says he met Rex Tillerson for the first time in late December 2016 when in DC. Mattis told him "I want the diplomats in charge of foreign policy.... he just reached over that table with that big hand of his and we shook hands." Adds they had weekly breakfasts.
Read 10 tweets
14 May 19
WOW. Never seen this before. Following today's briefing where the UK's deputy commander of Inherent Resolve said he did not see increased threats from Iran, U.S. Central Command just put out this statement saying that "runs counter" to what the Pentagon sees.
To say this is unusual would be an... understatement. Not only does this undercut an allied commander in the battlefield, his comments were made on a Pentagon briefing.
I'm flabbergasted. And fascinated that we didn't get a walkback under OIR's name, but rather the U.S. on its own saying "That extremely close ally who we organized a briefing for? Yeah he's full of it."
Read 5 tweets
13 Nov 18
Holy cow. That's a HUGE win for Mattis. He and Ricardel have clashed since day one, and she was seen as someone working behind the scenes to push him out. BACKGROUND: defensenews.com/pentagon/2017/…
"The president became involved in that decision at the urging of first lady Melania Trump, whose staff battled with Ms. Ricardel during the first lady’s trip to Africa last month over seating on the plane and requests to use National Security Council resources..."
That's interesting. Ricardel has a rep as a very skilled bureaucratic infighter, but hasn't handled the politics of things well (see Mattis). I almost wonder if Melania's team wanted to use NSC resources incorrectly and Ricardel refused without thinking of the politics.
Read 6 tweets

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