He brought down an American general. He could brutalize his peers. But Michael Hastings was never accused of not telling the truth. And given the outrage that often accompanied the publication of his stories, that’s saying something.
Hastings is the Buzzfeed reporter and contributing Rolling Stoneeditor who died early Tuesday in a one-car crash on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles. Video taken just after the crash shows a mangled car fully engulfed in flames.
It looks like something out of a war zone, terrain with which Hastings was already quite familiar.
At 33, he was a veteran war reporter (Iraq and Afghanistan), a veteran political reporter and was, apparently, intent on turning his chronicler’s eye on the dark side of Hollywood.
He had written a piece for Buzzfeed about the incarceration of “The Hunt for Red October” director John McTiernan, who is serving time in federal prison for lying to the FBI.
He had enthusiastically told friends he had been to Oliver Stone’s house, where he asked filmmaker Robert Greenwald to introduce him to Ron Kovic, the Vietnam veteran and author of the antiwar memoir “Born on the Fourth of July.” “That book had a huge impact on me,” he told Greenwald.
“He was meeting a lot of people and building relationships like crazy,” Greenwald said of Hastings’ months in Los Angeles. “He was very, very gracious.”
In April, after the Beverly Hills premiere of Greenwald’s movie, “War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State,” Hastings participated in a panel discussion. “He responded very strongly to the film,” Greenwald said. “He felt it was very important that people understand what’s at stake.”
When he died, Hastings was working on a story about CIA Director John Brennan.
Hastings became famous for the Rolling Stone story about Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Hastings quoted McChrystal making unflattering remarks about Vice President Joe Biden, and his staff expressing disdain for the president and his national security team. McChyrstal resigned soon after the piece was published. The general’s staffers claimed that Hastings had violated their agreements to keep private conversations off the record.
But Hastings was especially adept at telling a certain kind of inside-baseball story about political campaigns. In 2008, while covering Hillary Rodham Clinton, he wrote memorably about how her campaign constructed a press file in a public restroom. In 2012, he covered the president’s reelection campaign.
With a healthy skepticism, if not contempt, for the deals and tradeoffs between reporters and campaigns, he disingenuously broke unspoken rules about off-the-record encounters, and seemed to revel in alienating fellow reporters, whom he considered too cozy or complicit with the campaigns.
Naturally, he was the object of deeply conflicting emotions among reporters, who were intrigued by him, but also wary.
“I do not get along too well with organized groups of journalists, apparently,” he told MSNBC.
“I had what I call the ‘Lindsay Lohan Mean Girls Treatment.’ ”
In his ebook “Panic 2012: The Sublime and Terrifying Inside Story of Obama’s Final Campaign,” Hastings wrote entertainingly about the slights and insults directed at him by campaign staffers and fellow reporters, and about how he was nearly kicked off the Obama campaign plane after writing about the president having an off-the-record drink with reporters.
“I wasn’t up on all the niceties,” he told MSNBC. “I was lectured by the guy who runs the White House Correspondents Assn. And then they said, ‘If you continue to do this, you’re not gonna be welcome here.’”
Hastings may have disdained the press pack, but he needed it as a foil for his lacerating observations. And however unpleasant it was to be dissected by this talented young reporter, he did many of us who have covered national politics a favor.
Michael Hastings reminded us that our greatest work is often accomplished not by following the rules, but by breaking them.
29839 Sta Margarita Pkwy, 
Videography by Barbara Rosenfeld 
June 23rd, 2013 @ 10:33 am
“Does anyone know, what I can do about it?”
YES! Drive your car off a cliff. The moment you hit bottom, the “check engine” light will go off, I promise! And your burn will stop bothering you as well, so it’s a two-fer!!
June 23rd, 2013 @ 10:41 am
Maybe he didn’t die.
His last email said he was going off the radar, and his glowing obit was immediately in the news, well polished and lengthy, clearly pre-written.
His body wasn’t identifiable until it got to the “LA Coroner” – not exactly a reliable outfit.
Nobody gets to write the stories he wrote without being an insider.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 11:24 am
“Also, again it is probably nothing, but I keep getting a message “check engine, vsc failure”. I replaced vsc sensor, the car was checked several times after the vsc sensor was replaced, but I keep getting the message. Does anyone know, what I can do about it?”
This is, without question, due to a tracking device of some sort, perhaps even a bug, or even a combo tracking device/explosive device that can be remotely operated. Perhaps even remote tracking for a possible drone strike. I would seriously see if the equipment the government installed on your vehicle for surveillance/targeting purposes can be successfully find and removed. If not, sell that car to some liberal retread, make it sound like they’re getting an incredible deal, and get a new one. Seriously, you’re far too important to the cause to risk losing in any way.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 11:30 am
Pro Islam John Brennan “Yes Muslim Convert”
Very Good Orly, You are onto all of these Traitor thug Treasonous criminals. Could you imagine replacing Patriot Petraeus with this Commie Muslim Convert Brennan. Totally all planned set up to purge the Patriots from our Military. This is scarry stuff. He is reading this post right now. America is under a Coup that started a long time ago. Its outrageous how that guy was not grilled by other fellow Commie Congressman for his Conversion to Radical Isam. Hey Orly did you see the Lovely Muslim Prayer tower Spire these Bastards are mounting on the Freedom tower?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 11:43 am
Ha! I was at the rally and I know what the burn marks are.
By now they are almost gone, right?
Are you starting to feel a little sick sometimes for no reasonl?
If you ask nicely, I’ll tell you what caused it (but not who) and what the antidote is.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 12:03 pm
Yes,sell the car….an engine light doesn’t always mean trouble with the engine…but there is some irregularity, and I agree, either explosive or tracking…get rid of it now.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 12:12 pm
John: Go back to watching the James Bond film festival. Tracking devices have nothing to do with this.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
If your gas cap is not tight (3 clicks is the norm) the VSC will light up.
A loose gas or defective gas cap seems to be the common problem.
If that doesn’t do it, the next least expensive option is replacing a faulty oxygen sensor (Co2)
Try replacing the gas cap, usually takes care of it. (also, the code error needs to be erased from the car’s brain) Code readers can be bought pretty cheap and will erase the fault via the diagnostic port (usually under the steering column.)
June 23rd, 2013 @ 12:36 pm
the cap is fine and I replaced the oxygen censor. what else can I do?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 12:38 pm
who is going to buy a car with this warning on?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 1:31 pm
Get a different car before you are another victim of obammer.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 1:54 pm
Where did you get that info from Mark Adams?
How does the gas cap or O2 sensors affect VSC?
(Vehicle stability control)
Certainly they would illuminate check eng light but why VSC?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 2:23 pm
These clowns are just messing you. All of em traced to FogBlow Central. Call the service mgr at the dealership and explain it to him. He will know what it is.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 2:27 pm
VSC stands for “Electronic stability control” — which involves using the car’s brakes to help steer the car in an emergency.
See: – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Stability_Control_(VSC)
The VSC Stability Control sensors (two sensors) are used to prevent your car from “jack knifing” — like the car of journalist Michael Hastings reportedly did, moments before it crashed.
See the report at the following link, about “Car Hacking”, which is done by interfering with the ABS (anti-lock braking) system — and that includes the VSC sensors which normally help prevent the car from losing tire traction — but in Car-Hacking, the VSC sensors can be over-ridden to intentionally crash the car, by remote control of the car’s computer(s).
Read this: – https://www.jimstonefreelance.com/carhack.html
To be safe, you’d better get a “loaner” car right away, while your car is being checked.
For your mechanic, and the police investigators (if that becomes necessary), see the two PDF technical reports about Car-Hacking the ABS brake system (that includes the VSC sensors), that can be downloaded here: –
https://www.autosec.org/publications.html
Be careful and good luck!
June 23rd, 2013 @ 2:38 pm
Orly.
As far as your car trouble I do not see how disabling the VSC over a emmision control system failure like a gas cap or O2 sensor would be beneficial as it could create an unsafe condition (hence the VSC light). (??RECALL??)
Without the info year,make,model,etc.,specific symptoms,training and all available resources it is not advisable to make educated “guesses” and expect reliable results to insure the integrity of your vehicles safety systems.
The first thing if not already done is to authorize a one hour check out at an authorized dealership…
Also ask that they check for any service bulletins or knowledge base articles relative to the conditions..This can save time and money if the problem can not be resolved immediately.
Also be sure everything is documented. symptoms and conditions, all fault codes, diagnostics and results, and any repairs made.
VSC is a “safety system” and not just a “driver convenience”.. It can/will also affect other safety systems…Without being intimidating put an emphasis on “safety”..(put the pressure on them)
Is this the same vehicle you had the transmission replaced in? Did this issue start after transmission was replaced?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 2:52 pm
“Does anyone know, what I can do about it?”
Warning Shot
Yes…you can heed the warning and find some other cause the spend your time and energy on.
If you want a “normal” existence, heed the warning and go back to work as a dentist.
Drop the SSN, birth certificate, Selective Service Registration, IRS tax return, Occidental college records, etc., etc., talks both on your blog and in the courts and you won’t have those troubles again. Continue on your rants and … well I can’t say what will happen but I can say that what will appear to be a simple flat tire will lead an unimaginable sequence of seemingly unrelated events….
Heed the warning, there will not be another.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 2:57 pm
. maybe Mark is on to something..
i briefly looked and found some similar conditions..weather it applies to your vehicle is unknown to me
First check and make sure your gas cap is tight, if this does not resolve the problem read below.
A vacuum hose has become disconnected, more than likely due to having your air filter replaced. The VSC and Check engine light typically don’t come on until after 150-200 miles after the vacuum hose was pulled out.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:11 pm
yes, it started after the transmission was replaced and it keeps coming back, even though the oxygen censor was replaced and checked twice, the gas tank cap is fine
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:13 pm
they said the oxygen sensor had to be replaced, it was replaced, but the problem persists.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:14 pm
both the dealer and mechanic said that the oxygen sensor had to be replace, so I paid to replace it, but the problem persists.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:15 pm
who is going to buy a car from me with all those warning lights?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:20 pm
o’k, so what is it?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:32 pm
ON VSC, have them check your brake fluid levels, and your brakes. Also check the steering fluid levels.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 3:39 pm
SticksNStones. I am referring to the check engine light. The VSC automatically turns off/on by default with a check engine light/condition.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 4:02 pm
What was brennan before his conversion? You
would think only a murderous street thug could
see anything godly in a demonic cult. Anyone
literate enough to read the childishly phrased
yet evil imbued script of the koran and be
inspire by it could only be in search of an
excuse for their lack of conscience.
June 23rd, 2013 @ 8:08 pm
now I have intermittent message: check vsc and brake wear
June 23rd, 2013 @ 8:09 pm
I will do it tomorrow morning. i will need to go to court though. again, I am having a problem with clerks not docketing the pleadings and documents, it is a real battle
June 23rd, 2013 @ 9:23 pm
Dr.Orly,
Wasn’t Brennan connected with a company who’s employees searched Obama’s passport records and I believe someone was shot in the head concerning this matter?
June 23rd, 2013 @ 9:33 pm
yes, he was
June 23rd, 2013 @ 10:12 pm
These kinds of complex issues can usually only be solved at the dealership with seasoned factory-trained mechanics. I would have them check your vacuum hoses. The VSC uses a vacuum booster to assist the hydraulic modulator when more pressure is needed on the brakes. If this vacuum is compromised, that VSC light will come on.
June 24th, 2013 @ 2:19 am
Are the burn marks on your arm possibly from a laser pattern? Stay safe and strong.
Get the car into the dealership and have it checked out right away by a mechanic that you trust.
God Bless
Kathy F.
June 24th, 2013 @ 6:29 am
Dr. Taitz
You might want to consider hiring a detective who has experience with the kind of foul play that you are experiencing. Perhaps that detective can come up with some insight on what is going on and how you can better protect yourself. I think that the Obots are trying to harm you. They don’t want the information to come out. While it is true that a dealership would know if there was foul play, a detective might be able to put a name on it.
June 24th, 2013 @ 8:10 pm
Correction: – VSC stands for “Vehicle stability control”, and this has nothing to do with “gas caps”.
The VSC is one type of Electronic Stability Control, the one that is found in Lexus and Toyota cars.
Remotely hacking a car’s electronics can crash the car, possibly by altering the car’s VSC, to adversely affect the steering and brakes.
New York Times: –
“Researchers Show How a Car’s Electronics Can Be Taken Over Remotely”
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/business/10hack.html
YouTube: –
“Michael Hastings Car Hacked and Remotely Driven into a Tree…?”
… youtube.com/watch?v=qQrHnP9lXIU
June 24th, 2013 @ 11:19 pm
that makes me feel a whole lot better 🙂
what is catalyst converter bank?
June 26th, 2013 @ 12:29 am
Marshell: your post is a threat to Dr Orly! You are either on the “inside,” or you are accomplishing the actual evil deed, yourself??
After what our Dr Orly has been through in her life-time, including this last 5 years, do you think you and/or any of the culprits involved here are going keep her from taking you scum down? I’d think twice here before you/others get in too deep!!
Orly: the burn marks are quite odd? And
I’d do some further checking with the type of car you drive; do this with someone you know you can trust in a different location, with a friend/relative; maybe have someone from a distance do the checking, by asking them to find the answer for the vsc sensor problem; do this as covertly as possible; ask a dealership near and far why that light stays on or comes back on, later? Also, I’d get a different car, if possible?
And the ones that always seem to post about a car problem are muslims!!! Who else would have such a hatred for you?…besides the nwo!
Think creatively about having a solution to a car problem. Ask your family this, too! I wish I lived closer to be of further help.
June 26th, 2013 @ 10:49 pm
@Mark Adams…Ok thanks..Sorry I am not familiar with the systems on her car nor do I know what kind of car Orly has…
it seems like it may be related to the trans replacement to me given what I know of the history..like something got damaged or improperly connected?
June 26th, 2013 @ 10:49 pm
@Mark Adams…Ok thanks..Sorry I am not familiar with the systems on her car nor do I know what kind of car Orly has…
it seems like it may be related to the trans replacement to me given what I know of the history..like something got damaged or improperly connected?
June 28th, 2013 @ 9:57 am
Jill Kelley is represented by Sidley-Austin. I do not believe that her law suit against the FBI and USA would be handled by Sidley-Austin without a nod and a wink by Obama, so I smell a rat. It is more likely that Hastings was made disappear because of his story on John Brennan. | Dr. Orly Taitz, Esquire, ¿Puedes aportar más?, me resulta practico esta articulo. Saludos.