Why subscribe?
Two decades of war reporting has taken me across more than 50 countries, from active conflict zones to the quieter disasters that rarely make the front page. I cover national security, geopolitics, and the human cost of political failure — including the wars waged against civilians, women, children, and the most vulnerable people on earth.
What drives this work is a frustration with how mainstream coverage handles these stories: reducing complex crises to headlines, ignoring origin and accountability, and moving on before survivors have anything close to justice. The people doing the hardest things in the worst places deserve more than a news cycle.
MATERNAL DISPATCHES is where I report beyond the brief. Long-form investigations, field reporting, original photography, and the stories behind the stories — on conflict and security, but also global maternal health, children’s rights, and the quiet, systemic failures that cost lives without anyone in power being held responsible.
Someone once told me that what happens far away doesn’t affect us here. After everything I’ve seen, I think that’s the most dangerous thing a person can believe.
You can follow me here on Twitter @holliesmckay Instagram @holliesmckay and through my website www.holliemckay.com
Read some of my select work over the years and media appearances here
And purchase my book “Only Cry for the Living: Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield” and Afghanistan: The End of the US Footprint and the Rise of the Taliban Rule
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. Never miss an update.
About Hollie McKay
Hollie McKay is a distinguished foreign policy expert, war crimes investigator, and bestselling author renowned for her work, particularly the book "Only Cry for the Living: Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield."
With nearly two decades of experience as an investigative and international affairs/war journalist at Fox News Digital and Fox Business, followed by years of writing for numerous publications including The Cipher Brief, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, National Review and The Independent, Hollie focuses on warfare, terrorism, and crimes against humanity. She has extensively covered major war zones and crises globally, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Burma, Russia, Africa, Latin America, and more. Her comprehensive reporting, comprising thousands of articles and essays, includes exclusive interviews with captured terrorists, high-ranking officials, and leaders from all sides. Hollie's work has earned her numerous foreign press and humanitarian awards, and her columns have been featured in mainstream publications and academic journals.
As a board member of EMERGENCY USA, Hollie continually seeks to help conflict victims worldwide. Additionally, Hollie serves as the Outreach Director for Burnt Children Relief Foundation (BCRF), working to bring severely bomb-burned Syrian children to the US for life-saving treatment. B
Based in Washington, DC, Hollie is also a devoted mother to a lovely baby girl and as a former professional dancer, continues ballet endeavors in her spare time.
What critics say
"A harrowing look inside war that explores the experiences and psychology of the perpetrators, innocents, victims, and heroes. This account is not written by some safe and distant theorist, but by someone who was actually there. Read it. Remember it."--Jocko Willink, retired Navy SEAL and multiple NYT best-selling author
"Hollie's experiences in the Middle East rival quite a few Iraqi war veterans. Her ability to talk with the Iraqi people and see inside their relationships with each other as well as the enemy is unbelievable. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the effect ISIS has had on an already war torn country."--Kris Tanto Paronto, 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi
"A fearless quest for human truth amidst inhumane atrocity. First-hand stories from both victims and perpetrators of the ISIS occupation of Iraq that you will never forget."--Neil Strauss, author, The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
“Hollie McKay delivers a riveting and poignant account of war behind terrorist enemy lines, the personal stories of the victims and their profound legacy.”--Daniel Hoffman, former CIA Chief of Station
Hollie McKay, Foreign Affairs/War Reporter
Stay up-to-date
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who share your interests.
To learn more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
