Policy

House passes $825B defense bill, racing the clock to avoid shutdown

Bill includes new money for ships, planes, ground combat vehicles, and AI.

Threats

Russia's lies helped persuade Niger to eject US troops, AFRICOM says

The U.S. needs to beef up its own counter-disinformation efforts, Gen. Langley tells lawmakers.

Threats

Houthis granting China, Russia safe passage in Red Sea, CENTCOM says

The group is armed by Iran using the revenues from Beijing’s veiled oil purchases.

Policy

Special operations seeing growing demand amid planned cuts: commander

Faced with a more active China, “I certainly wouldn't support” shrinking the force, SOCOM's Fenton told lawmakers.

Policy

Milley, McKenzie detail mistakes that led to Afghan evacuation chaos

The retired generals blamed the State Department for the debacle at Hamid Karzai airport. But it’s not that simple.

Science & Tech

The big AI research DARPA is funding this year

The Defense Department’s key research arm will experiment with ethical chatbots and new robot super pilots.

Policy

US will send another $300M in weapons to Ukraine, thanks to ‘cost savings’

Good negotiating on earlier contracts freed up funds for rockets and ammo, officials say.

Policy

Pentagon budget request aims to balance congressional limits, foreign needs, and innovation

“This should be the wake-up call that tells us we need to be buying different stuff,” one expert said.

Policy

Biden: ‘Freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas’

National-security issues lead off State of the Union that previews Gaza aid, pleads for Ukraine aid, and lambasts an unnamed predecessor.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon is funding new chip designs for the AI era

A $78 million DARPA program aims to enable super-smart computing in remote battlefield conditions.

Science & Tech

VPN ban is Kremlin’s latest effort to quash dissent

Russian companies are now forbidden to advertise or offer virtual private network services.

Business

The West is underestimating Ukraine’s artillery needs

Russia is producing far more 152mm shells than Ukrainian forces can obtain, researchers say.