Ideas
Epidemics Reveal the Truth of the Societies They Hit
A nation’s response to disaster speaks to its strengths—and to its dysfunctions.
Ideas
The World Is Experiencing a New Form of Autocracy
Today’s authoritarians use legal measures to subvert constitutional constraints on their power.
Science & Tech
Acting Navy Secretary: We Need More than 355 Ships, and That’s Not Even Counting Robot Vessels
The Navy needs more human-crewed ships…and more unmanned vessels, than previously thought.
Threats
Missteps at CDC Set Back US Ability to Detect Coronavirus' Spread
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designed a flawed test for COVID-19, then took weeks to release a fix that allowed state and local labs to use it.
Defense Systems
Congress questions Navy's plan for large drone ships
The Navy wants to increase production of unmanned surface vessels, but Congress remains wary of long-term success.
Ideas
The Federal Government Needs a Military-Style Campaign Against the Coronavirus
A longtime infectious disease specialist says such campaigns are effective against these kinds of infectious diseases because the way viruses operate fits, conceptually. into a military model.
Policy
A New Nuclear Warhead? STRATCOM Chief Can’t Answer Yes or No
The W93 has been the focus of questions since it appeared in the 2021 budget proposal.
Ideas
America Must Shape the World’s AI Norms — or Dictators Will
Four former U.S. defense secretaries issue a warning about China and a wake-up call to Americans on artificial intelligence.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Taps Leader to Implement New AI Ethics
It's Alka Patel, a lawyer who has been working for the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.
Ideas
Enacting Trump’s Revenge Campaign at the NSC
The cuts to the National Security Council have less to do with making government better than with making it purer.
Ideas
Beware a Peace Deal That May Spell War
There are important questions still to be answered about Afghanistan and the United States.
Defense Systems
Esper says he didn't seek authority to gut DOD unions
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told lawmakers he was waiting for a staff analysis of a recent presidential memo before deciding whether to leverage new authority.
Defense Systems
TRANSCOM head: contractors not ready for persistent threats
The lead general for TRANSCOM threw support behind the Defense Department's impending unified cybersecurity standard for contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, as contractors struggle with advanced persistent threats.
Defense Systems
Amazon requests more documents in JEDI case
Amazon Web Services wants to expand the administrative record in its lawsuit over the Department of Defense's award of the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract to Microsoft.
Defense Systems
Air Force wants $150 million for Space Force software pilot in 2021
The Air Force is staying on brand with its 2021 budget request for $150 million for a software and digital technology pilot program for the new Space Force.
Defense Systems