Policy
Acting SecDef: I Haven’t Told the Pentagon to Prep for Afghanistan Withdrawal
In his first remarks to media as defense chief, Pat Shanahan says U.S. leaders are keeping their eyes on peace talks.
Ideas
The Terrorism That Doesn’t Spark a Panic
Americans should react to violence from religious and ethnic minorities with the same sense of proportion they reserve for far-right extremists.
Defense Systems
DARPA underground mapping challenge moves to next stage
The research arm of the Defense Department looks to a Colorado mine for next leg of its tunnel mapping tech challenge.
Ideas
What to Ask Defense Leaders About the Border Deployment
On Tuesday, a Trump administration official will make his first appearance before a House Armed Services Committee led by Democrats.
Defense Systems
Judge in JEDI case limits documents, witnesses
Oracle's push to crack open Amazon's bid to run the DOD's $10 billion cloud program and hear from former Amazon employees was rejected by a judge.
Ideas
Trump Is Destroying His Own Case for a National Emergency
By waiting for Congress to act, the president is undermining the legal basis for any declaration.
Ideas
The White House’s Move on Venezuela Is the Least Trumpian Thing It’s Done
The Trump administration’s concerted diplomatic effort did not originate on Twitter.
Defense Systems
NBIS using AI, DevSecOps to revamp background-check systems
Terry Carpenter, DISA's program executive officer for the National Background Investigation Service, talks about what to expect from a system in transition.
Policy
Trump Announces Deal to End Longest-Ever Shutdown — For Now
Congress is expected to quickly pass a new stopgap spending measure to reopen the government through Feb. 15.
Ideas
The INF Treaty Is Doomed. We Need a New Arms-Control Framework
The new approach will have to deal with a White House intent on acting unilaterally and a Russia seeking to reverse the effects of NATO’s eastward expansion.
Policy
The Government is Spending $90 Million a Day to Pay People Not to Work
The government’s debt to furloughed workers has already surpassed the payroll costs related to the 2013 shutdown.
Science & Tech
US Military Eyes Tiny Nuclear Reactors for Deployed Troops
The Strategic Capabilities Office wants to fund prototypes, picking up on decades of intermittent research
Threats
US and Russia Regard Each Other Warily in the Baltic and Black Seas
An uptick in Russian naval activity and U.S. freedom-of-navigation ops mean more tension in 2019.
Ideas
An Admiral Slammed the Shutdown. Can He Do That?
The Coast Guard commandant's viral video reminds us that senior military officers can speak out, carefully — and probably should do so more often.
Threats
Russia, China Will Exploit West’s ‘Isolationist Tendencies,’ Says New Intel Strategy
The intelligence community’s warning arrived as the House rebuked President Trump for his attacks on NATO.
Policy