Policy
In Primetime Addresses, Trump and Democrats Show No Progress Toward Ending Shutdown
Both sides highlight federal employees, but for very different reasons.
Threats
As The Arctic Warms, US Navy Considering Summer Transit, Bering Sea Port
The Navy secretary says his service must be ready to answer Russian moves at the top of the world.
Science & Tech
Russia: Expect a National AI Roadmap by Midyear
Moscow is starting to put financial and logistical muscle behind its efforts to develop artificial intelligence.
Ideas
Moscow’s Little-Noticed Islamic-Outreach Effort
Russia is promoting Islamic moderation in unison with Arab powers—and further cementing its position in the Middle East.
Ideas
Why China’s Military Wants to Beat the US to a Next-Gen Cell Network
For Beijing, the race to 5G has always been linked to its national strategy for military-civil fusion.
Defense Systems
DARPA looks to guard the air gap
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking for security that can better track and protect sensitive data as it moves from highly secure systems to insecure ones.
Defense Systems
Amazon gets a win JEDI court battle
Amazon Web Services was able to successfully block an effort by Oracle to have its in-house counsel included in information protected under a court order.
Ideas
The US Isn’t Really Leaving Syria and Afghanistan
Even if American troops come home in a timely fashion, they will likely return before long.
Business
Defense Companies Starting to Feel Effect of US Government Shutdown
Firms working for NASA, DHS, and other shuttered federal agencies are taking hits to their cash flow.
Policy
Can Pat Shanahan Serve as ‘Acting’ Defense Secretary Forever?
The law is unclear, and the situation all but unprecedented.
Policy
Will the Government Ever Reopen?
After a contentious meeting with lawmakers, President Trump said the government could stay closed “for a very long period of time,” and mused about declaring a state of emergency.
Ideas
Democrats Are Wrong About Defense Spending
The need for investment is only likely to grow in the coming years.
Ideas
The Truth About the Soviet War in Afghanistan
Trump mischaracterized it in an attempt to justify his own disastrous policy in the region.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Seeks a List of Ethical Principles for Using AI in War
An advisory board is drafting guidelines that may help shape worldwide norms for military artificial intelligence — and woo Silicon Valley to defense work.
Policy
Trump Instructs Pentagon to Curb Watchdogs' Access to Secret Military Reports
Transparency groups decry move as hindering the work of inspectors general.
Science & Tech
The FBI is Trying Amazon’s Facial-Recognition Software
The software allows the FBI to go through video surveillance footage much faster than agents can.
Policy