Threats
Feinstein Says the U.S. Is at ‘Cold War Levels’ With Russia
U.S. lawmakers' sense of futility at a peaceful resolution in Ukraine is being eclipsed by historic levels of distrust toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. By Dustin Volz
Policy
McCain Calls for the 'Most Severe Sanctions' on Russia
Sen. John McCain said it's time the U.S. armed the Ukrainian military while also calling for a rapid escalation of sanctions against Russia. By Rachel Roubein
Policy
GOP Proposes More National Guard Troops for the Border Crisis
House GOP lawmakers claim their border plan is a 'major change' that will cost 'less than half' of the president's nearly $4 billion border response package. By Billy House and Rachel Roubein
Policy
Why Rand Paul Loves to Fight Over Foreign Policy
Arguing over military intervention with the GOP is an ideal platform for the libertarian senator's most popular, and disruptive, ideas. By Molly Ball
Policy
Dunford Didn’t Endorse Plan to Pull Troops from Afghanistan by 2017
The president’s plan for withdrawing from Afghanistan can’t escape comparisons to Iraq – even from his top commander. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Obama’s War Budget: ‘Slush Fund’ or the New Normal?
Lawmakers are balking at Obama’s $65.8 billion Overseas Contingency Operations request. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Here Are All the Ways Congress Is Trying to Fix the VA
The Veterans Affairs Department is, by many accounts, broken, and Congress has a lot of ideas to fix it. By Eric Katz
Business
Don't Expect the VA to Improve Overnight
The acting VA secretary told Senators it will take years to correct the department's troubled course -- but an extra $17 billion could certainly speed things up. By Jordain Carney
Policy
House GOP Prepares Its Own Border Plan
All that's known so far is it will be cheaper than the president's $3.7 billion plan, and will include U.S. National Guard troops. By Billy House
Policy
Senate Defense Bill Doubles Obama’s Request for Israel’s Iron Dome
As rockets fly over Israel and Gaza, Congress is doubling its spending on Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Rand Paul vs. Rick Perry: The GOP’s Battle for the Future of National Security
The bluster between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Rand Paul is just smoke for the fire that is the GOP’s identity crisis. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
Lawmakers Want Answers on the Effects of Iraq and Afghanistan's Burn Pits
Some veterans feel the health impacts of Iraq and Afghanistan burn pit exposure demand more study. Some lawmakers aren't giving up on the issue either. By Jordain Carney
Policy
Special Operations Commander Says Burden On Elite Troops Is Here to Stay
Obama’s nominee to command special operations troops said more should be done to help alleviate the stresses on families of more than 13 years of frontline combat. By Ben Watson
Policy
$50 Billion Price Tag Holds Up Congressional VA Reform
A joint House and Senate conference committee has its work cut out for it trying to trim the costs associated with getting veterans more timely care. By Stacy Kaper
Policy
How Rand Paul Is Trying to Win Over the Right on Foreign Policy
The Kentucky Republican's policies toward Israel may not have changed much. But his rhetoric has. By Emma Roller
Science & Tech
What to Expect in This Government Report on Government Spying
Here are the questions critics hope Obama's privacy watchdogs will answer in this week's long-awaited report on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. By Brendan Sasso
Policy
Senate Politics Leave 28 Countries With No U.S. Ambassador
Nominations for U.S. ambassadors are gathering dust as partisan posturing holds up their Senate confirmation. Never mind that the world’s on fire. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
With 28 Days Left, What Can Congress Do?
Congress is heading out of town for the Fourth of July with less than a month of work left before November's elections. But don’t expect immediate action on crucial national security legislation. By Molly O’Toole
Policy
The One Thing Holding Back Congress From Fixing the VA
Everyone wants to fix the Veterans Affairs Department - but how to pay for it? By Stacy Kaper
Policy