The D Brief: Border Patrol boss out of MN; Misinformation pushback; Carrier reaches CENTCOM; Tariffs pledged on US shipbuilding partner; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 27, 2026

Air Force revives a deployment concept used for the GWOT—with a few twists

Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0 is the latest move away from Biden-era attempts to orient the force toward China.

• Thomas Novelly
• January 23, 2026

The D Brief: Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’; Russian hybrid warfare; More Ukraine talks; Combat fitness, reimagined; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson
• January 23, 2026

Bombing Iran would shore up its regime

External attacks stir up nationalism and redirect public anger outward, a “rally-around-the-flag” effect long documented by political scientists.

• Rosemary Kelanic
• January 22, 2026

The D Brief: Europe reinforces Greenland; Senate fails to limit Venezuela action; Navy’s next ships; The cost of ‘DoW’; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 15, 2026

CNO cautions against extending carrier’s deployment for Iran ops

Adm. Daryl Caudle said he is already concerned about Ford’s extra time in SOUTHCOM.

• Meghann Myers
• January 14, 2026

The D Brief: US bombs ISIS in Syria; Iranian protests swell; Execs rebuff oil plan; Meet the Army’s dronemakers; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 12, 2026

The D Brief: US hits 70 ISIS targets; Another tanker seized; Army seeks common C-UAS controller; More firms cleared for Golden Dome work; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 22, 2025

To foster Middle East peace and prosperity, help Kurdistan fend off extremists

Two steps are urgently needed, says the regional government’s U.S. envoy.

• Treefa Aziz
• December 19, 2025

Ukraine is helping the US catch up with modern warfare—for now

Observers say broader cooperation could help both sides, if the Trump administration allows it.

• Patrick Tucker
• December 5, 2025

Hegseth broke rules, DODIG concludes, even though he said Yemen strike details were ‘safe to declassify’

Inspector general’s Signalgate report arrives two months after SecDef alleged the office had been “weaponized.”

• Meghann Myers
• December 4, 2025

The D Brief: Hegseth cites ‘fog of war’; USAF axes China-focused reforms; CENTCOM’s new attack-drone unit; Firms qualify for Golden Dome work; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 3, 2025

The US needs more than troops at a Syrian airbase to constrain ISIS, Iran

Continued support for the SDF, plus more burden-sharing, is necessary to protect U.S. interests.

• Thomas Bergeson and Jonah Brody
• December 2, 2025

The D Brief: Commandant’s ARG/MEU push; Army acquisition reform; B-21, ICBM projects; ‘DoW’ price tag; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• November 17, 2025

The D Brief: Shutdown nears end; Allies limit intel-sharing over boat strikes; Price tag for US occupations; Marines want multiple prototypes; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• November 12, 2025

The D Brief: A narrower natsec focus; ‘Pigpen-like mess’ at DOD; DC Guard deployment extended; Shutdown sets record; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston
• November 5, 2025

The D Brief: Hurricane evacuation; B-1s off Venezuela; DOD civs fret amid shutdown; Plutonium for sale; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• October 28, 2025