Ideas

Military force can topple a dictator, but it cannot create political authority or legitimacy

Trump is the latest to reach for a military solution of the kind that rarely produces durable peace. 

  • Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation
Threats

The D Brief: Trump threatens more countries after Maduro abduction; SCOTUS rejects Guard deployment; Nigerian-strike fallout; 2025 scorecard; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

‘A line crossed’: Lawmakers, lawyers, anti-war advocates alarmed by Venezuela overthrow

The lack of Congressional notification stokes fears of another "forever war."

  • Thomas Novelly and Lauren C. Williams
Threats

The US will ‘run’ Venezuela for now, Trump says after armed assault on capital

Regime-change operation bombed multiple sites, seized president early on Saturday.

  • Bradley Peniston and Patrick Tucker
Policy

Trump gives up on National Guard deployment in 3 cities

In the wake of a Supreme Court decision about Chicago, the administration said it will also back off plans for Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon.

  • Ariana Figueroa, Stateline
Ideas

Trump’s new ‘battleship’ should not carry nukes

Producing a new nuclear missile for the Navy would leave us less safe.

  • Andrew C. Weber
Threats

The D Brief: New ‘battleship’ announced; Nigeria, under US surveillance; China’s ICBMs; Boat-strike Qs; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
Policy

The twists and turns of Trump’s 2025 war on unions

A look at how the Trump administration has sought to undermine collective bargaining at the Defense Department and across the federal government.

  • Erich Wagner
Threats

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
Threats

Defense One Radio, Ep. 201: Conflicts to watch in 2026

CFR's Paul Stares unpacks the latest annual survey of foreign policy experts bracing for what might lie ahead.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Trump rebrands housing subsidies as ‘bonus’; Venezuelan navy starts escorting tankers; SOF needs jamming ranges; Big arms sale to Taiwan; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus

More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.

  • Thomas Novelly
Threats

The D Brief: Trump sets blockage on Venezuela; Europe warns of war; SecDef won’t release boat-strike video; Nominees to fill long-vacant posts; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

After eight months, administration signals a potential leader for NSA, CyberCom

The White House has asked senators to confirm a promotion for Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, deputy director for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

  • David DiMolfetta
Threats

The D Brief: Fentanyl now a ‘WMD’; Airstrikes rise in Somalia; Cocom consolidation, mulled; Post-quantum encryption; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: 3 Americans killed in Syria; Ukraine peace talks; Germany on Russian sabotage; Scharre on AI in war; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Business

Next presidential jet will arrive a bit earlier than projected, Air Force says

Boeing's first VC-25B Air Force One jet is now slated to enter service in mid-2028.

  • Thomas Novelly
Ideas

On Europe, the Trump administration is out of step with Congress, Americans

Most recognize Russia as an antagonist that must be opposed—with force, if necessary.

  • Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman
Threats

The D Brief: US seizes tanker; House passes $901B NDAA; US pushes business-centered ‘peace plan’; Chipping away at US AI edge; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

NATO retains ‘open-door policy’ despite US opposition to a ‘perpetually expanding alliance’

A top alliance official noted that NATO members are not agreed on how far it might expand.

  • Meghann Myers
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