The D Brief: DOD ordered to reverse firings; Trump presses annexations; Putin declines quick ceasefire; F-35 uncertainty; And a bit more.

• Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
• March 14, 2025

Trump’s coercive approach risks driving Latin America into China’s arms

Short-term wins should not be mistaken for long-term gains.

• Daniel DePetris and Jennifer Kavanagh
• March 13, 2025

Canada, other allies play a key role in some military AI experiments

The U.S. Air Force continues to plan joint experiments, tech development with Canadian and other partners.

• Patrick Tucker
• March 11, 2025

The D Brief: China’s 'rehearsals' for war; Gitmo update; DOD preps for DOGE; Court unfreezes foreign aid; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• February 14, 2025

The D Brief: ‘Start negotiations immediately’; Gabbard, intel chief; 5K troops at border; State Dept.’s armored Teslas?; And just a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• February 13, 2025

The D Brief: ‘Constitutional crisis’; IC workers pressed to quit; Musk adds control of sensitive personal data; N. Korean missiles improve; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• February 6, 2025

The D Brief: Resignation deal offered to CIA; Trump’s Gaza pitch; Assault on USAID; Marines alter F-35 plan; And just a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• February 5, 2025

The D Brief: SecDef Hegseth’s first day; Trump’s deportation spat with Colombia; Trump’s DOD vs. DEI; Ukraine’s front-line shakeup; China’s new AI ‘breakthrough’?; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson, Patrick Tucker and Bradley Peniston
• January 27, 2025

Pentagon sending 1,500 troops to southern border, USAF planes on deportation flights

Defense officials did not rule out arming troops on the border, but left that up to the discretion of NORTHCOM.

• Audrey Decker
• January 22, 2025

Trump orders military to plan to ‘seal the borders’

Inaugural-day executive order instructs NORTHCOM to “repel forms of invasion”—a legal formulation that might not stick.

• Bradley Peniston
• January 21, 2025

Border declaration, terrorist designations unlock new options—and new risks

President Trump declares a national emergency and vows to designate transnational gangs, drug cartels as terrorists.

• Patrick Tucker
• January 20, 2025

The D Brief: ‘Imperialistic land grabs’; Trump’s conflicts of interest; Ukraine aid planning; AI helped design Las Vegas blast; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 8, 2025

The D Brief: Vegas bomber’s extremist writings; Honduras threatens to eject US troops; Militia-infiltrating mole; A Mexican invasion?; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 6, 2025

The D Brief: Russia’s foreign-made drones; Ukraine’s EW-hardened drones; China’s $50B littoral buildup; US soldiers rescue sailors at sea; And just a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• November 1, 2024

Could a Canadian experiment help US Navy recruiting?

More than a hundred young Canadians are spending a trial year in their fleet.

• Marissa Lemar
• September 11, 2024

Little fanfare as US upgrades Cuba to 'fully cooperating' with anti-terror efforts

But the mid-May move may presage wider rapprochement – if politics allows.

• Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation
• June 17, 2024

The D Brief: Putin sacks defense chief; Israel expands Gaza fight; Ukraine’s ‘withering’ air defenses; Damaged B-2 won’t be fixed; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• May 13, 2024