Trump Media & Technology Group announced Truth PSI (Truth API), a paid service providing Wall Street trading firms and institutions with high-speed access to posts from influential Truth Social accounts, including President Donald Trump's, milliseconds before public dissemination. The service, set to launch August 1, targets algorithmic traders and financial media, aiming to monetize market-moving statements. Critics, including ethics experts and Senator Elizabeth Warren, denounce the plan as exploiting the presidency for profit and creating uneven trading opportunities. The company has already signed up customers and expects the service to become a meaningful revenue source.

Gold fell below $4,000 per ounce and silver declined sharply as escalating US-Iran hostilities in the Middle East drove oil prices higher, reviving inflation concerns and expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates elevated, reducing the appeal of non-yielding precious metals. The US carried out additional strikes against Iranian targets, prolonging hostilities that have disrupted energy supplies. President Trump said Tehran signaled willingness to resume negotiations, but uncertainty remains after an interim peace agreement unraveled. US producer prices unexpectedly declined in June for the first time in nearly a year.

A series of explosions were reported in Kuwait, with blasts heard as far as Basra in southern Iraq, during the sixth consecutive night of US strikes on Iran. This indicates a possible expansion of the conflict into Gulf states, raising regional security concerns. The blasts suggest potential spillover of the US-Iran conflict into Gulf states.

Catastrophic flooding from the Guadalupe River in central Texas has killed at least one person and prompted about 80 rescues. The National Weather Service warned of 'large and deadly' flooding after the river rose 32 feet in four hours. Multiple counties including Uvalde, Kerr, and Kendall are affected. The same area saw over 130 deaths in flash floods last July, including 25 children at Camp Mystic. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the death and ongoing rescue efforts across multiple counties.

Iran's Foreign Ministry formally accused the US of committing war crimes by deliberately striking civilian infrastructure, including a grain silo in Hoveyzeh, a mineral water factory in Musian, a maritime control tower in Chabahar, and near a children's cancer hospital in Ahvaz, amid ongoing US attacks and a naval blockade. Tehran stated the attacks violate the UN Charter and international law, and vowed a decisive and direct response, escalating the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran further claimed the US naval blockade violates the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

House Speaker Mike Johnson plans a July vote on a clean continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government, more than two months before the deadline. The move is seen as a strategic gambit: a likely failure could provide political cover to attach the CR to a September reconciliation package, including $67 billion for Pentagon munitions. The strategy faces skepticism from Senate Republicans and some House appropriators, but aims to avoid a government shutdown during the midterm campaign. Johnson announced the plan on Thursday, and the vote is expected next week before the August recess.

Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI released Kimi K3, a massive 2.8 trillion-parameter open-weight model with a 1 million-token context window. In blind tests, it outperformed leading US models like Anthropic's Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol in coding and tied Sol in overall text ranking. Offered at lower prices, the launch intensifies concerns in Silicon Valley and Washington about China closing the AI gap. The model's weights are not yet publicly available for independent inspection. The release on Thursday jolted Silicon Valley and reset the AI race, with AI evaluator Arena showing it beating Anthropic's Fable 5 and OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol in front-end coding tests and finishing ahead of Anthropic's Opus 4.8 in broader text ranking while costing 40% less. Moonshot plans to release Kimi as an open-weight model on July 27, allowing customization and in-house deployment. US government estimates of a six-to-12-month Chinese lag have collapsed, citing an April assessment by the US AI testing center that DeepSeek's newest model lagged about eight months behind leading US systems. US accusations of distillation campaigns and smuggling of Nvidia chips by Chinese labs persist, and OpenAI and Anthropic are developing newer systems (GPT 6 and Claude Opus 5) to potentially restore distance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been unable to schedule a White House meeting with President Donald Trump for over two weeks, despite multiple attempts. White House officials indicate no meeting was ever confirmed, reflecting strained relations. Tensions escalated after Netanyahu criticized Trump's plan to sell F-35 jets to Turkey on Fox News, angering Trump. Additionally, Israel provided uncorroborated intelligence about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump in Ankara, which Turkish security investigated and dismissed. The episode underscores Netanyahu's declining influence in Washington, with bipartisan criticism and a House vote to cut $3 billion in aid.

Background: An Iranian lawmaker previously stated that the Strait of Hormuz will never revert to its pre-war status quo, with a draft law to permanently ban Israeli vessels and deny transit to hostile nations. Today: Iranian armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war state, accusing the US of destabilizing the critical transit corridor, asserting Iran's sovereignty over the strait, and urging Gulf countries not to allow US use of their territories for attacks on Iran.

House Republicans are advancing a $60 billion reconciliation bill to replenish munitions depleted by the Iran war, undercutting President Trump's goal of a $1.5 trillion defense budget that included $350 billion in extra reconciliation spending. The House Budget Committee cleared the $60 billion proposal, but Senate GOP leaders are skeptical of passing even the smaller bill before the midterms. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it a 'risky proposition' and Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker said 'We’re going to need more.' A White House official described the measure as a 'down payment for future efforts.' House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers acknowledged the challenge, saying 'That leaves [hundreds of billions of dollars] of must-haves that I don’t know how I’m going to deal with.' This leaves the Pentagon's top priorities—including missile stockpiles and the Golden Dome missile shield—potentially unfunded.

U.S. retail sales rose 0.2% in June 2024, the fifth consecutive monthly gain, supported by a stable labor market and rising household wealth despite higher gasoline prices. Excluding gasoline, sales climbed 0.7%. E-commerce spending rose about 2% due to Amazon's earlier Prime Day promotions. The control group (excluding autos, gasoline, restaurants, building materials) rose 0.5%. Initial jobless claims fell to 208,000 in the week ended July 11. The resilient spending challenges the Federal Reserve's inflation fight, as consumer sentiment remains low but spending strong.

Eighty-one years after the first atomic test, the global nuclear inventory is estimated at 12,187 warheads as of January 2026, with 9,745 in military stockpiles and about 4,012 deployed. Nine nations continue modernizing their arsenals, with China expanding fastest to about 620 warheads. Experts warn that AI-enabled military systems could compress decision-making timelines, introduce automation bias, and increase miscalculation risks, especially as the New START treaty expired in February 2026. The article highlights growing concerns over arms control deterioration and the potential for a three-way arms race among the US, Russia, and China.

Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, nominee to be the third Chief of Space Operations, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that space is becoming a critical warfighting domain. He cited China's anti-satellite tests and electronic jamming capabilities as 'worrisome,' and noted that Space Force assets were among the first targeted in the Iran conflict (Operation Epic Fury). Schiess argued that US space capabilities are essential to deterring adversaries like China and Russia.

Background: The NATO summit in Ankara (July 7-8, 2026) was dominated by US President Donald Trump's confrontational stance toward allies, threats to cut trade with Spain, renewal of demands for Greenland, declaration of the US-Iran ceasefire over, criticism of allies for insufficient defense spending and lack of support for the Iran war, announcement of a license for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors, and signals of lifting sanctions on Turkey and potential F-35 sales. European allies pledged €140 billion in military aid to Ukraine. New development: Detailed analysis reveals that the Patriot licensing proposal signals a strategic shift by the US toward long-term industrial partnership over urgent battlefield relief, reflecting Washington's priority to contain China rather than sustain the Ukraine war. Ukraine's constrained bargaining position was evident as President Zelenskyy's participation was limited to a side forum with a four-minute address. Russia interpreted the summit as continued Western confrontation, fueling calls within Russia to abandon diplomatic flexibility and maximize military pressure. The analysis underscores the growing divergence between Kyiv's objectives and Washington's China-centered grand strategy.

Iran's judiciary rejected US President Donald Trump's assertion that an American woman, Dena Karari, had been released from detention, stating that no American spy or prisoner had been freed. Trump had claimed the release was a goodwill gesture, but Iranian state media reported that checks showed no such release or exchange occurred. The judiciary reiterated that no American spy had been freed and that no prisoner matching Trump's description had been released or exchanged, while Trump had asserted the woman was wrongfully detained and allowed to leave Iran as a goodwill gesture.

A new ACLU report documents how the Trump administration's deportation campaign has expanded immigration enforcement beyond ICE to include over 25,000 federal agents from agencies like the FBI, as well as state and local police, fundamentally altering US law enforcement. The report cites 1,213 cases of force or threatened force, raising civil rights concerns and highlighting confusion over enforcement authority. It details that an unprecedented $240 billion has been directed into immigration enforcement through congressional reconciliation bills since July 2025, and about 12,000 new ICE agents were hired in 2025. ICE has paid or promised $257 million to state and local agencies under 287(g) agreements, with potential 2026 payouts reaching $1.4 billion to $2 billion. The ACLU found 375 incidents involving force or threatened force, including 241 involving physical force, with agents pushing, shoving, tackling, or pinning people 418 times, deploying chemical irritants 361 times, using stun guns 33 times, and smashing vehicle windows 47 times. The report also notes that federal agents are increasingly using masked operations and unmarked vehicles, eroding community trust.

Background: North Korea and Russia formalized a military alliance in June 2024, with North Korea supplying artillery, missiles, and troops for the Ukraine war in exchange for combat experience and technology transfers, reducing Pyongyang's dependence on China. A new analysis argues that the collapse of great-power consensus between the US, China, and Russia has eroded the effectiveness of UN sanctions on North Korea. Pyongyang has exploited this divide to expand trade, deepen ties with Russia and China, and advance its nuclear and missile programs. The article notes that sanctions alone are no longer viable and that arms control and risk reduction are more realistic near-term objectives. Specific new details include: North Korea imported at least seven times the UN-capped 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum from China and Russia in 2025; Russia has refused to report its supply shipments to the UN for over two years; North Korea exported an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of coal in 2024, often falsely labeled as Russian; North Korean hackers stole $2.02 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, a 51% increase; South Korea's central bank estimated North Korea's economy grew 3.7% in 2024, the highest in eight years; the IAEA reported expanding uranium-enrichment activity and evidence of new enrichment facilities; North Korean state media claimed weapons-grade nuclear material capacity has more than doubled over five years and unveiled a new enrichment plant.

The US State Department approved a potential $2 billion sale of up to 20,000 APKWS II laser guidance kits to Saudi Arabia, including air-to-air and air-to-ground variants. The deal aims to enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to counter drone and missile threats from Iran and Houthi rebels, leveraging the low-cost APKWS as a cost-effective alternative to expensive air-to-air missiles. The sale improves interoperability with US forces and supports Saudi homeland defense amid escalating regional tensions.

Following a drone attack on Erbil, the US embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert advising American citizens in Iraq to remain vigilant and avoid travel due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and limited US government emergency services. The alert, posted on social media, also instructed citizens to follow local media, register in the STEP program, maintain communication with family, and ensure travel documents are valid. The advisory underscores heightened security risks amid ongoing US-Iran tensions.

Major US television networks diverged on whether to air Donald Trump's primetime White House address live on Thursday night, which focused on unproven claims about the 2020 election. CNN, ABC, and NBC chose not to air the speech live, while CBS, Fox News, and MS Now aired at least portions. ABC aired the speech on its streaming service and radio, and some affiliates, including a Sinclair-owned station in Washington DC, chose to air it. NBC provided live coverage on NBC News NOW and planned a special report afterward. CBS and Fox News aired large portions live, with CBS cutting in after about 20 minutes to fact-check. MS Now aired about half the speech despite warnings from host Jen Psaki. Trump criticized ABC and NBC for not airing the speech live, suggesting they should lose their broadcast licenses. He escalated this threat, stating that "fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses." The official White House rapid response X account also slammed CNN for not carrying the address live. The FCC, led by Trump ally Brendan Carr, has already launched probes into broadcasters, including an investigation into ABC's "The View" over compliance with federal broadcast rules. ABC is facing a license renewal fight with the FCC. CBS parent Paramount Skydance is seeking regulatory approval for its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, with the Justice Department approving the deal but a group of state attorneys general suing to block it. The split reflects ongoing debate over media responsibility when covering a president known for making false statements about election integrity.

A Foreign Policy article examines contradictions in the Trump administration's America First foreign policy, highlighted by Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby's social media thread criticizing a 'middle powers' strategy, which inadvertently exposed tensions between pushing allies to be self-reliant while still expecting U.S. influence. The piece also covers the administration's campaign to dismantle the ICC, renewed conflict with Iran involving potential Houthi disruption of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and Ukrainian President Zelensky's diplomatic gains, including a pledge from Trump for Patriot missile licenses and European support for a Ukrainian missile defense system.

The Space Force's $71.1 billion budget request, proposed by President Trump, faces implementation challenges including personnel shortages and supply chain constraints. In a confirmation hearing, nominee Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess told the Senate Armed Services Committee the funding is needed to counter threats from China and Russia, citing rapidly advancing adversary counterspace capabilities. The hearing was smooth and non-controversial, with only six senators asking questions. Schiess emphasized the need to balance urgent readiness with modernization, noting the service plans over 100 national security launches in five years and expects launch tempo to reach 3,000 rockets per year by 2036. He committed to providing independent military advice even if it differs from political leaders. The budget remains uncertain due to House disagreements over reconciliation funding. During the hearing, Sen. Angus King called the civilian cuts 'mindless' and expressed concern that expertise was lost. Schiess confirmed that many civilians left via the Deferred Resignation Program and other voluntary separation initiatives. Space Systems Command plans to hire 100 civilians per month. The Space Force requested 2,800 additional civilian positions in its FY2027 budget, for a total of 7,200 civilian jobs. A GAO report released July 14 found the service lacks consistent personnel requirements and relies on outdated Air Force processes. The report recommends developing service-specific guidance, tracking contractor personnel, creating a strategic workforce plan, and reevaluating Air Force-provided functions. Schiess highlighted the Personnel Management Act's part-time/full-time flexibility to attract specialized talent. Sen. Roger Wicker stressed the need to counter evolving threats with more than incremental growth.

Dubai authorities denied reports of explosions in the city on July 16, 2026, after witnesses reported hearing booms. The denial comes as the US continues strikes on Iran for a sixth consecutive night, and Iran has resumed attacks on neighboring countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Kuwait's military reported intercepting drone attacks, and Bahrain urged residents to seek shelter. The UAE has not been targeted since a ceasefire earlier this year, but the incident highlights heightened regional tensions.

The Trump Board of Peace's 20-point peace plan to end the Gaza conflict has stalled due to fundamental disagreements between Israel and Hamas. The recovery plan has been drastically reduced from a full reconstruction blueprint to a small pilot project near Rafah, involving a temporary camp for a fraction of Gaza's 2 million displaced people. The pilot camp would consist of portable cabins for tens of thousands of displaced people, set up in the buffer zone along the ceasefire line near Rafah. Israeli troops would withdraw from the line, and security would be overseen by the International Stabilization Force (ISF) and a vetted Palestinian police force. The ISF is expected to be about 5,000-strong, with troops from Morocco, Kosovo, and possibly Albania and Kazakhstan. The training of the Palestinian police force in Egypt has not begun and is expected to take several months. The legal framework for the ISF presence is still being negotiated with the Israeli government. The pilot scheme has been denounced by critics as a 'concentration camp' in the making, but BoP officials insist there will be freedom of movement. The funding for the pilot remains unclear, with very little of the $17bn originally pledged for Trump's 20-point peace plan materializing. The BoP is negotiating for some of the $11bn in Palestinian tax revenue and frozen bank assets seized by Israel to be diverted to project funds, which has caused outrage from the Palestinian Authority. The project is not expected to be operational before the end of 2026. Progress is hampered by Israeli violations of the ceasefire, restrictions on aid, and political uncertainty ahead of Israeli elections.

Pakistan called on the United States and Iran to end hostilities and resume technical-level talks under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) it helped broker in June 2026. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad that Pakistan will continue to encourage all sides to end violence and resume dialogue, emphasizing that there is no alternative to sustained engagement. The appeal comes as fighting over the strategic Strait of Hormuz enters its sixth day, with US strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks driving global oil prices higher and raising concerns about inflation and food security, particularly for Global South nations. Pakistan, the main mediator since the war began on February 28, reiterated that the MoU remains an enduring framework for peace and that it remains engaged with key interlocutors to lower tensions.

Gabriel Perez, President Trump's teleprompter operator since 2016, was placed on unpaid administrative leave after allegedly using inside knowledge of Trump's speeches to place bets on the Kalshi prediction market, winning over $100,000. The White House cited strict ethical guidelines, and Kalshi referred the trades to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Perez is cooperating and in settlement talks with the regulator; federal prosecutors declined to open a criminal case.

The Trump administration has finalized new Department of Homeland Security regulations imposing fixed time limits on foreign student and journalist visas. Student and exchange visitor visas are capped at four years, journalist visas at 240 days (90 days for Chinese nationals), with extensions possible but uncertain. The rule also restricts graduate students from changing programs or transferring schools without authorization and reduces the post-completion departure period from 60 to 30 days. The regulations take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, subject to congressional review. The move is part of a broader immigration crackdown and has drawn sharp criticism from universities and media organizations, who warn it will harm academic exchange and press freedom.

One year after the Trump administration laid off approximately 1,350 State Department and USAID employees, former federal employees and Democratic lawmakers held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, arguing the cuts have damaged U.S. crisis response, including to an Ebola outbreak in Central Africa and negotiations to end the Iran war. New legislation was introduced to allow involuntarily separated foreign service officers to rejoin without retesting. The State Department defended the reorganization, claiming improved efficiency.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is blocking acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation vote until Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse. Blanche has cited restrictions on direct meetings but offered to work through attorneys. Tillis's single 'no' vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee could prevent the nomination from advancing to a full Senate vote. Epstein survivor Dani Bensky stated that no staffer had contacted her to follow up on Blanche's offer.

Top military commanders from the US, Japan, and South Korea held a Trilateral Chiefs of Defense meeting at the Pentagon, reaffirming their commitment to trilateral security cooperation in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. They agreed to continue coordination toward denuclearization and to deepen multi-domain cooperation, including the annual Freedom Edge exercise.

Vice President Vance is conducting a media blitz, appearing on unfriendly platforms such as Joe Rogan's podcast, ABC's 'The View,' and HBO's 'Real Time' to defend the White House on issues including Iran policy and Epstein files. The strategy, which helped him secure the vice presidency, aims to showcase his verbal combat skills and lay groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential run. President Trump has praised Vance's media appearances.

The Farnborough International Air Show will take place July 21-24, 2024, against a backdrop of the Iran war, NATO spending disputes, and US-European defense industrial tensions. The cancellation of the Royal International Air Tattoo due to the Iran conflict has led to record US industry attendance at Farnborough. US Air Force platforms to be displayed include the F-35 Lightning II, C-130J, UH-60 Blackhawk, and CH-47 Chinook, alongside British, Czech, Italian, and Turkish aircraft. The event highlights ongoing debates over transatlantic defense cooperation, following a contentious NATO summit. The UK recently unveiled a $298 billion Defense Investment Plan, committing to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035. Meanwhile, Germany and France have abandoned their joint next-generation fighter project, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), raising questions about future European defense programs.

Netflix shares declined after the company issued growth forecasts that fell short of market expectations, signaling a potential slowdown in subscriber additions or revenue growth. This development has raised concerns among investors about the company's near-term performance. The latest forecasts continue to miss market expectations, reinforcing worries about slowing subscriber additions and revenue growth.

Saronic selected Brownsville, Texas, for its $3 billion 'Port Alpha' shipyard, dedicated to building autonomous maritime systems, over competing locations in California and Virginia. The project is expected to create up to 10,000 jobs and generate over $160 billion in regional economic impact. The shipyard will initially occupy 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with potential expansion to nearly 4,400 acres, and will be capable of building vessels up to 850 feet long, with future capacity for vessels over 1,200 feet. The project is backed by an $80 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant and a 95% tax abatement from Cameron County, contingent on filling 35% of jobs with local residents. However, local opposition has emerged, with at least 40 people testifying against the abatement. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with operations starting in 2028. The announcement aligns with recent U.S. executive orders and legislative initiatives aimed at rebuilding domestic shipbuilding capacity and strengthening maritime dominance. Saronic's existing facilities include a central Texas plant producing the 24-foot Corsair (for which the Navy awarded a $392 million production contract in December 2025) and a former Gulf Craft yard in Franklin, Louisiana, where $300 million is being invested to build the 180-foot Marauder. Saronic is one of seven companies competing for the Navy's medium unmanned surface vessel contract, with at-sea testing through October.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) stated at The Hill Nation Summit that he would leave the Democratic Party if it officially becomes the 'anti-Israel party,' though he has no immediate plans to switch. His comments come amid growing Democratic criticism of Israel and a recent House vote where over 100 Democrats supported a measure to restrict State Department funding to Israel. Fetterman acknowledged the party's difficult Senate math and hinted at his potential influence if Democrats flip four seats in November. He also faced criticism from within his party, including from Rep. Brendan Boyle, and a recent poll showed more than half of Pennsylvania voters want him to leave the party. Fetterman's stance highlights internal party divisions on Israel policy, which could impact Senate dynamics if Democrats regain a majority.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao signed a memorandum launching the 'Bits2Effects Cycle' strategy to integrate data and artificial intelligence across the Department of the Navy. The five-step framework includes collecting data from sensors and weapons systems, transporting it from deployed platforms, automating security markings, providing AI/ML tools and computing infrastructure, and delivering data-driven effects to warfighters. The goal is to create an 'AI-first' Fleet that turns information into warfighting advantage, enabling faster decisions and out-learning adversaries.

The Farnborough International Airshow is set to begin, with trends including European defense spending, U.S. weapons sales, and maintenance services. Trade groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, oppose a provision in the 2027 NDAA that would ban defense contractors from stock buybacks without a Pentagon waiver. Pennsylvania hosted a defense summit with $10 billion in announced investments, including a new submarine facility and robotics plant. The Navy awarded Florida State University $88 million for shipboard power research. The U.S. war on Iran has spurred $12.3 billion in venture capital investment in defense technology. Vatn Systems announced its SIGURD autonomous mine countermeasures system. BigBear AI is expanding its generative AI platform for national security use.

As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach, IOC President Kirsty Coventry faces pressure to develop a strong relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, similar to FIFA President Gianni Infantino's approach for the 2026 World Cup. Experts warn that failure to engage with the U.S. administration could lead to visa issues and political interference, threatening the Games' success. Coventry, who has not yet met Trump, must navigate the political landscape to ensure safe entry for thousands of athletes and protect the integrity of the Olympics. LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman has led dealings with the administration, highlighting the challenge of managing political dynamics and the need for strong engagement to avoid boycotts or disruptions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a diplomatic campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC). In response, US Representative Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution calling for the United States to ratify the Rome Statute and join the ICC, directly opposing the Trump administration's sanctions and pressure. The resolution argues that joining the ICC would strengthen the rule of law and criticizes the administration's efforts to dismantle the court. The resolution highlights a deepening domestic political divide over international justice and US foreign policy. Additionally, two US advocacy groups have sued the administration over sanctions that they claim violate their First Amendment rights.

During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the US military is experimenting with autonomous boats, 3D printers that can be airdropped, and AI to solve the 'tyranny of distance' in the Pacific theater. The demonstration, described as the largest advanced manufacturing exercise by the US military, involves 38 countries, 31 surface vessels, five submarines, over 30,000 personnel, and nearly 180 aircraft. Technologies showcased include Firestorm's expeditionary advanced manufacturing cell, Fieldmade's parachutable 3D printer, Snowbird Technologies' shipboard 3D printer, Havoc's 14-foot autonomous boat, and Splash Industries' Typhoon USV, which recently executed the first autonomous resupply of a warship at sea. The initiative aims to operationalize advanced manufacturing for rapid part replacement and resupply in contested environments.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that half of ICE field offices now have body cameras for agents, with the remainder to be equipped within 60 days. The rollout follows a series of fatal shootings and increased pressure for accountability. Congress allocated $20 million for the cameras in April, and the agency cites previous government shutdowns as a cause for delays.

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the U.S. Space Force filled only 13,500 of 18,000 required positions in fiscal 2025, a 25% shortfall, due to a lack of consistent processes for determining personnel needs. Shortages in cyber, intelligence, and support roles risk missions, and the service relies heavily on the Air Force for support. The GAO made four recommendations, which the Defense Department accepted.