NATO takes over key asset before start of Trump term
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Defense & national security
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President Trump: “I plan to report on drones within the first day of taking office''
President-elect Trump has vowed to provide transparency to the public about the recent increase in mysterious drone sightings, suggesting information will be available “approximately a day” into his second term. There is. “I'm going to do a report on drones in the first day or so of my administration,” Trump said Thursday night at the Republican governor's office in the Mar-a-Lago resort. “Because I think that's strange…”
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Court of Appeals temporarily blocks 9/11 plea deal
An appeals court on Thursday temporarily blocked plea deals for three accused 9/11 plotters in a victory for the Justice Department and the Pentagon, which announced Friday's hearing this week. had asked the court to block the agreement. In a brief order, judges on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to block the plea deal, but the move simply…
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ICE Director resigns: “Biden should have strengthened border security sooner''
The outgoing head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in an interview Wednesday that President Biden should have tightened border security sooner. “Do you think Biden should have taken that action sooner?” NBC News' Julia Ainslie asked Acting ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner in an interview that aired on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.” He also mentioned the executive actions taken by the president.
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About our radar
What we're looking forward to:
secretary of state antony blinken Plans to meet with key Italian officials Friday and SaturdayHe will also visit the Holy See to meet with Vatican officials.
pete hegseth President-elect Trump's defense secretary nominee to testify before Senate Armed Services Committee on tuesday.
5 US distributors No links to foreign adversaries found Havana syndromeBut now two agencies say such a connection is possible.
of National Nuclear Security Administration lifespan extended the B61 Gravity Bomb Family At least by 2020.
of Defense Innovation Board will be held public meeting 2pm Eastern Time
In other news
Read something different than The Hill.
Two spy agencies raise the possibility of foreign weapons behind 'Havana Syndrome', but most find no link
An intelligence report released Friday maintains the conclusion that there is no foreign enemy behind the mysterious illness plaguing government officials, but that foreign actors have developed the ability to do so. It opened the door to possibilities. Out of a total of 7 agencies…
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monday on tap
Happenings in and around the defense industry:
of Center for Strategic and International Studies chat with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall Between 9:30am online event.
of brookings institute look US-China climate relationship 11:30am virtual event.
of Stimson Center unpack the The relationship between gender disinformation and national security at 10am online event.
of Wilson Center talk about Combating anti-Semitism as a global threat until 10am hybrid event.
of Washington Institute for Near East Policy evaluate Ceasefire in Lebanonat 12pm online event.
what we are reading
News reported by other media outlets:
Xi Jinping send China's top-level envoyto donald trump's Inauguration ceremony (financial times)
rapid increase in female enlistees helped drive army Successfully achieved recruitment goals for 2024 (Military.com)
today's trends
Two important stories about The Hill today:
Judge finds Giuliani in contempt for defaming Georgia election officials
A federal judge on Friday charged Rudy Giuliani with civil contempt for ignoring an agreement not to make new false claims about two Georgia election officials. read more
Judge unconditionally dismisses President Trump, punishes him for hush money charges
On Friday, President-elect Trump was found guilty of hush money charges and escaped any punishment after a New York judge handed down an unconditional guilty verdict. read more
The Hill Opinion
Defense and national security editorials submitted to The Hill:
Some of these mysterious “drones” are indeed UFOs and should be taken seriously
Invasion of Ukraine resumes in Kursk
Pete Hegseth fails to embody military professionalism
Everyone is being pushed too hard. See you next week!
