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Pentagon puts building blocks in place for Cuba invasion
28 May 2026 at 05:15
The Navy’s presence in the Caribbean has not reduced despite the Iran war.
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Before yesterdayPolitico | Defense
Trump faces first big loss on Iran war
21 May 2026 at 01:20
Votes in the House and Senate this week to halt the military campaign would prove a stunning embarrassment for the president.
Trump says he’ll talk to Taiwan’s president amid arms deal negotiations
21 May 2026 at 00:04
Proposed direct contact between the U.S. and Taiwanese president overturns decades of diplomatic practice governing ties between the two countries.
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Senate advances anti-Iran war measure in surprise blow to Trump
20 May 2026 at 06:43
Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost his primary this weekend, became the latest GOP defector as critics took advantage of Republican absences to advance a war powers resolution.
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Hegseth enters the war between Donald Trump and Thomas Massie
19 May 2026 at 04:33
The Defense secretary’s remarks are highly unusual for a civilian military leader.
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4 crew members eject safely after 2 Navy jets crash during air show in Idaho
18 May 2026 at 05:34
“Everyone is safe and I think that’s the most important thing,” a spokespersons said.
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Politico | Defense
- USS Ford returns home after 11-month deployment supporting the Iran war and Maduro’s capture
USS Ford returns home after 11-month deployment supporting the Iran war and Maduro’s capture
17 May 2026 at 01:26
The warship and two destroyers docked in Norfolk, Virginia, with about 5,000 sailors waiting to see their families for the first time since June.
‘Slap in the face': Republicans skewer Pentagon over Poland move
16 May 2026 at 01:07
Army leaders also appeared taken aback by the administration’s abrupt action.
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‘20 years is enough’: Trump puts a timeline on limiting Iran’s nuclear program
15 May 2026 at 20:37
The allowance for Iran to enrich uranium at any point in the future — even decades out — marks a shift for the president.
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Pentagon officials stunned by Hegseth decision on troops in Poland
15 May 2026 at 05:05
It wasn’t clear why the Defense secretary issued the order not to send troops on a routine mission to a country the administration refers to as a “model ally.”
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Pentagon official: Iran still threatens Strait of Hormuz
15 May 2026 at 00:12
Tehran’s ability to scare off commercial ships continues to give it leverage in any peace negotiation with the U.S.
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Trump’s disappearing China hawks
14 May 2026 at 03:57
The once vocal GOP wing that warned against making deals with Beijing has largely left the conversation ahead of Trump’s China summit.
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Pentagon's estimate for Iran war grows to $29B
13 May 2026 at 01:32
The latest increase comes even as the U.S. says the fighting has largely stopped.
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German lawmaker downplays Trump troop withdrawal
13 May 2026 at 00:42
German lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter acknowledged tense relations between Berlin and Washington but argued German leaders could have done a better job of calibrating their criticisms of the Iran war.
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Slotkin leaves door open to 2028 bid
13 May 2026 at 00:07
The Michigan Democrat and prominent national security voice said the country is ready for a “new generation” of candidates.
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Trump’s Beijing trip should make Taiwan ‘nervous,’ Slotkin says
12 May 2026 at 23:16
The Senate Armed Services member and former Pentagon official warned the president could easily fall into a trap due to his eagerness to strike a deal with China.
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Top Republican wants more details on Iran war if ceasefire ends
12 May 2026 at 22:35
As the war's future seems uncertain, there are signs GOP patience is starting to fray.
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What Beijing has learned about the US from the Iran war
9 May 2026 at 06:00
Current and former U.S. defense officials worry headwinds from the conflict with Tehran leave Beijing with the upper hand.
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Kelly’s profile rises as he heads toward another likely victory over Hegseth
8 May 2026 at 00:28
The saga has turned the Democratic senator into a high-profile opponent of the administration and elevated his national standing ahead of a possible presidential run.
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Hegseth says battle for Hormuz is ‘separate and distinct' from the Iran war
5 May 2026 at 22:41
The Defense secretary distanced Project Freedom, the latest effort to reopen the strait, from the rest of the Iran war.
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US and Iranian boat attacks threaten ceasefire
5 May 2026 at 02:52
The exchange occurred a day after President Donald Trump announced the Navy would help commercial vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz.
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Germany’s Pistorius plays down US troop cut, stresses Europe’s defense push
2 May 2026 at 22:47
“If we are to remain transatlantic, we must strengthen the European pillar within NATO,” German defense minister said in response to planned withdrawal of American troops from his country.
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Hegseth orders withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany
2 May 2026 at 06:57
The drawdown, which comes after the country’s leader sparred with President Donald Trump over the Iran war, leaves about 33,000 troops there.
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Trump tells Congress the Iran war has ‘terminated’ as legal deadline hits
2 May 2026 at 02:30
The letter to lawmakers attempts to justify why the president is not seeking congressional authorization after the conflict reaches a 60-day threshold.
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Hegseth says Iran war can continue despite legal deadline
1 May 2026 at 02:02
The Pentagon chief told senators a ceasefire in the Middle East pauses a 60-day war powers clock.
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Trump’s call to reduce US troops in Germany shocks Pentagon
1 May 2026 at 01:28
The Defense Department "was not expecting it," a congressional aide said.
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Trump says US considering reducing troops in Germany
30 April 2026 at 07:11
There are 38,000 U.S. troops and personnel stationed in Germany, and cutting forces there would face opposition on Capitol Hill.
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As Iran war drags on, Hegseth labels Dems obstacle to peace
30 April 2026 at 03:30
His decision to label critics as short-sighted and unpatriotic pulls a page from the Donald Trump playbook: when threatened, attack.
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Pentagon official: Iran war has cost $25B
29 April 2026 at 23:27
The figure is the most specific price tag the administration has provided on the U.S. military conflict.
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