The Army National Guard is expanding a program where eligible soldiers can receive free childcare on drill weekends, marking the latest effort to help retain service members amid a nationwide childcare provider shortage. First launched as a test in six states in 2022, the weekend drill childcare program sets up Army National Guard soldiers with licensed, vetted childcare providers near their home or drill location on drill weekends. The Army pays providers through the childcare network Upwards, so soldiers don’t have to worry about reimbursement. The program expanded to 20 states in 2024, and the National Guard plans to spread it to all 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia by Dec. 31. “Free childcare for our traditional drilling guardsmen relieved a large amount of stress for families when planning to attend drill and managing family responsibilities,” Col. Danielle MacDonnell, chief of the human resources directorate at the National Guard Bureau, said in a Nov. 3 press release. “By relieving the burden of childcare, soldiers are more able to focus during drill weekends and perform at higher levels.” Licensed, affordable childcare is tough to find for both military and civilian families nationwide, but National Guardsmen and reservists face…

Fire Reported at Russia’s Afipsky Refinery After Overnight Drone Attack – A fire was reported at Russia’s Afipsky oil refinery early Friday after explosions across Krasnodar Krai, adding to the pressure on the country’s fuel industry amid renewed attacks on energy infrastructure. Regional authorities confirmed a blaze at an unidentified enterprise in Afipsk, attributing it to falling drone debris. An independent Russian outlet, Astra, identified the affected site as the refinery after analyzing eyewitness images, but officials had not named the facility. Putin in 2018 Russian Federation Photo Putin Back in 2016 Image Credit Russian Federation Ukraine had not claimed responsibility when the initial reports were published. The extent of the damage, whether processing equipment was affected, and whether production was interrupted remained unconfirmed. Fire Confirmed Air raid sirens sounded shortly after 1 a.m. local time, with residents reporting repeated explosions and air defense activity. Smoke was subsequently reported drifting toward Krasnodar. The regional operational headquarters said emergency services were working at the industrial site and reported no casualties. Drone fragments also damaged windows in an apartment in a low-rise residential building, according to Interfax. Astra initially cited residents’ accounts before reporting that its open-source analyst had located a fire…

Nato has launched a counter-uncrewed aircraft systems marketplace to give member states faster access to selected counter-drone technologies.

Shield has agreed to acquire radar manufacturer Echodyne for $5.3bn, in a deal that will expand its mission systems business into counter-drone sensing and related security applications.

After Chad Hennings completed his playing career at the Air Force Academy in 1987, he received invitations to several postseason football functions. He noticed a familiar presence at most of these gatherings, Gil Brandt.Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, Brandt was a longtime personnel executive with the Dallas Cowboys. Hennings told the “NFL Players Second Acts” podcast last year that Brandt would approach him and tell him the Cowboys were going to draft him.Also Read: 7 military lessons that made Roger Staubach a Hall of Fame football playerWith a military service commitment ahead of him, Hennings thanked Brandt but figured he possibly had played his final game. After graduating from the academy, Hennings faced at least five years in the Air Force. Because he wanted to fly jets, he actually intended to serve eight years in uniform.Hennings planned to fulfill those terms.“To try to maybe ‘lawyer up’ to get out of that commitment to go play in the league, it wasn’t going to happen,” Hennings said on the podcast. “I tried to succumb to the realization that playing in the NFL was never going to be an option for me. I went in with full anticipation…

This video describes the military situation in Ukraine on the 06 of November 2026 0:00 👋 Intro — key events of the past 12 hours 0:15 🌑 Kyiv blackout: capital plunged into darkness 1:28 ⚡️ Emergency outages across Kyiv, Sumy & Chernihiv regions 2:27 🚦 Transport collapse: gridlock and dead traffic lights 2:56 💥 78 Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in 3 days 3:55 🗳️ Zelensky on online elections, soldiers’ vote & winter ceasefire 6:13 🤝 NATO HQ consultations on security guarantees for Ukraine 8:04 🕊️ Trump promises a "big beautiful agreement" for Europe 8:38 🛰️ Starlink/Starshield crisis: Musk’s regret & expiring contract 10:13 🇷🇺 Russia’s "Rassvet" constellation — its own Starlink by 2027 11:50 🛩️ 227 drones overnight: signs of an incoming massive strike 13:18 🔥 Strike aftermath: Kyiv warehouses, fuel truck, Vinnytsia, Odesa 15:34 🌉 Zaporizhzhia: bridge damaged, chaos at the dam crossing 16:27 🎯 Ukraine’s deep strikes fade: Afipsky refinery attack 18:11 ⚔️ Front line: Pokrovsk battle nears end, Kramatorsk encirclement plan 21:36 🙏 Outro — thanks for watching Marketing: marketing@militarysummary.com Android Military Summary Map Application: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.militarysummary.app&pli=1 iOS Military Summary MapApplication: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id6477433117 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.summary.official Telegram channel: https://t.me/militarysummary X: https://twitter.com/MilitarySummary #russia #ukrainewar

In the lead-up to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s September 2026 visit to the White House to discuss, among other topics, AI, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at JPMorgan Chase’s New York City offices. At the meeting, U.S. officials proposed establishing a dialogue between the United States and China, which would serve as a mechanism for notification of AI-related national security incidents. Bessent clarified the intent as: “We think that just like with any cross-border activity, that moving from opaque to more transparency between the No. 1 and the No. 2 AI powers in The post Can Washington and China Build Confidence Around AI and Stability? appeared first on War on the Rocks.

The fast growing capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s helicopters has caused growing concerns in the Western world, with the country’s industry increasingly positions itself as the global leader in the field. Although overshadowed by growing primacy in areas such as sixth generation fighter aviation, quantum communications, and destroyers, the development of dedicated attack helicopters, modern medium-lift transports and specialised naval variants equipped for anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations has had no parallels abroad. The development of China’s military helicopter fleet appears to have been less strongly prioritised than other areas of development, but reflects a broader effort to establish a more self-sufficient defence-industrial base while improving forces’ ability to conduct complex operations. China’s dedicated attack helicopter fleet is centred on the Z-10, which entered service in 2010 after making its first flight in 2003. The tandem-seat aircraft can carry anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles and rockets, supported by electro-optical targeting equipment and defensive countermeasures. Subsequent upgrades have introduced improved armour, warning sensors and longer-range guided weapons, while the export-oriented Z-10ME incorporates additional improvements, including a millimetre-wave radar mounted above the main rotor. The smaller Z-19 complements the Z-10 by combining reconnaissance and attack capabilities, while the larger Z-21, first…

Compton, et al., CIMSEC The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) recently hosted Global 21, the largest and most sophisticated wargame in its history in support of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Gertz, Washington Times … Democrats are expected major cutbacks and cancellations of Trump administration defense policies and programs.

N. Jennings, Modern War Institute The Army has new operational warfighting guidance. General Christopher LaNeve’s How the Army Fights organizes landpower around four interdependent elements that…

Christopher Lee A growing consensus within the foreign policy retrenchment movement argues that the U.S. should dismantle its forward-defense architecture in Northeast Asia.

Sidharth Kaushal, RUSI … Russia will prioritise qualitative improvements and offensive capabilities over expanding the size of its nuclear arsenal.

President Donald Trump has a new problem: how to replace his defense secretary, if that is indeed his plan, while also preparing to win the hugely controversial war with Iran. Following the Republicans’ devastating defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections, the president is reportedly considering firing his defense secretary as public pressure piles on his administration to end the conflict as quickly as possible. In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, November 5, the president said confirming a replacement would be easier before Democrats take control of the Senate in January — but insisted he intends to keep Hegseth in place. “I have every intention to keep him,” the president said, adding that he is receiving calls from allies who are unhappy with his performance in the role. “I get these calls, you know, about him. I don’t understand why.” With just two months until Republicans lose their Senate majority, the president may soon have limited options if he is forced to fire the man many see as responsible for the failure to force Tehran to concede. The Clock Is Ticking The Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, giving President Trump a majority that can confirm his Cabinet…

The Iran War seems to have emerged as a main reason why the Republicans had such an historically bad night in the midterm elections on Tuesday, one that cost them both Houses of Congress and dismantled the coalition that brought Donald Trump Back into the White House two years earlier. Vice President JD Vance said as much in a lengthy statement posted to social media the day after Election Day. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a teleconference with NFL players Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins during their visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., April 2, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza) Trump launched the war, but He isn’t someone who likes to hold himself accountable for failures, or even admit them at all. So it’s likely they’ll find another scapegoat, and Pete Hegseth’s name has come up often. According to The Guardian, the “Secretary of War” is “increasingly looking like he may take the fall” for the midterm wipeout. Various Republicans have blamed Hegseth for the Republican losses. “If the president is serious about anyone taking responsibility for it, it’s Pete Hegseth,” an unnamed “Republican…

Ukraine has hit a major distribution center of Russia’s e-commerce giant Ozon in a drone strike that hit the southern republic of Adygea. An attack on the logistics center in Adygeysk on November 4 led to staff evacuations and disrupted deliveries, an Ozon spokesperson and regional authorities said. Neptune Cruise Missile Ukraine Government Photo Ukraine Cruise Missile 2026. Image Credit: Creative Commons. Video footage circulating online appeared to show the partial destruction of the building by fire. It marks the latest blow to Russia’s biggest online retailers as Ukraine presses its attack on the companies’ warehouses. Ozon said a total of 11 of its logistics centers had been attacked, causing an estimated 30.1 billion rubles ($367 million) in losses and provisions. Ozon Warehouse Fire The head of the Republic of Adygea, Murat Kumpilov, confirmed a drone strike caused the warehouse fire. Firefighters were called to the incident, and police and regional officials were investigating. Ozon said it “promptly evacuated all workers” and reported no injuries. “A fire broke out, and emergency services are working on site.” The company later said it had halted deliveries from the center and removed items damaged in the fire from its website. It said it…

Russia has suffered its highest number of battle casualties since invading Ukraine in full force in October, losing an estimated 54,400 troops, either killed or seriously wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on November 1 that Russia suffered its highest losses in October. Putin in June 2026 Creative Commons Photo Putin Back in 2012 Creative Commons Image The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has since cited this. Western intelligence sources, however, suggest that Russia also suffered record numbers of deaths when compared to previous months. With Vladimir Putin’s military under increasing pressure as the war moves into its fifth winter, Russia has increased reliance on missile and drone strikes, as its ground forces struggle to gain ground. Russia Suffered Highest Number of Battle Losses Since 2022 Invasion “In just one month, Russia lost 54,400 troops killed or badly wounded,” Zelenskyy said in a November 1 statement. Zelenskyy also stated that Russia’s losses hit a new record of 2,250 people per day on October 21. The estimate climbed to 2,500 on November 1. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said estimated losses increased from 46,230 in September to 54,400. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were holding positions, liberating territory, and “making every day of the…

The Republican Party suffered an historic wipeout on Tuesday, losing its majorities in both houses of Congress and losing numerous seats that hadn’t gone Democratic in Texas. Democrats captured Congressional seats and governorships in the South and Midwest, and finally won statewide in Texas after failing to do so since the 1990s. Donald Trump. White House Flickr. President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order on the Administration’s tariff plans at a “Make America Wealthy Again” event, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) The election result was widely seen as a repudiation of Donald Trump’s presidency, especially the Iran war and the high cost of living, both of which ran counter to campaign promises the president repeated throughout his 2024 campaign. This caused the GOP to significantly underperform among many of the demographics Trump gained in 2024. This week, The Washington Post looked at a series of missteps that helped make Tuesday’s electoral bloodbath possible. Front and Center The Post pointed to a decision the GOP made this election year: They put Donald Trump “front and center,” putting the president on the campaign trail and regularly declaring that members of…

The U.S. Air Force’s F-47 sixth-generation fighter is expected to make its maiden flight in 2028 using an interim propulsion system, with the advanced adaptive-cycle engines intended to power operational expected to only be ready for integration in the early 2030s. Two major US aerospace manufacturers are competing to develop the new powerplants, namely General Electric Aerospace, with its XA102, and Pratt & Whitney, with its XA103. Both designs passed their Assembly Readiness Reviews in May 2026, a milestone intended to establish that engine designs, manufacturing processes and supply chains are sufficiently mature to proceed towards prototype assembly. Pratt & Whitney announced completion of its review on May 8, followed by General Electric Aerospace on May 11. The U.S. has not developed a clean sheet fighter engine for over 35 years, with the F119 fifth generation engine having first flown in 1990, while the newer F135 is a closer derivative of that design. Significant defence sector decline since the end of the Cold War has raised questions regarding whether the new engine program will be able to meet requirements and avoid significant delays, with the F135 developed to power the F-35 having proved highly problematic and significantly undercut fleet availability rates.…

Two soldiers who tackled and subdued a sergeant who opened fire at Fort Stewart, Georgia, last year were recognized for their bravery during a ceremony on Thursday.  for tackling and subduing a fellow soldier who opened fire at Fort Stewart, Georgia, last year.  Sgts. Aaron Turner and Michael Boron were awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the Army’s “highest peacetime award,” by acting Army Secretary Adam Telle. Turner and Boron restrained Sgt. Quornelius Radford on Aug. 5, 2025, after Radford entered a set of buildings on the base and opened fire with a personal firearm. Four soldiers and one civilian were wounded. “When the shots rang out, these two sharp sergeants didn’t hesitate. At extreme personal risk, they confronted, tackled, and restrained an active shooter. They absorbed the danger so their teammates wouldn’t have to,” Telle said. “That level of courage cannot be taught in a classroom. It’s a testament to who they are as men, as soldiers, and as American heroes.”  In an interview with Task & Purpose and one other outlet, Turner recalled Radford telling him that he wasn’t there to hurt soldiers, “just leaders,” and told him to “go home.” Turner recalled telling him, “It’s not worth it.” “I’d…

The Pentagon is escalating the National Guard’s support of law enforcement in Washington, D.C. — granting them the use of dozens of marked patrol cars, military tactical vehicles, and boats, officials with the task force in charge confirmed to Task & Purpose. The new authorizations were detailed in an Oct. 29 memo signed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The memo was originally reported by Politico and confirmed by Task & Purpose.  The October guidance authorizes the National Guard to use up to 60 marked patrol cars, military tactical vehicles, including Humvees and light medium tactical vehicles — utility trucks used by the military for hauling cargo and transporting personnel — and up to 20 light towers and generators, and D.C. National Guard maritime boat assets. Officials with Joint Task Force – District of Columbia said that the additional equipment is to be used “in support of federal and local law enforcement operations.” “The Secretary of War has authorized the continued use of National Guard personnel and capabilities in support of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission,” said officials with the task force, which oversees the multi-state deployment of troops in the capital.  The memo specifies the authorities that…

"It’s not about me anyway, it’s about remembering the fallen" This is why Royal Marine veteran Ben McBean chooses to mark Remembrance Sunday his own way, without uniform and medals🌹 More💻: www.forcesnews.com/heritage/remembrance/its-not-about-me-royal-marine-veteran-why-he-doesnt-wear-his-military-medals #bfbsforcesnews #forcesnews #news #uk #shorts #army #navy #airforce #military #veteran #remembrance

Since summer, Ukraine has been preparing for Russia’s inevitable campaign against energy infrastructure as winter approaches. Unfortunately, that campaign has arrived, and this winter is shaping up to be one of the war’s harshest for Kyiv. In previous years, Ukraine was able to withstand these attacks and rebuild its damaged energy infrastructure faster than Russia could destroy it. However, with a shortage of air defenses, Russian advances in low-cost strike munitions, and four consecutive years of bombing, the country’s energy grid is facing severe trouble. Iskander-M. Image Credit: Creative Commons. As temperatures drop, millions of civilians throughout Ukraine could find themselves without heating as Russia ramps up its efforts to bring Kyiv to its knees. Russia’s Attacks Against Ukraine’s Energy Grid In a recently published report, the United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine examined the consequences of Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The analysis examined Russia’s attacks since autumn 2022, with a particular focus on 2025–2026. The report found that “Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity through attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.” The UN reports that the Russians are deliberately targeting critical energy infrastructure and making conditions unbearable for the civilian population. While international law…

Democrats are already drawing up battle plans ahead of January next year, when new members of Congress will be sworn in, and the U.S. legislature will have its first Democratic majority since 2023. Reining in President Trump President Donald Trump speaks to the press outside Air Force One Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Dubuque Regional Airport in Dubuque, Iowa. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley) President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks the day before the midterm elections, Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Joyce Boghosian) “The days of the House of Representatives functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters after the Democrats’ midterm rout of the Republicans. Jeffries, who would be the first Black House leader if his colleagues elect him to the post, added, “We don’t work for Donald Trump. We work for the American people.” As it became clearer that the Democrats would take Congress, many high-profile figures seemed to relish the idea of holding the Trump administration to account. On the night of November 3, Democratic California Representative…

Russia just had the worst month of its war in Ukraine. It wasn’t close. Worse still, they are losing ground despite massive efforts to punch a hole in Ukraine’s defenses. According to an article in Bloomberg, the Russian military suffered record casualties in October while also giving ground back to Kyiv’s forces, based on Western intelligence data and figures released by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. More than 54,000 Russian troops were killed or seriously wounded during the month, the highest total since the full-scale invasion began almost five years ago. Ukraine President Zelensky 2026 Creative Commons Photo Zelensky Speaking in UK Ukraine Government Photo Those numbers are staggering. That’s roughly the population of a mid-sized American town erased from the Russian order of battle in 31 days. And the Kremlin has very little to show for it. The Numbers Keep Climbing Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense put October’s total at 54,400, with a daily average above 1,750. Losses topped 2,000 on five separate days, and October 21 set a single-day record of 2,250. That record didn’t last two weeks. On November 1, Ukraine’s General Staff reported 2,500 Russian casualties in a single day. One Russian soldier killed or seriously wounded every…

HMS Prince of Wales is operating off Norway in the High North, testing its ability to work alongside Nato allies in Operation Firecrest⚓ With F-35B jets, helicopters and heavy-lift drones on board, BFBS Forces News’ Simon Newton gets a glimpse of the carrier strike group in action🌊 #bfbsforcesnews #forcesnews #news #uk #shorts #army #navy #airforce #military #warships #nato #norway #russia

As President Donald Trump prepares for a rough final two years as president, with Democrats soon to control both chambers of Congress, the Republican Party looks like it is finally moving away from him — and preparing to find new leaders. On Thursday, November 5, reports revealed that Harmeet Dhillon, one of Trump’s closest allies at the Department of Justice, has resigned. President Donald Trump exits the stage after delivering remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Davos Congress Center. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) President Donald J. Trump participates in a restricted bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) The full details of the resignation are not yet clear, and there has been no public confirmation that it marks an attempted break from the president, but it comes amid reports that the president is losing support from many of his highest-profile allies. Are we finally looking at the end of the Trump era? Even Vance Breaks With Trump The first major sign of trouble for the president…

The Navy is steaming ahead with an initiative that aims to tap into patriotism among private sector innovators and use direct commission officer programs to bring new tech talent into the Reserve force. The Navy, like the other military departments, faces challenges in competing with commercial companies for high-demand technology experts. “We have limited financial levers compared to the private sector to attract and retain folks,” Ben Kohlmann, assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and Reserve affairs, acknowledged Thursday at Datadog’s Threat Response Forum, presented by FedScoop. “But at the end of the day, you know the military and the Navy and Marine Corps in particular have the hardest and, I would contend, most important problems to solve. And so, the reason that we attract or can attract great talent is to convince them that if you want to have high meaning and purpose, this is a great opportunity to serve your country,” he said. The Navy Reserve is looking to take “exceptional private sector people” who want to join the ranks but don’t necessarily desire to have a long career in the military, and “slot them in in expanded ways” via direct commission officer programs, he noted. “We’re…

Russia launched another overnight attack on Ukraine on Wednesday night, into the early hours of Thursday morning. Moscow fired some 128 drones and two missiles overnight on November 4-5, killing one woman and targeting energy, logistics, and civilian infrastructure in multiple regions. Lancet Drone. Image Credit: Russian State Media. Lancet Drone from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons. Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down or jammed 105 of the drones, but strikes were recorded in 18 locations, with debris falling in nine locations. The attack used jet-powered Shahed, Gerbera, and Parodiya drones against targets in Ukraine’s Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions. Russian artillery also wounded four women in Marhanets. Ukraine’s Air Force said that the attack began around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday with Russia launching two guided Kh-35 missiles from the Black Sea, along with volleys of UAVs. Of the 128 drones launched into Ukrainian airspace, 65 were jet-powered Shahed-type drones. Iran first designed these drones, and Russia and Iran both manufacture them and new variants today. This time, they were reportedly launched from locations including Oryol, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and occupied areas in Donetsk and Crimea. By 8 a.m. Thursday, Ukrainian forces had…

This video describes the military situation in Ukraine on the 5th of November2026 0:00 — 👋 Intro: ten days of silence — and now the front awakens 1:30 — ⚔️ Orikhiv: Ukrainian gains — then the bombshell claim 2:47 — 🏴 "Battle over": waiting for the flags 4:00 — 🌊 Foothold on the Verkhnya Tersa — the road to Zaporizhzhia 5:24 — 🎯 Dobropillia: Novoyelizavetivka encircled, Starovarvarivka entered 6:53 — 🔗 Closing on the T-0543 — the agglomeration’s last artery 7:16 — 🌉 Sloviansk: bridges gone, semi-encircled, drones watching all 9:27 — 🔁 Post-"Vivaldi" counteroffensive: Russians back in Mykolaivka 11:16 — 🎯 Lyman counteroffensive: the gap southwest of Zarichne 12:40 — ⏰ Kharkiv north: clashes along M20, fire-control goal 13:44 — 💣 Strikes: 30 Iskanders massing for Kyiv tonight 14:42 — 🌑 Klitschko: "verge of a total blackout" 16:38 — 🚛 The truck-park tactic: 1,200 → 500 drones a day 20:30 — 🛢️ Ryazan refinery burning again 21:30 — 🕳️ Scandal chronology: prisons, generals, "systemic phenomenon" Marketing: marketing@militarysummary.com Android Military Summary Map Application: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.militarysummary.app&pli=1 iOS Military Summary MapApplication: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id6477433117 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.summary.official Telegram channel: https://t.me/militarysummary X: https://twitter.com/MilitarySummary #russia #ukrainewar

Vice President JD Vance conceded in an election post-mortem on Wednesday that the Trump administration’s war against Iran was to blame for the Republican Party’s catastrophic losses in this week’s midterm elections. In a lengthy social media post, Vance acknowledged that while many 2024 Trump-Vance supporters did turn out to vote in Tuesday’s election, they voted for the Democrats in protest over the war against Iran, rising cost of living, rising fuel prices, and President Donald Trump’s unpopular obsession with foreign policy over domestic issues. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Colby Delia, 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron crew chief, and Airman 1st Class Olivia Ward, 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron crew chief, prepare for a B-1B Lancer to take off for a mission at Misawa Air Base, May 9, 2025. BTF missions provide opportunities to train and work with our allies and partners in joint and combined operations and exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mattison Cole) B-1B Lancer Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons. “The real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone,” wrote Vance, revealing that the top four complaints of Republican voters to pollsters had routinely been the war against Iran, inflation and cost of living,…

The military services, like most organizations these days, are throwing artificial intelligence at their biggest challenges to see if the technology holds any promise for enhancing mission outcomes. So far, the results have been mixed: Some applications have returned massive improvements on key operations, while others currently don’t live up to the hype. A pair of top IT officials from the Army and the Air Force shared examples of both Thursday at Datadog’s Threat Response Forum, presented by FedScoop, highlighting that while AI can turbocharge processes or ops previously conducted by service members, it’s not a panacea, and some use cases are still better addressed by humans, at least for now. Paul Damchik, senior technical adviser for Army intelligence community information management for the deputy chief of staff for intelligence, emphatically pointed to automated target recognition as an application where AI “really earned its place in our ecosystem.” “What used to take analysts days, months to train themselves and then each other, … now the super intelligence and agentic and the large LLMs out there, those models have trained rapidly in no way that a human could do” in a fraction of the time, Damchik said. The result has been…

Voters widely see President Donald Trump’s tariffs as being a driver of higher costs, rather than delivering the manufacturing revival the president promised. Nearly two-thirds of voters said Trump’s signature trade policy damaged the economy, according to network exit polls cited by The Washington Post. Donald Trump At Air Force One Creative Commons Image President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a business session with the nation’s governors, Friday, February 21, 2025, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Harrison Koeppel) Republican Senate defeats in agricultural states also exposed frustration with trade disputes that disrupted farmers’ export markets. Voters Turn Against Tariffs The warning signs for the Trump administration appeared well before Tuesday’s elections. An AP-NORC poll conducted September 24–28 found that 64% of adults believed Trump’s new tariffs had gone too far, while 65% blamed his policies for higher-than-usual prices. It marks a difficult shift for the president, who pledged to protect American workers from foreign competition in the lead-up to his electoral win two years ago. In 2024, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 66% of Americans supported import restrictions to protect jobs. That support coexisted with broadly favorable views…

RAF personnel gather at Akrotiri to honour three colleagues killed in a helicopter crash 40 years ago🌹 Westland Wessex XS518 crashed into the sea a few minutes after leaving the airbase in Cyprus. More💻: www.forcesnews.com/operations/cyprus/wessex-helicopter-victims-remembered-40th-anniversary-fatal-crash-raf-akrotiri #bfbsforcesnews #forcesnews #news #uk #shorts #army #navy #airforce #military #helicopter #cyprus #akrotiri

The devastating defeat of Republican candidates across the country, and the impact it will have on the remainder of President Donald Trump’s time in office, presents a major opportunity for the Democratic Party to rebuild its political coalition and potentially attract millions of voters who have abandoned the party over issues like immigration and identity politics. But the party’s massive victory has also emboldened its most radical elements, and it’s hard to see whether Democrats will embrace the opportunity the midterms just gave them. Donald Trump Looking Stern White House Photo President Donald J. Trump makes remarks at a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in the East Room, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce Boghosian) Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress on November 3, courtesy of growing dissatisfaction with President Trump’s handling of the economy and the war with Iran. The results were so disastrous for the Republicans that even traditionally right-leaning states turned Democrat for the first time in decades. Ultra-Progressives Are Not Retreating Since President Trump won his second term in office, his most die-hard supporters have insisted that the era of ultra-progressivism is over. But Tuesday’s election just…

Iran Claims Two Oil Tankers Are Ablaze – Iran says two oil tankers and a tugboat have caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington lists as a terrorist organization, announced the allegation, arguing that the vessels were using “illegal passage south of the Strait.” These claims have not been independently verified. Iran F-14 Tomcat Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons. Iran Missiles. Image Credit: Creative Commons. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was hit by two unidentified projectiles around 50 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal in Qatar, at 23:20 UTC on November 4. It added that the crew’s condition and the extent of the damage were unknown. IRGC: Tankers Hit Mines The IRGC said in a statement, reported by the Iranian state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, that one tanker had hit a mine after attempting to go through “illegal sea lanes in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz”. It then caught fire. Another supertanker caught fire while exiting the waterway’s eastern section. A tug attempting to help fight the fire also caught fire. The IRGC accused Washington of encouraging vessels to use mined routes and…

The military branches will pay for up to 75 service members to pursue theological degrees as part of the Pentagon’s new effort to grow the chaplain corps. The Chaplain In-Service Procurement Program was announced in a video late last week by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who credited Congress with signing the program into law. “You’re on active duty, and you’ve got your Bachelor’s. You get to stay in uniform and earn your graduate theological degree. You keep your pay, your allowances, your benefits. Your service branch covers the tuition, and then we get you back as a chaplain,” Hegseth said in a video.  Last year, Congress granted the military services the authority to send service members to school on official military orders to earn their theological degree. Under the fiscal year 2026 defense bill provision, the services can pay for a select number of service members to pursue their chaplaincy education as well as can grant orders for an additional set of troops to go to school “without funding any educational expenses.” “Not more than 25 officers and enlisted members from each military department may commence such training in any single fiscal year,” according to the law passed by…

Are Republicans Turning On Pete Hegseth? – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be in trouble, with reports suggesting that he could face an impeachment vote as soon as next week. If CNN’s November 5 reporting is to be believed, Republicans are preparing to turn against Hegseth, one of Trump’s closest allies, following the massive defeat for the party in Tuesday’s midterm elections. According to the report, multiple unnamed Republican sources expect to introduce an impeachment resolution against Hegseth and have it pass the House of Representatives when Congress returns next week. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has previously introduced impeachment articles against the defense secretary, said that he intends to force a vote in the House. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth boards the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Chosin (CG 65), Panama, April 9, 2025. U.S. Southern Command and the Panamanian security forces collaborate to ensure and maintain regional stability during natural disasters, medical catastrophes or regional conflicts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Van Hoang) Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a bilateral exchange with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior…

The US has started strikes on Iran again. But is it limited and defensive as we’re told? What is the military strategy underpinning it all? And what does it mean for the British military? Brigadier (retired) Gavin Thompson joins the conversation on Sitrep – he was Commander of the British Military Mission Kuwait until very recently. Kate Gerbeau and Professor Michael Clarke presents. #bfbsforcesnews #forcesnews #news #podcast #uk #army #navy #airforce #military #politics #iran #usa #middleeast #straitofhormuz

Republicans Lost the Midterms Because They Were Their Own Biggest Enemy – Republicans experienced a rout during Tuesday’s midterm elections, losing not only in battleground states — many where President Donald Trump had won in 2024 — but also in states considered to be the party’s strongholds. The party suffered a resounding defeat despite a sizable war chest and mitigating factors — including support from Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, a largely demoralized and unpopular Democratic Party, and a Supreme Court ruling that favored its campaign spending. The Blue Wave They Saw Coming The GOP started the year strong. Pundits and political observers expected the president and his party to keep the majority in Congress, despite growing dissatisfaction with Trump and his policies. Kansas farmers were losing their livelihoods (some were even taking their own lives) owing to Trump’s tariffs, ICE was arresting and detaining illegal immigrants in detention centers with reportedly inhumane conditions, and many Americans were concerned about corruption in the government. Donald Trump October 2026 White House Handout Barack Obama Back in 2024 Creative Commons Photo Then Trump bombed Iran. The decision sparked steep gas price hikes and higher prices nationwide. In a post-midterm election story,…

After the midterm wipeout, what will Democrats investigate? – The Democratic wave in Tuesday’s midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of both houses of Congress, puts the party in charge of congressional committees, meaning it can schedule hearings and issue subpoenas. That means that after the first two years of the second Trump presidency were not subject to much oversight from Congress, that’s about to change once the calendar flips to 2027. What will Democrats concentrate on, with their newfound subpoena and investigatory power? Reuters looked at that question this week. Donald Trump Back in 2020. Creative Commons Photo. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a business session with the nation’s governors, Friday, February 21, 2025, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Harrison Koeppel) The Investigations Are Coming According to the report, the new Congressional majority will focus on the Trump family’s deals, while highlighting corruption as an issue, with an eye towards the 2028 presidential race. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), who will likely take over as chairman of the House Oversight Committee, tweeted the phrase “lawyer up,” while Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), posted the word “Subpoenas” to social media. Wyden also…

Could the FN ARKA keep up with the body armour of tomorrow? The next service rifle is expected to defeat current armour, and be ready for future threats, can FN’s ARKA be a futureproof bet for UK Armed Forces? More💻:https://www.forcesnews.com/services/army/arka-fns-entry-grayburn-ambidextrous-configurable-and-soldier-proof #bfbsforcesnews #forcesnews #news #uk #shorts #army #navy #airforce #military #sa80 #arka

Norway has received its first M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS).

Iran Takes Victory Lap After Trump and Republicans Wiped Out in Midterms – Government officials in Iran took a victory lap this week after President Donald Trump’s Republican Party was wiped out in the midterms, with both the president and vice president citing the war as the reason for the defeat. After both the Senate and the House were lost by the Republicans, with GOP candidates losing several major gubernatorial races too, Iran mocked the Trump administration for its “DEFEAT” in Washington. PHILIPPINE SEA (Dec. 11, 2023) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “War Hawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, recovers aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Benjamin Ringers) USS Carl Vinson Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Creative Commons. “The Iranian nation handed Trump a strategic defeat on the battlefield and in the Hormuz—and a POLITICAL DEFEAT in Washington,” boasted the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei. “Meanwhile, Americans got stuck with the bill for his war. Anyone…

For many, the last few months have been especially expensive. Dollars just don’t stretch as far as they used to. Rising food and fuel costs and inflation have been in the news and in conversations around everyone’s dinner tables. Every bit counts. And this year, that’s especially true. Also Read: Our huge list of year-round military freebies, discounts, and dealsEnter: Veterans Day 2026. Originally a solemn day to commemorate the end of World War I and then a day to recognize the service and sacrifice of all veterans regardless of war or era, it has slowly evolved. From aquariums to pizza, hair cuts to barbeque, corporations, nonprofits, and civic groups have spent the last two decades offering discounts and deals to veterans as a tangible way to thank them. And this year is no different. The deals have been rolling in, and we’ve been taking notes to compile an extensive list of verified discounts and freebies on services and products that will save you money. And in this economy, every discount is a welcome one.Of course, a round-up of discounts is far from true relief. (We’ll leave that to the economists, politicians, and folks with a higher pay-grade.) But this…

Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb dealt a devastating blow against Russian air bases, striking enemy aircraft at close range using remotely launched attack drones concealed in lorries and shipping containers, Trojan-horse style. Its success appears to have ushered in a new production line of missile and drone launchers – in a box. Find out more💻: https://www.forcesnews.com/technology/weapons-and-kit/west-copies-ukraines-covert-op-and-develops-missile-delivery-systems-box #bfbsforcesnews #forcesnews #news #uk #army #military #russia #ukraine #technology #drone #shippingcontainers

Ukraine carries out more drone strikes, including on a refinery: Another day, another drone attack by Ukraine that targeted a Russian oil refinery. According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukraine targeted Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery with an overnight drone attack. Telegram videos showed what the Independent described as “explosions and a large fire near the facility,” although the publication said it could not independently verify the footage. T-84 Tank from Ukraine War. Image Credit: Creative Commons. Ukraine Tanks. Image Credit: Creative Commons. The Telegram footage, the Independent said, depicted “Russian air defenses operating, followed by a powerful explosion and a bright glow illuminating the night sky.” Ryazan Oblast Governor Pavel Malkov did confirm, according to the report, that the region had been hit overnight with a drone barrage. The report added that the attack left parts of Ryazan without electricity, and that windows were shattered at a school in the area. According to Ukrainska Pravda, which cited Ukrainian military intelligence, Ukraine’s attacks have rendered 15 out of Russia’s 38 main refineries inoperable, with 12 more having to reduce their output. As a result, the report said, several Russian oil companies, including Slavneft-YANOS, Kirishineftegazsintez, Ryazan Oil Refinery, Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery and Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez,…

Kamala Harris Urges Democrats to Use New Power for Economic Relief and Accountability – Former Vice President Kamala Harris has urged Democrats to use their midterm victories to deliver economic relief and investigate the Trump administration, joining senior party figures in setting priorities for the incoming congressional majorities. In a statement posted Wednesday, Harris said elected Democrats must use their power ruthlessly to help working families and hold the administration accountable for alleged corruption. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the CHCI 47th Annual Legislative Conference, Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton also welcomed the results, pushing for accountability and rebuilding public trust. Results and Accountability Harris portrayed Tuesday’s outcome as a rejection of the White House’s conduct and Republican lawmakers’ willingness to support it. “On Election Day, the American people spoke loud and clear: they are done with the corruption, incompetence, and callousness coming from the White House and the capitulation of Republican leaders,” the former vice president wrote on social media. “As I traveled the country to campaign for Democrats up and down the…

Smith & Wesson has been making waves in the first quarter of FY27. First, its purchase of Savage Arms made the company the largest commercial American firearms manufacturer. Not long after that purchase, the company announced it would revive of one of its most iconic and historically significant handguns.Also Read: America’s last combat revolver served from World War I to VietnamOn Oct. 27, 2026, Smith & Wesson released two models in their Classic Series of revolvers: the Model 1917 and Model 22 Classics. Based on the N-frame revolver dating back to the company’s pre-World War I lineup, these revivals represent a significant offering for enthusiasts of Smith & Wesson history, military history, pop culture, and downright American history.At the beginning of the 20th century, Smith & Wesson released what firearm legend Elmer Keith called “…perhaps the finest revolver ever manufactured anywhere, at any time.” In an era before model numbers, this revolver was called the .44 Hand Ejector New Century, differentiating itself from the company’s previous top break revolvers. It was also called the Triple Lock, advertising its third locking lug on the cylinder crane. A tunnel rat with a Smith & Wesson M1917. (National Archives and Records Administration) While…

Russia continues to attack everywhere and is getting nowhere. That’s the latest picture out of Ukraine. On November 3 and 4, Russian forces pressed assaults from the Sumy region in the north to the Zaporizhzhia region in the south. According to UNITED24 Media’s reporting on the Institute for the Study of War’s November 4 assessment, they failed to secure confirmed territorial gains in any of the sectors they attacked. Ukrainian troops counterattacked in nearly every one. Putin State Media Photo Putin in 2025 Russian State Media Image The Kremlin obviously sensed that Ukraine was ripe for a large-scale offensive across the entire front. Or it signaled impatience. That’s beside the point currently, as the fighting continues to rage between the two armies. Pressure Everywhere, Gains Nowhere Russian troops kept up offensive operations in the Sumy region, and a source covering Russia’s Northern Grouping of Forces said they intensified assaults toward Myropillia on November 4. There were no reported gains. Ukrainian forces counterattacked northeast of Sumy. In the east, around the city of Lyman, Russian forces attacked to take the city and cross the Siverskyi Donets River to support a wide encirclement of the Fortress Belt, according to the ISW. Russian…