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An “atomic veteran” was a military service member who:

Participated in an above-ground nuclear test between 1945 and 1962; or
Was part of the U.S. military occupation forces in or around Hiroshima/Nagasaki before 1946; or
Was held as a Prisoner of War in or near Hiroshima or Nagasaki (certain cases)

At the time of their service, they were told not to discuss their involvement in nuclear tests because the information was classified. But in 1996, the Repeal of Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements Laws was passed, allowing atomic veterans to finally seek overdue medical care.

Russian forces in Ukraine are learning that tactics based on “brutality” and quantity over quality can improve their fortunes, according to a 170-page report put out by the U.S. Army this month. Published last week, “How Russia Fights” lays out a series of hard lessons the U.S. troops are learning from Russia as its full-scale invasion of Ukraine steams towards its fourth year.

Key Points and Summary – With a late-August deadline for “snapback” sanctions looming, Iranian officials say they are willing to return to nuclear negotiations but with a major condition: the U.S. must first prove the talks are not just a “cover” for planning new military strikes.

-As a supposed sign of good faith, Iran is inviting UN nuclear inspectors back into the country.

Key Points and Summary – A massive Russian drone and missile attack has struck a civilian apartment building in Kyiv, injuring eight people, including a two-year-old child.

-The assault was so severe that it prompted Polish and NATO jets to scramble and saw one drone cross into Lithuanian airspace.

-The brutal attack on civilians infuriated U.S. President Donald Trump, who called Vladimir Putin’s actions “very disappointing.

Violence is accelerating under Syria’s new Islamist government, as is the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities. This tragedy was entirely predictable. As far back as Barack Obama’s first term, critics warned that Washington’s flirtation with and assistance to Sunni Arab radicals would turn out badly. Nevertheless, Joe Biden’s administration persisted in that approach in an effort to overthrow the secular government of Bashar al-Assad. From the standpoint of US policymakers, Assad had committed two unpardonable sins.

Key Points and Summary – In a historic pivot, the Pentagon is reportedly halving its planned purchase of F-35 stealth fighters, signaling a significant shift in U.S. airpower strategy.

-This analysis argues the move is a long-overdue break from a history of bad procurement choices, like rejecting the superior YF-23.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot and commander, flies a U.S. Air Force F-35 during the Dubai Airshow, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 13, 2023. The U.S.

Hulk Hogan, the superstar who took professional wrestling to stratospheric heights, passed away this past week at the age of 71. While Hogan leaves a complicated legacy outside of the squared circle, there is no doubt that his impact on sports entertainment may never be matched. 
From the first time Hogan, a towering 6’7” (with 24-inch pythons), made his ring entrance to Rick Derringer’s “Real American,” it resonated with fans all over the country.

The Pentagon’s secretive X-37B orbital test vehicle is scheduled to launch for another mission next month, this time with a focus on demonstrating laser communications and a quantum inertial sensor.
This will be the eighth mission for the Boeing-built space plane, which has served as an on-orbit, experimental testbed for emerging technologies being developed by the Pentagon and NASA. The platform is designed to conduct long-duration flights before returning to Earth, where it can be repurposed for future missions.

Key Points and Summary – The North American X-15 was a revolutionary rocket-powered aircraft from the 1960s designed to explore hypersonic flight at the very edge of space.

-Flown by legendary test pilots, including future astronaut Neil Armstrong, the X-15 shattered records.

-It reached incredible speeds of Mach 6.7 and altitudes over 354,000 feet, setting records for a piloted rocket plane that still stand today.

-To survive the extreme heat, it was built from a special nickel alloy.

The House Defense Modernization Caucus secured multiple provisions in the House Armed Services Committee’s draft of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026, including legislation that would expand the military’s AI integration, advance counter-drone operations, and update test and evaluation infrastructure — among other proposals.
Reps. Pat Ryan (D-NY), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) set up the caucus in early 2024 to strategically inform legislation to improve the Defense Department’s adoption of modern software and warfighting capabilities.