In what is increasingly becoming a bizarre, unstable, dark parody of a presidency, Donald Trump is now encouraging the Islamic Republic of Iran to nuke Los Angeles.

Or at least, that’s what it sounded like.

Donald Trump Speaking at CPAC. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Donald Trump Giving a Speech. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore.

Of course, it was a crude joke made at one of his ridiculous rallies in Nebraska as part of his desperate campaign to prevent the Republican Party from totally losing the Legislative Branch this November.

That doesn’t make it any better.

Drone Warfare is Changing the Frontline in Ukraine… And it Could Have Repercussions for the World:  Ever since the end of 2022, the frontline in Ukraine has barely shifted.

After failing to capture Kyiv in the war’s first six weeks, Russia pulled back its forces in April 2022. Counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson pushed the invaders back even further in September that year. Since then, Russia has made only incremental gains across the country.

It’s officially spooky season once more and that means it’s time to watch your annual Halloween favorites, whether that means “Hocus Pocus” or “The Hills Have Eyes.” There is, however, one film that has a little something for everyone: “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

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At least two people were killed, and another nine were wounded in Moscow after Ukraine launched one of the largest drone attacks of the war against the Moscow region. The Ukrainian attacks ran from Monday night all the way into Tuesday. Hundreds of unmanned aircraft were deployed from Ukraine toward Russia’s historic capital, targeting — among other things — a major fuel-distribution facility.

NO TIME TO BREATHE | Military Motivation
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The Trump administration and Anduril Industries unveiled plans Tuesday for a new “software-defined” shipyard that will help build attack submarines for the Navy.
The announcement comes as the Navy aims to boost its undersea arsenal, which could play a key role in a potential future conflict with China in the Pacific, and President Donald Trump seeks to enhance domestic manufacturing.
The Navy has awarded Anduril a contract worth up to $2.9 billion to support the effort, according to a press release from the contractor. The firm plans to invest $3.

President Donald Trump has a story that he’s trying to tell on the campaign trail this fall: That while the Iran War is historically unpopular, it shows no signs of slowing down, and Americans are paying very high gas prices, it was all worth it if it means keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Pre-election polling suggests that argument isn’t persuading many people.

President Donald Trump is joined by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Vice President JD Vance, British Ambassador Peter Mandelson, U.S.

Lockheed Martin has awarded Boeing an undefinitised contract action to increase production and supply seekers for PAC-3 MSE interceptors.

In an unannounced visit to Kyiv, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany would pledge more financial and military support to Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.

Arriving by special train on October 4, Merz was accompanied by German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, along with representatives and executives from German defense and energy companies.

Soldiers gather for a twilight vigil at Fort Hood after the November 2009 shooting. Photo: U.S. Army / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

Pentagon officials announced Monday evening that President Donald Trump has authorized the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009.
“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended, and President Donald J. Trump has approved, death by U.S.

As Ukraine prepares for a difficult winter, parts of the country are struggling to amass funds as Russian strikes continue to derail Ukraine’s economy.

As the war continues to escalate, Russia has increased the scope and frequency of its attacks, targeting civilian infrastructure that is vital to the livelihoods of thousands of Ukrainians.

Tu-95. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Tu-95 Bomber Russian Air Force. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

On Oct. 1, a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet that flew from the USS Abraham Lincoln on combat missions in the Iran war was spotted returning home to California with an unusual kill marking. Above rows of other icons representing bombs the plane had dropped was a submarine split in half, embossed with the words “Sub Buster.”
The jet belongs to VFA-41, a Navy fighter squadron known as the “Black Aces,” based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The squadron flies a modified version of the Navy’s F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter that specializes in bombing ground targets.

Ellen Gustafson was near the end of her talk at the 2026 Military Influencer Conference (MIC) in Tampa, Florida, when a man sat down.
Gustafson, co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit We the Veterans and Military Families, was discussing how much the military community plays in securing elections. Because of that, Gustason argued we should trust the results of elections.
That man wasn’t buying it. His brief retort—“Oh, let’s keep it clean”—caused Gustafson’s blood pressure to rise.
Also Read: Active duty military spouses vote 25 points below civilians.

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With the significant Israeli and U.S. military attacks against Iran in 2025 and early 2026, analysts have discussed and debated Iran’s ability to replenish its missile and drone arsenal. Since 2024, Iran has burned through thousands of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and one-way attack drones in its retaliatory attacks against Israel, U.S. military bases, and other targets in the region. In addition, air and missile strikes destroyed many more Iranian missiles and drones along with their launchers. Importantly, Israeli and U.S.

China’s Dalian Shipyard has continued the rapid assembly of the country’s first nuclear powered supercarrier, with three additional sections of the future flight deck reportedly installed in just five days. The latest construction activity provides a further indication of the pace at which the carrier is being assembled, with the vessel’s hull and upper structures becoming increasingly recognisable in recent satellite imagery.

Sam LaGrone, USNI News
Pressure to Deliver Ships Faster Pushes U.S.

Ceder, Navy T.

Global Defense News
The U.S.

Aviationist
As VFA-41 returned to NAS Lemoore on Oct.

Naval News
This represents a key developmental test step in the program’s progression to Early Operational Capability (EOC)

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The Army will execute Nidal Hasan via firing squad, the Department of Defense announced Monday night. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted of carrying out a mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009, killing 13 people before being stopped.
The use of a firing squad was approved by President Donald Trump, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a post on X. Trump’s approval came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the method to the president, Parnell said. It will be the first time a firing squad has been used on a member of the U.S. military in an execution in decades.

The United States Air Force has withdrawn all of its B-1B Lancer bombers from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, following a m security incident near the base and the brief arrest of six people suspected of involvement in a potential terrorist plot. Approximately 12 B-1B bombers were deployed at Fairford at the time of the withdrawal, with the aircraft having been used for recent U.S. offensives against Iran. The Pentagon did not initially provide a specific reason for the withdrawal, stating that operational security had prevented the United States from confirming movements in real time.

The Army has grounded more than half of its fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters over renewed concerns about a new transmission system.
The pause in flying is the second safety-related stand-down for the Army’s frontline attack helicopter in two months after an August halt lasted just over a week.
Officials announced Friday an “immediate, temporary pause in flight operations” for AH-64E Apache helicopters with Improved Drive System transmissions.

President Donald J. Trump just went off on CNN for sharing what he perceives to be “Fake News.” Their reporting indicated that the president’s party was set for a colossal defeat in the coming Midterm elections.

But President Trump wants the world to know he’s winning (even though he’s not on the ballot).

FILE PHOTO — The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. A dramatic leap forward in technology, the bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program.

Despite operational setbacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears optimistic about his continued attempts to invade Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale attack against the country in February 2022.

Speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Forum in early October, Putin attempted to shift the narrative of the war, pointing to European powers as the aggressors and oppressors instead.

Tu-160M Bombers from Russia. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Tu-160 Up Close. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Russian officials are downplaying concerns over a possible outbreak of the pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection that has a fatality rate approaching 100%.

The fears stem from an incident in Siberia after a 28-year-old laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute died following an alleged accident at a facility that studies the bacteria.

President Donald Trump has promised $5,000 checks to every adult American citizen should the Republicans win the midterm elections next month.

The proposal has been described as everything from a pay-in-the-sky campaign promise to an attempted bribe, and most political observers agree it will join the “DOGE Dividend” and tariff rebates as proposals from Trump’s second term that are unlikely ever to become reality.

Donald Trump Speaking at CPAC. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Donald Trump Giving a Speech. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore.

While the United States and much of the global economy have been put through the wringer thanks to the war of choice that the United States and Israel initiated on February 28, the Islamic Republic of Iran — the target of that war of choice — has not had an easy ride.

Indeed, the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) by the United States Navy and the semi-regular escort missions of oil containers passing through the SoH have clearly harmed Iran’s already tenuous economy.

B-1B Lancer Bomber in Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Image Credit: Harry J.

Iran has begun producing ballistic missiles with ranges beyond the approximately 2,000 kilometre limit it has publicly maintained for decades, according to Mohammad Akramiya, a spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces. The announcement marks a significant shift in Tehran’s stated missile policy and occurs amid a protracted ongoing conflict with the United States. “The Iranian authorities have decided to increase the range of our missiles due to the ongoing conflict with the United States,” Akramiya said.

Polish city Lublin has reopened Cold War shelte

It is currently unclear who really controls the Strait of Hormuz. On the one hand, oil transit through the strategic waterway seems to have increased, with some tracking agencies noting a surge to near pre-war tanker-transit levels in September. However, oil prices remain high, suggesting the market is not yet confident the surge signals a long-term positive trend. Meanwhile, Iran continues to attack civilian tankers in the Strait, while the Houthis in Yemen continue to attack Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure.

National Cadet Week is underway!

Russia Bombards Ukraine With Jet-Powered Drones – Russia launched another massive drone attack against Ukraine overnight into October 5, and almost a quarter of the 205 drones used in the attack were new jet-powered weapons that are much faster, and therefore more difficult to intercept, than the propeller-driven Shahed drones that once dominated the battlefield.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia launched a total of 205 drones, including decoys, in an assault that began at roughly 6 pm local time on Sunday, October 4.

Hundreds of soldiers officially switched jobs into two new career fields in the Army last week, a major shift as the force works to adapt to new technologies. About 600 soldiers transferred into a job created specifically for space operations, while warrant officers became the first to graduate from a new robotics and autonomous weapons course.
The troops joined two new military occupational specialties, MOSs, on Oct. 1. The 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist is an enlisted MOS, meant to support the Army’s expanding space operations.

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each week, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.Western coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war.

Defense agencies are facing an AI onslaught. With as much as $30 billion slated for fiscal 2027 to purchase and enable next-generation AI hardware, cybersecurity, sensors and related software, defense officials are being bombarded with AI-enabled capabilities from every direction.
At the same time, those same agencies carry the herculean task of rationalizing and modernizing technology systems while also forcing stricter security compliance rules on defense contractors. That’s requiring officials to make difficult choices amid dueling initiatives, at an ever-quickening pace.

As Americans continue to grapple with the seven-month-long conflict between the US and Iran, and as they fork over more at the pump, reports suggest the supply of oil to the States from the Middle East is finally starting to reach pre-war levels.

Iran continues to exert its power over oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts point to several factors that have seen oil supply to the US reach 92% of the volume it typically received prior to the US and Israel kicking off a direct armed offensive against the Islamic country.

Oil Tanker. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Seven months after the war in the Middle East began, Iran still claims control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Over the past several months, both sides have made reopening the vital waterway a top priority, as the Strait’s closure continues to devastate the global shipping market.

A joint team consisting of F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force flight test members, U.S.

Russia Makes Life Harder for Those Who Wish to Dodge the Draft – Russia is making it increasingly difficult for young men to avoid military service, tightening restrictions on everyday civilian life as the Kremlin tries to replenish an armed forces battered by more than four and a half years of war in Ukraine.

Men aged 18 to 30 face tighter restrictions on property transactions unless they can show they have complied with Russia’s military registration requirements.

President Donald Trump has admitted that the war with Iran could cost his party the midterm election, as high fuel prices and dissatisfaction with the conflict threaten the GOP’s control of Congress with just four weeks to go.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Thursday, October 1, Trump said that it’s “possible” the conflict could hurt Republicans when voters go to the polls, though he argued that voters should be rewarding his administration for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon instead.

It was the final curtain call for Wing Commande

Russia is ramping up attacks on key bridges in Kyiv after four consecutive days of strikes on vital infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital.

The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was struck on Sunday morning for the second day in a row after a previous drone assault damaged the road surface and trolleybus wires, injuring two people.

HIMARS Strike Creative Commons Photo

U.S.

Russia is ramping up attacks on key bridges in Kyiv after four consecutive days of strikes on vital infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital.

The Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was struck on Sunday morning for the second day in a row after a previous drone assault damaged the road surface and trolleybus wires, injuring two people.

HIMARS Strike Creative Commons Photo

U.S.

Just across from Kherson, on the other side of the Dnipro River, lies Oleshky, a Ukrainian city Russia has occupied since 2022.

Though Oleshky’s prewar population was about 25,000, only about 6,000 are believed to still live there.

MSTA-S Russian Artillery. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

MSTA-S Russian Army. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Those who remain face an acute shortage of basic necessities: food, clean water, and electricity.

They have a surplus of the things in Ukraine that are the antithesis of life: land mines, shelling, drone attacks — and Russian occupation.

Just across from Kherson, on the other side of the Dnipro River, lies Oleshky, a Ukrainian city Russia has occupied since 2022.

Though Oleshky’s prewar population was about 25,000, only about 6,000 are believed to still live there.

MSTA-S Russian Artillery. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

MSTA-S Russian Army. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Those who remain face an acute shortage of basic necessities: food, clean water, and electricity.

They have a surplus of the things in Ukraine that are the antithesis of life: land mines, shelling, drone attacks — and Russian occupation.

An Army reservist injured in an Iranian drone attack on U.S. forces in Kuwait was awarded a Purple Heart. The March 1 attack was the first and deadliest strike on Americans in the war so far, and marked Iran’s first retaliation in the opening days of Operation Epic Fury, launched on Feb. 28.
Army Reserve Lt. Col. Robert J. Connolly received a Purple Heart for wounds he sustained from a one-way drone attack on the attack on U.S. units at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, on March 1. Six Reserve soldiers died in the attack.