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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to convene a high-profile meeting of military personnel for a “State of the Force” address this week. Will it show the U.S. armed forces as healthy? The answer may depend on how the audience responds, regardless of what Hegseth says. How the audience handles what could be one of the higher-visibility made-for-media events of the defense secretary’s tenure could tell us a lot about how the U.S. military has adjusted to President Donald Trump’s second term.Reporting on the event is spotty, which suggests the Pentagon’s leadership is still deciding whether to hold it,…

UFC 332 featured plenty of surprises when the card was first announced but none bigger than news that flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko was relinquishing her title, and Natalia Silva would now battle Wang Cong for the vacant belt.While Silva’s inclusion wasn’t all that shocking given her win streak and overall record, Wang getting the same opportunity was received with more than few curious looks. Of course, Wang is a top-10 ranked fighter but there were other fighters out there like Erin Blanchfield, who seemed worthy of a title shot but ultimately didn’t get offered that opportunity.But Wang says she understood…

Colby Covington had the opportunity to settle his longstanding rivalry with Sean Strickland on the wrestling mats. Instead, “Chaos” walked away over 10 pounds.Real American Freestyle (RAF) officially announced earlier today that Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Covington for the promotion’s Cruiserweight Crossover championship on Nov. 14, 2026, inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.However, MMAmania.com has learned that another massive former UFC rivalry was initially discussed before “Borz” landed his championship opportunity.According to multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations, RAF attempted to book Covington against reigning UFC Middleweight champion Strickland for its upcoming Las Vegas card on Oct. 23 at…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services let dozens of its employees stay in national security positions even after they were determined to be ineligible for the roles due to security concerns or damaging information about them was uncovered, according to a new watchdog report. The Homeland Security Department, however, countered that the inspector general overstated its conclusions. “Employees found to have criminal records, financial instability or anti-government ideologies may be more susceptible to coercion, blackmail or foreign influence,” auditors wrote. “Allowing employees whom USCIS deemed a security risk to remain in positions where they may access highly sensitive information undermines USCIS’ mission.…

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii—Some 300 days after leaving Hawaii, the guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. was welcomed home Monday with delighted cheers, jangling cowbells, handmade posters, and fresh flower leis.  The ship—part of the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group—did 40 days of combat operations and spent six months in an active combat zone. It started its deployment in December with operations in the South China Sea, but in late January was redirected to the Middle East, shortly before President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury.The Petersen took part in the war’s initial strikes on Iran, firing Tomahawk missiles at…

More than 457,000 veterans participating in the Veterans’ Group Life Insurance program will get a three-month break on their monthly premiums, just in time for the holidays.Starting in November, veterans won’t have to pay insurance premiums for three months, ending in January 2027, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs announcement.All told, the break is expected to save veterans nearly $150 million in insurance payments, officials said. On average, veterans pay about $110 a month for VGLI coverage. VGLI insurance premiums vary and increase every five years as veterans age. Payments range from $30 a month for the maximum $500,000…

The Defense Department has awarded Raytheon a multiyear contract worth up to $20.7 billion to build Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs. The Pentagon said the deal will nearly double AMRAAM production.The five-year contract, which includes two option years, is part of the Pentagon’s Arsenal of Freedom campaign to bolster weapons production. The department awarded it Sept. 25 and announced it Monday with RTX, Raytheon’s parent company.The department said the award is a joint buy by the Air Force, the Navy and allies.“We are working across the defense industry to ramp production and build the Arsenal of Freedom,” said Michael…

ToplineEvery U.S. policy tool for securing access to critical minerals involves trade-offs. Knowing which tool fits which problem will allow the government to better design and apply policies going forward. China controls more than 70 percent of the world’s supply of several critical minerals, and it has shown a willingness to weaponize that dominance through export controls. The resulting price spikes and supply uncertainty threaten the United States—particularly its defense, energy, and manufacturing sectors. The U.S. government has responded with a set of policy tools, such as tax credits, loans, stockpiles, import tariffs, and permitting reforms. But which tools actually…

Shadow Tech Launches New 4 Section Tripod The 4 Section Carbon Fiber Tripod NCT-PIGlite-CF4 is the next evolution of the tried-and-true PIGlite-CF4. Proudly built in the USA and upgraded based on years of professional experience and user feedback. Designed for backpackers, outdoorsmen, and end-users who don’t have the luxury to take a follow-up shot. Refusing to compromise between weight and durability, the NCT-PIGlite-CF4 carries forward everything that made the original field tripod a success and refines core features through precision manufacturing & engineering. Stability on Demand When the window of opportunity presents itself, there’s no time to second guess your…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations last week and used the occasion to dismiss suggestions that minor territorial concessions could bring the Russian invasion of his country to an end. Zelenskyy’s comments reflect widespread exasperation in Kyiv over what many Ukrainians feel is the failure of their Western partners to grasp the true scale of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions. US-led efforts to revive peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow are currently focused on an approximately 6000 square kilometer stretch of Ukrainian-held land in the Donetsk region that Russia has been unable to seize militarily. US Special…