American politician and 50th Speaker of the House (1995–1999)
Actor Ben Jones, known for The Dukes of Hazzard as Cooter Davenport, has died at 84 in Washington, Virginia. His passing ends a career that spanned television, film and politics, including a stint in Congress. He died of a heart attack while awaiting the Braves game, his wife says.
A close Trump aide, Natalie Harp, continues to draw scrutiny as reports detail her proximity to the president and influence over information reaching him. She is described as the so-called “Human Printer,” carrying and presenting positive material, and has become a focal point in discussions about governance and access while Trump engages in high-profile events.
Republicans have planned a first‑ever midterm convention in Dallas for September 9–10 to rally support and raise money, but dozens of House candidates have told Politico they will skip it. Organisers have set high ticket and donor prices, including roundtables priced up to $250,000 and a photo with the president for $88,600, prompting criticism inside the party and from donors.
Defense Secretary has announced Project Meridian, a 120-day effort to identify future battlefield capabilities. Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich will co-lead, with Pentagon CTO Emil Michael guiding. The project aims to study future warfare domains and propose actionable technology solutions.
The Pentagon has unveiled six initiatives to accelerate autonomous warfare, including a new four-star command for drones and a collaborative project with Elon Musk and Newt Gingrich. The moves aim to speed fielding of autonomous systems, bolster resilience, and rethink military basing and officer development, all while signaling a shift to a more tech-enabled force.
The Trump-Hegseth leadership has implemented a sweeping top-rank purge, claiming accountability and reducing general and flag officer slots by up to 20%. Critics warn of politicization and potential loyalty issues within the armed forces.
Anduril Industries has secured a $2.9 billion Navy contract and will invest heavily in Arsenal‑2, a new submarine parts facility in Maryland, to boost Virginia‑class submarine production. The project is paired with a broader government effort to strengthen the U.S. submarine industrial base and address long‑standing production delays.
Ossoff has repeatedly said he has zero interest in a 2028 White House run while campaigning in Georgia, where he leads Mike Collins in polls. Debates have highlighted his disciplined, combative stance and focus on national issues from a Georgia base.
Ukraine has reported that Starlink's military variant, Starshield, was slowed in mid‑October, degrading its drone and air‑defence operations. The Wall Street Journal has reported Donald Trump phoned Elon Musk and asked him to restore full service; Trump and SpaceX deny a formal White House order. Kyiv says speeds have only been partially restored and the disruption has cost defensive capability.
Ukraine has reported that Starlink and its military-grade Starshield service have resumed pre-restriction speeds after days of limits that capped connectivity for objects moving above about 160km/h. Kyiv said monitoring systems now record stable connections above 400km/h. Washington, SpaceX and Elon Musk have each denied clear responsibility for the throttle that disrupted drone missions.