Defense secretary under fire as lawmakers question admiral about deadly boat strikes

Two survivors of a U.S. military strike on September 2 in the Caribbean struggled for an hour to flip their capsized boat while signaling to an aircraft overhead. The incident has raised questions about the nature of the military's actions and the circumstances surrounding the strike, which targeted a vessel suspected of drug trafficking.

The New Democrat Coalition has called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign following an unclassified inspector general report that revealed he endangered service members by sharing sensitive military intelligence in a Signal group chat. This breach of protocol has raised serious concerns regarding the handling of classified information within the Defense Department.

Navy Secretary John Phelan announced the cancellation of the $22 billion Constellation multi-mission frigate program, which was intended to enhance the Navy's capabilities in anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and electromagnetic warfare. Approximately $2 billion had already been spent from the allocated $7.6 billion budget by Congress.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a video of a recent U.S. military strike on an alleged drug boat in the Pacific, which has drawn significant attention due to its deadly consequences. This strike follows a controversial attack near Venezuela that reportedly killed survivors from an earlier missile strike, raising serious ethical and legal questions about military operations in the region.

The FBI has arrested Brian Cole, a 30-year-old from Virginia, in connection with the pipe bombs placed outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021, just before the Capitol attack. This arrest concludes a nearly five-year investigation into the incident, which has been a significant focus for law enforcement and national security agencies.

The Trump administration is encountering significant congressional opposition regarding its military operations in the Caribbean, particularly over more than 20 military strikes aimed at Venezuelan vessels. Lawmakers are increasingly concerned about the implications of these actions, which have raised questions about oversight and accountability.

Representative Jim Himes recounted a briefing with Navy Admiral Frank Bradley regarding a U.S. military strike on a boat near Venezuela, which has raised significant concerns following the deaths of survivors from a prior attack. The admiral clarified that no 'kill them all' order was given during the operation, which has been a point of contention among lawmakers.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Texas can legally implement a newly redrawn congressional district map, which is expected to favor the Republican Party in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. This decision overturns previous lower court rulings that had blocked the map's use, marking a significant victory for Texas Republicans and President Trump.