GOP fractures over Hegseth's 'double-tap' Caribbean strike as Congress probes legality

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a second military strike on a suspected drug boat, citing the 'fog of war' as a reason for the decision. Hegseth stated he did not remain for the entirety of the mission on September 2, but supported the admiral's call for a follow-up strike after the initial attack.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has filed a discharge petition to compel a vote on a bill aimed at banning stock trading by members of Congress and their immediate families, seeking to bypass House Republican leadership's inaction on the matter. This move underscores her commitment to addressing perceived conflicts of interest among lawmakers.

Tonight, a special House election is taking place in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, featuring Democrat Aftyn Behn and Republican Matt Van Epps. NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki highlights the critical areas where Behn must overperform to flip the seat, while Sahil Kapur notes the lack of optimism in Congress for a deal on health insurance premiums.

The Pentagon has distanced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from accountability for a controversial military strike that killed survivors of a previous attack on a suspected drug boat, attributing the decision to Admiral Frank M. Bradley. This incident has raised serious concerns about the legality of the operation, which is under investigation for potentially constituting a war crime.

The House Oversight and Accountability Committee has approved a bill that would introduce a citizenship question to the 2030 census, with the aim of allocating U.S. House seats based solely on the number of citizens. This decision reflects ongoing legislative efforts by the GOP to influence demographic data collection.

A special election is underway in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, where Republican Matt Van Epps is competing against Democrat Aftyn Behn. This election, scheduled for December 2, has drawn significant national attention and financial investment from both parties, highlighting its importance in the political landscape.

Congress is facing dwindling hopes for a health care deal as the deadline approaches for significant increases in health insurance premiums set to take effect in January. With less than a month remaining, millions of Americans are at risk of facing higher costs for their health coverage unless legislative action is taken.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has introduced a new type of savings account for children, with details becoming clearer as it progresses through Congress. Observers are analyzing the implications of these Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) designed for young savers.

Editor’s Note: If you’re a parent or planning for a kid’s future, this could be a big deal—but right now, it’s a bit of a mystery. These accounts were meant to help families save early, but the last-minute tweaks mean we’ll have to wait and see if they’re as useful as hoped. For now, keep an eye out for clearer details.