On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it now controls around 386 square miles in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, an area roughly the size of Indianapolis. This region includes nearly 30 different towns or settlements and is home to hundreds of thousands of Russians, many of whom are now fleeing. Previously, Kyiv took…

Nearly three years since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fallout that followed, a Republican senior investigator announced he’s resigning his position in protest over the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s investigation of the operation. The investigator, Jerry Dunleavy, is a former journalist and co-author of a book about the suicide bombing attack outside…

The Philippine Navy condemned recent actions by Chinese fighter jets over the disputed Scarborough Shoal as “coercive, aggressive and deceptive.” During an incident on Aug. 8, Chinese aircraft reportedly dropped flares dangerously close to a Philippine Air Force patrol plane, escalating tensions over the strategic South China Sea territory, which both nations claim. Philippine Rear…

Tensions in the Middle East have flared up again in the aftermath of several Israeli strikes against high-level targets in both Hamas and Hezbollah. One of those strikes violated Iranian sovereignty, and experts suggest that it could not have occurred without Iranian insider support. Iran has promised to respond with force, and Israel and Iran…

In a political deja vu, Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz’s military record is under fire, similar to John Kerry in 2004. Unlike then, today’s richer campaigns can better combat such claims. Walz misstated his service details, but Republicans’ attacks, focusing also on his avoided Iraq deployment, may not sway as they did with Kerry due…

Jerry Dunleavy resigned from the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s probe into the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, criticizing the investigation’s lack of depth and accountability, especially towards military leaders. He revealed frustration over inaction on Vice President Harris’s role, amidst broader concerns of partisanship and inadequate oversight. Dunleavy’s departure highlights tensions within the committee as…

National Security Adviser John Kirby announced that the U.S. is bracing for potential “significant” attacks by Iran or its proxies in the Middle East, possibly occurring as early as this week. In response, the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the region, a move Kirby described as aimed at deterring Iranian aggression and de-escalating…

Elon Musk sats down with former President Donald Trump in an interview on X that lasted two hours. And the impact of an earthquake in Los Angeles is caught on live TV. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Elon Musk interviews Donald Trump for 2 hours on X after delay Former…

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spoke out against those attacking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s military record, stating it is a “sign of the bankruptcy” of critics’ ideas. Walz’s 24 years in the Army National Guard came under intense scrutiny from Republicans. Notably, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, had questions over whether the Minnesota governor misrepresented his…

NATO forces were on high alert over the weekend of Aug. 10, engaging in sophisticated monitoring of Russian military maneuvers close to Western territories. On Saturday, Aug. 10, a Russian spy plane equipped for electronic intelligence but unresponsive to radio contact breached international norms by entering the Baltic Sea airspace without a flight plan. In…