☕ Daily Brief: Trump’s Bold Defense Initiative

See you tomorrow? You’re on the preview plan, so you won’t get tomorrow’s newsletter. Members get all our content ad-free, including exclusive deep dives, the audio newsletter, and more. Unlock full access here →

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

🤐 Fauci pleads the Fifth 111 times in Senate hearing. Dr. Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions on COVID origins and gain-of-function research during a hearing led by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), invoking his constitutional rights even when asked what color tie he was wearing. Paul also ejected one of Fauci's attorneys after repeated outbursts.

💥 US launches heavy airstrikes on Iran. US Central Command struck dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets, including command centers and drone facilities, after Iran fired missiles at a US base in Jordan. Jordan intercepted five Iranian missiles. Earlier US-Saudi strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq killed at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.

🤖 Trump bans Chinese robots over security risks. The FCC barred imports of advanced Chinese robotics, including bipedal and four-legged devices, citing espionage and other national security threats. Chinese companies sold around 12,000 humanoid robots last year, representing 90 percent of global sales.

🙅‍♀️ NJ governor refuses to hand over noncitizen voter data. After the state registered roughly 6,600 noncitizens to vote due to an apparent error, Governor Mikie Sherrill (D) declined to share records with the Justice Department. Sherrill blamed her Republican predecessor and accused the Trump administration of "weaponizing" government data.

ASK THE EDITORS

Q: What are the facts around the inventory of US military munitions at this stage of the Iran war? — Michael from Colorado

A: The munitions situation is concerning. A recent study from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that the US has fewer than 827 Patriot interceptors and fewer than 278 THAAD missiles remaining — down from pre-war stockpiles of around 2,200 Patriots and 452 THAADs.

In just the July resumption of strikes, the US hit about 140 Iranian military sites in a single overnight assault, followed by another round hitting over 80 targets the following week, but Iran shifted around much of its stockpile of enriched uranium before the US strikes took place, anticipating the strikes.

This means the military expended enormous quantities of its most expensive munitions against a target set that had mostly been relocated.

The US has even been forced to delay missile shipments to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and nations across Europe, including Ukraine.

The US produces around 200 Patriot interceptors a year, and it takes around 3.5 years from when a contract is signed for them to be delivered. It’s not just that we’re using up lots of missiles; it’s that it takes years to replenish stockpiles.

Submit your question here. Request topics to cover here.

YOUR TAKE

Do you think Trump’s PhD-defense contractor program is a good idea?

TODAY’S POLL

POP QUIZ

POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY

📊 Are you still interested in news about Dr. Fauci?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ✅ Yes, justice must be served (1,232)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ❌ No, let's move on (79)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤷‍♂️ Somewhere in the middle (116)

OUR MISSION

Most of the news out there is designed to overwhelm you… to keep you angry, anxious, and clicking, while the stories that actually matter slip by unnoticed. We're trying to do the exact opposite: give you what's important, told straight, in a few minutes, so you stay informed without losing your mind over it.

We do it because we believe an informed public is what America needs now more than ever. That’s why our members get the full daily brief, with every section unlocked, and the facts and context to share what's really going on with the people they love.

Start with 14 days on us, cancel anytime.