Early Bird Brief

A big deadline for retroactive toxic exposure benefits is today

Veterans who file a claim by Aug. 9 could collect payments related to recent toxic exposure legislation retroactive to last year if approved.

Tensions boil in South China Sea between Philippines, China

Over the weekend, Beijing’s coast guard used a water cannon to prevent a supply shipment to a contested area in the South China Sea. 

How social media impacted the Army’s senior enlisted soldier

Today, Military Times reporter Todd South joins the episode to talk about Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, and his sometimes unorthodox practices during his four-year term. 

Marines remain at US embassy in Niger amid partial evacuation

Marine security guards at the American embassy in Niger will stay there amid a partial evacuation of embassy staff in the African country caused by a recent military takeover. 
 

Pentagon pulls troops from US-Mexico border

Eleven hundred U.S. troops will soon conclude their mission at the southern border after deploying earlier this year in the wake of the end of asylum restrictions linked to the pandemic.

Colorado gets Space Command, not Alabama

President Joe Biden moved to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, overturning a decision to move it to Alabama.

Pentagon personnel, diversity and inclusion chief to leave post

Under Secretary of Defense Gil Cisneros will leave his post in early September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced.

Commemorating 75 years of a desegregated military

Today, the podcast team commemorates the 75th anniversary of President Harry Truman's executive order that desegregated the armed forces. 

Veterans Affairs bill with abortion, diversity limits passes House

After President Joe Biden threatened to veto the bill over its social provisions, House Republicans double down on anti-diversity measures.

Are UFOs and aliens real? A whistleblower testifies

A whistleblower claims that people at the highest levels of government have concealed UFO retrieval programs from Congress.