Early Bird Brief

Russian jet damages US drone

Flares from a Russian fighter jet damage a U.S. drone over Syria, marking the latest in a string of encounters between the two militaries in the region.

Partisan politics threatens VA budget bill

White House officials say social issues in House Republicans' Department of Veterans Affairs funding plan are unacceptable.

A massive mobility wargame in the Pacific

How a recent Air Force exercise in the Pacific is prepping the service to mount a response to regional aggression. 

Matt Damon on the fallout from ‘Oppenheimer’

Matt Damon joins the podcast today to talk about the explosive new movie "Oppenheimer" -- and the existential dread surrounding nuclear weapons. 

Senate votes to make leaving NATO harder

The Senate passed a provision to make exiting the military alliance more difficult for a U.S. president.

After Pentagon abortion policy talks, no compromise with Senate

Despite a briefing, there is no breakthrough in the Senate gridlock over the military’s abortion access policy, which has halted military promotions.

An American soldier likely detained in North Korea

An American soldier who crossed the heavily fortified border between the Koreas is believed to be in North Korean custody.

US sends ship, fighter jets to Gulf of Oman

The latest deployments are aimed to increase security in the wake of Iranian attempts to seize commercial ships there.

The legacy of the Marine Corps former and current commandants

Today, reporters from the newsroom discuss the legacy of the Marine Corps' now former commandant, and what is in store for the interim leader. 

Russian general dismissed, revealing growing military cracks

The Russian general in charge of Moscow’s invasion in the southern region of Ukraine says he was fired for speaking about issues his troops faced.