This 125 page document may serve as a template for a Senate confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth for this role commencing in 2025. [h/t Bert Chapman, Purdue University Libraries] Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Defense
Location data firm helps police find out when suspects visited their doctor
Ars Technica: “A location-tracking company that sells its services to police departments is apparently using addresses and coordinates of doctors’ and lawyers’ offices and other types of locations to help cops compile lists of places visited by suspects, according to a 404 Media report published today. Fog Data Science, which says it “harness[es] the power… Continue Reading
America’s Phone Networks Could Soon Face Financial and Criminal Penalties for Insecure Networks
The head of America’s FCC “has drafted plans to regulate the cybersecurity of telecommunications companies,” reports the Washington Post [via MSN]and the plans could include financial penalties phone network operators with insufficient security — “the first time the agency has asserted such powers under federal wiretapping law.” Rosenworcel said the FCC’s authority in this matter… Continue Reading
Misinformation exploits outrage to spread online
Science. 28 Nov 2024. Vol 386, Issue 6725. pp. 991-996. DOI: 10.1126/science.adl2829 – “Misinformation remains a major threat to US democratic integrity, national security, and public health. However, social media platforms struggle to curtail the spread of the harmful but engaging content. Across platforms, McLoughlin et al. examined the role of emotions, specifically moral outrage (a… Continue Reading
The Navy’s Amphibious Fleet Is In Really Bad Shape
Via The Warzone – Per new GAO report – https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106728 – Navy’s amphibious fleet is in such a sorry state that half of the ships are declared to be in “poor condition” and not on track to serve for the entirety of their service lives. In addition, the sea service will struggle to maintain a… Continue Reading
Water Conflict Chronology
Citation: Pacific Institute (2024) Water Conflict Chronology. Pacific Institute, Oakland, CA. https://www.worldwater.org/water-conflict/ – “In an ongoing effort to understand the connections between water resources, water systems, and international security and conflict, the Pacific Institute initiated a project in the late 1980s to track and categorize events related to water and conflict, which has been continuously… Continue Reading
Craigslist founder is giving away $200 million to prevent cybercrimes against the US
Yahoo Finance: “Craig Newmark, the 71-year-old founder and former CEO of classifieds site Craigslist, is alarmed about potential cybersecurity risks in the US. “The deal is our country is under attack now,” he told Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid podcast (video above; listen in below). “It’s not like I’m in… Continue Reading
Trump’s criminal conviction won’t stop him from getting security clearance as president
Via LLRX – Trump’s criminal conviction won’t stop him from getting security clearance as president – Law professor Dakota Rudesill explains that because Trump was elected to a second term, he will again have expansive access to classified information and control over it as of noon on Jan. 20, 2025, when his term begins. He will also… Continue Reading
GAO Congressional and Presidential Transition Resources
[On November 5, 2024] Americans voted for members of the 119th Congress and a new president. Representatives and senators will be sworn in on Friday, January 3. As they take office, our nation faces many significant challenges—including those that threaten national security, financial stability, public health, and more. Our work here at GAO highlights some… Continue Reading
What are Americans afraid of?
“The Chapman Survey of American Fears has asked Americans about their greatest fears (almost) almost every year since 2015…The top ten often shifts in response to recent events, such as the 55% who reported being afraid of the “American Healthcare Act/Trumpcare” in 2017. Yet the one thing most Americans say they’re afraid of has remained… Continue Reading
Threatening ‘the enemy within’ with force: Military ethicists explain the danger to important American traditions
Via LLRX – Threatening ‘the enemy within’ with force: Military ethicists explain the danger to important American traditions – Marcus Hedahl, Professor of Philosophy, United States Naval Academy and Bradley Jay Strawser, Professor of Philosophy, Naval Postgraduate School worry that Trump’s actions while president, and his comments about his plans for a potential second term,… Continue Reading
Foreign Malign Election Meddling Persists but Struggles to Gain Traction
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD): “In September 2024, FDD published a report documenting Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence operations targeting the 2024 U.S. elections. This follow-up report details the ongoing efforts of U.S. adversaries who seek to undermine voters’ confidence in the electoral process in the weeks leading up to the November election.… Continue Reading
