James Joyner is a Professor of Security Studies. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.
November job numbers out today…abysmal.
64,000 new jobs…far less than half of the break-even level.
Unemployment at 4.6% up from 4.2% last November when half of the electorate thought that Trump 2.0 sounded like a good idea.
Ukraine’s state security service (SBU) said it carried out the first-ever uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) attack on a Russian vessel. The strike was on a Project 636 Varshavyanka class, or Improved Kilo class diesel-electric submarine, in the Black Sea naval stronghold of Novorossiysk. It would mark a historic first successful use of a UUV as an anti-ship attack weapon.
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Today’s UUV attack appears to be the culmination of Ukraine’s development of these weapons and once again shows that the war-torn country is at the forefront of modern drone warfare innovation. Little is known about the Sub Sea Baby UUV, not to be confused with the highly adaptable Sea Baby uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) that have wreaked havoc on the Russian Navy.
Days after Pete Hegseth was installed as the Pentagon’s top civilian, some all-volunteer teams of service women working to address obstacles and improve policy became casualties of his war on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. But a provision tucked into the $900 billion defense policy bill would bring them back.
The bill would require the service secretaries to establish one of these teams for each of the five services under the Defense Department within a year after the bill becomes law.
These teams, composed of women in uniform representing “a variety of ranks, backgrounds and occupational specialties,” are to be tasked with identifying and addressing issues that hinder women’s service; supporting recruiting and retention; recommending policy changes that support the needs of women in service; and fostering a sense of community, according to language in the bill.
It’s well known and the prevailing consensus among military historians, that Elon’s Germany woulda have won WWII had it spent more on ballrooms and less on rockets. Why, a strong strategic ballroom reserve would have allowed Elon hitler to project power clear to the heart of America.
[…] Ms. Wiles made the comments in a series of extraordinarily unguarded interviews over the first year of Mr. Trump’s second term with the author Chris Whipple that are being published Tuesday by Vanity Fair. Not only did she confirm that Mr. Trump is using criminal prosecution to retaliate against adversaries, she also acknowledged that he was not telling the truth when he accused former President Bill Clinton of visiting the private island of the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Over the course of 11 interviews, Ms. Wiles offered pungent assessments of the president and his team: Mr. Trump “has an alcoholic’s personality.” Vice President JD Vance has “been a conspiracy theorist for a decade” and his conversion from Trump critic to ally was based not on principle but was “sort of political” because he was running for Senate. Elon Musk is “an avowed ketamine” user and “an odd, odd duck,” whose actions were not always “rational” and left her “aghast.” Russell T. Vought, the budget director, is “a right-wing absolute zealot.” And Attorney General Pam Bondi “completely whiffed” in handling the Epstein files. […]
Sometimes Monday just drags on and on interminably.
The Headline of the day- Trump administration says White House ballroom construction is a matter of national security
@Kathy:
OSIM.
Happy to see that Fatso hasn’t shut you down!!!
November job numbers out today…abysmal.
64,000 new jobs…far less than half of the break-even level.
Unemployment at 4.6% up from 4.2% last November when half of the electorate thought that Trump 2.0 sounded like a good idea.
Actor Anthony Geary, best remembered for General Hospital, has passed away at age 78. RIP.
War, fortunately or unfortunately, is a great driver of innovation.
Ukraine Claims World’s First Underwater Drone Attack On Russian Submarine
Baby steps.
NDAA restores women’s policy teams canceled in Pentagon DEI purge
@Bill Jempty:
It’s well known and the prevailing consensus among military historians, that Elon’s Germany woulda have won WWII had it spent more on ballrooms and less on rockets. Why, a strong strategic ballroom reserve would have allowed Elon hitler to project power clear to the heart of America.
Sounds like Susie Wiles would like to exit the public stage:
[…] Ms. Wiles made the comments in a series of extraordinarily unguarded interviews over the first year of Mr. Trump’s second term with the author Chris Whipple that are being published Tuesday by Vanity Fair. Not only did she confirm that Mr. Trump is using criminal prosecution to retaliate against adversaries, she also acknowledged that he was not telling the truth when he accused former President Bill Clinton of visiting the private island of the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Over the course of 11 interviews, Ms. Wiles offered pungent assessments of the president and his team: Mr. Trump “has an alcoholic’s personality.” Vice President JD Vance has “been a conspiracy theorist for a decade” and his conversion from Trump critic to ally was based not on principle but was “sort of political” because he was running for Senate. Elon Musk is “an avowed ketamine” user and “an odd, odd duck,” whose actions were not always “rational” and left her “aghast.” Russell T. Vought, the budget director, is “a right-wing absolute zealot.” And Attorney General Pam Bondi “completely whiffed” in handling the Epstein files. […]
@Bill Jempty:
“Trump administration says White House ballroom construction is a matter of national security”
As the British comedy, Yes Minister, put it, “The Official Secrets Act is not there to protect secrets. It’s there to protect officials.”
@Moosebreath: That’s a major premise in Slow Horses also.
@Jen:
I’m constantly amazed when officials int he Taco so-called administration make great revelations about what’s been plain for all to see since 2015.