Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology. Subscribe here.The cruise missile-killing high-energy laser weapon the U.S. Defense Department envisions as part of its “Golden Dome for America” domestic missile defense shield is beginning to take shape.The new Joint Laser Weapon System — a collaboration between the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy that Laser Wars first reported about in June 2025 — will initially consist of a containerized 150-kilowatt system with the potential to scale to at least 300kw to defeat incoming cruise missile threats, according to the…

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology. Subscribe here.When U.S. Navy leaders declared that “the dream of a laser on every ship can become a real one” earlier this year, they apparently had one particular ship in mind.The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush shot down multiple drones with a high-energy laser weapon stationed on its flight deck during a first-of-its-kind live-fire test in October 2025, the Navy recently revealed. Photos published to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on April 20 show a 20 kilowatt…

The Army is planning to bulk up its lightweight Infantry Squad Vehicle with a heavier, hybrid-powered variant, according to a federal contracting notice.The service wants to add 606 ISV-Heavy vehicles to its existing fleet of roughly 1,105 ISVs through a three-contract effort, signaling a shift in how it intends to use the platform.While the original ISV was designed to rapidly move a nine-soldier squad across rugged terrain, the ISV-H is built to do more than just transport troops. Instead, it emphasizes onboard power generation and mission system support.According to a GM Defense factsheet, the ISV-H is designed for “a myriad…

A soldier exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam and his daughter have taken the Department of Veterans Affairs to court over disability benefits for children born with birth defects linked to the toxic herbicide.Former Army telecommunications technician Ronald Christoforo, along with Michele Christoforo, filed suit Monday in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut, alleging that the VA discriminates against thousands of disabled children of Vietnam veterans by providing compensation to those whose mothers served but not their fathers, with one exception: children born with spina bifida. In the suit, the Christoforos note that Michele’s birth defect, which causes…

The Air Force is asking Congress for $3.9 billion to buy 15 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers in fiscal 2027, an $800 million increase over fiscal 2026, according to Air Force budget materials released April 21. Annual procurement is expected to rise to 18 aircraft per year from 2028 to 2031.The service also clarified plans for the size of its KC-46 fleet. Procurement figures in the fiscal 2027 budget document initially indicated a goal of 319 aircraft, but the Air Force corrected that number on April 24, confirming the program of record is 263 KC-46As, Defense Daily reported. The expansion runs…

Sign up for the Quick Strike Newsletter The hottest fishing news, tips, and tactics Lake Superior is one of the largest and deepest lakes in the world. At over 300 miles long and 160 miles wide, this vast inland sea has fascinated mankind for centuries. The lake is the final resting place hundreds of ships and, according to legend, the lake never gives up her dead. Yet, in the deepest part of Superior’s icy black waters — a quarter mile below the surface — researchers are discovering a growing number of extremely thin lake trout that appear to be wasting…

This article was originally published by Ulrich F. at The Mises Institute.  If we were to identify the most sacrosanct dogma of Western modernity—the one that no one questions—it would undoubtedly be representative democracy. We automatically assume that it is the best form of government that humanity has ever invented—a sort of “end of history” method of governance and the ultimate political achievement. Representative Democracy Is Not Democratic The first problem is conceptual and fatal: Representative democracy is simply not democratic. One person cannot perfectly represent another’s freedom, desires, needs, or individuality. Consider an individual representing 100,000 others, as is…

On the first day of the Army’s most elite combat engineering competition, the winning team made an error that could have knocked them out of running. For a swimming task, the pair forgot to swim the entire length of the lane, skipping out on 100 meters of the event.Despite being upset and confused, 1st Lt. Bryce Sullenger said the duo “knew we had to brush it off our shoulders and move on to the next event.” And move on, they did.Representing the 75th Ranger Regiment, Sullenger and his partner, 1st Lt. Christopher Barrett put aside the setback and won first…

Sign up for the On The Gun Newsletter The latest for gun hunters and competitive shooters. Pistol caliber carbines, or PCCs, make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the firearms industry. Most commonly chambered in 9mm, they are compact, easy and fun to shoot, and ammunition is relatively affordable. PCCs span a spectrum of price points, and we got an in-depth look at that in our 2026 Gun Test. More specifically, we had a hands-on, no-BS look at just what you’re getting for a premium PCC, and what you might be giving up going with one that’s more affordable. …

The U.S. Marine Corps announced that established uniform and grooming standards must be met within 12 months, regardless of medical conditions, in accordance with the Department of Defense’s previous guidance.The statement says that temporary uniform or grooming standards exceptions for medical conditions are limited to 12 months and gives guidance on the separation process for Marines unable to comply with the order, according to a Marine Administrative message signed Friday.The release mentions this update includes those who experience Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, commonly known as razor bumps and mainly affects those with tightly curled hair, like Black men. Secretary of Defense Pete…

Infamous Christian Nationalist and War Chief, Pete Hegseth, has been pushing religion hard within the ranks of the United States military. Since taking up the post of Secretary of Defense, Hegseth has moved to put his personal stamp on all things religious in the military. Many are becoming concerned with the ruling class’s rhetoric on religion and rightfully so. Christian Nationalism Intensifies: US Troops Told War Is “God’s Plan” Since the death of Charile Kirk, Christian nationalism has taken the spotlight in the U.S. It’s becoming a front and center issue in almost every single policy debate and even the…

The U.S. Navy’s premier operational unmanned carrier-based aircraft completed its first test flight on Saturday, the sea service announced. The MQ-25A Stingray launched from Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and flew for about two hours, according to a Navy release.Navy and Boeing Air Vehicle Pilots controlled the MQ-25A Stingray during its test flight from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System MD-5 Ground Control Station. The pilots conducted a series of tests to validate the aircraft’s basic flight controls, engine performance and handling features, the release stated.As an aerial refueling tanker, the MQ-25A is designed to assume…

The U.S. Air Force wants inexpensive, long-range missiles that can be launched in mass volleys by cargo aircraft. According to a recent Request for Information, Beyond Adversary’s Reach, Family of Affordable Mass Missiles, or FAMM-BAR, would be a common air-to-surface missile carried in pallets aboard cargo aircraft. The service envisions producing 1,000 to 2,000 missiles per year for five years. The goal is to “streamline the battlespace by developing a single, common, air-to surface munition that is affordable, adaptable, and possesses significant standoff range,” the Air Force’s RIF reads.The initial goal is an anti-ship missile with a range of at…

Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter Get the hottest outdoor news—plus a free month of onX Hunt Elite. This story, “You Go, I Stay,” appeared in the March 1961 issue of Outdoor Life. His bear is no longer a world-record, but it still ranks as the 18th brown bear in the world, according to Pope and Young. We got our first look at the big brown bear under conditions that made a stalk out of the question. It was late evening, and although the May twilight is long on the Alaska Peninsula, there was hardly an hour of good…

Sign up for the Quick Strike Newsletter The hottest fishing news, tips, and tactics Torches and pitchforks would undoubtedly come for you if you ate a 6-pound bass and had the audacity to post about it on social media. The mob’s anger wouldn’t be completely unjustified as large bass are excellent breeders that are important for producing the next generation. But what about a giant crappie? If you’re a conservation-minded angler who loves a fried crappie sandwich, what’s the best-sized crappie to keep?  I asked that question to two biologists from opposite ends of the country. Their answers were as…

There was definitely a Christian Nationalist angle being played out with regard to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter’s manifesto. United States ruler, and Christian Nationalist, Donald Trump described the suspect as a “sick man” who “hated Christians,” while dismissing the accusations, in an interview with CBS’s ‘60 Minutes’. Trump snapped and called the host of 60 Minutes, Norah O’Donnell, a “disgrace” for reading the shooter’s manifesto on air. He also said that the shooter was a Christian, but isn’t one anymore, and because of that, he was “probably a pretty sick guy.” Christian Nationalism and Trump’s Weaponization of Religion In the 1,052-word manifesto,…

Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter Get the hottest outdoor news—plus a free month of onX Hunt Elite. Intensive recovery efforts for a missing Colorado man ended Saturday when volunteer searchers located the body of Kaden Sites in the rugged San Isabel National Forest. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released a cause of death, citing the need for further investigation. Foul play is not suspected. Sites, a 27-year-old from Salida, was last heard from on April 15. He had gone out alone for a short afternoon turkey hunt and did not return in time for a…

Iran has just tossed a bone to the United States. It has offered to open the Strait of Hormuz first, and then hold talks on its nuclear program. U.S. Begins Blockade of Strait of Hormuz This would postpone nuclear talks but reopen the vital waterway, relieving pressure at the pump, while also, hopefully, signaling an end to the war. This proposal, which was delivered to the White House via Pakistani intermediaries, focuses on extending the ceasefire or even ending the war, as well as lifting the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint accounting for 20% of…

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This article was originally published by Sterling Ashworth at Natural News under the title: DOJ Announces Recovery of $700 Million from Chinese-Linked Crypto Scam Compound, Funds to Be Returned to U.S. Victims DOJ Announces Asset Seizure and Victim Compensation Plan U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, April 23, that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recovered $700 million from Chinese cryptocurrency scammers, with plans to return the funds to American victims. The announcement detailed that the funds, which had been restrained to prevent further movement within blockchain systems, are now being processed for redistribution. According to Pirro, this…

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VIENNA — Global military spending reached a new record of almost $2.9 trillion in 2025 − the 11th consecutive year of growth − even as the United States recorded its sharpest single-year decline in decades, according to new data published Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.The main engine of growth was Europe, where expenditure surged 14% to $864 billion − the highest level SIPRI has ever recorded for the continent and, among NATO’s European members, the fastest annual increase since 1953. Germany crossed the 2% of GDP threshold for the first time since 1990, with spending rising 24%…

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