Watch live coverage as President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Mike Waltz, appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for a hearing on his nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations. Waltz is expected to face questions about his removal as national security adviser after he inadvertently added a journalist to a high-level Signal app discussion about military strikes in Yemen. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day, click here: https:/ ...

Financial Highlights - The company secured a \$200 million ceiling contract with the U.S Department of Defense [1] Strategic Focus - The company aims to enhance U.S national security through prototyping and collaboration [1] - The company will focus on responsible AI deployment [1]

US Political Landscape & Administration Competence - The report suggests a perception of incompetence and inexperience within the current administration, with blind obedience and loyalty to the president being the primary qualification for cabinet members [1] - There are concerns about the lack of inter-agency coordination, with departments and agencies potentially acting independently without informing the White House [1] - The administration's strategy towards Ukraine is described as inconsistent and unclear, marked by halting shipments and conflicting statements [8] - The president's actions, such as threatening to revoke a private citizen's citizenship, are seen as emotionally driven and potentially a distraction from the administration's failings [12] Geopolitical Implications & National Security - The report highlights the view that Russia is not a friend to the United States and is a major impediment to peace [8] - There are concerns about the slow learning process within the administration regarding basic facts related to national security [9] - The report expresses hope for increased aid to Ukraine, either directly or through NATO partners, as being in the US national security interest [6] Judicial Appointments & Ethical Concerns - The report raises concerns about the qualifications and ethics of judicial nominees, particularly regarding potential confirmation to the appeals court [15][16] - There are allegations that a judicial nominee played a key role in actions that defied a US judge's order [15] - The president is accused of trying to stack the appeals courts with loyalists, potentially compromising the impartiality of the judiciary [16]

Public Service Value - Public service programs bring thousands of visitors to the United States, boosting local economies through their spending [1] - These programs facilitate skills sharing and the adoption of American best practices in foreign countries [1] - Exchange programs foster positive perceptions of the United States among foreign students, enhancing the country's image abroad [2] Impact of Program Cuts - Cutting public service programs is detrimental to foreign policy and national interests [2]

Luxury policies are out. The rebuilding of resilience is in. After all, without the rebuilding of national security, there may eventually be no welfare state https://t.co/SJj6DBbSzW ...

Key Findings - Deepfake technology is enabling fake job candidates to infiltrate the hiring process, posing a significant threat to organizations [3][4] - Gartner predicts that by 2028, 25% (1 in 4) of job candidates worldwide will be fake [3] - Vidoc Security Lab found that 16.8% (approximately 1 in 6) of job applicants are fake [6] - Resume Genius survey indicates that approximately 17% of U S hiring managers have encountered deepfake technology during video interviews [10] Impact and Risks - Deepfake scams have already cost companies millions of dollars worldwide, and the threat is growing [12] - AI-generated fraud, including deepfakes, could cost the U S financial sector up to $40 billion by 2027, up from $12 3 billion in 2023 [12] - Fake candidates can gain access to sensitive data, steal data, write malicious code, and leave the door open for other types of fraud [11][12] - Hiring fake candidates from sanctioned nations poses a national security concern, as salaries can fund illicit activities [20] Contributing Factors - The rise of remote working, accelerated by the pandemic, has contributed to the increase in deepfake job seekers [7][8] - Virtual interviews, while offering convenience and cost savings, have opened the door to new risks [9][10] Countermeasures and Concerns - Companies may need to adjust their hiring processes, potentially switching to offline interviews to combat the rise of fake candidates [22] - Concerns exist that the focus on avoiding fake candidates could lead to biases in hiring, favoring local candidates and in-person interviews [23] - The increased scrutiny and longer hiring processes may negatively impact genuine candidates [23][24]

Deal Overview - MP Materials announces a major deal with the Department of Defense (DoD) to fund the expansion of its magnets facility, targeting a 10x increase in capacity [1] - The DoD will become MP Materials' largest shareholder after investing $400 million in newly created preferred equity [1] - The deal includes convertible preferred equity, warrants, loans, price floor, and offtake commitments extending more than a decade [2] Strategic Rationale - The partnership aims to establish a full rare earth supply chain in the US, addressing national security concerns and reducing reliance on Chinese rare earth production [5][6] - The deal is structured to ensure a fair return on capital, enabling accelerated investment in downstream magnet production [13] - The price floor is necessary because Chinese entities set prices below levels that allow for adequate returns on capital in the free market [4][12] Economic Impact - The US taxpayer will participate in the upside of both the commodity and magnet economics, indicating a potential return on investment [6][11] - The deal is expected to accelerate the development of the entire supply chain, benefiting MP Materials shareholders, the US government, and commercial industry [5] - Rare earth magnets are essential for physical AI, including robotics, and securing the supply chain is crucial to maintaining trillions of dollars in potential economic value [14][15] Geopolitical Context - The deal is a response to Chinese mercantilism, which poses a challenge to US strategic supply chains [9][10] - The Trump administration and the Pentagon are credited with recognizing the challenge and implementing a solution to onshore the supply chain [3][10]

FBI Leadership & Political Influence - Senior FBI leadership, under Patel and Bonino, is allegedly prioritizing ideological purity or political uniformity over experience and subject matter expertise [6] - This alleged shift in priorities is leading to a loss of experienced personnel, potentially compromising national security due to fewer experts handling terrorist organizations or foreign intelligence services [6][7] - There are concerns that investigative resources are being diverted to immigration enforcement, impacting the handling of counterintelligence, international terrorism, and public corruption cases [8][9] - Some FBI members are reportedly avoiding one-on-one meetings with the deputy director due to his temperament, potentially hindering the flow of crucial information [14][15] Michael Fineberg's Departure - Former senior FBI special agent Michael Fineberg resigned after losing a promotion due to his friendship with someone on Cash Patel's "enemies list" [1][2] - Fineberg's friendship with Peter Struck, a Trump target, led to his alleged punishment at work [3] - Fineberg's work included significant roles in operations against threats posed by the Chinese government, including cases against Chinese conglomerates like Huawei and China Mobile [3] - Agents reached out to Fineberg, expressing alarm that he was allegedly driven out solely because of a non-work friendship, prompting him to go public [16][17] Impact on FBI Workforce - There is a reported sense of abandonment and betrayal among the FBI's line workforce due to senior executives being forced out and not speaking up [24] - The politicization of senior FBI ranks in the past six months is considered more alarming than anything seen in the previous 15 years [20]

Core Insights - Geopolitical risks and increasing defense budgets are driving the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into national security modernization, with BigBear.ai (BBAI) positioning itself at the intersection of AI and defense [1][5] Company Performance - In Q1 2025, BigBear.ai reported a 5% year-over-year revenue increase to $34.8 million, primarily due to contracts with the Department of Homeland Security and digital identity projects [2][12] - The company secured a significant deal to deliver and maintain the Department of Defense's Joint Staff J35 Orion AI platform, enhancing its credibility in military applications [2][12] - Despite a wider adjusted EBITDA loss of $7 million in Q1, attributed to government funding delays and increased R&D investments, BigBear.ai has a $385 million backlog and $108 million in cash, positioning it well for future growth [4][12] Competitive Landscape - BigBear.ai faces competition from established players like Palantir Technologies and C3.ai in the national security AI sector [6] - Palantir is recognized for its strong government partnerships and platforms, setting a high benchmark for BigBear.ai in terms of scale and influence [7] - C3.ai, while more commercially diversified, is aggressively targeting defense, focusing on predictive maintenance and logistics, areas where BigBear.ai is also making strides [8][9] Stock Performance - BigBear.ai's stock has surged 101.3% in the past month, outperforming the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, the Zacks Computer and Technology sector, and the S&P 500 index [10] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 12.44, indicating it is priced at a discount compared to industry peers [18] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for BigBear.ai indicate a projected loss of 41 cents per share for 2025, showing improvement from a loss of $1.10 per share the previous year [14] - Estimates for 2026 have trended slightly downward to a loss of 21 cents per share [14]

Many many people will be on airlines traveling in and out of our airports and it's important that we find ways to keep people safe but also streamline and make the process much more enjoyable for every single person. TSA first implemented the no-sh policy in 2006 almost 20 years ago. And in those 20 years uh since that policy was put in place our security technology has changed dramatically.It's evolved. TSA has changed. We have a multi-layered a whole of government approach now to security and to the envir ...