Welcome back. We are keeping an eye on Capitol Hill where this hour, Defense Secretary Pete Hgsth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are giving an all senators briefing on the dozens of military strikes the administration has carried out on those alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. And it comes as the US military released this new video of three more strikes carried out just yesterday.Let's bring in MS Now senior Capitol Hill reporter and host of Way Too Early, Alli Vatitali, our senior ...

Military Action - U S military conducted strikes on three boats suspected of drug smuggling in the Eastern Pacific [1] - Eight individuals were killed in the strikes [1]

Legal and Ethical Concerns - The legality of the US military's actions in the Caribbean, specifically the second strike on survivors, is questioned, with some legal experts labeling it as "just murder" [1] - Discrepancies exist between Admiral Bradley's account to lawmakers and public statements, particularly regarding the presence of another vessel and the intent of the survivors [1][5] - Internal dissent within the operations room suggests uncertainty and debate regarding the legality of targeting the survivors after the initial strike [1] Incident Details and Contradictions - The initial strike on a small boat in the Caribbean resulted in nine fatalities, followed by a second strike targeting the two survivors clinging to wreckage approximately the size of a dining room table [1][3] - Conflicting reports exist regarding the boat's destination, with initial suspicions of heading to the US later contradicted by evidence suggesting Surinam as the intended destination [1] - Admiral Bradley's justification for the second strike, claiming it targeted the wreckage and potential drugs rather than the survivors, is met with skepticism [1][2] Policy and Operational Changes - The Defense Department seemingly altered its policy regarding survivors after the September 2nd incident, as evidenced by the rescue of survivors in subsequent operations on October 16th and October 27th [7][8][9] - The contrast between the decision to kill survivors in the September 2nd strike and the choice to rescue survivors in later incidents raises questions about a potential shift in Pentagon policy [8]

Tonight, amid growing scrutiny over those air strikes in the Caribbean, President Trump is planning to take the military campaign to a new level. >> Drugs coming into our country by sea, down 94%. >> The president says he might target drug smugglers by land, not just in Venezuela, but in other countries.>> We're going to start that same process on land because we know every route. We know every house. We know where they live.It comes as Congress investigates that controversial double tap strike in early Sep ...

Allegations of War Crimes and Cover-Up - The report suggests a potential war crime investigation is needed regarding a double strike on an alleged drug boat, particularly the second strike on shipwreck survivors [4][6][9] - Conflicting accounts exist regarding the events, with some suggesting the survivors were trying to flip the boat [2][4], while others indicate they were in distress and without means of communication [5][6] - There are allegations of a cover-up, with claims that Secretary Hexath lied about the second strike [13][14] Legality and Justification of Strikes - The legality of the strikes is questioned, as the boat was reportedly heading to another South American country, not the United States [8] - The report questions the justification for the strikes, especially if the individuals on the boats were not proven to be drug smugglers [20] - The US military acted differently in later cases where shipwreck survivors were saved, raising questions about the September 2nd incident [11][12] Calls for Transparency and Investigation - There are calls for the release of the video footage of the strike to allow the public to assess whether a war crime occurred [9][10] - The report emphasizes the need for a thorough investigation into the rules of engagement, authorizations, and orders related to the strikes [6][11][15] - Congress is urged to hold hearings and ask questions about the operation, particularly regarding the priorities and legality of the strikes [18][21] Broader Context and Political Implications - The report highlights concerns that the focus on these boat strikes distracts from domestic issues such as rising grocery, electricity, and healthcare costs [16][17] - The report suggests that accusing the administration of a war crime could normalize the idea of the US being at war with drug smugglers [16] - There is a political dimension, with accusations that Republicans are acting as a "rubber stamp" for the Trump administration [21]

the last one with Allieville, she starts right now. Hey, Allie. There was so much great stuff in your show tonight, but I'm important to play that Dan Bongino clip, right? Where he just says it out there. It's like, yeah, I used to have opinions that weren't based in fact, and now I'm the deputy director of the FBI, so I have to be based in fact, but one day I'll be back in that. It's like, what are you talking about? I'm taking a brief hiatus from pushing conspiracy theories for profit. That was weird. Jus ...

Facing calls from Democrats to release more video of this controversial strike against an alleged cartel boat smuggling drugs into the US tonight. President Trump saying his administration would >> I don't know what they have, but whatever they have, we certainly release no problem. >> It comes amid bipartisan backlash to that double tap air strike near Venezuela on September 2nd.Two people survived the initial attack, but Defense Secretary Pete Hexath yesterday told me he did not personally see the survivo ...

US Foreign Policy & Military Actions - Bipartisan investigations are rare but occurring regarding the US military actions in the Caribbean, indicating serious concerns in Congress [3][4] - The US military's actions of bombing boats in the Caribbean without clear identification and due process are considered unconventional and worrisome [6][7] - The approach of using military force against suspected drug smugglers, instead of the Coast Guard's law enforcement procedures, is seen as an overreach and a contravention of established legal approaches [8][9] - The amassing of a large military force near Venezuela raises questions about the US's goals and potential regime change intentions in the region [10] - The handling of survivors from the strikes, specifically the decision not to bring them to the US for trial if they were indeed drug traffickers, raises suspicions [12] Secretary of Defense (Hegsth) & Administration Concerns - Secretary Hegsth is facing bipartisan criticism and investigations, potentially creating problems for the Trump administration [2][4] - Congress may demand testimony from Hegsth and other military leaders under oath, indicating a lack of trust in briefings alone [18] - The "Signalgate" issue, involving Hegsth sharing arguably classified information on an unsecured platform, is back in the news and continues to be a concern for members of Congress [20][22][24] Broader Political & Diplomatic Context - The administration's foreign policy is perceived as pivoting away from Asia and Europe, focusing more on the Western Hemisphere and homeland security [29] - The administration's approach to the Russia-Ukraine peace deal is viewed as prioritizing financial dealings over the content of the peace itself [30] - The president's denigration of Somali immigrants and the administration's anti-immigration stance raise concerns about the country's values and economic vitality [26][30][31]

joining us, constitutional law professor and Yale Law School, uh at Yale Law School, Jed Rubenfeld. Uh Jed, really good to have you. Um let's talk first, >> let's talk first about the the second strike before we get into the broader operation.Um the Secretary of Defense says nothing. there was no wrongdoing here, that this was well within the commander's authority to do in his judgment, and he needs to be able to make those judgment calls because these are, in his words, naroterrorists who are coming in to ...

Business Model & Impact - Drug smuggling's dispersed, outsourced business model creates mayhem for governments [1] - Payments to subcontractors are often made in cocaine [1] - This practice breeds addicts and fuels violence [1]