National Security

4 Top Civilian Officials Leave Pentagon, Raising Concerns About National Security

4:02pm November 11, 2020

Four of the Pentagon's top civilian officials, including the defense secretary, resigned or were fired this week. The timing of these moves is raising questions and concerns about national security.

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National

Wars For Generations: Father And His Sons On Serving Together In Afghanistan And Iraq

4:02pm November 11, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with retired Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson of the Marine Corps and his two sons, Kevin and Andrew, who served under him in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The President's Daily Briefing is the top-secret intelligence report presented to the president every weekday. By tradition, the briefing is also offered to presidents-elect, though officials say this hasn't happened yet with Joe Biden.

Biden Should Be Getting Top-Level Intelligence Briefings, But He Isn't

6:21pm November 10, 2020

by Greg Myre

President Trump has not accepted the election results, and his administration has not yet authorized Biden and his team to start receiving government resources — including intelligence briefings.

Joe Biden visits U.S. troops in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2011 when he was vice president. Biden has been highly critical of President Trump's foreign policy and says he'll work to improve frayed relations with many traditional U.S. partners.

Biden's Worldview Calls For U.S. To Be Center Stage In Global Affairs

1:59pm November 10, 2020

by Greg Myre

President Trump's "America First" foreign policy meant a reduced U.S. role in the world. Joe Biden wants the U.S. to show more global leadership, and his focus will be rebuilding alliances.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat seen at a 2014 press conference at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Longtime Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat Dies Of Complications From COVID-19

7:20am November 10, 2020

Often the voice of the Palestinians in peace talks with Israel, Erekat's pursuit of peace through negotiation never prevailed. He was 65.

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The National Security Implications Of Trump's Firing Of Esper

6:16am November 10, 2020

President Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday — replacing him with Christopher C. Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center. What does the timing of this mean?

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News Brief: Voting Irregularities, Esper Fired, Obamacare Court Challenge

6:01am November 10, 2020

DOJ authorizes federal prosecutors to probe voting fraud claims. President Trump fires Defense Secretary Esper. And, the Supreme Court on Tuesday hears another challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

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Defense Secretary Mark Esper To Be Replaced By Christopher C. Miller

5:05pm November 09, 2020

by Tom Bowman

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has been "terminated," President Trump announced on Twitter on Monday. Esper will be replaced by Christopher C. Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

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Experts Warn That Election Uncertainty Could Fuel Political Violence

4:04pm November 04, 2020

by Hannah Allam

In the lead-up to the election, there were warnings about the wild card of armed militia-type groups. Analysts say potential vigilante violence remains a threat as the vote count continues.

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Election workers check the tapes from the voting machines to verify they contain the correct signatures from polling stations after polls closed in the general election at Ford Field on November 3, 2020 in Detroit.

The 2020 Election Was Attacked, But Not Severely Disrupted. Here's How

9:14am November 04, 2020

by Philip Ewing

Federal officials credit years of preparation and tough lessons from the Russian attack on the 2016 election for what they called a much better showing by government agencies at every level.