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🪖 Pentagon Task Force Launches $7B Counter-Drone Contract Push

The U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) has announced enterprise contracts with a combined ceiling of nearly $7 billion for counter-drone technologies, covering sensors, non-kinetic disabling systems, and kinetic weapons.

Officials said no single solution can defeat the drone threat. "I'll tell you there isn't one answer to the drone threat — so we didn't build around one solution," said Brent Ingraham, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisitions. The contracts span multiple companies and give federal, state, and military agencies access to a broader mix of capabilities tailored to specific environments.

Urgency has been driven by drone-related casualties — hostile drones killed six U.S. service members in Kuwait in March and three soldiers in Jordan in 2024 — and by lessons from the war in Ukraine. Australia recently became the first ally to procure technology through JIATF-401's drone marketplace.

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💻 Trump and Tech CEOs Launch America.gov

President Trump and Vice President Vance unveiled America.gov, a new website designed to consolidate government information and make it easier for Americans to navigate across federal agency sites.

The launch was joined by leaders from major technology companies. No further details on the site's features or participating tech executives were provided in the source.

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⚖️ Jack Smith Defends Trump Cases, Vows Not To Be Silenced

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith will tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that evidence tied to Donald Trump's own actions — not political motivation — drove his decision to bring charges against the former president.

In prepared opening remarks obtained by The Hill, Smith says he will not be "silenced" by threats, pushing back against criticism of his prosecutorial record. The statement is set to be delivered Tuesday, marking Smith's second appearance before Congress regarding his investigations.

Smith's testimony comes as scrutiny of the special counsel probes continues on Capitol Hill.

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💼 Trump to Announce $15B Iowa Steel Plant — Largest in U.S. History

President Trump will announce Monday that Minnesota-based Mesabi Metallics plans to build a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa, which the White House says will be the largest in U.S. history.

The plant is expected to eventually produce up to 10 million tons of steel. Mesabi Metallics also recently invested $2.5 billion in a 7.5 million-ton iron ore mine in Minnesota. Company executives will join Trump at the White House for the announcement.

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📊 Trump Approval Hits Record Low at 37% — WSJ Poll

President Trump's approval rating has dropped to 37%, the lowest recorded by the Wall Street Journal for any president shortly before a midterm election in the outlet's polling history.

The figure marks a new low in WSJ's historical tracking of pre-midterm presidential approval ratings.

Presidential approval ratings ahead of midterms are closely watched as an indicator of a party's electoral prospects in congressional races.

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🇺🇸 Trump Asked Xi if China Would Buy U.S. Weapons

President Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China wanted to purchase American weapons, according to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who disclosed the exchange publicly.

The White House separately denied reports that it had delayed a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan as a concession to Beijing. The administration stated no such delay had taken place, though the reports raised questions about U.S. commitment to arms transfers to the island amid ongoing trade negotiations with China.

The dual disclosures highlight the complex balancing act Washington faces between managing relations with Beijing and fulfilling defense commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act.

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🇮🇷 U.S. Rejects Iran's Strait of Hormuz Deal as 'Cynical'

A senior U.S. official dismissed Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as "cynical" on Sunday, calling it a non-starter for Washington.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the offer at the United Nations this week. It demands the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of oil sanctions, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade in exchange for reopening the waterway, which is critical to global energy supplies.

The rejection signals no near-term diplomatic breakthrough on one of the world's most strategically important shipping lanes.

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