Breaking Defense

Republican senators are publicly placing blame on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as criticism mounts within the party. The intra-party friction suggests growing unease among GOP lawmakers over Hegseth's conduct or decisions in his role leading the Pentagon. Republican senators breaking ranks to criticize one of their own is notable and is fueling discussion about his political standing.

A strike hit the heart of Kyiv, leaving fires and heavy smoke across central districts as rescue teams worked through the wreckage. Reports describe scenes of desperation among residents caught in the attack, with emergency crews responding and casualties feared. The strike underscores the continued vulnerability of the Ukrainian capital to aerial attacks despite air defense efforts.