This is Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers, an aviation survival technician based out of Astoria, Oregon. He died Thursday after suffering critical injuries Feb. 27 during a rescue off the coast of Oregon, the Coast Guard says. RIP.

Army unit’s moves trigger speculation as U.S. plots next steps in Iran war, @danlamothe.bsky.social reports www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

SCOOP: The Army in recent days canceled a training exercise for the headquarters element of the 82nd Airborne Division, fueling speculation among soldiers that they may be called upon for a still undefined mission as the war with Iran widens. wapo.st/4uiXxTO

These U.S. soldiers were killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait over the weekend. They are Capt. Cody Khork, 35 Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39 Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42 Sgt. Declan Coady, 20 Two others were killed in the same attack; their names have not yet been released. RIP.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military officer at CENTCOM, sent this message to the roughly 50,000 U.S. troops directly involved in operations against Iran, I'm told.

I think about that strike on Al Asad a LOT.

As the U.S. moves into an uncertain period of time with Iran, important to remember: The possibility of U.S. combat fatalities is real. Look no farther than the near-misses at Al Asad air base in 2020, following the U.S. killing of Qasem Soleimani in Iraq: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Pretty amazing that comms person at FBI called my @ms.now colleague @kendilanian-nbc.bsky.social a liar and demand a correction only for Kash to post a photo from the locker room

The USNS Comfort is currently in the port of Mobile, Al www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/deta...

The Navy owns two hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy. Neither appears ready to deploy any time soon, and both were at a maintenance facility run by Alabama Shipyard in Mobile as of today.

Breaking news: Trump officials have struggled to figure out how to increase military spending by $500 billion. The White House budget chief was among those who objected to the defense secretary’s plan to increase military spending by roughly 50 percent.

NEW: Trump administration officials are struggling to determine how to increase defense spending $500 billion in their forthcoming budget, after Pete Hegseth secured the increase despite internal criticism from Russ Vought and other officials. wapo.st/40sgBRz

Another week concludes w/ no routine news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for the "new" right-wing press corps nearly *three* months ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press corps departed in October. #transparency

NEW: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has forced the ouster of a senior military adviser to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, defense officials said, marking the Pentagon’s chief’s latest intervention into the service’s internal affairs. wapo.st/4kIMTkM

Lots of questions remain about this incident in El Paso. Meanwhile, the administration has not engaged in a serious way with questions that get at how a laser system was temporarily transferred to DHS and used by CBP, all in a manner to which FAA objected. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/u...

And so concludes another week w/ no news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for an alternative right-wing press corps more than two months ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press departed in October.

FAA imposed extraordinary 10-day flight restrictions on airspace around El Paso late following a communications breakdown with the Pentagon and DHS, after a laser-based counterdrone weapon was used by DHS personnel without full integration, officials said. www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...

Yes, Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. But there also are 1 million Puerto Ricans in Florida and 5 million more in the Northeast. I grew up in a neighborhood w/ a population that's about a quarter Puerto Rican. Tonight's halftime show was American, friends. Just a different kind.

What a week.

And so concludes another week w/ no news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for an alternative right-wing press corps more than two months ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press departed in October.

John Phelan, Trump’s Navy secretary, listed in Epstein flight logs Gift link: wapo.st/3ZjqpNx

It's a dark day at The Washington Post and there's absolutely no reason to sugarcoat that.

Join us Thursday for a rally to #SaveThePost!! The rally will run from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at 1301 K St. NW!! Bring friends! Bring gloves! Bring a love of journalism!

Mood:

I remain reachable on Signal at danlamothe.30

Daily Mail: Trump's 'new media' darlings who relished their Pentagon takeover now feel gagged by Pete Hegseth www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

And so concludes another week w/ no news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for an alternative right-wing press corps nearly two months ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press corps departed in October.

A year ago today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon for his first official day of work in the Trump administration.

Recent news about The Washington Post is alarming, to say the least. When we cover major news abroad, our national security team works hand in hand with our colleagues overseas. When we cover unrest in Washington, we rely on our Metro colleagues for insight and street smarts.

Exclusive: Border Patrol “Commander at Large” Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role and is expected to retire soon, sources tell @nickmiroff.bsky.social.

"Videos analyzed by The New York Times appear to contradict accounts given by Homeland Security officials about the shooting." www.nytimes.com/live/2026/us...

And so concludes another week w/ no routine news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for the "new" right-wing press corps nearly two months ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press corps departed in October.

NEW: Autopsy report classifies ICE detainee’s death as a homicide www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Still feels like this storm will deliver somewhere between six inches of snow and "The Day After Tomorrow."

"We must end this uncivil war." -- President Biden, five years ago today upon inauguration

Where we are: "... Military planners are modelling a U.S. invasion from the south, expecting American forces to overcome Canada’s strategic positions on land and at sea within a week and possibly as quickly as two days." Such an order is still seen as unlikely, the officials add.

Pentagon readies 1,500 soldiers to possibly deploy to Minnesota, officials say www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

About 1,500 soldiers w/ 11th Airborne Division in Alaska have been placed on prepare-to-deploy orders with a mission in Minnesota in mind, defense officials tell me tonight. Unclear if some or all of them ultimately will go. News reported tonight by ABC News, too.

Good Saturday evening to you. Lots going on. As always, I'm reachable at [email protected], here by DM, or on Signal at danlamothe.30 for tips as I cover the Pentagon. Tell me what you're seeing, with thanks.

NEW: Trump officials extend National Guard’s D.C. mission through 2026. H/T earlier reporting from @halbritz.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

And so concludes another week w/ no routine news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for the "new" right-wing press corps more than a month ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press corps departed in October.

Our colleague @hannahnatanson.bsky.social is diligent, generous and resourceful. Proudly stand with her today.

Trump officials eye West Potomac Park for Garden of Heroes This area has long been relied upon by sports leagues of all kinds -- everything from softball to cricket. Such a move could upend that and eliminate some of D.C.'s only athletic fields. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Good Sunday evening to you. Lots going on. As always, I'm reachable at [email protected], here by DM, or on Signal at danlamothe.30. Tell me what you're seeing, with thanks.

And so concludes another week w/ no routine news briefing at the Pentagon. The last on-camera briefing was held for the "new" right-wing press corps more than a month ago, on Dec. 2. The press space has been mostly vacant since the traditional press corps departed in October.

NEW: The fleet of U.S. warships assembled in the Caribbean Sea during the run-up to Saturday’s capture of Nicolás Maduro has begun to thin, officials said Wednesday, though the Trump administration is expected to continue military operations in the region. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

The U.S. government assesses that about 75 people were killed during Saturday’s military raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including dozens of fatalities that resulted from a gun battle at his compound in Caracas, U.S. officials said. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Wide right. An old phrase with new meaning. Brutal. But what a game.

NEW: This @washingtonpost.com account of Maduro’s capture is drawn from interviews with senior administration officials and other people familiar with the operation, as well as public remarks Saturday by Trump and his top aides. wapo.st/4aESWUB

Key Resolve is yet another one, that one in South Korea, as a Marine noted for me on another app. Lots of resolve going on around here.