Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 9, 2026

Russia Cracks Down On VPNs, Brings Down Banks

The Irish government has asked the army to help remove vehicles blocking fuel depots as protests entered a third day.

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It. The U.S. military is pushing to make huge investments in many programs in Fiscal Year 2027, but also some notable cuts.

This help me understand that the “US refiners can’t handle light crude” is overly simplistic. It is a matter of economics and not capability Why Banning Crude Exports Would Make Gasoline More Expensive, Not Less

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown 66% this century, fueled in part by a record-breaking number of convert baptisms in 2025. The church had 10,752,986 members at the end of 1999. The church had 17,887,212 at the end of 2025, according to an annual statistical report released Saturday during the church’s 196th Annual General Conference.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 8, 2026

Questions Loom Over Iran Ceasefire

US–Iran Agree to Temporary Ceasefire Deal Reopening Hormuz With Major Strings Attached

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Pipeline Bypassing Hormuz Damaged in Iranian Attack, Source Says

John Deere to Pay $99 Million in Monumental Right-to-Repair Settlement

Thousands of consumer routers hacked by Russia’s military

The Artemis 2 space toilet is actually working fine. But there is another problem

Tattoos Affect Your Immune System in Ways We’re Just Beginning to Understand

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 7, 2026

Trump announces ‘double-sided ceasefire’ between US, Iran following Pakistani proposal

In the Gulf, GPS jamming leaves delivery drivers navigating blind

‘We Have No Chance Against This’: Honda Reacts To China’s Supplier Strength

Trump Announces New Refinery — The First in 50 Years

SCOTUS overturns 5th Circuit ruling that told ISP to kick pirates off Internet

How the Turner Twins Are Mythbusting Modern Gear

It is going to be brutal soonest for rural areas that are on the leading edge of the demographic decline in most places. Does this have implications for higher ed in particular?

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 6, 2026

Iran’s Top Spy Chief, Key IRGC Commanders Eliminated in Israeli Strikes

How A Dusty Strip Deep In Iran Can Be Turned Into A U.S. Special Operations Base In Hours

Everything We Now Know About The Operation To Rescue The F-15E WSO

Trump initially feared radio message from downed US airman was Iranian trap. After ejecting from the jet, the officer sent a message over his radio saying “Power be to God,” according to Trump who added that it “sounded like something a Muslim would say.” A US defense official said the exact wording had been “God is good,” Axios reported.

Russian Grain Ship Sinks in Sea of Azov After Suspected Drone Strike, Raising Risks to Shipping

By Friday night there was another problem. Urine is collected in a small tank, about the size of an office trash can. From there it is supposed to be vented into space, which is to say, dumped overboard to sail around the cosmos until the end of time. However, flight controllers noted that astronaut pee had frozen in the tank. There were no issues with using the toilet for no. 2, but no. 1 was a no-go.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 5, 2026

F-15E Weapon Systems Officer Shot Down Over Iran Has Been Rescued (Updated)

Global Fuel Shortage Pushes Governments Toward Demand Controls. Fuel rationing is spreading across Asia and Europe as supply losses mount, raising fears of a prolonged energy crisis.

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled in Asia and are up 85% in the United States. And Europe could run into jet fuel shortages in April, particularly if shipments of kerosene, a key component, remain disrupted by Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 4, 2026

Iran Is Piercing Israel’s Ballistic Missile Defenses With High Altitude Cluster Warhead Releases

He Helped Stop Iran from Getting the Bomb

The Feds Say Cutting Fuel With Ethanol Will Bring Down Gas Prices.

Two versions of Outlook open and neither is working

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 3, 2026

F-15E Down In Iran, Rescue Operation Ongoing (Updated)

The Democratic Socialists of America is prioritizing local elections to advance radical policies.

An Overview of the President’s FY 2027 Budget

Trump’s 2027 War Department Budget Plan Could Exceed $1.5 Trillion