Day: July 15, 2026

Politico   The Pentagon will screen the testosterone levels of soldiers 30 and up, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday, the department’s latest push in its efforts to refocus on service members’ fitness and “lethality.” “While we invest heavily in our weapons systems, platforms and gear, our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter,” he said in a video posted to his X account. “We have a sacred duty to maintain that advantage, which is why we must constantly look for new ways to optimize your performance, your resilience and your long-term health.” Soldiers under the age of 30 would also be able to choose whether to get tested, Hegseth said. And soldiers diagnosed with testosterone deficiency would be offered hormone therapy but would not be forced to undergo it, he said. READ THE FULL STORY 

The Hill   Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday threw cold water on the idea of launching a bid to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in the Senate. “There’s going to be a primary in South Carolina, and I will not be in it,” Bessent told the Washington Examiner in an interview, adding later that there’s “no chance” he would jump into the race. “I have the best job in Washington,” the Treasury chief said. READ THE FULL STORY 

CBS News   As the U.S.-Iran war restarts following the collapse of the weeks-long ceasefire, senior Pentagon officials are also quietly eyeing another flashpoint much closer to home: Cuba. Military planners have in recent weeks examined a range of options for possible action against the island, including an Army-led air assault involving thousands of U.S. soldiers to be carried out by the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task, according to multiple U.S. officials with knowledge of the discussions. The officials, who spoke to CBS News under condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters, stressed that the briefings are not an indication that President Trump or the Pentagon have decided to carry out an operation. READ THE FULL STORY  

Breitbart   The mass amnesty of over 1.2 million illegal migrants set in motion by Spain’s socialist government will “collapse” the issue of foreign national identity cards, police officers warned on Wednesday. Unnamed police officers that warned of the situation to local outlets reportedly affirmed that the nation is ill-prepared to withstand the sheer workload of issuing that many cards over the next months — with the added problem of “mafias” reselling appointment slots for sums of money. The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is currently in the processing phase of the over 1.2 million applications for mass amnesty filed by illegal migrants in Spain before the submission window closed on June 30. READ THE FULL STORY