Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Barragán Holds Tele-Town Hall on the Ongoing ICE Raids and Deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles County
Long Beach, CA — This evening, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) hosted a Tele-Town Hall to address the ongoing ICE raids and Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles County. Congresswoman Barragán spoke to nearly 8,000 participants about the Trump administration’s decision to target immigrant families and entire communities —not serious criminals— and how this has sparked fear, anxiety, and protests across the region. She raised concerns about the use of federal troops in neighborhoods where local officials had already confirmed the situation was under control, calling it an unnecessary public show of force and political theater.
Congresswoman Barragán was joined by representatives from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and Immigrant Defenders Law Center, who helped answer questions and share resources.
“Donald Trump and Stephen Miller are terrorizing immigrant families and communities in my district and throughout Los Angeles County,” said Rep. Barragán. “We’re seeing ICE agents gathering near our schools and the recent raids forcing communities to cancel local events because people are too afraid to gather in public spaces. And when our communities spoke up through protest, Trump responded by sending in the National Guard and Marines. This isn’t just about immigration. It’s about democracy. It’s about whether the federal government will protect people’s rights or punish them for speaking out.”
“This moment demands both clear understanding and united effort,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director for CHIRLA. “We’ve spent decades creating systems to help immigrants. This work is incredibly pertinent now – immigrants and community members should know they are not alone in this process.”
“Misinformation is more dangerous now than ever, in light of ICE’s presence in Los Angeles,” said Matthew Toyama, Managing Attorney at CHIRLA. “People are being detained and deported because they don’t know they have options when interacting with immigration officers and attorneys willing to protect their rights. These are times that test the fabric of our Constitution and our consciences.”
“Fear is spreading through our immigrant communities,” said Kristen Hunsberger, Managing Attorney at Immigrant Defenders Law Center. “Now is an essential time for people to know there are resources and information available to them – and we are here to help with that. Immigrant rights are human rights, and should be defended just as strongly.”
Operation rising lion has been a concerted effort by the Israel Defense Forces to degrade Iran’s nuclear programme. Launched on June 13, the operation has targeted key nuclear installations, logistical hubs and Iranian nuclear scientists, key intelligence and military personal.
Israel has justified the attack by claiming that Iran was on a verge of a “breakout” in its nuclear programme. This means it would be able to break out of its commitments under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which it ratified in 1970.
This contradicts the threat assessment briefing delivered by the director of US national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, on March 25 when she said: “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.”
But whatever the veracity of claim and counter claim, Israel has been able to combine precise intelligence with the effective suppression of Iran’s air defence network. This has enabled the Israeli air force to inflict extensive damage on the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and the heavy water plant at Arak, as well as associated research facilities in Tehran.
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The attacks have also destroyed two-thirds of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, according to the latest Israeli estimates. In response, Iran has fired salvoes of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have penetrated the much-vaunted Iron Dome missile defence system, due to the sheer number of missiles launched.
But despite causing between 20 and 30 civilian casualties in Israel (compared to more than 600 in Iran), and despite the fear of attack among much of Israel’s population, little strategic damage appears to have been inflicted.
Within three days of launching operation rising lion, Israel claimed complete aerial supremacy over Iran. But despite this, the key enrichment facility at Fordow, close to the ancient religious city of Qom has proved impervious to Israel’s existing military capabilities.
The facility is buried hundreds of metres inside a mountain and designed to survive a full scale aerial bombardment. All reports are that besides some limited damage to the ground-level entrance and ventilation shafts, Israeli attacks on the site have failed to affects its operational capacity.
Only the US, with 30,000lb GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator bomb caried by the B-2 stealth bomber is reckoned to have the capability to inflict lasting damage on these underground nuclear facilities. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyhu, has appealed to the US president, Donald Trump, for help in destroying these nuclear assets. Trump has said he is still considering his decision.
Operation many ways
US help is clearly Netanyahu’s main option for neutralising these underground plants. But don’t rule out a ground attack by Israeli special forces. A template for how Israel might deal with Fordow was revealed last year.
Launched on September 8 2024, operation many ways destroyed an underground missile facility that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps had built into a mountainside in the Masyaf area of Syria, just west of Hama and around 125 miles north of the disputed Golan Heights. This facility was responsible for producing sophisticated surface-to-surface missiles for use by Hezbollah as well as by the regime of Bashar al-Asad, Iran’s ally.
After months of surveillance, 200 soldiers from the Shaldag (Kingfisher) special forces unit of the Israeli Air Force were helicoptered to the site under the cover of a series of diversionary airstrikes. The surprise attack quickly overwhelmed defensive forces and used around 600kg of explosives to destroy the underground facility. The unit also collected a considerable amount of intelligence documents which they transferred back to Israel. There were no Israeli casualties.
Greater risk
Would Israel risk a similar operation against Fordow? The risks undoubtedly are far greater. The operation would have to be carried out at a much longer range – the enrichment facility is more than 1,000kms from Israel.
Such an operation would need to involve far more troops than operation many ways. And the operational requirement to ensure sufficient air-to-air refuelling capacity for the air force’s heavy lift “Yasur” helicopters would add a layer of logistical complexity.
But the IDF’s ability to innovate around the use of longer-range C130 transport aircraft that can land in rough areas should not be underestimated. They showed this as long ago as 1976 when mounting the famous hostage rescue mission at Entebbe in Uganda.
Also on the plus side for Israel is its air superiority. The country is also a leader in electronic counter warfare measures which would allow it to blind or jam Iranian communications.
But while the Iranian armed forces have suffered heavy blows, the ground defences around Fordow will still be formidable. To gain access to and destroy the centrifuges widely believed to be at Fordow with sufficient explosives runs the risks of heavy casualties on all sides. So the calculation Israel’s military planners would have to make is the strategic gain relative to the cost in blood.
Yet given Fordow has long been recognised by Israel as the jewel in Iran’s nuclear crown this too might be another gamble Netanyahu is willing to take in a war that, whatever its outcome, is already reshaping much of the Middle East.
Clive Jones does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) celebrated its 2025 Spring Quarter graduates during a commencement ceremony on June 18 at King Hall Auditorium. A total of 375 warrior-scholars—including 32 allied and partner military officers representing 21 nations worldwide — received advanced degrees in defense-focused disciplines.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
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John Washburn, general manager of San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings in El Cajon, pleaded guilty in federal court today to engaging in a pattern or practice of hiring undocumented immigrants without authorization to work.
As part of the plea agreement, Washburn admitted that he knew at least 10 workers were undocumented immigrants at the company, and that three were living in a company warehouse where U.S. Navy submarine components were being stored. These charges stemmed from a search warrant that was served by federal agents at the company’s warehouses in March of this year.
Washburn was immediately sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major to one year probation and 50 hours of community service.
According to the plea agreement, Washburn admitted he had communicated with other managers at San Diego Powder & Protective Coating about certain employees who had “issues” with their paperwork or “bad paperwork,” meaning some employees lacked valid documents showing they had legal authorization to work in the U.S.
In or around 2024, the defendant communicated with company officials regarding assigning employees with “good paperwork” to work at the military base because those employees would be subjected to additional screening prior to entering restricted areas on the base.
Homeland Security Investigations San Diego is investigating these cases with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General; GSA – Office of Inspector General; United States Border Patrol; Customs and Border Protection, ERO; NCIS; SBA – Office of Inspector General; Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Field Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry F.B. Beshar and Michael A. Deshong.
DEFENDANT Case Number 25mj1458-BLM
John Washburn Age: 57
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Engaging in a Pattern or Practice of Employing Aliens, in violation of Title 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(a)(1)(A) and (f); Maximum Penalty: Six months in prison; $3,000 fine per alien.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General
General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General
Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General
Enforcement and Removal Operations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Headline: Around the Air Force: AFAS Expands Support, DoD Child Care Initiative, Microreactor Pilot Project
In this week’s look Around the Air Force, the Air Force Aid Society announces new aid categories to support DAF families; DoD is expanding child care initiatives to provide more options to military families; and Eielson AFB reaches a groundbreaking milestone for U.S. energy security.
A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two federal felonies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty to attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. He faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 9, 2025.
According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He created multiple lengthy documents describing various “high level secrets” he was offering to the Chinese government. He retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks.
Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until October 2023, when he flew to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.
Attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two federal felonies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty to attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. He faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 9, 2025.
According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering national defense information.
In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He created multiple lengthy documents describing various “high level secrets” he was offering to the Chinese government. He retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks.
Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until October 2023, when he flew to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.
Attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
New Solution Combines AI, Thermal Imaging, and Multi-Sensor Stitching to Create a Seamless View for Defense and Security Operations
Rehovot, Israel, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maris-Tech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTEK, MTEKW) (“Maris-Tech” or the “Company”), a global leader in video and artificial intelligence (“AI”)-based edge computing technology, is proud to announce the completion of the first prototype of Peridot – an AI-based passive observation system designed for comprehensive situational awareness.
Peridot integrates multiple high-definition day and thermal video sensors with advanced stitching algorithms to create a panoramic view, both horizontally and vertically. The result is uninterrupted coverage and early detection of conventional and modern threats, including drones and unmanned vehicles.
This breakthrough technology is designed for border and strategic site protection, offering a fully integrated, standalone solution to monitor, detect and enable quicker response to aerial and ground-based risks. In addition to its observation capabilities, Peridot can serve as a trigger system for passive or active threat defeating mechanisms – making it an ideal part of layered defense strategies.
“Peridot represents a significant technological leap and a major milestone for Maris-Tech,” said Israel Bar, Chief Executive Officer of Maris-Tech. “We’re proud of the team that brought this concept to life. As a standalone solution, Peridot positions us higher in the defense technology value chain, and we believe the industry will benefit greatly from its introduction.”
About Maris-Tech Ltd.
Maris-Tech is a global leader in video and AI-based edge computing technology, pioneering intelligent video transmission solutions that conquer complex encoding-decoding challenges. Our miniature, lightweight, and low-power products deliver high-performance capabilities, including raw data processing, seamless transfer, advanced image processing, and AI-driven analytics. Founded by Israeli technology sector veterans, Maris-Tech serves leading manufacturers worldwide in defense, aerospace, Intelligence gathering, homeland security (HLS), and communication industries. We’re pushing the boundaries of video transmission and edge computing, driving innovation in mission-critical applications across commercial and defense sectors.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect”,” “may”, “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the potential capabilities and applications of the Peridot system, including its integration into layered defense strategies, its ability to provide early detection and comprehensive situational awareness and the Company’s belief that Peridot represents a significant technological advancement and will positively impact the defense industry. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: its ability to successfully market its products and services, including in the United States; the acceptance of its products and services by customers; its continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for its products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; its ability to successfully develop new products and services; its success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; its ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
FRONT ROYAL, Va., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ask Sage, Inc., the leading Generative AI platform for government and commercial sectors, today announced a first-year, $10 million strategic partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) and the U.S. Army. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the DoD’s journey to accelerate the adoption of advanced Generative AI capabilities across its operations and represents continued federal investment in Ask Sage’s secure platform. As the first FedRAMP High, IL5, IL6 and Top Secret authorized solution, Ask Sage is uniquely model-agnostic, giving defense teams the freedom to adopt and scale the right LLMs for each mission without being locked into a single vendor ecosystem.
The partnership significantly expands Ask Sage’s existing footprint within the Department of Defense, delivering unlimited access to the platform for all Combatant Commands (COCOMs), Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) teams. It positions the company as the premier provider of Generative AI solutions for mission-critical operations. By scaling the Army Enterprise Large Language Model Workspace, powered by Ask Sage’s platform, the collaboration extends access to CUI-compliant and Secret, AI-powered workflows that support operational excellence and warfighter readiness.
“This partnership represents major momentum in accelerating Generative AI adoption across the Department of Defense, including at the edge. With over 15,000 government teams across 27 agencies already leveraging Ask Sage, we are proud to expand access to our secure, scalable platform at IL5 and IL6,” said Nicolas Chaillan, CEO of Ask Sage. “By removing barriers to adoption, we’re empowering DoD teams and contractors to deploy advanced technologies at the pace of relevance, increasing their operational velocity by up to 35X. Together, we are driving innovation and mission success across the defense enterprise.”
The Office of the Army’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) emphasized the importance of these capabilities in advancing the DoD’s mission: “The Department continues to accelerate the adoption of data, analytics, and AI to support its core mission sets. Over the last several years, CDAO with our mission and industry partners have led the development of core data and AI platforms. Through these investments, we have enabled users to integrate AI into workflows that occur within the data environments themselves. Recently, we have also partnered with the Army’s Enterprise Large Language Model (LLM) Workspace, powered by Ask Sage, to provide Joint users across the Combatant Commands, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Staff access to industry-leading general purpose LLMs.”
Ask Sage’s platform is already proving to be transformative through its deployment as a secure, accessible Generative AI solution for the Army. Since launching in May, notable accomplishments include reclassifying 300,000 personnel descriptions in just one week—saving over 50,000 hours of manual labor—automating acquisition workflows for RFIs, RFPs, and scopes of work, and strengthening cybersecurity through automated vulnerability testing. Ask Sage has also successfully streamlined the Authority to Operate (ATO) process for Combatant Commands, delivering 95% time and cost savings for the creation of required SSPs, NIST 800-53 controls, policies and procedures.
Ask Sage’s partnership with the DoD CDAO and U.S. Army is part of a broader effort to accelerate the adoption of Frontier AI capabilities across the Department. This initiative aligns with the DoD’s focus on leveraging AI for mission-critical use cases, including command and control, decision support, operational planning, logistics, weapons development, intelligence activities, and cybersecurity.
About Ask Sage, Inc. Ask Sage, Inc. is a leading provider of Generative AI solutions, specifically designed to meet the needs of the public sector, defense industrial base, and commercial enterprises. Offering a wide range of both commercial and open-source Large Language Models (LLMs), our platform is technology agnostic, enabling teams to leverage the best tools and models that suit their needs. With robust security features, the ability to handle a wide range of data types, and enhanced integrations, Ask Sage, Inc. is the go-to solution for organizations seeking to optimize their operations and harness the power of AI. www.asksage.ai
FRONT ROYAL, Va., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ask Sage, Inc., the leading Generative AI platform for government and commercial sectors, today announced a first-year, $10 million strategic partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) and the U.S. Army. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the DoD’s journey to accelerate the adoption of advanced Generative AI capabilities across its operations and represents continued federal investment in Ask Sage’s secure platform. As the first FedRAMP High, IL5, IL6 and Top Secret authorized solution, Ask Sage is uniquely model-agnostic, giving defense teams the freedom to adopt and scale the right LLMs for each mission without being locked into a single vendor ecosystem.
The partnership significantly expands Ask Sage’s existing footprint within the Department of Defense, delivering unlimited access to the platform for all Combatant Commands (COCOMs), Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) teams. It positions the company as the premier provider of Generative AI solutions for mission-critical operations. By scaling the Army Enterprise Large Language Model Workspace, powered by Ask Sage’s platform, the collaboration extends access to CUI-compliant and Secret, AI-powered workflows that support operational excellence and warfighter readiness.
“This partnership represents major momentum in accelerating Generative AI adoption across the Department of Defense, including at the edge. With over 15,000 government teams across 27 agencies already leveraging Ask Sage, we are proud to expand access to our secure, scalable platform at IL5 and IL6,” said Nicolas Chaillan, CEO of Ask Sage. “By removing barriers to adoption, we’re empowering DoD teams and contractors to deploy advanced technologies at the pace of relevance, increasing their operational velocity by up to 35X. Together, we are driving innovation and mission success across the defense enterprise.”
The Office of the Army’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) emphasized the importance of these capabilities in advancing the DoD’s mission: “The Department continues to accelerate the adoption of data, analytics, and AI to support its core mission sets. Over the last several years, CDAO with our mission and industry partners have led the development of core data and AI platforms. Through these investments, we have enabled users to integrate AI into workflows that occur within the data environments themselves. Recently, we have also partnered with the Army’s Enterprise Large Language Model (LLM) Workspace, powered by Ask Sage, to provide Joint users across the Combatant Commands, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Staff access to industry-leading general purpose LLMs.”
Ask Sage’s platform is already proving to be transformative through its deployment as a secure, accessible Generative AI solution for the Army. Since launching in May, notable accomplishments include reclassifying 300,000 personnel descriptions in just one week—saving over 50,000 hours of manual labor—automating acquisition workflows for RFIs, RFPs, and scopes of work, and strengthening cybersecurity through automated vulnerability testing. Ask Sage has also successfully streamlined the Authority to Operate (ATO) process for Combatant Commands, delivering 95% time and cost savings for the creation of required SSPs, NIST 800-53 controls, policies and procedures.
Ask Sage’s partnership with the DoD CDAO and U.S. Army is part of a broader effort to accelerate the adoption of Frontier AI capabilities across the Department. This initiative aligns with the DoD’s focus on leveraging AI for mission-critical use cases, including command and control, decision support, operational planning, logistics, weapons development, intelligence activities, and cybersecurity.
About Ask Sage, Inc. Ask Sage, Inc. is a leading provider of Generative AI solutions, specifically designed to meet the needs of the public sector, defense industrial base, and commercial enterprises. Offering a wide range of both commercial and open-source Large Language Models (LLMs), our platform is technology agnostic, enabling teams to leverage the best tools and models that suit their needs. With robust security features, the ability to handle a wide range of data types, and enhanced integrations, Ask Sage, Inc. is the go-to solution for organizations seeking to optimize their operations and harness the power of AI. www.asksage.ai
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill (NCTF-RH) submitted Supplement 4 of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) Closure Plan to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), marking a significant milestone in the facility’s permanent closure.
GDANSK, Poland – U.S. and NATO flag and general officers gathered for a Distinguished Visitor (DV) Day as part of Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 25 aboard the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) on June 17.
Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – “Stopping the war has become a national demand”. This is the goal of a group of Sudanese youth who have launched the “Voices of Peace” campaign in Kampala, Uganda. Inaugurated on Saturday, June 14 by Sa’ad Mohamed, Executive Director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), seeks to engage young Sudanese in building a sustainable peace process.“Through this campaign, we plan to build a comprehensive peace process, with youth at its heart, benefiting from the power and influence of social media in shaping public opinion” said one of the young Sudanese present. The aim is to leverage social media and traditional arts to foster reconciliation and end the ongoing conflict in their homeland (see Fides, 17/4/2023).According to organizers, the initiative will use digital media and traditional arts – including the role of “Hakamats” (traditional female praise singers and storytellers) – to spread messages of peace and coexistence, while also monitoring and documenting human rights violations across Sudan.The note sent to Fides also states that Sudanese civil and political groups have extensive experience using digital media and social networking sites, which played a pivotal role in mobilizing the Sudanese Revolution from December 2018 to April 2019. Faced with media suppression, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp became crucial for organizing protests and coordinating actions. The revolution effectively broke the official media blockade, transforming social media into a popular tool for communication and unifying revolutionary slogans. Sudanese activists gained international support, particularly on Twitter, turning it into a space for global solidarity. Digital platforms also became a vital medium for youth to discuss state-building, transitional justice, and human rights, fostering a culture of digital resistance.Asjad Bahaa, a founder and participant in the campaign, said “Voices of Peace” is the second phase of an ACJPS project, which began in April focusing on documenting enforced disappearances. She explained that the campaign will train youth as monitors and documenters of human rights violations, addressing the exodus of many activists due to security threats.Youth are “the fuel of war and peace,” often easily recruited by armed groups. “We are trying to reverse this by training youth to be peace advocates,” she said. “We are also working to reorient the role of Hakamats to be symbols of peace instead of incitement,” she said.The campaign launches as the conflict between the Army and the Rapid Support Forces enters its third year, with violence escalating and little sign of a political settlement. Humanitarian conditions continue to worsen, and civilian violations are widespread.Examples from other countries highlight the potential of arts and media in peacebuilding. Following the 1994 genocide, Rwanda used traditional arts, community theater, and radio broadcasts to promote love, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Sierra Leone after the 2002 civil war, mobile youth music groups used traditional music to reintegrate child soldiers and foster tolerance. In Colombia media campaigns incorporating traditional arts and music played a role in ending the conflict with FARC rebels. These initiatives, using popular songs broadcast via planes, radio, and social media, encouraged dozens of fighters to disarm and rejoin society. In Niger the role of “Hakamats” was empowered in peacebuilding through folk songs. Trained in reconciliation concepts, these women became key messengers, using songs in markets and at weddings to informally convey messages urging an end to violence and promoting coexistence in pastoral communities. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 20/6/2025)
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In this week’s look Around the Air Force, the Air Force Aid Society announces new aid categories to support DAF families; DoD is expanding child care initiatives to provide more options to military families; and Eielson AFB reaches a groundbreaking milestone for U.S. energy security.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, at a prayer during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – commonly called the CREC – drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed.
As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseth’s membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state.
The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media.
What is the CREC?
The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister.
Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with – or at war with – secular society.
While he is not Hegseth’s pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another.
Pastor Douglas Wilson leads others at a protest in Moscow, Idaho. Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, CC BY-SA
As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, “Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.”
The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.”
CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.”
In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office.
The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States.
Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, “They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.”
While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.
Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses “church planting” to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church.
CREC schools, home schools and colleges
The CREC’s expansion also owes a debt to Wilson’s entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called “Logos” in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools.
In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells “classical Christian” curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives.
According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos’ success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world.
Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education.
The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: “New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of God’s word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism.” The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding.
CREC media
In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers.
Books published by Canon include children’s picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare.
The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfe’s book “The Case for Christian Nationalism” is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government.
Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the “Sin of Empathy.” Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil.
CREC controversies
Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilson’s 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated “affection among the races” drew national attention.
Accusations of sexual abuse and the church’s handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vice’s Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities.
Hegseth’s actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseth’s role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency.
Samuel Perry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, at a prayer during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – commonly called the CREC – drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed.
As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseth’s membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state.
The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media.
What is the CREC?
The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister.
Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with – or at war with – secular society.
While he is not Hegseth’s pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another.
Pastor Douglas Wilson leads others at a protest in Moscow, Idaho. Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, CC BY-SA
As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, “Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.”
The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is “committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.”
CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, “A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.”
In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office.
The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States.
Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, “They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.”
While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.
Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses “church planting” to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church.
CREC schools, home schools and colleges
The CREC’s expansion also owes a debt to Wilson’s entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called “Logos” in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools.
In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells “classical Christian” curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives.
According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos’ success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world.
Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education.
The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: “New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of God’s word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism.” The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding.
CREC media
In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers.
Books published by Canon include children’s picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare.
The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfe’s book “The Case for Christian Nationalism” is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government.
Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the “Sin of Empathy.” Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil.
CREC controversies
Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilson’s 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated “affection among the races” drew national attention.
Accusations of sexual abuse and the church’s handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vice’s Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities.
Hegseth’s actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseth’s role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency.
Samuel Perry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Evidence suggests that insurance companies use AI to delay or limit health care that patients need.FatCameraE+ via Getty Images
Over the past decade, health insurance companies have increasingly embraced the use of artificial intelligence algorithms. Unlike doctors and hospitals, which use AI to help diagnose and treat patients, health insurers use these algorithms to decide whether to pay for health care treatments and services that are recommended by a given patient’s physicians.
These AI systems also help insurers decide how much care a patient is entitled to — for example, how many days of hospital care a patient can receive after surgery.
If an insurer declines to pay for a treatment your doctor recommends, you usually have three options. You can try to appeal the decision, but that process can take a lot of time, money and expert help. Only 1 in 500 claim denials are appealed. You can agree to a different treatment that your insurer will cover. Or you can pay for the recommended treatment yourself, which is often not realistic because of high health care costs.
As a legal scholar who studies health law and policy, I’m concerned about how insurance algorithms affect people’s health. Like with AI algorithms used by doctors and hospitals, these tools can potentially improve care and reduce costs. Insurers say that AI helps them make quick, safe decisions about what care is necessary and avoids wasteful or harmful treatments.
Presumably, companies feed a patient’s health care records and other relevant information into health care coverage algorithms and compare that information with current medical standards of care to decide whether to cover the patient’s claim. However, insurers have refused to disclose how these algorithms work in making such decisions, so it is impossible to say exactly how they operate in practice.
Using AI to review coverage saves insurers time and resources, especially because it means fewer medical professionals are needed to review each case. But the financial benefit to insurers doesn’t stop there. If an AI system quickly denies a valid claim, and the patient appeals, that appeal process can take years. If the patient is seriously ill and expected to die soon, the insurance company might save money simply by dragging out the process in the hope that the patient dies before the case is resolved.
Insurers say that if they decline to cover a medical intervention, patients can pay for it out of pocket.
This creates the disturbing possibility that insurers might use algorithms to withhold care for expensive, long-term or terminal health problems , such as chronic or other debilitating disabilities. One reporter put it bluntly: “Many older adults who spent their lives paying into Medicare now face amputation or cancer and are forced to either pay for care themselves or go without.”
Insurers argue that patients can always pay for any treatment themselves, so they’re not really being denied care. But this argument ignores reality. These decisions have serious health consequences, especially when people can’t afford the care they need.
That means there’s no public information about how these tools make decisions, and there’s no outside testing to see whether they’re safe, fair or effective. No peer-reviewed studies exist to show how well they actually work in the real world.
There does seem to be some momentum for change. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which is the federal agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, recently announced that insurers in Medicare Advantage plans must base decisions on the needs of individual patients – not just on generic criteria. But these rules still let insurers create their own decision-making standards, and they still don’t require any outside testing to prove their systems work before using them. Plus, federal rules can only regulate federal public health programs like Medicare. They do not apply to private insurers who do not provide federal health program coverage.
Some states, including Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Maine and Texas, have proposed laws to rein in insurance AI. A few have passed new laws, including a 2024 California statute that requires a licensed physician to supervise the use of insurance coverage algorithms.
But most state laws suffer from the same weaknesses as the new CMS rule. They leave too much control in the hands of insurers to decide how to define “medical necessity” and in what contexts to use algorithms for coverage decisions. They also don’t require those algorithms to be reviewed by neutral experts before use. And even strong state laws wouldn’t be enough, because states generally can’t regulate Medicare or insurers that operate outside their borders.
A role for the FDA
In the view of many health law experts, the gap between insurers’ actions and patient needs has become so wide that regulating health care coverage algorithms is now imperative. As I argue in an essay to be published in the Indiana Law Journal, the FDA is well positioned to do so.
The FDA is staffed with medical experts who have the capability to evaluate insurance algorithms before they are used to make coverage decisions. The agency already reviews many medical AI tools for safety and effectiveness. FDA oversight would also provide a uniform, national regulatory scheme instead of a patchwork of rules across the country.
Some people argue that the FDA’s power here is limited. For the purposes of FDA regulation, a medical device is defined as an instrument “intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” Because health insurance algorithms are not used to diagnose, treat or prevent disease, Congress may need to amend the definition of a medical device before the FDA can regulate those algorithms.
If the FDA’s current authority isn’t enough to cover insurance algorithms, Congress could change the law to give it that power. Meanwhile, CMS and state governments could require independent testing of these algorithms for safety, accuracy and fairness. That might also push insurers to support a single national standard – like FDA regulation – instead of facing a patchwork of rules across the country.
The move toward regulating how health insurers use AI in determining coverage has clearly begun, but it is still awaiting a robust push. Patients’ lives are literally on the line.
Jennifer D. Oliva currently receives funding from NIDA to research the impact of pharmaceutical industry messaging on the opioid crisis among U.S. Military Veterans. She is affiliated with the UCSF/University of California College of the Law, San Francisco Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy and Georgetown University Law Center O’Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law.
Evidence suggests that insurance companies use AI to delay or limit health care that patients need.FatCameraE+ via Getty Images
Over the past decade, health insurance companies have increasingly embraced the use of artificial intelligence algorithms. Unlike doctors and hospitals, which use AI to help diagnose and treat patients, health insurers use these algorithms to decide whether to pay for health care treatments and services that are recommended by a given patient’s physicians.
These AI systems also help insurers decide how much care a patient is entitled to — for example, how many days of hospital care a patient can receive after surgery.
If an insurer declines to pay for a treatment your doctor recommends, you usually have three options. You can try to appeal the decision, but that process can take a lot of time, money and expert help. Only 1 in 500 claim denials are appealed. You can agree to a different treatment that your insurer will cover. Or you can pay for the recommended treatment yourself, which is often not realistic because of high health care costs.
As a legal scholar who studies health law and policy, I’m concerned about how insurance algorithms affect people’s health. Like with AI algorithms used by doctors and hospitals, these tools can potentially improve care and reduce costs. Insurers say that AI helps them make quick, safe decisions about what care is necessary and avoids wasteful or harmful treatments.
Presumably, companies feed a patient’s health care records and other relevant information into health care coverage algorithms and compare that information with current medical standards of care to decide whether to cover the patient’s claim. However, insurers have refused to disclose how these algorithms work in making such decisions, so it is impossible to say exactly how they operate in practice.
Using AI to review coverage saves insurers time and resources, especially because it means fewer medical professionals are needed to review each case. But the financial benefit to insurers doesn’t stop there. If an AI system quickly denies a valid claim, and the patient appeals, that appeal process can take years. If the patient is seriously ill and expected to die soon, the insurance company might save money simply by dragging out the process in the hope that the patient dies before the case is resolved.
Insurers say that if they decline to cover a medical intervention, patients can pay for it out of pocket.
This creates the disturbing possibility that insurers might use algorithms to withhold care for expensive, long-term or terminal health problems , such as chronic or other debilitating disabilities. One reporter put it bluntly: “Many older adults who spent their lives paying into Medicare now face amputation or cancer and are forced to either pay for care themselves or go without.”
Insurers argue that patients can always pay for any treatment themselves, so they’re not really being denied care. But this argument ignores reality. These decisions have serious health consequences, especially when people can’t afford the care they need.
That means there’s no public information about how these tools make decisions, and there’s no outside testing to see whether they’re safe, fair or effective. No peer-reviewed studies exist to show how well they actually work in the real world.
There does seem to be some momentum for change. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which is the federal agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, recently announced that insurers in Medicare Advantage plans must base decisions on the needs of individual patients – not just on generic criteria. But these rules still let insurers create their own decision-making standards, and they still don’t require any outside testing to prove their systems work before using them. Plus, federal rules can only regulate federal public health programs like Medicare. They do not apply to private insurers who do not provide federal health program coverage.
Some states, including Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Maine and Texas, have proposed laws to rein in insurance AI. A few have passed new laws, including a 2024 California statute that requires a licensed physician to supervise the use of insurance coverage algorithms.
But most state laws suffer from the same weaknesses as the new CMS rule. They leave too much control in the hands of insurers to decide how to define “medical necessity” and in what contexts to use algorithms for coverage decisions. They also don’t require those algorithms to be reviewed by neutral experts before use. And even strong state laws wouldn’t be enough, because states generally can’t regulate Medicare or insurers that operate outside their borders.
A role for the FDA
In the view of many health law experts, the gap between insurers’ actions and patient needs has become so wide that regulating health care coverage algorithms is now imperative. As I argue in an essay to be published in the Indiana Law Journal, the FDA is well positioned to do so.
The FDA is staffed with medical experts who have the capability to evaluate insurance algorithms before they are used to make coverage decisions. The agency already reviews many medical AI tools for safety and effectiveness. FDA oversight would also provide a uniform, national regulatory scheme instead of a patchwork of rules across the country.
Some people argue that the FDA’s power here is limited. For the purposes of FDA regulation, a medical device is defined as an instrument “intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.” Because health insurance algorithms are not used to diagnose, treat or prevent disease, Congress may need to amend the definition of a medical device before the FDA can regulate those algorithms.
If the FDA’s current authority isn’t enough to cover insurance algorithms, Congress could change the law to give it that power. Meanwhile, CMS and state governments could require independent testing of these algorithms for safety, accuracy and fairness. That might also push insurers to support a single national standard – like FDA regulation – instead of facing a patchwork of rules across the country.
The move toward regulating how health insurers use AI in determining coverage has clearly begun, but it is still awaiting a robust push. Patients’ lives are literally on the line.
Jennifer D. Oliva currently receives funding from NIDA to research the impact of pharmaceutical industry messaging on the opioid crisis among U.S. Military Veterans. She is affiliated with the UCSF/University of California College of the Law, San Francisco Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy and Georgetown University Law Center O’Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law.
Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby visited the BlackSea Technologies (BlackSea) headquarters and production facilities in Baltimore, June 18, to see first-hand how BlackSea supports the U.S. Navy’s Small Unmanned Surface Vehicles (sUSV) program and how it plans to continue to expand its capabilities to support fleet operations.
ALBUQUERQUE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico today announced the first two convictions under Title 50 U.S.C. § 797, Violation of Defense Property Security Regulations, and Title 18 U.S.C. § 1382, Military Trespass, following the recent designation of a military-controlled National Defense Area (NDA) along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Title 50 U.S.C § 797 and Title 18 U.S.C. § 1382 are among the federal statutes that establish criminal penalties for unlawful intrusions into areas designated as National Defense Areas. Title 50 USC § 797 refers to the willful violation of a defense property security regulation, which, pursuant to lawful authority, was approved by the Secretary of Defense—or a military commander designated by the Secretary of Defense—for the protection or security of Department of Defense property. Title 18 USC § 1382 subjects anyone to criminal penalties who, within the jurisdiction of the U.S., entered upon a military post, fort, or yard—in these cases, the New Mexico National Defense Area—for a purpose prohibit by law or lawful regulation, that is, illegal entry into the United States. These laws allow for prosecution of unauthorized entry into the NDA as a federal misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to one year in prison and/or a fine.
In the first case, Andres De Los Santos-Martinez, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty to re-entry after deportation, willfully violating a defense property security regulation, and military trespass by entering the New Mexico National Defense Area (NMNDA), a restricted military zone established in April 2025. De Los Santos-Martinez was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents on June 1, 2025, in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, after crossing the border at a location not designated as a lawful port of entry. De Los Santos-Martinez had previously been apprehended in the NMNDA on May 7, 2025, and was advised in Spanish that unauthorized entry into the restricted military area was prohibited and subject to federal prosecution.
In the second case, Eduardo Herrera-Juvencio, also a Mexican national, pled guilty to re-entry after deportation, willfully violating a defense property security regulation, and military trespass by entering the New Mexico National Defense Area (NMNDA), a restricted military zone established in April 2025. Herrera-Juvencio was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents on June 1, 2025, in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, after crossing the border at a location not designated as a lawful port of entry. Herrera-Juvencio had previously been apprehended in the NMNDA on May 7, 2025, and was advised in Spanish that unauthorized entry into the restricted military area was prohibited and subject to federal prosecution.
These are the first convictions in the District of New Mexico under the new federal enforcement strategy, which grants the military expanded authority over an approximately 60-foot-wide, 170-mile-long strip of land along the New Mexico border, now managed by the U.S. Army as a National Defense Area. The NDA is marked with signs in English and Spanish warning that unauthorized entry is prohibited and subject to federal prosecution.
“These first convictions reflect the resolve of the United States Attorney’s Office to do its part in securing our nation’s southern border,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “I am tremendously proud of our staff in the Las Cruces Branch Office, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the U.S. military for their relentless efforts to secure our southern border. This partnership is a prime example of what can be accomplished through coordinated enforcement of existing federal laws. New Mexico—and the entire country—is more secure because of these efforts.”
“Let this send the message that entering the United States illegally is a crime; and if you do so in an area marked as a National Defense Area, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and removed far from the border,” said Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar.
The Court has ordered both defendants to remain in custody pending sentencing. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to deportation proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Saltman and Alyson Hehr are prosecuting the cases.
USA Ellison speaks during a news conference on the southern border
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
By Wang Hui and Xing Yang
The third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange kicks off in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025.
GUIYANG, China, June 20 — The third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange kicked off in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025. More than 160 participants including defense policy officials, relevant experts and scholars, and representatives of think tanks from China, ASEAN countries, and Timor-Leste attended the event.
Themed on “Jointly Promote Regional Peace and Build a Safe and Secure Home”, the three-day event is hosted by the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
During the event, the representatives had in-depth discussions on the central topic of “Shared Future: Current Situation and Vision of China-ASEAN Defense Cooperation”. They reviewed the positive progress made in China-ASEAN defense cooperation, analyzed new opportunities and challenges in the current regional security situation, and shared views on how to deepen mutual trust, expand fields of cooperation, innovate in cooperation mechanisms, and effectively respond to common security threats. They will also have deeper exchanges on four key topics, namely “Roles of ASEAN in the Evolving International Landscape”, “Institutional Innovation in Regional Security Architecture”, “Cooperation in Maritime Security and Crisis Management”, and “Military Applications and Governance of Emerging Technologies”.
The first China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange was held in October 2019.
Participants from home and abroad attend the third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange in Guiyang City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province on June 19, 2025.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing on Friday, calling on both sides to place greater emphasis on cooperation.
For more than 50 years, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with Western developed countries, Xi said.
As the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade, both sides should work to grow the partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said.
Xi stressed that China and New Zealand should place greater emphasis on cooperation in bilateral relations, leverage their complementary strengths, deepen trade and investment cooperation, and explore potential for cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, climate change, and infrastructure.
He encouraged both sides to strengthen exchanges in education, culture, youth and at non-governmental and sub-national levels.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Headline: Thales supports airspace sovereignty in Albania with Ground Master 400 Alpha surveillance radar
In the presence of the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, and Albanian Defence Minister Pirro Vengu, Thales was selected as strategic industrial partner to support a short-delivery-time request to supply a combat-proven Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) air surveillance radar.
Following up on SEDE’s recent visit to the Republic of Moldova, SEDE Members will host on 26 June, Anatolie Nosatîi, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova, to discuss the latest security and defence developments in the country, in particular the spill-over of Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine and increased hybrid war activities. They will also talk about EU-Moldova security and defence cooperation, which has significantly increased over the years, namely
through European Peace Facility assistance and the EU Partnership Mission. On the same day, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, will address the SEDE Committee. In the context of important summits this week, including the NATO Hague Summit, discussions will focus on strengthening European security in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the critical importance of EU-NATO pillars for a the Transatlantic Alliance. This exchange of view will be held in association with the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JERUSALEM, June 20 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel has already destroyed “more than half” of Iran’s missile launchers and is “capable of striking all of Iran’s nuclear facilities.”
In an interview with the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, B. Netanyahu said that in seven days of military action, Israeli troops are advancing on Iranian nuclear and missile sites ahead of schedule. The prime minister did not give a deadline for the end of the Israeli operation.
The change or fall of Iran’s leadership is not the goal of Israeli attacks, but could be their result, noted B. Netanyahu.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that it had launched a major air campaign inside Iran, including a strike on the inactive nuclear reactor in Arak in the west of the country.
Also on Thursday, rockets fired from Iran hit a hospital and residential buildings in Israel, injuring more than 30 people, Israeli health authorities and local media reported.
Iran struck Israeli military intelligence facilities in the southern part of the country on Thursday morning, not a hospital as some media outlets reported, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.
The latest exchange of blows marks a sharp escalation in fighting that began after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on June 13. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) — The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Friday expelled the official Philippine vessel 3006 from China’s territorial waters around Huangyan Dao in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, a CCG spokesperson said.
The Philippine vessel disregarded China’s repeated dissuasion and warnings, insisting on approaching and intruding into Chinese territorial waters around Huangyan Dao, said spokesperson Liu Dejun.
The CCG employed gradually escalating measures, including verbal warnings, tracking, monitoring and expulsion actions, as well as water cannon warning shots, to expel the Philippine ship. All on-site actions were professional, standardized and legitimate, Liu noted.
The actions of the Philippine vessel seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty and constituted a serious violation of international law and relevant provisions of Chinese law, Liu added, while stressing that frequent provocations and harassment by the Philippine side cannot alter the fact that Huangyan Dao belongs to China.
The CCG will take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the spokesperson noted.
Israel destroyed Iran’s internal security headquarters in Tehran on Thursday while Iranian missiles struck a major Israeli medical facility, marking a dramatic escalation in the seven-day conflict between the West Asian adversaries. The simultaneous attacks on critical infrastructure represent the most intense phase of direct military confrontation between the two nations in recent history.
Israeli forces targeted multiple strategic sites across Iran, including government facilities in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj, as well as Payam airport. The strikes came hours after Iran launched missiles that hit the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, southern Israel, which serves as a primary treatment facility for Israeli military personnel. While the hospital sustained significant structural damage, casualty reports remained limited as portions of the facility had been evacuated in anticipation of potential attacks.
The attack on Soroka Medical Center has sparked strong condemnation from Israeli leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have announced plans to intensify military operations targeting strategic sites across Iran. The Israeli military has already launched strikes on key locations, including the Arak Heavy Water Reactor and facilities in Natanz, as part of efforts to degrade Iran’s nuclear and missile production capabilities.
Iranian state media confirmed there is no radiation threat from the Arak facility, adding that personnel had been safely evacuated before the attack. While Netanyahu clarified that regime change in Iran is not an official Israeli objective, he acknowledged that sustained military pressure on government institutions could eventually lead to such an outcome.
U.S. Signals Deliberate Ambiguity
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained a deliberately vague stance when pressed about possible American military involvement in Israel’s strikes on Iran. The White House has signaled that a decision on whether the United States will join the conflict is expected within the next two weeks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has responded to American statements with warnings of “irreversible harm” should the United States choose to intervene militarily. European nations, while condemning Iran as a destabilizing force and reiterating that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, have also called for diplomacy and urged both sides to reduce tensions.
Diplomatic Push from Europe
There’s a push for renewed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, with some European officials stressing that diplomacy, not regime change, is the preferred approach. The EU has also activated civil protection mechanisms to assist citizens wishing to leave the region.
World powers initiated high-stakes diplomatic efforts on Friday to defuse escalating tensions between Israel and Iran as the conflict entered its second week. Senior European diplomats met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva, seeking to prevent further escalation.
The emergency talks come amid heightened military activity, with Israeli forces destroying three Iranian missile launchers poised to strike Israeli territory. Meanwhile, Iranian missiles continued targeting locations across Israel, including areas near major international companies in Beersheba. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed that some Iranian missiles landed directly in Beersheba without interception, with one projectile falling near Microsoft facilities in the southern Israeli city.
Diplomatic Talks in Geneva
Senior diplomats from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany gathered with Abbas Araghchi in Geneva, accompanied by the European Union’s foreign policy chief. The negotiations aim to establish a two-week diplomatic window to de-escalate tensions, focusing on Tehran’s nuclear program.
These talks come amid rising global concern that the conflict could spiral into open warfare, destabilizing West Asia and precipitating a humanitarian crisis. The diplomatic push also serves as a prelude to next week’s NATO summit in The Hague, where regional security will be a key focus.
European officials underscored the urgency of dialogue, cautioning that continued military pressure on Iran risks regime collapse and widespread displacement. Meanwhile, Russia condemned Israel’s military actions, expressing support for Tehran and calling for peaceful resolutions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained strategic ambiguity on American involvement, stating that a decision will be made within two weeks.
Escalation and Regional Impact
European officials highlighted the potential humanitarian fallout should Iran’s government collapse under sustained military pressure. Israel’s military campaign has expanded beyond conventional targets, hitting state institutions such as police headquarters and state television offices in Tehran.
Western and regional sources indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims not only to degrade Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities but also to destabilize the core structures of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s regime.
Divisions within the European Union
The European Union remains divided over the legitimacy of Israel’s military actions. While France, Germany, and Italy support Israel’s right to self-defense, other member states question the legal justification for offensive operations against Iran under international law.
The EU has called for restraint and adherence to international law, warning of severe risks, including radioactive contamination and widespread humanitarian consequences.
Russia’s Position and U.S. Ambiguity
Russia has strongly condemned what it terms Israel’s “unprovoked military assaults on a sovereign UN member state,” positioning itself as a proponent of diplomacy while backing Iran. The ongoing uncertainty from Washington, as President Trump weighs options, has left regional actors uncertain about the conflict’s trajectory.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in 639 casualties in Iran.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial Level is holding its 54th Ordinary Session today,18th of June 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.
During the meeting, Ministers will consider the report of the 42nd Session of the MSC at the Ambassadorial Level, along with memoranda on the political, security, and humanitarian situations in the Region. Key updates will include the transition process in the Republic of Guinea, negotiations with Burkina Faso, Republics of Mali, and Niger, as well as maritime security, counterterrorism and organised crime, among other pressing matters.
In his welcome address, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted that the 54th Ordinary Session of MSC convenes at a defining moment as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary. President Touray commended Member States for their unwavering commitment to peace, security and regional stability, noting that despite persistent challenges, the Community remains resilient and unified.
He emphasised the Council’s enduring contribution to maintaining security over the past 25 years and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening the regional peace and security architecture, improving communication to counter misinformation, and preserving the achievements of the Community amidst growing geopolitical complexities.
“For over 25 years, the Mediation and Security Council has contributed immensely to the security and stability of our region, through its numerous sessions. Therefore, in celebrating the Golden Jubilee, we must recognise the contribution of this august body to the Community,” President Touray added.
H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, welcomed delegates to Abuja and acknowledged their continued dedication to strengthening peace, security, and democratic governance in West Africa. He outlined the Council’s focus on key regional priorities, including political transitions, upcoming elections, maritime security, terrorism, organised crime and financial transparency.
Ambassador Tuggar also highlighted progress on the Early Warning and Response Centres, the launch of the Regional Partnership for Democracy, and the completion of the Lungi Military Logistics Depot, a milestone in operationalising the ECOWAS Standby Force.
He further underscored the need for collective ownership of regional initiatives and cautioned against restrictive policies that could hinder trade and investment opportunities vital to the region’s prosperity.
“In these challenging times, our ability to come together to consult, collaborate and take decisive action remains vital to advancing peace, security and good governance across our region,” he added.
A report will be adopted by the Ministers at the end of the MSC Session and presented to the Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, scheduled to take place in Abuja from the 19th to 20th of June 2025.
– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Anthony Albanese, just back from the G7 and his cancelled meeting with Donald Trump, has abandoned the idea of going to next week’s NATO meeting in pursuit of face time with the elusive president.
The word was that the prime minister would only go if he could be confident of a bilateral.
The NATO thought bubble was always a long shot. Even if a meeting could have been arranged, there would have been risk of another no-show by Trump. Given the dramatic escalation and unpredictability of the Middle East crisis, Trump would be even more unreliable, quite apart from having his attention elsewhere.
Albanese’s mistake was letting the NATO option be publicly known. It led to denigratory jokes about his “stalking” Trump. It also
sounded as if the prime minister was insulting NATO, only willing to attend if he could secure the Trump one-on-one.
So Albanese is back where he started, with all diplomatic efforts bent towards trying to secure a meeting, if possible reasonably soon. That might mean facing the scrum in the Oval Office, which Albanese has been anxious to avoid.
Australia closes embassy in Tehran
Meanwhile, the government has announced it has closed the Australian embassy in Tehran. The embassy’s 13 staff have left Iran.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday, “This is not a decision taken lightly. It is a decision based on the deteriorating security environment in Iran”.
“At this stage, our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
Asked how much more difficult it would be for Australians to leave Iran now there was no consular assistance in the country, Wong said: “We are really conscious it is extremely difficult. I wish it were not so. I wish that we had more capacity to assist but the difficult reality is the situation on the ground is extremely unstable.”
Wong said Australia’s ambassador to Iran, Ian McConville, would “remain in the region to support the Australian government’s response to the crisis”. The Department of Foreign Affairs is sending consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossing, to help Australians who are leaving Iran.
Australian Defence Force personnel and aircraft are being sent to the Middle East as part of planning for when airspace is re-opened. Wong stressed “they are not there for combat”.
Other countries to close their embassies include New Zealand and Switzerland. The United States does not have an embassy there.
Wong urged Australians able to leave “to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place”.
About 2000 Australian citizens, permanent residents and family members are registered as wanting to depart. There are about 1200 registered in Israel seeking to depart.
Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 (in Australia).
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
