• The ATF ran an illegal cigarette smuggling operation to raise millions of dollars in funding for undercover operations. The ATF is now being sued by a group of tobacco growers. [Link]

• New Hampshire passes a Constitutional Carry law. This will allow citizens to conceal carry firearms without a license. [Link]

• A young man has been arrested by the FBI on terrorism charges. The young man was never in contact with any actual terrorists and only followed the orders of the FBI agents who posed as terrorists. The FBI agent also threatened the young man and his family if he backed out on his promises. [Link]

• This article explains how America’s foreign policy lead to Trump’s travel ban. [Link]

• Germany announced plans to increase the size of its military and to send tanks to Lithuania. [Link]

• The US Navy’s carrier strike group 1 arrived in the South China Sea. The stated mission of the carrier strike group is to promote freedom of travel on the sea. [Link]

• Civilians are fleeing their homes in the outskirts of West Mosul as battles begin in the area. [Link]

• ISIS has constructed an elaborate tunnel network under West Mosul that will make fighting ISIS in the city very difficult. [Link]

• ISIS is working to reestablish itself in cities that the Iraqi military has already liberated. ISIS is bribing and blackmailing local officials to free their fighters from jail. [Link]

• The Pentagon admits that “some number” of US troops were wounded fighting in Mosul in the past six to eight weeks. [Link]

• The Cheif General of Central Command says the US needs more troops in Syria. [Link]

On Foreign Policy Focus #5 I explain how closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center will reduce terrorism. I also cover the restart of the Iraqi invasion of Mosul, news stories from around Syria, famine in South Sudan, refugees killed in Libya, Yemenis returning home, a new ceasefire in Ukraine, North Korea reaching out for talks, and Trump’s appointment of McMaster. LISTEN HERE!!