US News
- Twitter bans thousands of “Qanon” accounts and calls the movement dangerous. Twitter will work to suppress any “Qanon” tweets. [Link]
- The Pentagon will restrict the release of unclassified information. [Link]
- The Space Force and Air Force introduced a new defense plan for the arctic. [Link]
- Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says no orders have been given to reduce US troop numbers in South Korea. Last week, the Pentagon presented Trump with options for a troop reduction. [Link]
Congress
- As Congress prepares the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, some in Congress are attempting to protect Americans from being caught up in mass spying programs and having that information used against them. Congress is struggling to pass meaningful reforms as the extent of the federal government spying powers is classified and not fully known to Congress. [Link]
- The House defeated an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would have allowed for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. [Link]
- The House defeated an amendment to the NDAA that would have cut the Pentagon budget by 10%. [Link]
- The House voted to pass the 2021 NDAA approving $740 billion for the Pentagon in FY2021. [Link]
- The Senate passed an amendment to their version of the 2021 NDAA that blocks the Pentagon from transferring tanks and drones to police departments. However, the Senate blocked an amendment that would have limited other weapons from being given to police departments. [Link]
- Trump threatened to veto the 2021 NDAA over the potential final bill requiring the name change of US bases named after Confederate generals and limits on his power to end the war in Afghanistan. [Link]
Venezuela
- The US announced sanctions on Venezuelan Chief Justice Maikel Moreno. The US also offered a $5 million reward for his arrest. The US alleges he has ties to organized crime. [Link]
China
- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the world needs to unite against China. [Link]
- The US informed the Chinese government that it needed to close its Houston consulate in three days to protect American intellectual property. China says it will possibly order the US consulate in Wuhan to close in response. [Link]
- The US Commerce Department sanctioned 11 Chinese companies. [Link]
