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USSOUTHCOM murdered three people in the Pacific bringing their total to 177. US DoD to cancel collective bargaining agreements for civilian employees. GOP Senators block fourth attempt to force end of Iran war. US Army shuts down Soldier for Life media accounts after the organization boosted it's tribute to Senator Duckworth. These stories are among 15 highlighted by Gov Brief Today on April 15th. Gov Brief Today curates a dozen or so stories each day on the actions of the US government (not always military).
More stories form the 15th:
US to send 10,000+ more troops to war in Iran - The personnel will join the estimated 50,000 troops that the Pentagon has said are involved globally in operations to counter Iran.
US DoD continues ramp up of Cuba invasion plans. France is attempt to secure release citizen - The French government is pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release the 86-year-old French widow of a military veteran from immigration custody after she was detained earlier this month.
Pentagon approaching automakers with discussions to repurpose facilities to military use. - The Trump administration wants automakers and other American manufacturers to play a larger role in weapons production, reminiscent of a practice used during World War II.
posted by Mitheral on Apr 16, 2026 at 12:13 PM
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The courts just can't handle the pace and intensity of bad faith coming out of this administration.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 12:17 PM
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Don't forget Pete Hegseth quotes Pulp Fiction at military prayer service.
posted by TedW at 12:28 PM
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House Republicans narrowly reject effort to end Trump's war with Iran
How narrow was the vote? The war powers resolution would have passed the House if Jared Golden's (D-ME) nay vote hadn't coincidentally balanced out Thomas Massie (R-KY) vote in favor of it. Another coincidence: Jared Golden isn't even running for reelection.
Yet another instance where there just happened to be enough Democratic defectors to balance out Republican defectors so the legislation doesn't pass.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:28 PM
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TedW: "Don't forget Pete Hegseth quotes Pulp Fiction at military prayer service."
No better time for the Logan Roy gif of "You are not serious people."
posted by Kitteh at 12:31 PM
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Yet another instance where there just happened to be enough Democratic defectors to balance out Republican defectors
See also the recent simultaneous resignations. Seems like there is more bipartisanship going on than they want us to think.
posted by TedW at 12:33 PM
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Not to be conspiratorial, but there's obviously some effort going on to spike some of these votes.
Are they doing it because there's some bigger plan and it's just too soon for Congress to defy Trump with something like this? (And if so, maybe they could be a little more open about it instead of keeping us in the dark?) Or are these votes just for show? Are these narrow votes Congress being condescending or performative?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:45 PM
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The votes that always juuuust narrowly fail are part of how the consent is manufactured. "We are almost there! Turn out a little harder for us next time, and you don't need to do anything else!" Then you can run on your opposition to the war while simultaneously collecting donations from AIPAC with guarantees that just enough of you will fall on swords to make sure they get their way in the next election cycle.
posted by Seven Deadly Gins at 12:57 PM
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Also, today the US Senate voted to end the ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota.
posted by pwenzel at 1:08 PM
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pwenzel: "the US Senate voted to end the ban on mining"
Now this is a literal crime against Nature: some of the cleanest, most beautiful country in North America is about to be polluted by a South American mining mess. SO MAD
posted by wenestvedt at 1:22 PM
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RonButNotStupid: "Or are these votes just for show? "
I think we all know the answer here.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 1:40 PM
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Are they doing it because there's some bigger plan
The bigger plan is giving the military money to expand into certain districts, and more money to contractors to make war materiel we're using up in Iran, which means jobs in certain districts.
In Jared Golden's case, for instance, there are shipbuilders in Maine that need to be funded to feed the shareholders.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:01 PM
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There's no conspiracy, it's just business as usual.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 2:02 PM
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Economist / YouGov Poll. April 10 - 13, 2026 - 1748 U.S. Adult Citizens (toplines, tables)
* If the elections for U.S. Congress were being held today, who would you vote for in the district where you live? D: 38%, R: 35%, O: 1%, Not sure: 12%, I would not vote: 15%
* How would you describe the current state of the American economy? Total Excellent/Good: 25%, Total Fair/Poor: 70%
* Do you support or oppose the war with Iran? Support: 32%, Oppose: 55%
posted by are-coral-made at 3:43 PM
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Not sure: 12%, I would not vote: 15%
There's your problem.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 5:22 PM
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R: 35%
We've got a bigger problem now.
posted by TedW at 6:21 PM
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Yet another instance where there just happened to be enough Democratic defectors to balance out Republican defectors so the legislation doesn't pass.
Rotating villain theory remains very much in evidence
posted by deadbilly at 6:23 PM
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Nancy Mace also sat the vote out, after saying she'd vote with Democrats to end the war.
Republicans like to avoid publicly disagreeing with Trump, while privately begging him to consider their positions. Perhaps there's some plan to end this war on a face-saving timeline. But probably it will just get worse for Trump the longer it goes on. China and Japan are both now working to deescalate, the USA will end this war friendless. Europe will run out of jet fuel in six weeks.
posted by subdee at 7:18 PM
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As for the pacific boat strikes, I read somewhere that these are probably a loyalty test, and I think that's right. Find out now which commanders and units won't follow illegal orders and purge them ahead of the 2030 presidential election.
posted by subdee at 7:20 PM
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Yet another instance where there just happened to be enough Democratic defectors to balance out Republican defectors
Ah, the classic Schumer/Jeffries Special.
posted by mediareport at 4:23 AM
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is preparing banks to collect citizenship data
posted by kliuless at 7:26 AM
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The courts just can't handle the pace and intensity of bad faith coming out of this administration.
Indeed, the flooding of the zone has been in full effect since day one of this administration. And then on top of that they will simply ignore court orders that do go against them, and/or just move to the next illegal workaround. DOJ appointments being one of the prime examples.
posted by zoinks at 11:17 AM
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