Trump administration resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause
The weapons now moving into Ukraine include 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday. It's unclear exactly when the weapons started moving.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the pause last week to allow the Pentagon to assess its weapons stockpiles, in a move that caught the White House by surprise. The Pentagon has denied that Hegseth acted without consulting President Donald Trump.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that had not been announced publicly.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TechCrunch
21 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Sequoia bets on silence
There is a time-honored crisis management strategy, wherein one says nothing and waits for the outrage to pass. For Sequoia Capital, the strategy worked pretty well this week. While partner Shaun Maguire initially weathered criticism over an inflammatory social media post, that initial indignation cooled quickly. Now, some seem to think that Maguire's defiant stance may even be strengthening his position. Business Insider actually called it 'good for deal flow' — controversy as competitive advantage. Sequoia's calculated gamble carries real risk, though. Another provocative post from Maguire that hits the wrong nerve, a shift in political winds, or escalating consequences could quickly transform their unflappable partner from an asset into a liability the firm can no longer afford to ignore. A crisis communications professional who has managed reputation disasters for dozens of major brands tells this editor, 'Firms like Sequoia are bulletproof until they aren't.' What happened Sequoia's hands-off approach was put to the test earlier this week when the storied venture firm found itself in the eye of a storm over Maguire's inflammatory comments about New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Maguire called him an 'Islamist' who 'comes from a culture that lies about everything' in a July 4th tweet on X that has since been viewed more than five million times. More than one thousand signatures have poured in since on a petition demanding that Sequoia condemn the remarks, investigate Maguire's conduct, and apologize. There's been a lot of talk about why Sequoia hasn't done this, with many outlets noting that Maguire isn't just any partner. This status owes partly to his friendship with Stripe's co-founder. According to reports, at a 2015 Founders Fund event, Maguire—then a Founders Fund-backed entrepreneur—defended Collison during an argument with Anduril's Palmer Luckey about quantum computing, earning Collison's friendship. The connection proved valuable when Maguire joined Google Ventures in 2016; he helped secure a $20 million Stripe investment during his first week. When Maguire left Google Ventures in 2019, Collison personally recommended him to Sequoia's partners. (Stripe has been in Sequoia's portfolio since 2010, with the firm investing more than $500 million over 15 years.) Maguire also led Sequoia's investment in Bridge, a stablecoin platform that Stripe acquired for $1.1 billion, and is reportedly Sequoia's link to Elon Musk, though this is probably somewhat overstated. Musk and Sequoia's global managing director, Roelof Botha, are both native South Africans and have known each other for more than 25 years, dating back to their time together at the then-nascent PayPal, where Botha was recruited personally by Musk. Despite that long relationship, the two haven't always seen eye to eye. Botha was highly critical of Musk's management style when Musk was CEO of the merged company, where Botha was CFO. Botha once told veteran journalist Ebbe Dommisse, 'I think it would have killed the company if Elon had stayed on as CEO for six more months. The mistakes Elon was making at the time were amplifying the risk of the business.' But Musk was at odds with pretty much that entire crew at the time, and those tensions have long since been resolved. Techcrunch event Save up to $475 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW The bigger point here: when you're managing tens of billions of dollars in assets and your firm's reputation rests on backing winners like Google, Stripe, and Nvidia, you don't easily cast aside a rainmaker. Meanwhile, Maguire's behavior suggests he's not backing down. After issuing a 30-minute video on X last weekend in which he apologized for offending so many — saying he was making a point about a political ideology and not one about a religion — he has doubled down with increasingly aggressive posts this week. He has claimed he has 'reverse engineered' his critics' 'command structure' and threatened to 'embarrass' anyone who escalates against him. He added that this is him at '1% throttle' and warned people not to 'fuck w children of the internet.' The silent treatment Sequoia has precedent for its approach to this situation. The firm has historically given its partners space to express themselves publicly, with figures like Doug Leone and Michael Moritz (who left the firm in 2023) representing different political perspectives. But there's a crucial difference between political diversity and inflammatory rhetoric and clearly to some, Maguire's comments extend beyond partisan politics into territory that alienates both political opponents and potential business partners. It's also worth remembering that even for Sequoia, there is a bright line. Michael Goguen, another, earlier rainmaker with the firm, was promptly shown the door when Sequoia learned of a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against him. The situations are hardly comparable; Goguen's issues were legal and personal, not ideological. At the same time, Sequoia has shown it isn't willing to circle the wagons at any cost, not if its reputation is at stake. Presumably, several factors inform Sequoia's do-nothing PR strategy, including how quickly people, faced with a constant flurry of news, move on from a scandal. The firm is also operating in a different political landscape right now in the U.S. Along with Donald Trump's victory and the rollback of DEI initiatives has come new tolerance for controversial speech. What might have been career-ending at an earlier point in time is now weathered more easily. The firm is also likely banking on the fact that while founders want partners who fit the traditional, more genteel VC mold, they want successful ones even more. Startups being courted by multiple top-tier firms might not like or agree with Maguire, but when Sequoia comes calling with its track record and almost bottomless pockets, most founders are going to welcome the firm with open arms. There's also the very real possibility that Sequoia is working on a contingency plan. (Sequoia declined to comment on Maguire's posts when reached by TechCrunch earlier this week.) Still, Sequoia's silence carries risks. Not all the signers have been confirmed, but the petition against Maguire includes the names of some prominent Middle Eastern executives and founders who have attested to signing it, and they represent the kind of diverse, global talent pool that drives innovation. By not addressing the controversy, Sequoia risks being seen as tacitly endorsing Maguire's views. Put another way, though the venture capital world has historically been remarkably forgiving of controversial figures with exceptional deal flow, the firm is gambling with its reputation in an increasingly connected global market where alienating entire regions and communities carries real business consequences. Whether that bet pays off will depend on how long the controversy lingers, how much business it actually costs Sequoia, and whether Maguire can resist the urge to push things past Sequoia's own tolerance threshold. (He has said he doesn't post anything that hasn't been 'excrutiatingly thought out.') History suggests that established financial firms with strong track records tend to outlive their scandals, even serious ones. When Apollo Global Management's Leon Black resigned in 2021 over his $158 million payments to Jeffrey Epstein, the firm's stock barely moved and shareholders seemed largely unfazed. Apollo just continued its aggressive deal-making under new leadership. Similarly, Kleiner Perkins survived Ellen Pao's high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit in 2015. But it took years and essentially an entirely new team for the storied venture firm to regain its footing in Silicon Valley's hierarchy. The lesson here may be that while controversial partners can be endured, the recovery timelines can vary significantly depending on how firms handle the crisis. For now, the crisis communications professional, who asked not to be named, has some advice for Maguire and, by extension, Sequoia. Regarding the video Maguire published in the aftermath of his initial comments, the expert said, 'I did think that apology addressed the ambiguities in [Maguire's] post. But it's a 30-minute video — you have to be really interested to watch this.' If there's a next time, the professional said, Maguire should 'do two videos — one for three minutes' and another, longer video, for anyone who wants to keep watching. Sometimes, the expert added, 'less is more.'
CNN
23 minutes ago
- CNN
Deputy FBI Director Bongino has told people he is considering resigning amid Epstein files fallout, sources say
CNN — Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino has told people he is considering resigning amid a major clash between the FBI and Justice Department over the continued fallout from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein memo, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. This comes after a heated confrontation with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of the case earlier this week. The infighting over the case came to a head during a Wednesday meeting, which included Bongino, Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, the sources said. Bongino and Patel were confronted about whether they were behind a story that said the FBI wanted more information released but was ultimately stymied by the Department of Justice, they said. Bongino denied leaking that notion to NewsNation, which published the story, a source familiar with the matter told CNN, though he did not sign on to a statement defending the review included in that article. CNN has reached out to Bongino and the FBI for comment. The sources cautioned that Bongino had not made up his mind, and it was possible he would stay in his position. Axios first reported some of the details of Bongino's confrontation at the White House. The episode comes as many of President Donald Trump's close advisers, both inside and outside of the White House, have grown increasingly frustrated with Bondi's handling of the so-called Epstein files, following days of intense criticism from some of the president's most devoted supporters. Multiple sources said Bongino did not come to work Friday, fueling speculation he had quit over the issue. One of those sources said that as of Friday afternoon he had not left his position. 'The whole thing has been a complete mess and no one is happy,' a source briefed on the matter told CNN. Epstein is a disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose criminal case has long captured significant public attention, in part because of his ties to wealthy and high-profile people. In August 2019, while he was awaiting trial in a federal criminal case, Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His death was ruled a suicide. The death, though, was heavily scrutinized, and during his 2024 campaign, Trump said that he would consider releasing additional government files on the case. Many of the president's supporters hoped that release would implicate other high-profile figures, or undercut the notion that Epstein killed himself. But the Justice Department announced in a memo Monday that there was no evidence he kept a 'client list' or was murdered, fueling rage and suspicion among many in MAGA world. FBI and Justice officials had been at odds for months about the handling of the Epstein files review. But the tension spilled out publicly on Friday, when far-right provocateur Laura Loomer, who is close with people in the administration, wrote on social media that Bongino and Patel were 'LIVID' with Bondi over the Epstein case. She wrote Bongino was 'taking the day off today from his job as Deputy Director of the FBI, and there's now speculation on whether or not he will return to his job.' Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche denied a rift between Justice Department and FBI leadership in a post on X Friday, saying that 'the suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo's composition and release is patently false.' White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said Trump has 'assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims.' 'This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity,' Fields said. 'Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.' Bondi orchestrated an event at the White House in February with pro-Trump social media influencers to present binders of Epstein-related documents, though she later faced criticism when the MAGA influencers realized most of the documents had been public for years. Patel had minimal involvement in that event. More recently, Bongino repeated promises that the files would be released, even as he tried to downplay their contents. At least one of Bongino's frustrations relates to a 10-hour surveillance video taken outside of Epstein's Manhattan jail cell the day he died, a person familiar with the situation told CNN. As the investigators spent weeks combing through records related to the Epstein investigation, Bongino discovered the video, the person said. The deputy director was elated by the discovery, and he said it was definitive evidence that Epstein had not been murdered, they said. But after the video was released, members of the public and press observed that the video jumped forward, cutting out 60 seconds. Bondi has publicly said the outdated recording system that produced the video resets every day at midnight and the same minute is skipped every evening. Still, theories about what happened in that minute exploded online, and Bongino was blamed internally for the oversight. Patel and Bongino have privately expressed frustration for months over the DOJ's handling of the case, stemming in part from an early interview where Bondi implied the FBI was still reviewing the case, while it had already been turned over to the Department of Justice, sources familiar with the matter said.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
After deadly floods, state and federal leaders look for answers
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the aftermath of the Kerr County flooding, there are growing questions about how the response was handled as leaders at all levels continue looking for answers. 'I think there's certainly a lot of questions that need to be answered, you know, the how and the why are always something that we're going to look at in the wake of a tragedy,' said State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso. 'And that's something we owe to the people of Texas, to those families who have suffered immensely, we owe that to them.' Federal leaders spar on NWS flood warning response, pose safety review after Texas disaster Moody wants to see long-term and immediate changes that could include funding for outdoor warning sirens. 'When we're talking about short-term solutions, like these flood warning systems,' Moody said. 'Those are things we can do right now.' On Tuesday, State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, shared a letter he sent Gov. Greg Abbott on social media. Darby wants to see a failed bill co-authored by Moody, House Bill 13, resurface. KXAN first reported on the bill over the weekend. If passed, it would have developed a statewide strategic plan that included 'the use of outdoor warning sirens.' A newly formed council would have been asked to 'develop and implement, as advisable, emergency alert systems and incorporate as necessary communication technologies into the emergency communications network of this state.' 'While we cannot change the past, we must act now to better prepare our communities for future natural disasters and ensure our neighbors have the resources to rebuild,' Darby wrote on X. 'This includes, among other things, investing in a more robust and comprehensive alert system, as well as ensuring a coordinated, long-term recovery effort that leaves no community behind.' His letter asked the governor to urgently consider adding 'strengthening the ability of our state and local communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters' to the July 21 special session. On Tuesday, Abbott said 'at the top' of the agenda will be helping communities impacted. 'We're going to start a special session two Mondays from now. A special session that will have at the top of its agenda helping communities like in Kerr County, Kendall County, as well as in Central Texas and the Big Country — all areas affected by the floods of the past week — those issues are going to be on the agenda for the state to address, from top to bottom,' Abbott said. 'We want to make sure that when we end that session, we end it making sure these communities are better, more resilient and have the resources that they need for the next chapter of their lives.' 'You're going to see a bipartisan group of legislators lock arms and work on solutions to these problems,' Moody said. Following Texas floods, warning sirens get renewed attention READ: Congressman Doggett's letter to NOAA sent July 8Download On the federal level, elected leaders are looking for lessons. 'Most people at 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. are asleep,' said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. 'And, so, I think we will have a reasonable conversation about A, are there any ways to have earlier detection?' On Monday, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told NBC News that flood sirens, and resources for smaller counties to respond and prepare for disasters, will likely be discussed at the federal level. 'Look, I think that's certainly a discussion that will flow in the weeks and months ahead,' Cruz said. 'I think we need to look at what happened, what transpired and how we could have moved more quickly to get people who are vulnerable out of harm's way in particular those kids in the cabins by the river.' 'How we make that happen, I think, is a very reasonable discussion,' he added. 'It should be a bipartisan discussion. And, I expect it to happen at the local level, the state level and the federal level.' A day after KXAN highlighted cities, like San Marcos, that have outdoor warning sirens, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said he is 'certainly in favor' of discussing the issue on a federal level. 'It's amazing that a county [Kerr County] that encourages people from all over the state and the country to come there for camping did not have sirens of the type we have in San Marcos,' Doggett said. In a letter sent Tuesday, first obtained by KXAN, Doggett asked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to answer 14 questions. He is asking for details about any communication between the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office and Kerr County or camp leaders before the flooding began. Doggett also wants to know how staffing cuts have impacted operations. KXAN previously found six vacancies in the NWS Austin/San Antonio office, according to its online staff roster and the NWS Employees Organization. Those include three meteorologists, two technology staff members and a science officer. The office has 26 employees when fully staffed. 'I think we need that information,' Doggett said. 'We need to know the impact of these cutbacks and hiring freezes not just to find out the results of the disaster but to prevent other disasters from occurring.' The White House said the NWS 'did its job' and, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, joined Cruz in pushing back against the criticism. 'Based on the briefing I've received, all of these sort of political finger pointing and blame game is totally out of line,' Cornyn said. 'There was not shortage of resources available. Unfortunately, this was a 100-year flood in a very vulnerable area, with a very vulnerable population.' Cornyn said Congress will do 'everything we can to prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future.' 'We would try to learn from this and say, 'What can we do to maybe prevent or mitigate something like this from happening?,'' he said. Over the weekend, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited the area along the Guadalupe River, calling the amount of rain in the flooding event 'unprecedented,' broadly referencing the administration's goal to 'fix' aging technology within NOAA – the parent agency to the NWS. 'I do carry your concerns back to the federal government and back to President Trump,' Noem said, acknowledging the need to upgrade 'ancient' technology so 'families have as much warning as possible.' On Tuesday, officials said the NWS 'fulfilled its public safety mission' by issuing more than 60 warnings before the flooding occurred. 'The simple fact is most government systems are antiquated and running on legacy technology — that's been the norm across nearly every agency, under both Republican and Democrat administrations, for decades,' a DHS spokesperson said. 'It's simply not realistic to overhaul every outdated system at once. That's why this administration is taking a hard look at these longstanding issues as part of our broader push to protect taxpayer dollars, strengthen accountability, and modernize where it makes the most sense.' Amid the state and national recoil, President Donald Trump plans to visit Texas Friday to see the damage firsthand. 'This is a 100-year catastrophe,' Trump said. 'And it's just so horrible to watch.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
