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The Hill
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Ukraine weapons freeze causes concern
The Big Story Democratic and even some Republican lawmakers are up in arms over the Pentagon's halted shipments of certain munitions to Ukraine. © AP The paused shipments of air defense missiles and precision munitions followed a review of the Defense Department's munitions stockpiles and worries that U.S. armaments stockpiles were dwindling. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby was reportedly the main driver in the decision, which came in early June. 'If this is true, then Mr. Colby, who opposed military assistance to Ukraine and even refused to acknowledge that Russia's actions amounted to an 'invasion' of Ukraine in his confirmation hearing, is taking action that will surely result in the imminent death of many Ukrainian military and civilians,' Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) posted Wednesday to social platform X. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called Colby and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'rogue actors' who are deviating from President Trump's stance from a week ago, when he said the U.S. was 'going to see if we can make some' air defense missiles available for Kyiv. Ukraine's few stalwart GOP allies also raised alarms that actions by DOD are undermining Trump's leverage in pushing for Russia to come to a ceasefire, and criticizing how funds appropriated by Congress are being diverted. 'I led the effort to pass the emergency wartime supplemental to ensure Ukraine finally had the weapons it needed to repel Russia's [vicious] and unprovoked attack,' Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, requested an emergency briefing from the White House on the status of defensive arms transfers to Ukraine. 'This comes as Russia launches the largest aerial assault since the war began, firing over 500 weapons at civilian targets in a single week,' Fitzpatrick said in a statement. The delayed lethal aid has set off alarm bells in Ukraine, which has been hit with intensifying Russian airstrikes and battlefield advances. The paused shipment prompted Ukraine to call in the acting U.S. envoy to Kyiv to press on the importance of continuing military aid from Washington, Reuters reported. Read the full report at Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Pentagon says Iran nuclear program set back 1 to 2 years The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates that Iran's nuclear program has been set back at least a year after the U.S. military bombed three vital nuclear sites last month. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters on Wednesday that intelligence assessments inside the department indicate that Iran's nuclear program has been degraded by 'one to two years.' 'I think we're thinking probably closer to … About 70 National Guard troops activated to protect Alligator Alcatraz Just fewer than 70 Florida National Guard troops have been sent to guard the remote migrant detention center in the state's Everglades known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' the Pentagon's top spokesperson announced Wednesday. 'Nearly 70 Florida National Guard are on state active duty … conducting base camp security at Alligator Alcatraz,' chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters. … House Republican calls for emergency briefing on Ukraine weapons freeze Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) is calling on the White House and the Department of Defense (DOD) to hold an emergency briefing on the Pentagon's recent pause in shipments of some air defense missiles and munitions to Ukraine. 'I respectfully request an emergency briefing from the White House and the Department of Defense on the Pentagon's recent review of our nation's weapons and munitions stockpiles, as well as the decision … On Our Radar Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Federal judge tosses case from family of Boulder suspect seeking to block their deportation A federal judge has tossed the case of the family of an Egyptian national who attacked a group of protesters in Colorado, ending their legal bid to block their deportation. The case, brought by Hayam El Gamal, the wife of Mohamed Soliman, ends the family's legal battle to remain in the country. … On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets: Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Live updates: House appears stuck as GOP leaders fight for votes on Trump megabill The House is in a holding pattern as GOP leaders lean on Republican holdouts to allow President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' to … Read more Trump says Powell should 'resign immediately' President Trump on Wednesday called for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to resign after the overseer of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac called for Congress … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
The Hill
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Pentagon's pause on Ukraine munitions raises alarm; Democrats see ‘rogue actors'
Democratic lawmakers are calling out 'rogue actors' in the Trump administration over the Pentagon's halted shipments of certain munitions to Ukraine, insisting many people will die due to the pause. The paused shipments of air defense missiles and precision munitions, first reported by Politico, was done after a review of the Defense Department's munitions stockpiles and worries that U.S. armaments stockpiles were dwindling, three people familiar with the issue told the outlet. Pentagon's policy chief Elbridge Colby was the main driver in the decision, which came in early June, according to Politico. 'If this is true, then Mr. Colby, who opposed military assistance to Ukraine and even refused to acknowledge that Russia's actions amounted to an 'invasion' of Ukraine in his confirmation hearing, is taking action that will surely result in the imminent death of many Ukrainian military and civilians,' Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) posted to X on Wednesday. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called Colby and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 'rogue actors' who are deviating from President Trump's stance from a week ago, when he said the U.S. was 'going to see if we can make some' air defense missiles available for Kyiv. 'President Trump pledged just last week to look for additional air defense systems for Ukraine, but Secretary Hegseth and Under Secretary Colby seem to be ignoring him,' Shaheen said in a statement. 'The Trump Administration's mixed messaging is undermining its own agenda to bring [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to the negotiation table . . . now is not the time for rouge actors undermining our national security interests.' In a statement to The Hill, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell did not deny the halted shipments, only saying that the U.S. military 'has never been more ready and more capable thanks to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's leadership,' and that service members 'are fully equipped to deter against any threat.' The delayed lethal aid has set off alarm bells in Ukraine, which has been hit with intensifying Russian air strikes and battlefield advances. Russian air strikes involving hundreds of attack drones and ballistic and cruise missiles on Ukrainian cities have killed dozens of people in recent weeks. The paused shipment prompted Ukraine to call in the acting U.S. envoy to Kyiv to press on the importance of continuing military aid from Washington, Reuters reported. 'The Ukrainian side emphasised that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror, rather than seek peace,' Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement. Ukraine's defense ministry also said it was seeking clarity from Washington as it had not been officially notified of any pause in U.S. shipments. In an interview Wednesday with Fox News, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed an understanding for U.S. needs to keep its stockpiles up, but stressed that Ukraine 'cannot do without all the support it can get when it gets to ammunition and to air defense systems.' Kaptur also highlighted the importance of U.S.-made air defense systems, including the Patriot, in defending Ukraine against Russian strikes. 'They work. They save lives every day,' she said.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump freezes military aid to Ukraine amid increased Russian missile strikes
The Trump administration is halting the transfer of artillery rounds and air defenses to Ukraine, depriving the country of much-needed weapons as it endures stepped-up missile and drone attacks from Russia. On Sunday, Ukraine said Russia fired a record 537 missiles and drones in 'massive' overnight attacks.(AFP File) The White House confirmed a Politico report on the stoppage, which said the move came after a review of US munitions stockpiles and amid concerns they had fallen too low. Among the weapons that are being paused are 155mm artillery shells, Stinger shoulder-fired missiles, Patriot air-defense batteries and Hellfire missiles, PBS Newshour's Nick Schifrin reported. 'This decision was made to put America's interests first following a DOD review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,' White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in an emailed statement confirming the report. 'The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.' The decision comes as Ukraine struggles to repel large-scale Russian missile and drone strikes across the country. On Sunday, Ukraine said Russia fired a record 537 missiles and drones in 'massive' overnight attacks. Russia has intensified its attacks in recent weeks as President Vladimir Putin defies US and European calls to accept a ceasefire to allow for peace talks. US President Donald Trump said only last week that he'd look at sending more Patriots to Ukraine following 'a good' meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of a NATO summit in The Hague, where allies pledged to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP and cited the security threat from Russia. The move was spearheaded by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, Politico said. Colby has long argued that the US is overextended abroad militarily, and has joined Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in repeatedly saying that European allies should assume greater responsibility for the continent's security, including the defense of Ukraine. In a statement, Colby said the Pentagon 'continues to provide the President with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end.' 'At the same time, the Department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces' readiness for Administration defense priorities,' he said. The Biden administration used two methods to send weapons to Kyiv, relying on drawdowns of equipment from US stockpiles in the short term and allocating money to purchase new equipment. While the US has billions of dollars in congressional funding left over from the Biden administration to supply Ukraine with weapons, those could take years to manufacture and deliver. Trump has previously signaled he'd be willing to cut support, and he hasn't sought more money from lawmakers.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'American Pickers' Star Danielle Speaks Out on Co-Star Mike's Friendship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American Pickers star Danielle Colby has shared details on their friendship with co-star Mike Wolfe, saying they talk "four or five days a week" in a new interview with Newsweek. The Context The History Channel's hit series American Pickers debuted in 2010, and it has gone on to have 26 seasons—with new episodes premiering next month. The show follows a team of antiques enthusiasts, who search the United States for unique items and meet interesting collectors along the way. What To Know Colby—who prefers "they/them" pronouns—and Wolfe have been on American Pickers since the program first started, but their friendship began prior to fame. "He is one of my very best friends. I don't think that's something that could ever change," Colby told Newsweek. "Our families are way too intertwined. I mean, at this point, there's no divorcing from one another for sure." Colby, 49, has two children—a son named Miles and a daughter named Memphis. In February 2024, they got married to their photographer husband, Jeremy Scheuch. Wolfe, 61, is dating girlfriend Leticia Cline, and he shares daughter Charlie with his ex-wife, Jodi Catherine Wolfe. (L) Danielle Colby attends the Metallica performance during day 2 of Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (R) Mike Wolfe speaks during the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Studio A on... (L) Danielle Colby attends the Metallica performance during day 2 of Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (R) Mike Wolfe speaks during the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Studio A on October 3, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. More Gary Miller/FilmMagic;"When Mike and I started, I think that there was just this attraction in terms of friendship, and community work, and celebrating antiques and vintage, and celebrating history, and learning to understand history in different ways we didn't before," they shared. "I think he and I really bonded on that, and I think it's something that has really held us together and held our friendship very close." The television personality called the Antique Archaeology owner an "ally" for them "as a femme in the antiques world," which is something they have "really appreciated." "That's a relationship that goes so deep. It's such a family tie. Our families are so intertwined. It's just something that will last forever and ever and ever. I don't see it ever going away," they said, noting: "We talk to each other probably, I don't know, maybe four or five days a week." Colby opened their new burlesque museum, the Ecdysiast Arts Museum, on June 21 in Davenport, Iowa, and Wolfe was a key supporter on their new project. "It's so interesting because I think that's part of what bonded Mike and I from the beginning is we both are avid collectors of what we love. I love burlesque history, and so that's what I collect, but Mike also loves burlesque history, and so he collects a little bit of it too," they said. Colby said that Mike donated items to their museum and has "helped us in accessing a lot of items that we otherwise maybe wouldn't have been able to access so easily." "He's like a big brother, so I'm really lucky that we were great friends before the show started," they said. What People Are Saying During a Q&A session in Iowa in 2010, Wolfe praised Colby and shared why they were perfect for American Pickers. "I saw what she was capable of. I mean, she's got the edge, she's got the look," he said alongside Colby and late American Pickers co-star Frank Fritz, who died in September due to complications from a stroke. "One thing I wanted when I hired her, and I knew she was going to be on camera, is I wanted someone that did not look like they would work in any antique shop because I wanted our show to be looked at in a different way." He added, "I wanted people to look at antiques like they're fun, they're rad, they're killer, they're awesome. I wanted people to know that they didn't have to have a blue blazer and 10 cats to be an antique dealer." What Happens Next American Pickers Season 27 returns on Wednesday, July 2, at 9 p.m. ET on the History Channel.
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘People are going to die': how Medicaid work requirements cost people their health insurance
Kelly Fountain of central Arkansas plans to move her family out of the state if work requirements are enacted for Medicaid, given the issues and lack of resources she has already faced in obtaining support for her 24-year-old son with disabilities, Colby. 'If Trump's budget is passed as it is currently written, we will be leaving Arkansas,' said Fountain. 'Our politicians here know very well that people are going to lose their Medicaid, they're depending on it. People are not only going to lose their healthcare, they're going to die.' Fountain's dilemma is one that millions of Americans may face if Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' passes through Congress in its current form. The bill will cut Medicaid across the US by 7.6 million to 10.3 million people, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates, with the majority of the cuts as a result of work reporting requirements, increasing barriers for enrollment and renewal of Medicaid coverage, and limiting states' ability to raise state Medicaid funds through provider taxes. Medicaid recipients and advocates are warning of the negative impacts of work reporting requirements, pointing to the examples of the two states to have already tried work requirements for Medicaid, Georgia and, briefly, Arkansas. In both states, there was a significant increase in individuals without health insurance and medical debt, and no boost in employment, one of the Trump administration's key arguments for imposing the requirements. The Medicaid work reporting requirements would begin in December 2026, with proponents of the reporting requirement for able-bodied adults to work, volunteer or attend an education program at least 80 hours a month. The change comes after the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, claimed Medicaid recipients were 'taking advantage', 'cheating' and 'defrauding' the system. Researchers at the Yale Public School of Health estimate the cuts to health programs, including Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplace unenrollment, could lead to 42,500 lost lives annually. The work requirements would require older adults not yet eligible for Medicare, people with disabilities, and caregivers to navigate the reporting requirements to maintain Medicaid eligibility. In Arkansas, work requirements were enacted in 2018, only to be cancelled months later after a federal court stepped in to block the requirements. Kelly Fountain's son, Colby, was born with a rare genetic condition, haploinsufficiency syndrome, and has autism and other health and developmental issues associated with the disorder. She explained the only way they were able to have the expensive genetic testing done was through Medicaid, which they have also relied on to cover Colby's medical care. It took 13 years on a waitlist waiver program for Colby to be able to get into a community-based program where he is learning to do tasks such as grocery shop, cook, or count money, but she said the lack of resources for employment, such as support through employment and transportation, has made it infeasible for Colby to work. 'He still can't work because there's no supportive employment. He would need to have staff with him the whole time he's working in order to train him properly. That does not exist here,' said Fountain. 'At one point in time, if we're fortunate, we're all going to be disabled at some point in our lives. We all deserve healthcare. It should not depend on whether or not we can find a job. We should be able to access healthcare when we are at our sickest and most vulnerable, and right now Congress wants to eliminate that availability.' About 813,000 children and adults in Arkansas are currently enrolled in Medicaid, covering over 25% of the state's population. 64% of adults on Medicaid in Arkansas are working. Most Medicaid enrollees classified as 'able-bodied' are predominantly older women and only comprise 15.8% of the total non-working population of Medicaid beneficiaries between the ages of 18 to 64, according to an analysis by the Milbank Quarterly. 'Most who are not working because they can't find a job, are disabled, children, or elderly,' added Fountain. 'We don't have consistent internet here. They don't have access to training programs, transition services, and they have understaffed the department of health and services so badly they have to submit their paperwork three, four or five times before DHS says they received it.' Arkansas's work reporting requirements pertained to adults ages 30 to 49 with no children, and led to unenrollment of 18,000 individuals before the court blocked further implementation, while no changes to employment were recorded. Research on the requirements in Arkansas found the administrative costs to implement the policy were $26.1m and also resulted in increased medical debt and delaying of medical care for those who lost health insurance coverage. Camille Richoux, the health policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families said the work requirements were more of a 'paperwork requirement' and led to confusion. She said about 95% of individuals who lost Medicaid coverage were meeting the requirements or should have qualified for an exemption. 'It was a mess,' said Richoux. 'The rollout was chaotic and resulted in just a massive loss of insurance. Employment did not increase, wages did not increase during this time. The only impact was more people becoming uninsured.' To report their work Medicaid beneficiaries had to use a website, which was glitchy, unreliable, and poorly disseminated to the people affected, she argued. Despite the serious issues with the requirements, Arkansas is seeking another waiver to impose work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries, in addition to the requirements in the federal spending bill. 'We could actually have a situation in Arkansas where we have two different work requirements with different components,' added Richoux. 'Work requirements are not some incentive for getting a job. They're just a punishment if you don't do things right, or if you miss a paperwork, or if the state makes a lot of errors, and that can turn into an entire crisis in your life.' In Georgia, work requirements enacted in July 2023 have led to similar results, with significant barriers for Medicaid enrollment for eligible beneficiaries due to delays, application issues, and extensive administrative costs of nearly $58m. Luke Seaborn, a 54-year-old mechanic from Jefferson, Georgia, became the public face of Georgia Pathways to Coverage, Governor Brian Kemp's insurance program for impoverished Georgians, when it was unveiled last year. Pathways included Medicaid work requirements. Seaborn has since turned on the legislation, telling ProPublica earlier this year his benefits were cancelled due to red tape twice in the past year. 'I used to think of Pathways as a blessing,' Seaborn told ProPublica. 'Now, I'm done with it.' 'States are not ready or equipped to implement these work requirements, and that's going to cause even more harm. What happened in Georgia was they spent all this money on paying consultants to implement a very complicated bureaucratic system to see if people are working, and it slowed down their processing of Medicaid applications and Snap [food stamps] applications for everyone else,' said Natalie Kean, director of federal health advocacy at the advocacy and legal non-profit Justice in Aging, who noted the proposed Medicaid cuts are also shifting more federal costs on to states. 'We know from history, when states have budget shortfalls, they tend to cut home-based care for older adults and people with disabilities first, so even the indirect impacts of this will be really harmful,' Kean added. 'What work requirements amount to are penalties for people who lose their job, or when we're thinking about older adults, for people who have to retire early or often having chronic conditions that prevent them from working full time. These requirements would mean that when you get into that situation, you also lose your healthcare, or you can't get healthcare in the first place.' Back in Arkansas, Nancy Morrell, a live-in caregiver in Eureka Springs, said the push for Medicaid cuts had already affected her family. In April 2025, she was notified that the hours that Medicaid would cover for her care of her sister Carolyn, with cerebral palsy, would be reduced by 75 a month despite no changes in her care needs. 'I don't know why they decided to cut them,' Morrell said. 'There was just no sympathy, really whatsoever. It was just, this is what it is, and this is what it's going to be. And of course, they send you the papers that say that you can ask to appeal it, which is the process that we're going through right now.' Morrell claimed a staffer with the Arkansas health department told her 'you can be paid to feed her. You just can't be paid when she's chewing. So you have to take some time off of that.' The staffer did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Arkansas department of human services declined to comment, citing confidentiality requirements. Morrell argued she takes care of her sister 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is only compensated for eight of those hours. She views the additional cuts to those hours as a push to put her sister in a more expensive care facility. 'We take care of her 24 hours a day, but we're only paid for a third of that, basically. And yet, Medicaid is willing to cut this now,' added Morrell. 'The push here is for me to put Carolyn in a nursing facility where she can't even push a call button for help. She would die within a few months. Which is exactly what they want to save Medicaid funds.' A spokesperson for the Arkansas department of human services claimed the waiver the state is seeking for work requirements, called Pathway to Prosperity, 'is an innovative new approach to a work and community engagement requirement' that will assist 'beneficiaries attain economic independence, and by extension improve their health. Beneficiaries who are not exempt and who actively choose not to participate in qualifying activities, which could include training, education, employment and Success Coaching, will be suspended from their Medicaid coverage.' They claimed the program was 'informed by lessons from Arkansas Works, but it is fundamentally different in several key ways, including the focus on data matching rather than individual reporting'. The Georgia department of community health and White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
