Senate Rejects Targeted Military Pay Raise for Junior Troops in NDAA Showdown

House, White House Back Larger Pay Increases for Lower-Ranking Service Members as Debate Over Barracks, Food Insecurity, and Military Quality of Life Intensifies

WASHINGTON, D.C. | A growing battle on Capitol Hill over military compensation is emerging as one of the most closely watched personnel issues in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with Senate lawmakers rejecting a proposal that would have delivered larger pay raises to the military's lowest-paid troops.

The dispute pits the Senate Armed Services Committee against both the Trump administration and the House of Representatives, which have endorsed a tiered military pay raise structure to direct greater financial relief to junior enlisted personnel facing rising living costs, housing concerns, and persistent quality-of-life challenges.

At issue is a fundamental question that has gained increasing attention from Pentagon leaders, military advocates, and lawmakers: Should military pay raises be distributed equally across the force, or should the largest increases go to those who need them most?

CAVHCS to Host 2026 VA Caregiver Resource Fair in Montgomery

Veterans, Families, and Caregivers Invited to Explore Critical Support Services, Health Resources, and Community Programs at June 26 Event

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | As the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to expand support for the families and caregivers who serve alongside America's Veterans, the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) will host its annual VA Caregiver Resource Fair on June 26, bringing together healthcare professionals, community organizations, and Veteran support programs under one roof.

The event, themed Caregiving Connects Us, Community Strengthens Us," will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, located at 220 Hall Street in Montgomery.

Organizers say the fair is designed to recognize the vital role caregivers play in supporting Veterans while providing direct access to resources that enhance caregiver wellness, improve quality of life, and strengthen connections between Veterans, their families, and community partners.

The event comes as the VA continues nationwide efforts to expand awareness of caregiver assistance programs amid growing demand for long-term support services for aging Veterans, wounded warriors, and those managing service-connected disabilities.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with representatives from VA healthcare programs, Veteran support organizations, and local community agencies offering services ranging from healthcare and mental health support to respite care, benefits assistance, wellness programs, and caregiver education.

In addition to informational exhibits, participants can take part in live demonstrations and interactive activities designed to help caregivers better navigate available resources while promoting overall health and well-being.

Oprah Winfrey Reveals She Once Protected Whitney Houston From a Career-Damaging Public Incident: ‘I Knew She Would Be Destroyed by That’

Cannes Lions Honoree Shares Untold Story About Whitney Houston, Reflects on Legacy, Philanthropy, and the Responsibility of Influence in the Creator Economy

CANNES, France | Media icon Oprah Winfrey stunned audiences at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with a deeply personal revelation about her late friend Whitney Houston, sharing an untold story that underscored the trust between the two women and highlighted the dramatically different media landscape of the pre-social media era.

Speaking during a wide-ranging conversation with Cannes Lions Chair Phil Thomas after receiving the festival’s prestigious LionHeart Award, Winfrey recalled a moment she says could have severely damaged Houston’s career had it become public.

According to Winfrey, Houston suffered a fall during a performance taping for The Oprah Winfrey Show after relapsing into drug use, but the incident never reached the press because audience members honored Winfrey’s emotional request to keep the event private.

“I knew that if that story got out, she would be destroyed by that,” Winfrey told attendees inside the Lumière Theatre. “I begged them not to put those pictures out because it would ruin her life, and they did not. That would not happen today.”

The revelation quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the festival, offering a rare glimpse into Houston’s private struggles and the extraordinary relationship she shared with Winfrey.

Clive Davis Dies at 94: Music Industry Titan Who Discovered Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and Alicia Keys Leaves Lasting Legacy

Legendary Record Executive Shaped Modern Popular Music Across Six Decades, Steering Columbia, Arista and J Records While Launching Some of the Biggest Careers in Entertainment History

NEW YORK | Clive Davis, the legendary music executive whose unparalleled instincts helped shape the careers of Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Janis Joplin, Barry Manilow, and countless others, has died at the age of 94.

Davis passed away Monday at his Manhattan home, according to reports confirmed by 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Entertainment News. No official cause of death was announced, though the iconic record executive had reportedly been hospitalized recently following respiratory complications.

For more than six decades, Davis stood as one of the most influential figures in the global music industry, helping define multiple eras of popular music while leading some of the most powerful record labels in entertainment history. His remarkable career spanned Columbia Records, Arista Records, and J Records, where his ability to identify and develop superstar talent earned him a reputation as one of the greatest music executives of all time.

The Shaky Assumptions Behind Trump’s Over $500 Billion in Projected Drug Savings

President Donald Trump has touted more than $500 billion in prescription drug savings over 10 years from his policies. But the savings are largely aspirational and not based on the more limited actions the administration has taken so far.

The administration’s most-favored-nation policy seeks to bring down drug prices to the levels paid in other countries. The bulk of the savings, estimated in a May 5 report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, comes from assuming that all new drugs will be sold in the U.S. at MFN prices going forward, resulting in savings of $529 billion. A smaller amount of savings, $64.3 billion, comes from applying MFN pricing to Medicaid.

“People are saving a lot of money,” Trump said at a May 18 event announcing the addition of more drugs to TrumpRx, the administration’s website directing people to cash prices for prescription drugs. “Over the next 10 years, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates that our most favored nation drug policies will save Americans over $500 billion. And this has been the greatest breakthrough in lowering healthcare costs in modern history.”

Pentagon Signals Openness to Permanent U.S. Base in Poland as NATO Reviews Eastern Flank Posture

Polish Defense Minister Says Washington Responded Favorably to Proposal Amid Growing Security Concerns Over Russia and Ongoing War in Ukraine

BRUSSELS | The Pentagon is reportedly open to considering a permanent U.S. military base in Poland, a development that could significantly reshape NATO’s eastern flank and deepen U.S.-Polish defense cooperation as the alliance confronts heightened security challenges posed by Russia.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Thursday that discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Brussels produced a positive response to Warsaw’s long-standing proposal for a permanent American military presence on Polish soil.

“The U.S. responded positively to Poland’s proposal to establish a permanent U.S. military base in Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters following meetings held alongside NATO defense consultations. He cautioned, however, that no final decision has been made and discussions remain ongoing.

The remarks come as Poland continues to position itself as one of NATO’s most committed defense partners, dramatically increasing military spending and expanding its armed forces since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Air Force One Bridge Aircraft Begins Commissioning Flights, Clearing Final Hurdle Before Presidential Service

Interim VC-25B Delivered to Joint Base Andrews as Air Force Accelerates Executive Airlift Modernization Amid Delays to Boeing's Long-Term Replacement Program

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. | The U.S. Air Force has launched commissioning flights for its interim presidential aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the effort to modernize executive airlift capabilities while awaiting delivery of Boeing's delayed next-generation Air Force One fleet.

The newly modified Boeing VC-25B "Bridge Aircraft" arrived at Joint Base Andrews and has been transferred to the Presidential Airlift Group, where it will undergo a series of commissioning flights designed to validate mission readiness, security systems, and operational procedures before entering service for presidential travel.

Air Force officials described the move as the final step before the aircraft becomes available to President Donald Trump and other senior government officials who require secure executive airlift capabilities.

"Fresh from receiving its new red, white, and blue livery and the final government modifications, the aircraft has entered service to provide critical, secure continuity for the commander in chief," the Air Force said in a statement announcing the aircraft's arrival.

Former Army Recruiter Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Scheme Targeting Recruits

Federal Prosecutors Say Ex-Sergeant First Class Used Personal Data of Army Applicants to Open Fraudulent Accounts and Seek More Than $266,000 in Loans

NEWARK, N.J. | A former U.S. Army recruiter has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a scheme that exploited the personal information of Army recruits and recruiting candidates to commit bank fraud and identity theft, raising new concerns about the safeguarding of sensitive applicant data within military recruiting operations.

Jane Crosby, 35, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

Federal prosecutors said Crosby, a former Sergeant First Class and Army recruiter, used her access to recruits' personally identifiable information (PII) to fraudulently open financial accounts and seek hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit and loan approvals without the knowledge or consent of the victims.

According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearing, Crosby submitted multiple "Pre-Active Duty Membership" applications to a credit union between September and December 2023. The accounts are designed to help future service members establish banking relationships and receive military pay via direct deposit upon entering active duty.

The Meaning of Juneteenth: Freedom Delayed, Justice Still Unfinished

More Than a Holiday, Juneteenth Serves as a Powerful Reminder of America's Long Struggle for Freedom, Equality, and Justice

As Americans gather across the nation to celebrate Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, many are reflecting on a deeper truth behind the celebrations, parades, and commemorations: freedom delayed is justice denied.

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

The announcement marked the final enforcement of emancipation in the Confederacy and became a defining moment in American history. Yet for many historians, educators, and civil rights advocates, Juneteenth represents more than the end of slavery. It stands as a powerful reminder of how long justice was withheld from millions of Americans and how the pursuit of equality remains unfinished.

"Juneteenth is both a celebration and a reflection," said historians who study the post-Civil War era. "It honors the resilience of those who endured slavery while reminding us that freedom is not merely declared—it must be protected, expanded, and made real for every generation."

Trump Makes Unsupported Claims About Drug Flows

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that his administration has “cut by 97% the flow of illegal drugs entering the U.S. by water, by ocean, and sea.” But available federal data do not support that claim.

There is no comprehensive data on the total amount of drugs trafficked to the U.S., including how much authorities don’t capture. Without that information, drug policy experts have told us that it’s not possible to know if the president’s claim is accurate.

“[W]e do not know the true amount of drugs coming into the country because we don’t know the amount that comes in undetected (the known unknown),” Katharine Harris, a fellow in drug policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, told us in an email.

She said the amount of drugs “seized” — which is what the federal government reports — is not equivalent to total drug “flow.”

Small Business Confidence Slips as Fuel Costs, Labor Pressures, and Inflation Squeeze Main Street

NFIB Report Signals Economic Headwinds as Hiring Plans Retreat, Job Openings Hit Post-Pandemic Low

Small businesses across the United States are growing increasingly cautious about the economic outlook as rising fuel costs, labor shortages, inflation concerns, and supply chain disruptions continue to pressure Main Street, according to new data released by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

The NFIB's May Small Business Economic Trends report paints a sobering picture of the nation's small-business sector, with declining optimism, elevated uncertainty, and weakening hiring plans suggesting that economic headwinds are beginning to weigh more heavily on entrepreneurs and consumers alike.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.6 points in May to 95.3, remaining below its 52-year average of 98.0. At the same time, the organization's Uncertainty Index climbed three points to 91, significantly above its historical average of 68, reflecting growing concern among business owners about future economic conditions.

Perhaps most concerning, job openings among small businesses declined to 29 percent in May—the lowest level recorded since May 2020, when the nation was grappling with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline signals a notable cooling in labor demand as business owners scale back expansion plans and prepare for higher operating costs.