Report finds US airfields in Pacific vulnerable to Chinese threats
The balance of power in the Indo-Pacific may depend on something as basic as concrete. As China fortifies its military airfields and expands the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, a new report highlights vulnerabilities in U.S. defenses that could shape future conflicts.
The Hudson Institute, a nonpartisan think tank founded to prepare the U.S. for future military challenges, released the report, titled “Concrete Sky: Air Base Hardening in the Western Pacific.” It details China’s extensive investments in airfield fortifications, which include doubling the number of hardened aircraft shelters over the past decade. China now has more than 3,000 shelters at 134 air bases near the Taiwan Strait.
China has also added 20 runways and over 40 runway-length taxiways, while increasing its total ramp area by almost 75%. According to the report, the amount of concrete used for these upgrades could pave a four-lane interstate highway from Washington, D.C., to Chicago.
In contrast, U.S. efforts in the region have been limited, with only a few shelters, and minimal new infrastructure added. Analysts at the Hudson Institute warn that this leaves U.S. airfields highly vulnerable to missile strikes. This is particularly concerning given Chinese military doctrine, which emphasizes surprise attacks to neutralize air power on the ground.
The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force has precision-guided missiles capable of targeting U.S. bases across the Indo-Pacific, from Guam to Okinawa. The report highlights that as few as 10 missiles could disable critical assets at Iwakuni, a key Marine Corps air station in Japan.
To mitigate these vulnerabilities, the report recommended strengthening airfield resilience by building hardened aircraft shelters, adding redundant fuel systems, and improving rapid runway repair capabilities. The Hudson Institute also emphasizes the need for long-range aircraft and autonomous systems that rely less on traditional airfield infrastructure.
At least 95 killed in 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet
A powerful earthquake proves deadly in East Asia on Tuesday morning. And winter weather pounds the United States from the Great Plains to the East Coast. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
7.1 magnitude earthquake kills at least 95 in Tibet
At least 95 people are dead Tuesday after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Tibet, China, according to Chinese state media. The quake occurred just after 9 a.m. on Jan. 7 near Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities.
The quake reached a depth of 6.2 miles, damaging buildings and sending people running to the streets in neighboring Nepal and India. Cities as far away as Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city about 240 miles away, felt tremors.
The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.1, while the China Earthquake Networks Center reported it at 6.8. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial quake.
In addition to the dozens of lives lost, local authorities said the disaster injured at least 130 people.
First winter storm of 2025 leaves at least 4 dead across multiple states
The system moved east on Monday, Jan. 6, from the Great Plains to the East Coast. It brought snow, blizzard conditions and ice. The storm hit cities like Kansas City and Cincinnati the hardest.
Authorities said a public works employee in Missouri suffered a fatal injury while working to remove snow. Two people in Wichita, Kansas, died in a weather-related crash, and one person in Houston, Texas, most likely died as a result of the cold weather, according to local authorities.
The storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes across at least a half-dozen states.
While the heavy snow ended, the danger remained. Forecasters said the winter system is drawing cold air behind it, meaning states across the entire U.S. will experience a cold front.
Pentagon transfers 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Oman
The Pentagon said the U.S. transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman, which agreed to help re-settle them. Two of the detainees are former bodyguards for Osama Bin Laden and were being held at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
None of the 11 detainees released were charged with crimes.
The move comes amid steps to reduce the population at the controversial U.S. military facility. Only 15 detainees remain at Guantánamo Bay’s detention facility, which the U.S. set up as the war on terror began after Sept. 11, 2001.
Of the 15 current detainees, only three are eligible for transfer. Three more are eligible for a periodic review, seven are involved in the military commissions process and two detainees were convicted and sentenced by military commissions.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration transferred four other detainees from Guantánamo, including one brought to the detention facility the day it opened in 2002. That person was never formally charged.
The move follows a recent ruling by a military judge that plea agreements with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and two other accused terrorists are valid and binding. Those deals take the death penalty off the table for the three men, who remain at Guantánamo Bay.
Biden attends memorial service for New Orleans terror attack victims
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended a memorial service Monday, Jan. 6, for the 14 victims killed in the New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans. The interfaith prayer service was held at the famous St. Louis Cathedral in the city’s French Quarter, less than a mile away from the scene of the Bourbon Street terror attack.
Jill and I traveled to New Orleans to stand with a community defined by strength and resilience.
To grieve. To pray. And let them know that America stands with them, and mourns with them. pic.twitter.com/26Phe203WF
The president spoke at the service, reassuring the people of New Orleans they are not alone and highlighting the city’s enduring strength and resilience amid tragedy. He referred to past devastation experienced by the city, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“If there’s one thing we know: New Orleans defines strength and resilience,” the president said. “You define it, whether it’s in the form of this attack, from this attack, or hurricanes or super storms. This city’s people get back up.”
The president and first lady also visited the Bourbon Street memorial, where they placed flowers and prayed for the victims.
While in New Orleans, the Bidens met privately with grieving families, survivors and first responders.
Though both cases were dismissed, the special counsel is required to provide a report to Garland, who can then decide whether to make it public.
According to the letter and a legal filing, Trump’s lawyers and two former co-defendants in the documents case viewed a two-volume draft copy of the report over the weekend. They called the report “one-sided” and “slanted.”
In the letter, Trump’s lawyer requested Garland fire Smith, who is set to resign before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, or let the decision on the release of the report be handled by Trump’s incoming attorney general, Pam Bondi.
The lawyers for Trump’s two former co-defendants in the documents case also asked the judge who dismissed the case to halt the report’s release, citing her ruling that Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional.
While it is not clear when the report will be released, the lawyers have asked the judge for a hearing on their request by Friday, Jan. 10, believing the release is “imminent.”
‘Shark Tank’ star Kevin O’Leary announces bid to buy TikTok
With millions of social media users counting down TikTok’s days in the U.S., one businessman is looking to prevent the ban from taking effect. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary issued a press release Monday announcing his interest in purchasing TikTok.
O’Leary — known by “Shark Tank” fans as “Mr. Wonderful” — said he is partnering with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on the bid.
Speaking to Fox Business, O’Leary said he would need Trump’s help to seal the deal. O’Leary said he’s “protecting the privacy of 170 million American users” and “empowering creators and small businesses.”
TikTok faces a federal ban on Jan. 19 unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells. The Biden administration and other federal lawmakers believe TikTok threatens national security, accusing the Chinese government of using it to spy on Americans. Lawmakers fear the app is being used to weaponize and influence content Americans view.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments from ByteDance on why it should prevent the ban.
Biden awards Liz Cheney, 19 others Presidential Citizens Medal
President Joe Biden awarded former Republican Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney a Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest U.S. civilian honor, on Thursday, Jan. 2. The accolade recognizes her work co-chairing the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Cheney received the award in a ceremony where her co-chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., also received the honor, as did 18 others.
It comes less than three weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Before his election win, Trump faced federal charges alleging he incited the deadly 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. However, the Justice Department later dropped the charges.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press last month, Trump said both Cheney and Thompson should be in jail. He accused them of deleting all evidence in their investigation.
“I think those people committed a major crime and [Liz] Cheney was behind it, and so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” Trump said.
In 2023, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., criticized the Jan. 6 committee. He alleged in a Fox News interview that they did not adequately preserve some documents relating to Capitol security failures.
Committee members deny deleting records, many of which are publicly available as transcripts or videos.
Four former U.S. senators –– Democrats Bill Bradley, Chris Dodd and Ted Kaufman, as well as Republican Nancy Landon Kassebaum –– also received the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Other recipients in Thursday’s ceremony include:
Early LGBTQ rights advocates Evan Wolfson and Mary Bonauto.
Mitsuye Endo, the plaintiff who died in 2006 but led the case overturning the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.
Frank K. Butler Jr., a Navy SEAL whose improvements to medical guidelines for treating injured troops likely saved thousands of lives of U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Colorado is now the 2nd state to allow psychedelic therapy
Colorado is now the second state in the country to legalize the use of psychedelics to help treat mental health issues, like post-traumatic stress and depression. A state law passed in 2022 just went into effect Wednesday, Jan. 1, allowing the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the chemical compound found in psychedelic mushrooms.
Just this month, Colorado Springs passed an ordinance extending the state prohibition on healing centers from 1,000 feet to 1 mile from certain locations, like schools. While psychedelics are still illegal in most states, and on the federal level, Colorado’s law decriminalizes the personal use of five naturally occurring psychedelics.
To be treated with psilocybin, patients will have to go through a risk assessment, preliminary meetings and follow-up sessions, and remain with a facilitator while under the drug’s influence. The psilocybin will also be tested, and the companies that grow them are to be regulated by the state.
This form of treatment is advocated by many U.S. military veterans, who say traditional treatments for combat-related mental health issues don’t work for them. So many veterans have turned to this illegal method for relief that the Department of Veterans Affairs announced last month it’s setting aside $1.5 million to study psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD, and other issues.
Oregon is the only other state to legalize the practice, with treatments having started there in June 2023.
Women and the world of wargaming: Weapons and Warfare
This week on Weapons and Warfare, the team examined the evolving landscape of wargaming through the lens of female participation. Host Ryan Robertson sat down with Dr. Yuna Wong, a renowned scholar and advocate for inclusivity in gaming.
Dr. Wong shared her insights on the historical underrepresentation of women in wargaming and how this has changed in recent years.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
46% of GOP voters support military detaining migrants illegally in US: Survey
Nearly half of Republican voters believe the U.S. military should put immigrants living in the U.S. illegally into internment camps until they can be deported. The data comes from a new survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
Republican voters were more than twice as likely as independents (19%) and over five times as likely as Democrats (8%) to support this policy.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection numbers, more than 11 million migrants entered the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he believes that number is closer to 21 million migrants and that he will declare a national emergency to address immigration.
Trump and his incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, have said they will use all means necessary to carry out their plan of mass deportations, including the military.
In Trump’s Time Magazine Person of the Year interview, he was asked about how he would use the military since the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement.
Trump responded, saying he would “go to the maximum the laws of the country allow.”
“It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country,” he said.
The state of Texas has also offered Trump’s incoming administration hundreds of acres of land to build detention camps and carry out deportation plans.
The PRRI post-election survey was conducted between Nov. 8 and Dec. 2, and it is based on a representative sample of 5,772 adults living in the United States.
China levels sanctions on 7 companies over US military aid to Taiwan
Beijing announced on Friday, Dec. 27, that it is leveling sanctions against seven companies and their senior executives over U.S. military assistance to Taiwan. Among the companies sanctioned are Boeing subsidiary Insitu Inc., RTX Inc’s Raytheon Canada and Raytheon Australia.
The sanctions reportedly freeze the companies’ and executives’ assets in China and bar them from trading or collaborating with Beijing.
China said the move is retaliation for U.S. military sales and aid to Taiwan. Washington D.C. recently approved more than $570 million in defense support to the independently governed island and gave the green light to weapons sales worth around $385 million.
China has long claimed Taiwan as its own and has never ruled out force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan said that it is a sovereign nation, and the U.S. is required by law to defend the country.
Earlier this month, Taiwan said that China sent dozens of military vessels to blockade the island, which Taipei said threatens peace and stability as well as trade in the Indo-Pacific region.
China’s sanctions are also reportedly in response to the approval of the U.S’ annual defense spending bill, which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) said “includes multiple negative sections about China.”
The defense bill also reportedly directs more resources toward a more confrontational approach toward Beijing, while expanding a ban on U.S. military purchases of Chinese products, such as drone technology.
China claims the U.S. is using the “so called” threat from Beijing to rationalize boosting its military budget.
South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting president
The political turmoil involving key U.S. ally South Korea deepens as its acting president is impeached. And severe weather could disrupt plans for millions on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting president
Han, South Korea’s number two official, has been leading the country since the opposition-controlled National Assembly moved to get rid of Yoon. The assembly voted Friday to approve the impeachment motion against Han 192-0, with current governing party lawmakers boycotting the vote.
Meanwhile, two lawyers from Yoon’s legal team appeared before the constitutional court on Yoon’s behalf as hearings into his impeachment begin. The court has 180 days to decide whether to reinstate Yoon or remove him from office.
South Korea is a key ally of the United States. The U.S. has nearly 30,000 troops stationed there. Any new government would have to deal with President-elect Donald Trump come January. Trump has previously stated that South Korea should pay as much as $10 billion to have American troops there.
Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen airport where WHO chief was boarding plane
A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports Thursday, Dec. 26. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment happened not far from where he was about to board a flight, injuring a crew member with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service.
Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release.
As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport… pic.twitter.com/riZayWHkvf
At least three people were later reported killed and dozens injured in the airport strike.
A U.S. spokesperson said U.N. team members have since left the airport and are “safe and sound” in Sanaa. The injured crew member was getting treatment at a hospital.
The Israeli army told the Associated Press it was not aware that the WHO chief or delegation was at the location in Yemen.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli strikes left 20 people dead, including five Palestinian journalists, according to the territory’s health ministry. The Israeli military claimed they were militants posing as reporters.
Russian anti-aircraft system may have struck Azerbaijan passenger plane
Early indications point to a Russian anti-aircraft system as the cause of a deadly Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Dec. 25, a U.S. official told multiple outlets. There are reports that the Russian system used a surface-to-air missile to hit the flight before it crashed near the city of Aktau, killing 38 of the 67 people on board.
A commission has been set up to investigate the crash, including representatives from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia. However, Russian and Azerbaijani investigators will not be allowed to conduct their own forensics investigations, according to Kazakh state media.
The flight was en route, from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny when it was diverted. Russian state media said the diversion was because of fog. The plane crash landed while attempting to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan.
Some aviation experts have pointed to holes in the underside of the plane as evidence of shrapnel and that the plane appeared to have been shot down.
Judge rules ‘Diddy’ and Jay-Z rape accuser can remain anonymous
A New York judge has ruled a woman who is accusing music moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, of raping her when she was 13 can stay anonymous for now.
Judge says woman accusing Jay-Z, Sean 'Diddy' Combs of raping her at age 13 can proceed anonymously https://t.co/GwuLF7l5N0
In her decision, Judge Analisa Torres reserved the right to revisit the decision at a future date if the case moves forward, which would help defense lawyers prepare for trial. Torres also cited “substantial interest” from the public.
Severe weather threatens to disrupt post-Christmas travel
Friday is the start of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year and severe weather will likely throw a wrench in many people’s plans. Storms across the western and southern U.S. are threatening delays for millions of passengers, especially Saturday, Dec. 28.
Here are some key messages regarding the severe weather threat this Saturday (12/28). pic.twitter.com/BmzmpznyeE
The National Weather Service said another round of severe thunderstorms is expected to hit the deep south Saturday with strong tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail from Louisiana to Alabama. Meanwhile, a series of Pacific storm systems will continue to impact the west, bringing strong winds, low-elevation rain and heavy mountain snow.
Americans get lottery fever as Mega Millions jackpot hits $1.15 billion
While lottery officials say the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24, chances of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million. However, come April, the chances will go up — along with ticket prices.
Right now, Mega Millions is $2 per ticket, but that cost will jump to $5 in April. Lottery officials insist the price hike will lead to improved jackpot odds along with more frequent giant prizes and even bigger payouts.
Year in review: The best of Weapons and Warfare in 2024
This week on Weapons and Warfare Host Ryan Robertson and the team take a look back at some of their favorite stories from 2024. Join them as they talk about groundbreaking innovations in military technology, and the people shaping the course of today’s military, with some insights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes as they celebrate the stories that resonated most.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
Over the past year, one of the standout segments on Weapons and Warfare has been the Weapon of the Week. These videos consistently garner some of the highest views, which makes sense given that weapons are a core part of our name. In this special year-end review, we’re counting down our favorite weapons of the week.
Dakota Piteo, our motion graphics designer, kicks off the countdown with his favorite from Episode 38, the Andrews Anime Launch Trailer.
“I picked this one for the graphics,” Piteo said. “It featured a minute-and-a-half anime-style segment where characters were fighting and building missiles on an assembly line, which then flew off at the end. It was classic.”
He also highlighted the simplicity of the missiles, which have 50% fewer parts than a typical missile of that size and can be assembled with just ten tools.
“It seems crazy, like something you could build in your garage,” he added, praising both the creative team behind the trailer and the engineers who designed the missile.
Senior Producer Brett Baker’s favorite wasn’t a piece of hardware or technology, but a new unit the Army is developing in response to lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict.
“The Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company equips small reconnaissance teams with the tech and equipment to perform various missions,” Baker said.
He believes this initiative is a significant step forward in modernizing the military and preparing for future conflicts.
Finally, Host Ryan Robertson’s pick for Weapon of the Week is the EnforceAir2 from D-Fend, a timely choice given recent drone incidents in New Jersey. This technology allows users to track, identify and take control of drones within their airspace.
“It’s a vital piece of technology that exists today and will likely become widespread soon,” Robertson noted, emphasizing the need for legal changes to allow local law enforcement to use it.
Final Thoughts
Baker summed it up well: “This has been a great ride so far. The fact that it works so well and looks so good, even though we’re all remote, is pretty impressive.”
Spencer added, “The commitment to excellence from everyone involved has been great, and we pick each other up when things get tough.”
Dakota echoed these sentiments, thanking our viewers for their support and looking forward to sharing more in the coming year.
Thank you for watching and sharing our content. We look forward to bringing you more exciting segments in 2025.