Author: Weldon Smith, Staff Writer

U.S. Ship Building: Weathering Rough Seas

In April of 2024, the U.S. Navy published a report detailing the delays for many of their cutting-edge warships currently in the planning or production phase. Nearly all were delayed between one and three years, even among projects that carry the highest priority. The Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine is considered key to maintaining America’s nuclear […]

Polarization Puts the US Military at Risk

The United States military is arguably the most formidable in the world, utilizing an $817 billion budget and employing almost 1.3 million active service members. Why then, has a lone US Senator been so detrimental to the day-to-day workings of the armed forces? Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is the senior US Senator from Alabama currently serving […]

Consumers, Beware of Buy Now Pay Later

Seemingly overnight, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) companies invaded online marketplaces. From Walmart to local bookstores, consumers now have the option to split the price of a purchase into a few monthly installments, sometimes for no additional cost. A $170 treadmill can become $15 for 12 months, a $300 TV $50 for 6 months, or […]

China’s Concerning Impact on Myanmar’s Civil War 

In 2021, a coup staged by Myanmar’s powerful military rocked the nation. After about a decade of flirtation with civilian rule, the coup ousted the democratically elected government and installed military leaders at the helm of the country.  The junta subsequently declared martial law and jailed political opponents. What followed has become a bloody civil […]