Author: Braxton Taylor

00:00:01 Speaker 1: Simultaneous with the appearance of the United States in the advance of its frontier westward to the Mississippi River, and intriguing trade developed around vast herds of horses that had become wild in the West, an animal economy that outlasted the fur trade but collapsed in the nineteen twenties in the face of modernity. I’m Dan Flores and this is the American West, brought to you by Velvet Buck Wine, where the hunt meets the harvest. A portion of each bottle goes to support backcountry hunters and anglers. Limited supply available at Velvetbuck Vineyards dot Com. Enjoy…

00:00:06 Speaker 1: What is up? You are off in God’s country. Indeed you are with your boys. Read and Dan is Visible also known as the Brothers Hunt, where we take a weekly drive to the intersection of country music in the great outdoors every Tuesday morning. You can hear it at your podcast listening station and YouTube. Two things that go together like uh cults and people on horseback with flags riding around in circles, singing around a fire, chance or peanut butter and rats brought to you by meat Eater and your favorite time of the show.…

China is developing space capabilities and next-generation fighter jets at a rapid rate, while also increasing its global footprint with military facilities and partnerships beyond the Indo-Pacific region, making U.S. force innovation more urgent, officials said Monday. “The China challenge is not just a challenge for INDOPACOM,” Lt. Gen. Max Pearson, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence, said during a panel discussion at AFA’s Air, Space, and Cyber conference. “In addition to the support base in Djibouti … the PLA continues to pursue military installations, [cooperative agreements] and partnerships in a lot of places. I mean, we’re seeing…

A New Battlefield, Same Old ShortagesThe truth is, the wars of the future won’t just be fought with rifles and ships. They’ll be fought with keystrokes. Every branch of the military knows it—but the armed forces are struggling to recruit and retain the cyber talent needed to stay ahead.Here’s the kicker: private industry is scooping up the same people the Pentagon needs. And when Amazon, Google, or a Seattle startup can offer six-figure salaries, flexible hours, and stock options, the military’s pitch looks thin. Pay incentives have been floated, but so far? They haven’t moved the needle much.The Stakes Couldn’t…

In an era where information dominance defines victory, the U.S. Marine Corps is aggressively integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) to outpace sophisticated foes like China and Russia. The Marine Corps’ Artificial Intelligence Implementation Plan (known as the “AI IPlan”), released in April 2025, serves as a five-year roadmap to embed AI across warfighting and support functions in order to ensure Marines make faster, smarter decisions in contested environments. Importantly, this initiative aligns with Department of War strategies emphasizing responsible AI use to close kill chains and counter adversary tactics.A Strategic Blueprint for AI IntegrationThe AI IPlan, outlined in NAVMC 3000.1, focuses on…

Three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace Friday morning and stayed for 12 minutes before Finnish, Italian, and Swedish jets escorted them out. The Kremlin denied the accusation and insisted that the jets remained in neutral air. A NATO spokesperson called the incident “yet another example of reckless Russian behavior and NATO’s ability to respond.”The breach came a week after Russian drones crossed into Polish and Romanian airspace, where they were shot down. Russia frequently tests NATO defenses, but allies say the latest incidents show a troubling escalation.President Donald Trump told reporters Friday, “I don’t love it. I don’t like when…

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—Anduril’s robot wingman has been slow getting off the ground because the company is aiming for a semi-autonomous first flight, company officials said Monday.The Air Force had anticipated that Anduril would fly its prototype collaborative combat aircraft, dubbed YFQ-44 Fury, this summer, but only rival General Atomics’ rival YFQ-42A actually took off.“The goal for Anduril is always to make this an actual semi-autonomous CCA; that’s been the emphasis since day one,” company vice president Diem Salmon told reporters at the Air & Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber conference near Washington, D.C. “The goal is to also…

TALLINN, Estonia—NATO will issue a joint declaration soon on continuing Russian air incursions, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said Monday, and Estonia hopes it will include expanded air patrols and other defense measures under the recently announced Eastern Sentry coordinated air defense campaign. Estonia requested an Article 4 consultation among NATO allies on Friday following an incursion that Pevkur said was “totally different” from three drone incidents Estonia experienced earlier this year, because it involved three MiG-31 fighters and represented a dramatic and dangerous escalation. NATO jets escorted the Russians out of Estonia’s airspace, but Pevkur emphasized that Estonia, backed by the…

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—The F-47 is expected to make its first flight in 2028, the Air Force’s top officer said Monday—advancing the timeline by a year.Officials had previously said the sixth-gen combat aircraft would fly by January 2029.“We got to go fast,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said during his keynote address at the Air-Sea-Cyber Conference here. “It’s almost 2026. The team is committed to getting the first one flying in 2028.”Manufacturing has begun on the first F-47, Allvin addedPublic details about the F-47 have been few. In May, Allvin posted a chart that said the F-47 will…

The Hidaka series knives from SOG combine traditional aesthetic Japanese blade-design cues with Western knife concepts to deliver one-of-a-kind tactical, outdoor, survival and specialty knives. The SOG Hidaka XR The SOG Hidaka XR blade incorporates a modified tanto profile that follows Matsuda’s signature blade shape lines. Hidaka XR blades are manufactured from CPM 3V steel and measure 4 inches in length. CPM 3V steel is a high-performance alloy known for its exceptional toughness and resistance to chipping. CPM 3V steel is also commonly used in knives set up for demanding tasks like chopping and prying. Its durability and resistance to…