The Trump administration is rapidly reshaping military posture and foreign policy as tensions spike across multiple fronts.

At sea, Trump ordered the Navy to sink mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, marking an aggressive escalation in naval operations [The Hill]. Meanwhile, Iran seized several cargo ships after Trump extended a Middle East ceasefire that's now showing serious strain, with ceasefire violations reported on both sides [NPR, NBC News]. The Navy Secretary was ousted amid the upheaval [NPR].

On the home front, the Senate is moving DHS funding forward, though two GOP senators broke ranks on the final budget vote—a sign of fractures within Republican ranks [The Hill]. A Republican senator is already predicting Democrats will trigger a government shutdown "right before the midterms," escalating budget-fight rhetoric.

The Trump administration also moved to ease restrictions on medical marijuana, a notable policy shift [NBC News].

International developments: Former Philippine President Duterte faces crimes against humanity charges [PBS], while Lebanon accuses Israel of deliberately targeting a journalist in an airstrike [DW English]. A Tanzania election inquiry found more than 500 people killed in violence [BBC Africa].

On Capitol Hill, an explosive Senate hearing revealed a Google engineer allegedly stole AI secrets for China—signaling growing national security concerns in the tech sector [Fox News].

Weather alerts: 20 inches of snow expected in parts of the U.S., while destructive wildfires continue forcing evacuations across Georgia and the broader South [CBS News, PBS].