A massive "86 47" appeared on the grass on the National Mall on Thursday, numbers interpreted by the Trump administration as a threat against the president, days before President Trump's birthday and the upcoming UFC match outside of the White House. The etching in the grass could be seen from the live webcam at the...

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump says Iranian Supreme Leader approved deal President Trump said on Thursday that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the text of a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz and start diplomatic talks over...

The Senate Armed Services Committee rejected a provision in the annual defense policy bill that would have expanded coverage of fertility services for military members and their families, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).  “All my provision seeks to do is provide our troops with the same access to IVF that all Members of Congress already have. After everything...

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story Trump says U.S. and Iran are close to a deal President Trump said Thursday that he canceled the forthcoming strikes and bombings against Iran, citing progress in discussions with Tehran’s leadership. © Tom Williams, CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images “Based on the fact that discussions with...

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled Thursday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) cannot move forward with a donation-vetting lawsuit against progressive fundraising platform ActBlue. District Judge Richard G. Stearns blocked Paxton from “continuing to litigate” the case, finding that ActBlue was likely to succeed in its claims that the action infringed on its...

A woman claiming to be a former partner of U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner alleges infidelity and says his Nazi tattoo story changed over time.