Salutations, esteemed listeners and subscribers of Operation Freedom! It is our pleasure to present to you a comprehensive summary of the latest news stories from around the world. Please find below a concise and organized briefing:

**Government and Military**

* Senate Republicans voted to advance a non-binding $70 billion budget resolution, paving the way for funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the next three years.
* President Donald Trump has issued a directive for the U.S. Navy to shoot to kill any boat that lays naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and has increased the clearance of existing explosives in the area by threefold.
* The Pentagon announced that Navy Secretary John Phelan has departed his post, effective immediately, with Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao taking over as acting secretary.

**Election and Campaign**

* Prediction market Kalshi suspended three political candidates on Wednesday after an internal probe revealed they had wagered on their own 2026 primary races, marking a first-of-its-kind enforcement action.

**Science and Technology**

* A NASA aerospace technologies electrical engineer died in a car crash in rural Alabama last year, raising concerns and suspicions among family members. This marks the twelfth scientist or government official to mysteriously die or vanish in the past four years.

**Politics and Governance**

* Georgia Democrat Representative David Scott passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80, becoming the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die in office since the session convened in January 2025.

Briefing Provided by: The Operation Freedom Press Corps