ON AIR · 2026-07-17
🎙 THE MORNING SHOW

Personal Command Update

MORNING BRIEF

Good morning, Anthony.

Friday, July 17, 2026Alexandria, VA6 min read

Morning Philosophy

“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

— Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Ulysses"

Tennyson's aging king refuses the comfort of rest, choosing instead the harder work of continued purpose—a fitting creed for anyone training to lead in law or arms, where the mission rarely ends with a single victory. Cadets and future officers alike must learn that discipline is not a season but a posture: you strive again tomorrow regardless of today's outcome. Notice the verb order—strive, then seek, then find—effort precedes clarity; you rarely see the objective until you've moved toward it. Let today's small frustrations be data, not verdicts, and keep moving.

Question for the DayWhat today will you refuse to abandon simply because it has become difficult?

Hard Deadlines — Today

No hard deadlines today.

Today’s Calendar

0900

Visit Brian Babin and Fry office tomorrow coins

Canvas — Upcoming

Chapter 5 Lab (lab 3) - Rootkits30336.202630due Sun 7/19

Chapter 5 Quiz30336.202630due Sun 7/19

Chapter 6 Lab (Lab 4) - NCrack (Brute Force Attack on SSH)30336.202630due Sun 7/19

Chapter 6 Quiz30336.202630due Sun 7/19

Week 3 - Hacking and Malware30336.202630due Sun 7/19

Module 3 discussions30021.202630due Sun 7/19

Announcements

CSC227 SUMMER COURSE IMPORTANT UPDATES30336.202630 · 2026-07-14

1/3 of Summer Course Already Over!30336.202630 · 2026-07-13

INTL 465 Module 2 grades / missing work30021.202630 · 2026-07-13

Weather & Dress

Clear sky · 77–95°F (now 81°, feels 80°)

precip 5%   wind 8mph

0557

sunrise

2031

sunset

⚠ Excessive heat — limit exertion, hydrate.

WEAR — light, breathable clothing; hydrate

Recovery Check

96 / 100

Well recovered — good day to push.

HRV 118 ms   Resting HR 48 bpm   VO₂ max 44.1

Daily Leadership Lesson

The way you make decisions matters as much as the decisions themselves, because a fair process buys tolerance for an outcome people dislike.

Before announcing your next call, explain the reasoning and criteria you used, not just the verdict.

Journal Memory

You reflected on a week at ROCMA where two cadets you're close to cracked under stress and punitive pressure, and you described watching one of them, 小胖子, being punished with impossibly short travel times between locations.

“A similar experience happened with another staff member who is the human affairs sergeant. 小胖子 was being punished by his seniors because they believed he was not performing as they had hoped. To punish him, they kept giving him short hit times between locations. Time was so short, I watched him multiple times, on multiple days, sprinting from one place to another in order to meet the time. I do not know every detail of the situation, but again I note it because it reveals a larger theme I have seen here. One thing I will note through that, though, is that his hit times were so short that he was having to skip meals to make them. When I began questioning him and insisting he try working with them to ensure he could get their expectations met while also ensuring he could eat, he chose not to, as he did not feel comfortable bringing a concern to his seniors. It was quite sad to see, however, as during our sports class, he had to sit out the entire day because he was lightheaded from not eating and sleeping enough.”

FROM “J.2026-04-20” · 2026-04-20

News Worth Knowing

Major World News

US launches new strikes as Iran says civilian infrastructure hit — BBC News

The US has launched new strikes on Iran, with Tehran reporting that civilian infrastructure, including bridges, was hit. The US has also boarded a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling escalating military action amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Zelenskyy fires Ukraine's tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle — NPR Topics: World

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular, tech-savvy defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a government reshuffle. Fedorov was widely credited with driving innovation in drone warfare that helped Ukraine counter Russian forces on the battlefield.

More than 500 Rohingya vanished at sea - what happened? — BBC News

More than 500 Rohingya refugees have vanished after two boats carrying an estimated 530 people disappeared following their departure from Myanmar on June 29. The fate of those aboard remains unknown, raising serious humanitarian concerns.

Major United States News

At least one dead in Texas floods ravaging same area where campers died — BBC News

Flooding has returned to the same Texas region devastated by last year's disaster, which killed more than 130 people, with at least one death already reported in the new flooding. Rivers are reportedly reaching dangerous levels again, raising fears of a repeat catastrophe. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as rainfall continues.

White House teleprompter operator accused of making $100k from Trump speech bets — BBC News

A White House teleprompter operator is accused of using advance knowledge of President Trump's speeches to make nearly $100,000 betting on the prediction market Kalshi. Officials are investigating what would be the first known case of insider trading on a prediction market originating from inside the White House. The case raises questions about internal safeguards and potential exploitation of privileged access to presidential communications.

The use of force has become a 'default tool' for ICE officers, a new report finds — NPR Topics: National

A new ACLU report finds that use of force has become a routine, default tactic for ICE officers during the first year of Trump's return to office. The report comes amid heightened scrutiny following recent fatal shootings by ICE agents in Texas and Maine. It raises broader concerns about accountability and oversight in immigration enforcement operations.

South Carolina News

Health expert warns of cyclospora outbreak linked to raw produce — WIS News 10

A health expert has issued a warning about a cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated raw produce, with Charleston County reporting the highest number of cases in South Carolina this year. The parasitic infection can cause prolonged gastrointestinal illness, making this a public health concern worth monitoring, especially for those who consume fresh produce.

New South Carolina law requires restaurants to disclose imported shrimp — Live 5 News

A new South Carolina law now requires restaurants to disclose when they are serving imported shrimp rather than local catch. The measure aims to give consumers transparency about the seafood they're eating and could impact the state's shrimping industry and dining establishments statewide.

Military & National Security

Russian troops survive just 20-30 minutes on Ukraine’s front lines, CIA director says — Defense News

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Russian troops sent to the front lines in Ukraine survive for only an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before being killed or wounded. The stark claim underscores the extreme casualty rates Russia is reportedly enduring in its ongoing invasion. It offers a rare high-level U.S. intelligence assessment of battlefield conditions nearly four years into the war.

US military boards oil tanker in Gulf of Oman — The Hill

The U.S. military boarded an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, a strategically vital waterway for global energy shipments. Such interdictions often signal heightened tensions or enforcement actions related to sanctions or smuggling in the region. Details on the tanker's origin, cargo, or reason for the boarding were not specified.

Trump’s $1.5T defense budget is in trouble — Politico

President Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget is reportedly running into significant trouble, according to Politico. This suggests emerging obstacles—potentially from Congress, cost overruns, or political disputes—that could reshape U.S. military spending plans. The scale of the budget makes any disruption consequential for defense priorities and industry planning.

Opinion Piece

The Biggest Takeaway From Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Hearing — Quinta Jurecic · The Atlantic

The piece argues that Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing revealed a troubling shift in the Justice Department's culture, where the long-standing ideal of impartial, non-partisan justice has effectively vanished. It suggests the hearing exposed how political loyalty now supersedes the traditional norms of prosecutorial independence. This signals a deeper institutional erosion at the DOJ under the current administration.

Data Status
🟢Calendar1 event(s)
🟢Canvas Assignments0 due today, 6 upcoming, 3 announcements
🟢WeatherClear sky, 77–95°F at Alexandria, VA
🟢Newsworld:3; us:3; local:2; military:3
🟢Opinion PieceThe Biggest Takeaway From Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Hearin
🟢Morning PhilosophyTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
🟢Daily Leadership LessonThe way you make decisions matters as much as the…
🟢Journal MemoryJ.2026-04-20
🟢Recovery CheckWell recovered — good day to push.
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