Extra, Extra

Cheap Power: “Over decades, Saudi Arabia has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in building an advanced military, putting the kingdom among the top 10 nations in terms of arms spending … but the missiles and drones used by the Yemeni militia are difficult to detect and stop.” Why Does Saudi Arabia Struggle to Stop Houthi Attacks? (The future of war doesn’t resemble its past. And that has provided an advantage to smaller adversaries. We’re seeing the trend play out across the world, and (with all due respect to testosterone) it could be one of America’s most pressing military challenges.)

+ Narcos: “The Pentagon is expanding its fight against drug traffickers, even as the plans recall a long and bloody history of U.S. intervention in the region.” U.S. Is Sending Hundreds of Troops to Latin America.

+ Separated at Birth: “More than half of the counties in the United States no longer have a hospital with inpatient labor and delivery services. One in three counties is designated a ‘maternity care desert,’ with no obstetric clinicians or birthing facilities at all.” TNR: The Increasingly Long Drive to Give Birth in Rural America.

+ Filling Up a Dance Card: “A list obtained by The Washington Post reveals all the major donors to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, including previously undisclosed contributors who have benefited from regulatory decisions, government contracts and, in one case, a pardon for a family member.” Secret documents reveal donors behind $330 million for Trump’s ballroom. (So much for American exceptionalism. Once the rules changed, it took about five minutes for everyone to get on board.)

+ Lowering the Bar: Katie Zacharia did not pass the bar exam, senior administration official says. (So now, they’ve invented some new theory about the difference between being a lawyer and being an attorney. Don’t be fooled. This is all about being a liar.)