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Why Trump won't call Putin's election win a 'sham'

Analysis by Stephen Collinson and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Donald Trump doesn't care what anyone thinks about his puzzling relationship with Vladimir Putin -- that includes his own foreign policy team, Republican senators and US allies.
US National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster speaks during a briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, May 16, 2017. McMaster on Tuesday denied that US President Donald Trump had caused a "lapse in national security" following reports he disclosed highly-classified information about the Islamic State group to Russian officials. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

McMaster could leave WH after months of tension with Trump

By Barbara Starr, Zachary Cohen, Elise Labott, Kaitlan Collins and Jamie Gangel, CNN
With tensions flaring between President Donald Trump and national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the Pentagon is considering options that would allow the President to potentially move the three-star general out of his current role and back into the military, according to half a dozen defense and administration officials.

Trump should not ignore Xi's power grab in China

Analysis by Stephen Collinson and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The White House has indicated that President Donald Trump is not overly concerned by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's recent move to consolidate power by abolishing presidential term limits, but perhaps he should be.

'I will not shut up,' Haley tells Palestinian negotiator

By Zachary Cohen and Richard Roth, CNN
Pledging she "will not shut up," US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Tuesday that the Trump administration will not change its decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
China's President Xi Jinping (L) and US President Donald Trump attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump risks more than a trade war by targeting China

By Zachary Cohen and Nicole Gaouette, CNN
President Donald Trump's vow to enact revenge on China for "killing" the US on trade was a signature refrain of the 2016 campaign, but his latest tough talk risks stoking an adversarial economic standoff with Beijing that could prompt geopolitical retaliation on issues ranging from North Korea to the South China Sea.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: (AFP-OUT) President Donald Trump arrives for a ceremony honoring Reverend Billy Graham as he lies in repose at the U.S. Capitol, on February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. Rev. Graham is being honored by Congress by lying in repose inside of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for 24 hours. Graham was the nation's best know Christian evangelist, preaching to millions world wide, as well as being an advisor to US presidents over his 6 decade career. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images)

Nuclear missile threat a 'red line' for Trump on North Korea

By Jim Sciutto and Dana Bash, CNN
The Trump administration is considering military action against North Korea if the rogue regime successfully builds a nuclear missile capable of hitting the United States, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the administration's latest thinking. Senior national security officials believe a nuclear armed Pyongyang represents an unacceptable risk to the US.

Inside the US nuclear sub challenging Russia in the Arctic

By Jim Sciutto and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Nearly invisible to the enemy as it stalks the oceans depths, the USS Hartford, a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine, provides the US Navy with a lethal combination of stealth and firepower.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo testifies on worldwide threats during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, February 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

New boss at State Department, but same Russia problem for Trump

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Outgoing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a point to specifically call out Russia in his farewell statement on Tuesday -- highlighting an urgent challenge that is now the responsibility of his replacement Mike Pompeo along with Defense Secretary James Mattis.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson participates in a news conference with Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Workneh Gebeyehu, after their meeting, Thursday, March 8, 2018 in in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP)

Tillerson fails to thank Trump after firing

By Laura Koran, Zachary Cohen and Dan Merica, CNN
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson thanked the American people, his State Department staff and the nation's extensive network of diplomats in an at times emotional farewell statement on Tuesday.
White House staff secretary Rob Porter, left, walks with White House senior adviser Stephen Miller from Marine One across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, as they return with President Donald Trump form Ohio. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Dozens of Trump officials still lack full security clearance

By Jim Sciutto, Gloria Borger and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Thirty to 40 White House officials and administration political appointees are still operating without full security clearances, including senior adviser to President Donald Trump Jared Kushner and -- until recently -- White House staffer Rob Porter, according to a US official and a source familiar with the situation.

Outgoing US ambassador to Panama blasts Trump

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN
The outgoing US ambassador to Panama issued a scathing critique of President Donald Trump and his foreign policies in an op-ed, saying that a betrayal of "the traditional core values of the United States" led to his resignation.
TOPSHOT - This undated picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on March 7, 2017 shows the launch of four ballistic missiles by the Korean People's Army (KPA) during a military drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Nuclear-armed North Korea launched four ballistic missiles on March 6 in another challenge to President Donald Trump, with three landing provocatively close to America's ally Japan. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. / (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

A dangerous choice looms for Trump on North Korea

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Only President Donald Trump and his closest advisers may truly know how close the US is to war with North Korea as the administration's standoff with Pyongyang continues to escalate.
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Navy ships in deadly collisions had lengthy training lapses

By Zachary Cohen and Jeremy Herb, CNN
Two US Navy destroyers involved in deadly collisions this year -- the USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald -- had lengthy records of expired training certifications and some requirements had lapsed for more than two years, according to a new report obtained by CNN.
F-35A Lightning II's from the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, April 15, 2017. The aircraft arrival marks the first F-35A fighter training deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility or any overseas location as a flying training deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)

Trump touts sale of nonexistent fighter jet

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the first of 52 "F-52 and F-35" fighter jets have been delivered to Norway -- proudly touting the "$10 billion" sale of military equipment to the NATO ally during a news conference with the Norwegian prime minister.

US B-52 bomber unleashes record-setting payload

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
A US Air Force B-52 bomber launched a record-setting series of strikes this week in northern Afghanistan -- dropping 24 precision-guided munitions on Taliban fighting positions during 96 hours of air operations "to destroy insurgent revenue sources, training facilities, and support networks," according to US Forces Afghanistan.

Pentagon mistakenly labels Taiwan as part of China in nuclear report

By Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The US Defense Department was forced to correct several mistakes in its Nuclear Posture Review after an initial version of the report released last week labeled Taiwan as part of China and included the disputed Kuril islands in a chart depicting Russia.
Group of Iraqi soldiers proudly pick up ISIS flag left behind

US military leader threatens ISIS with death by shovel

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
The top enlisted leader in the US military has issued a stark and graphic warning to all remaining ISIS fighters: Surrender or face a violent death at the hands of coalition forces, who will carry out the task using anything from bombs to entrenchment shovels.

Russian spy ship spotted 100 miles off North Carolina coast

By Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The Russian spy ship, the Viktor Leonov, was spotted 100 miles south east of Wilmington, North Carolina, in international waters, according to a US military official, just days after the vessel was seen leaving the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the director of the CIA, Rep.Mike Pompeo(R-KS) attends his confirmation hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee on January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Mr. Pompeo is a former Army officer who graduated first in his class from West Point. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

CIA director Pompeo met top Russian spies

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
CIA Director Mike Pompeo recently met with his Russian counterparts when they traveled to the US, according to US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman.

Benghazi suspect cleared of murder, guilty on terror charges

By Zachary Cohen and David Shortell, CNN
A US jury found Ahmed Abu Khatallah guilty on four of 18 charges on Tuesday related to his role in the 2012 terrorist attack on a US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

CIA: Kim Jong Un isn't crazy

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Between the ruthless executions of his own senior officers, bombastic threats of nuclear annihilation and defiant missile tests, it may be easy to agree with President Donald Trump's recent assessment that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is a "madman" who is "on a suicide mission for himself."
This photo shows damages on the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald at its mother port in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo on June 18, 2017. A number of missing American sailors have been found dead in flooded areas of a destroyer that collided with a container ship off Japan's coast, the US Navy said on June 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Kazuhiro NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images)

Crippled US destroyer damaged by transport ship

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The USS Fitzgerald, a Navy destroyer that was damaged in June after a deadly collision with a cargo ship off the coast of Japan, suffered two punctures to its hull on Sunday while being loaded onto a transport ship destined for the US, according to the service.
This picture taken 26 December 2011 shows the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft (600,000 m2), of which 3,700,000 sq ft (340,000 m2) are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images)

US risks losing artificial intelligence arms race to China and Russia

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
More than 60 years after a space race rivalry with the Soviet Union ushered in a new era of ballistic missile development, the US is facing another "Sputnik moment" amid a rapidly escalating international competition over artificial intelligence, according to former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work.
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US military says North Korea launched new ICBM

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
The US military has begun referring to the North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launched Tuesday as a "KN 22" -- a new designation signaling that the US is increasingly seeing the recent launch as involving a new type of ICBM, according to two US defense officials.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the director of the CIA, Rep.Mike Pompeo(R-KS) attends his confirmation hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee on January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Mr. Pompeo is a former Army officer who graduated first in his class from West Point. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

CIA corrects director's Russian election meddling claim

By Zachary Cohen and Jim Sciutto, CNN
CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the US intelligence community determined that Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election did not affect its outcome -- a statement that was quickly clarified by his own agency.

What we know and don't know about the deadly Niger attack

By Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Thursday that the "US military does not leave its troops behind" but did not provide additional details into why the body of Sgt. La David Johnson was recovered nearly 48 hours after his 12-member team was ambushed by 50 ISIS fighters in Niger.
This picture taken 26 December 2011 shows the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft (600,000 m2), of which 3,700,000 sq ft (340,000 m2) are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images)

US reverses plan to quit using its stock of older cluster bombs

By Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The Pentagon will soon issue a new policy on cluster bombs, abandoning a previous plan that mandated the military ditch older versions of the controversial weapons by 2019, according to a copy of a Defense Department memorandum signed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and obtained by CNN.

North Korea rejects diplomacy with US for now, source says

By Will Ripley, Zachary Cohen and Richard Roth, CNN
A North Korean official reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to developing a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching "all the way to the East coast of the mainland US," on Monday, telling CNN that the rogue nation is currently not interested in diplomacy with the US until it achieves that goal.
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from the press during a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office October 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump answered a range of questions during the portion of the meeting that was open to the press, including queries on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Trump admin delays decision on $17B Boeing, Iran aircraft deal

By Zachary Cohen and Elise Labott, CNN
The Trump administration asked a Chicago federal court Thursday for a two-month deadline extension on its decision assessing whether revealing secret details of a $17 billion commercial aircraft deal between Iran and Boeing would interfere with US foreign policy by obstructing a key component of the Iranian nuclear deal.

Trump takes credit for ISIS 'giving up'

By Zachary Cohen and Dan Merica, CNN
President Donald Trump took credit for the fact that ISIS is in retreat during an interview Tuesday, claiming that ISIS wasn't on the run before because "you didn't have Trump as your president."
TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump waits for a dinner with Latin American and US leaders at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly September 18, 2017 in New York City. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

President Trump plans to 'decertify' Iran nuclear deal next week

By Elise Labott, Kevin Liptak and Zachary Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump plans to "decertify" the Iran nuclear deal next week, declaring the Obama-era pact not in US interests and launching a congressional review period on the accord, according to two senior US officials.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 11: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) looks at President Donald Trump during a ceremony to commemorate the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the Pentagon September 11, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

Tillerson's dramatic plan to save Iran deal, keep up pressure

By Elise Labott and Zachary Cohen, CNN
As President Donald Trump considers whether to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is working behind the scenes with Congress to head off the possibility of an international crisis ahead of the agreement's looming October 15 certification deadline, several US officials and Western diplomats told CNN.
ARLINGTON, VA - OCTOBER 23: Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefs the media on the recent military operations in Niger, at the Pentagon on October 23, 2017 in Arlington, VA. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Top US general reveals new info on Niger ambush

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The US troops attacked in Niger were on their way back to their operating base when they were ambushed by 50 ISIS fighters, according to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, who provided a timeline of the attack on Monday.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of Sgt. La David T. Johnson who was part of a joint U.S. and Nigerian train, advise and assist mission.Sgt. Johnson, 25, of Miami Gardens, Florida, died October 4, 2017 in southwest Niger as a result of enemy fire.

Missing soldier found nearly a mile from Niger ambush, officials say

By Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Sgt. La David Johnson was found nearly a mile away from the central scene of the ambush in Niger that killed four US soldiers -- including Johnson -- and wounded two others, four administration officials familiar with the early assessment of what happened told CNN on Friday.
This picture taken on September 23, 2017 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 24 shows an anti-US rally in Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang. Tens of thousands of Pyongyang residents gathered in the capital's Kim Il-Sung Square on September 23 to laud leader Kim Jong-Un's denunciation of US President Donald Trump. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

North Korea accuses Trump of declaring war

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Monday accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country by tweeting over the weekend that North Korea "won't be around much longer."

Could North Korea help Iran develop nuclear weapons?

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
As North Korea continues its march towards developing a reliable long-range nuclear missile, US officials are becoming increasingly vocal about concerns over Pyongyang's ties to another familiar adversary: Iran.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: The United Nations Security Council meets on August 19, 2015 in New York City. The topic of discussion was "The Palestinian Question," and Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, addressed the council. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

UN passes fresh sanctions on North Korea

By Zachary Cohen and Richard Roth, CNN
The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution to impose new sanctions on North Korea on Monday -- a move that comes just one week after the rogue nation carried out its sixth and largest nuclear test.
TOPSHOT - This picture taken on July 4, 2017 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 5, 2017 shows the successful test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location. South Korea and the United States fired off missiles on July 5 simulating a precision strike against North Korea's leadership, in response to a landmark ICBM test described by Kim Jong-Un as a gift to "American bastards". / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. / (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

North Korea launches missile over Japan

By James Griffiths, Zachary Cohen and Joshua Berlinger, CNN
In a major show of defiance to the international community, North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido Friday.
US President Donald Trump holds a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, September 26, 2017.

Trump warns of 'devastating' military option as North Korea moves jets

By Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN
US President Donald Trump issued a familiar warning to North Korea on Tuesday, saying the US is prepared to use "devastating" military action if necessary -- as two defense officials tell CNN that the rogue nation has moved a small number of fighter jets, external fuel tanks and air-to-air missiles to a base on its eastern coast to boost military readiness.
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NSA reveals 100,000 foreign nationals under surveillance

By Jim Sciutto and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The National Security Agency is currently conducting surveillance on more than 100,000 foreign nationals outside the US, several senior US officials revealed Monday, highlighting cases in which so-called Section 702 authorities have helped the intelligence community identify cybersecurity threats from hostile governments, stop malicious cyberattacks and disrupt ISIS terror plots.
A picture shows the damage inside the burnt US consulate building in Benghazi on September 13, 2012, following an attack on the building late on September 11 in which the US ambassador to Libya and three other US nationals were killed. Libya said it has made arrests and opened a probe into the attack, amid speculation that Al-Qaeda rather than a frenzied mob was to blame. AFP PHOTO/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA (Photo credit should read GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)

Security officer reveals horror of Benghazi attack

By Elise Labott and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Donning gray pants, an untucked white button-down shirt and long gray beard, Ahmed Abu Khatallah silently took notes and sipped water inside a packed Washington courtroom on Monday as prosecutors outlined a case that will attempt to paint him as the ringleader of the 2012 terrorist attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

Benghazi suspect set for trial, details of secret raid revealed

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
More than three years after his capture, Libyan militia leader Ahmed Abu Khatallah is set to stand trial in a US federal court on charges describing him as the ringleader of the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack that killed US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
File photo of the USS Kearsarge

US military sends warships, aircraft to Texas

By Zachary Cohen, Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne, CNN
With floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey swallowing entire Texas cities, the US military is mobilizing its resources from states across the country to help local law enforcement and civilian volunteers in the rescue effort.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: President Donald Trump holds a meeting with members of his cabinet including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) and Secretary of Defense James Mattis (R) in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. This was the first official meeting of Trump's cabinet. (Photo by Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

Trump administration's mixed North Korea signals raise questions about US strategy

By Zachary Cohen and Nicole Gaouette, CNN
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that "talking is not the answer" when it comes to reining in North Korea -- seeming to contradict some of his top Cabinet officials who insist the US will continue to seek a peaceful resolution to tensions with Pyongyang, despite its provocative missile tests.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 25: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Rose Garden at the White House July 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump began the news conference by announcing that Senate Republicans had passed a procedural vote on repealing Obamacare. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump attorney reached out to Kremlin to pursue Moscow Trump Tower project

By Zachary Cohen, Cristina Alesci and Marshall Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump's attorney reached out to the Kremlin for assistance in building a Trump Tower in Moscow well into the business mogul's presidential campaign, he said Monday, adding that he discussed the project with Trump three times.
From left : German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson sit at a table on the second day of a meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries on April 11, 2017 in Lucca, Tuscany. / AFP PHOTO / Vincenzo PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)

Tillerson aide: Constitution, not Trump, 'speaks for the country'

By Zachary Cohen, Elise Labott and Jim Acosta, CNN
Rather than walk back eyebrow-raising comments made by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday, an aide told CNN Monday that President Donald Trump speaks for himself when it comes to American values "because the Constitution speaks for the country."

Exclusive: Russian ex-diplomat Kislyak downplays Trump campaign contacts

By Matthew Chance, Emma Burrows and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Russia's former ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak downplayed his contact with members of the Trump campaign on Wednesday, calling allegations that he worked as a spymaster and tried to recruit people within President Donald Trump's orbit "nonsense" during an exclusive interview with CNN.
TSA officers are required to screen all checked bags before they are stored in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft.

TSA reviewing cargo screening, concerned about terror vulnerabilities

By Rene Marsh and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The Transportation Security Administration is reviewing its screening procedures for cargo flown into and within the United States because of concerns that potential security vulnerabilities could be exploited by terrorists, a US official told CNN.
White nationalist demonstrators walk through town after their rally was declared illegal near Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Trump's mixed messaging sparks concerns of 'emboldened' white supremacists

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
With major cities across the country bracing for an unusual wave of far-right rallies in the coming days, local and federal law enforcement officials are concerned about the potential for more violence amid warnings that white supremacist groups were empowered by President Donald Trump's response to the deadly attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday.
Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, flew from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for a 10-hour mission, flying in the vicinity of Kyushu, Japan, the East China Sea, and the Korean peninsula, Aug. 8, 2017. During the mission, the B-1s were joined by Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15s as well as Republic of Korea Air Force F-15s, performing two sequential bilateral missions. These flights with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) demonstrate solidarity between Japan, ROK and the U.S. to defend against provocative and destabilizing actions in the Pacific theater.

US B-1 bombers ready if called upon by Trump

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Shortly after tweeting the US military was "locked and loaded" should North Korea "act unwisely," President Donald Trump returned to Twitter on Friday to emphasize his point by retweeting images of US B-1 bombers currently stationed in Guam.

North Korea threatens strike on Guam

By Zachary Cohen and Euan McKirdy, CNN
North Korea's military is "examining the operational plan" to strike areas around the US territory of Guam with medium-to-long-range strategic ballistic missiles, state-run news agency KCNA said early Wednesday local time.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (front) claps during a national memorial service in Pyongyang on Dec. 16, 2012, to mark the first anniversary on Dec. 17 of the death of Kim Jong Il, his father and predecessor.

Trump promises North Korea 'fire and fury' over nuke threat

By Jim Sciutto, Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump issued an extraordinary ultimatum to North Korea on Tuesday warning Pyongyang not to make any more threats against the United States or they will "face fire and fury like the world has never seen," during a photo op at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill June 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. Mattis and other Pentagon leaders testified about the proposed FY2018 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Mattis to North Korea: Stop actions that could lead to 'destruction of its people'

By Zachary Cohen and Barbara Starr, CNN
US Defense Secretary James Mattis issued a dramatic ultimatum to North Korea on Wednesday to "cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and destruction of its people" -- strong words that come just one day after President Donald Trump warned that the US could unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Justin Lane/Epa/REX/Shutterstock (8135976a) A Fox News Mic is Seen Across the Street From Trump Tower in New York New York Usa on 22 November 2016 Representatives From a Number of Major Television Networks Attended an Off-the-record Meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday a Meeting in Which Trump Reportedly Criticized Many of Them For Their Work During the Election United States New York Usa New York Trump Media - Nov 2016

Trump retweets Fox News story containing classified info

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump's retweet of a Fox News story claiming US satellites detected North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to a patrol boat is raising eyebrows on Tuesday after US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley indicated that the information in the report is classified and was leaked.

Could Trump, Kim Jong Un solve this face-to-face?

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump has long indicated that he'd be willing to meet face-to-face with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- a proposition that has garnered harsh criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and even been downplayed at times by the members of the administration.

Lawmakers slam Trump's 'fire and fury' toward North Korea

By Jeremy Herb, CNN
President Donald Trump faced criticism from lawmakers in both parties on Tuesday after warning that North Korea would "face fire and fury like the world has never seen" if Pyongyang keeps threatening the United States.
In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford departs Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding for builder's sea trials off the U.S. East Coast on April 8, 2017 in Newport News, Virginia. The first-of-class ship, the first new U.S. aircraft carrier design in 40 years, will spend several days conducting builder's sea trials, a comprehensive test of many of the ship's key systems and technologies.

Sneak peek at US Navy's new $13B aircraft carrier

By Zachary Cohen, Video by Gabe Ramirez, CNN
Perched 50 feet above the USS Gerald Ford's massive flight deck, Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Triana has a clear view of the horizon from his padded captain's chair in the pilot house of the world's most advanced aircraft carrier.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees the testing of a submarine launched ballistic missile test which he claimed as a success.

US detects 'highly unusual' North Korean submarine activity

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
The US military has detected "highly unusual and unprecedented levels" of North Korean submarine activity and evidence of an "ejection test" in the days following Pyongyang's second intercontinental ballistic missile launch this month, a defense official told CNN on Monday.
U.S. Army trainers watch as Iraqi Army recruits train at a military base on April 12, 2015 in Taji, Iraq. Members of the U.S. Army's 5-73 CAV, 3BCT, 82nd Airborne Division are teaching soldiers from the newly-formed 15th Division of the Iraqi Army, as the Iraqi government launches offensives to try to recover territory lost to ISIS last year.

US Joint Chiefs blindsided by Trump's transgender ban

By Barbara Starr, Zachary Cohen and Jim Sciutto, CNN
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, including chairman General Joseph Dunford, were not aware President Donald Trump planned to tweet a ban on transgender service members, three US defense officials told CNN -- the latest indication that top military leaders across all four service branches were blindsided by the President's announcement.

Kushner contradicts Trump team's denials of Russia contacts

By Zachary Cohen and Marshall Cohen, CNN
For nearly a year, President Donald Trump and several of his top advisers have repeatedly denied that there was any contact between members of the Trump campaign and individuals tied to the Russian government. But the veracity of that story appears to be crumbling under contradictory revelations from the President's son, son-in-law and the current attorney general.

Kushner under fire for role in meeting after Trump Jr. email release

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
While President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., finds himself at the center of a political firestorm stemming from his controversial meeting with a Russian lawyer last summer, questions are also beginning to swirl around the involvement of another Trump family member who was present for the rendezvous: Jared Kushner.
A Russian Su-27 fighter jet flew within five feet of a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, according to a US official, an encounter that was assessed to be "unsafe."

US releases dramatic photos of 'unsafe' Russian jet intercept

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
US European Command released dramatic photos that show the moment a Russian Su-27 fighter jet flew within five feet of a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea -- an encounter US officials assessed to be "unsafe."

The Russia investigation: Everything you need to know

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
After months of dramatic congressional testimony, bombshell news reports and partisan jousting, the ever-evolving saga about alleged Russian tampering in the 2016 presidential election and investigation into possible collusion by members of Donald Trump's campaign continues to pick up momentum as new revelations seem to surface on a daily basis.
View of the metal fence along the border in Sonoyta, Sonora state, northern Mexico, between the Altar desert in Mexico and the Arizona desert in the United States, on March 27, 2017. Threatened species like the Sonoran pronghorn or desert bighorn sheep freely cross the border between Mexico and the United States in protected biospheres, but the construction of US President Donald Trump's wall will block their movement in these desert valleys and could drive them to extinction. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO PARDO (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images)

Despite pledge, Trump's wall can't keep out all illegal drugs

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
A US border patrol marine unit intercepted a small speed boat near the southern coast of Puerto Rico last month -- an operation that led to the arrest of two foreign nationals after agents uncovered 1,320 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $17 million, on board.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, deployed to Andersen Air Base, Guam, is flanked by two F-15K Slam Eagles, assigned to Daegu Air Base, South Korea, during a flight over South Korea Sept. 21, 2016. The B-1 is the backbone of the U.S. long-range bomber mission and is capable of carrying the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory. (South Korean air force photo/Chief Master Sgt. Kim, Kyeong Ryul)

US B-1 bombers fly near North Korea

By Zachary Cohen, Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne, CNN
Two US B-1 bombers flew over the Korean peninsula Tuesday in a planned bilateral training mission with Japanese and South Korean F-15 fighter jets, a US military official told CNN.
This picture taken and released by Japan's Defence Ministry on June 11, 2014 and received via Jiji Press shows one of two Chinese Su-27 fighter jets which flew "dangerously" close to two Japanese military planes over the East China Sea. Japan accused China of flying fighter jets "dangerously" close to two of its military planes over the East China Sea on June 11, as bilateral tensions simmer over the countries' territorial dispute. On June 12, Japan summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain about the fighter jets activities. JAPAN OUT AFP PHOTO/Defense Ministry via Jiji Press --- EDITORS NOTE -- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO/Defense Ministry via Jiji Press"- NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSJIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

Russian fighter jet flies five feet from US spy plane

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
A Russian Su-27 fighter jet flew within five feet of a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft on Monday over the Baltic Sea, according to a US official, an encounter that was assessed to be "unsafe."
This picture taken 26 December 2011 shows the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft (600,000 m2), of which 3,700,000 sq ft (340,000 m2) are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images)

US military chiefs ask for transgender policy delay

By Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen, CNN
US military chiefs are asking for more time to implement a policy that will allow transgender people to enlist in the service branches, the Pentagon announced on Friday.
An Air Force E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft sits at the international airport in Bogota,Colombia Oct. 3, waiting for Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison)

Air Force 'doomsday' planes damaged in tornado

By Zachary Cohen and Barbara Starr, CNN
Ten US Air Force planes, including two E-4B "doomsday" aircraft, were damaged when a tornado hit near Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska last week, the service told CNN on Friday.
The US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald arrives at the US Naval base, Yokosuka, in the Japanese prefecture of Kanagawa on June 17. The US and Japan launched a major search operation to find seven missing American sailors on June 17 after their navy destroyer collided with a container ship, crushing the side of the military vessel.

Delay in reporting of deadly US destroyer collision raises questions

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Nearly an hour passed before the crew of a container ship reported its collision with a US destroyer, according to the Japanese coast guard, raising more questions about the sequence of events that ultimately led to the death of seven American sailors.

NATO jet intercepts Russian minister's plane

By Zachary Cohen and Pamela Boykoff, CNN
A Polish NATO F-16 fighter jet tried to intercept the plane of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the Baltic Sea Wednesday, according to Russian state media.
An FA-18 Hornet like this one crashed today in the Southern California desert on November, 9. The pilot ejected safely.

US Navy fighter pilot deaths tied to oxygen issues

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The US Navy has linked the deaths of four F/A-18 Hornet pilots to "physiological episodes" that occurred while the aircraft was airborne, according to an in-depth review of oxygen system failures that are plaguing the service's primary fighter jet and T-45 training aircraft.
PACIFIC OCEAN (May 25, 2017) Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Peter Mims poses for a photo after being frocked to the rank of petty officer third class during a ceremony aboard the forward-deployed Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67). Shiloh is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia- Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Pat Morrissey/Released)

US Navy loses sailor on ship for 7 days

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
A US Navy sailor who was thought to have gone overboard seven days ago and was presumed dead has been found alive aboard the ship that reported him missing, the Navy announced Thursday.
A general view taken on June 5, 2017 shows boats sitting in the port along the corniche in Doha. Arab nations including Saudi Arabia and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the region in years. / AFP PHOTO / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

US ambassador to Qatar to step down amid diplomatic crisis

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
US ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith announced Tuesday that she will step down later this month, as planned, after serving in the post for three years. Her decision comes in the midst of a major diplomatic crisis in the region, a week after major Gulf nations severed ties with Doha.
INDIAN SPRINGS, NV - SEPTEMBER 14: An F-15 Eagle drops flares during a U.S. Air Force firepower demonstration at the Nevada Test and Training Range September 14, 2007 near Indian Springs, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

US aircraft shoots down Iranian-made drone in Syria

By Barbara Starr, Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen, CNN
US aircraft shot down an Iranian-made drone that fired on coalition forces patrolling with partner forces in southern Syria, a coalition spokesman told reporters on Thursday.
trump putin kremlin manafort flynn composite

Who's who in Trump-Russia saga

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The House Intelligence Committee is threatening to fracture along partisan lines as the sides accuse one another of playing politics with the investigation into alleged Russian attempts to meddle in the 2016 elections and whether President Donald Trump's associates colluded with Moscow.
US President Donald Trump speaks during the 36th Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, May 15, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

US allies taken aback by intel sharing revelation

By Zachary Cohen and Nicole Gaouette, CNN
The revelation that President Donald Trump reportedly disclosed highly sensitive information to Russian officials is raising questions among some allied intelligence agencies about the security of details they share with their US counterparts.
White Senior Advisor Jared Kushner listens as US President Donald Trump speaks at a meeting with business leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 23, 2017. / AFP / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Conflicting stories about Kushner's meeting with Russian banker

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The political firestorm around President Donald Trump's top adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner is picking up momentum due to mounting confusion over why Kushner secretly met with the head of a Russian state-owned bank during the presidential transition in December.
This picture taken and released by Japan's Defence Ministry on June 11, 2014 and received via Jiji Press shows one of two Chinese Su-27 fighter jets which flew "dangerously" close to two Japanese military planes over the East China Sea. Japan accused China of flying fighter jets "dangerously" close to two of its military planes over the East China Sea on June 11, as bilateral tensions simmer over the countries' territorial dispute. On June 12, Japan summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain about the fighter jets activities. JAPAN OUT AFP PHOTO/Defense Ministry via Jiji Press --- EDITORS NOTE -- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO/Defense Ministry via Jiji Press"- NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSJIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

Russian jet intercepts US B-52 bomber

By Zachary Cohen and Barbara Starr, CNN
A Russian fighter jet intercepted a US bomber over the Baltic Sea in international waters on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry that was published on state news agency TASS.
Two F-22 Raptors from the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, conduct approach training March 24, 2016. The F-22 is the Air Force's premium fifth-generation fighter asset. (U.S. Air Force photo/Justin Connaher)

US F-22s intercept Russian bombers off Alaska coast

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne
Two Russian TU-95 Bear bombers were intercepted in international airspace off the coast of Alaska by two US F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft on Monday, the Pentagon confirmed to CNN.
On April 16, 2017 shows Korean People's ballistic missiles being displayed through Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade in Pyongyang marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung.

Pence avoids direct answer on North Korea sabotage

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Vice President Mike Pence avoided a direct answer when asked if the US used any cyber or electronic technology to sabotage Sunday's North Korean missile test. But his response went beyond offering a simple "no comment," as he made it very clear that the US recognized that the launch failed, and failed almost immediately.

DHS chief: US is 'Super Bowl' for ISIS terrorists

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued a stark warning Tuesday, calling the risk of a terror attack on the United States "as threatening today" as it was on 9/11.

Did Nordic leaders troll Trump with 'orb' photo?

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Top leaders of five Nordic countries are rejecting claims that they "trolled" President Donald Trump by posing for a photo that is drawing comparisons to the US leader's now-infamous moment with a glowing orb during his trip to Saudi Arabia.
People examine an Army UH-60 helicopter from Fort Belvoir, Va., after it crashed at the Breton Bay Golf and Country Club after Monday, April 17, 2017, in Leonardtown, Md. (Rebecca Updegrave Cline via AP)

1 killed after Blackhawk crashes at Maryland golf course

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed on a golf course in Leonardtown, Maryland, during a routine training exercise Monday, killing one crew member and injuring two others, according to the US Army Military District of Washington.
INDIAN SPRINGS, NV - SEPTEMBER 14: An F-16C Fighting Falcon flies by during a U.S. Air Force firepower demonstration at the Nevada Test and Training Range September 14, 2007 near Indian Springs, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Waiting on more F-35s, Air Force extends F-16's life

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The US Air Force has decided to extend the service life of its F-16 fighter jet from 8,000 to 12,000 flight hours, a move that will keep the multi-role combat aircraft in the skies beyond 2040 and help fill the service's short-term need for more aircraft.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 9, 2017) A T-45C Goshawk assigned to Carrier Training Wing (CTW) 1 prepares to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike). Ike is currently conducting aircraft carrier qualifications during the sustainment phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Zach Sleeper)

Navy puts 'safety pause' on trainer jet fleet

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
The US Navy has implemented a "safety pause" for its fleet of T-45 training jets, according to a US official, a move that comes just days after more than 100 instructional pilots refused to fly in protest of continuing issues with the aircraft's oxygen system.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 9, 2017) A T-45C Goshawk assigned to Carrier Training Wing (CTW) 1 prepares to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike). Ike is currently conducting aircraft carrier qualifications during the sustainment phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Zach Sleeper)

Navy puts 'safety pause' on trainer jet fleet

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
The US Navy has implemented a "safety pause" for its fleet of T-45 training jets, according to a US official, a move that comes just days after more than 100 instructional pilots refused to fly in protest of continuing issues with the aircraft's oxygen system.

US F-16 crashes near Joint Base Andrews

By Jamie Crawford and Zachary Cohen, CNN
A US F-16 crashed several miles outside Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday, two Air Force officials told CNN.
170312-N-BL637-010 SEA OF JAPAN (March 12, 2017) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Blue Blasters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 takes off from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The ship and its carrier strike group are on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of U.S. 3rd Fleet. U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific regularly and routinely for more than 70 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean M. Castellano/Released)

Navy fighter jets depriving pilots of oxygen

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
An increasing number of F/A-18 fighter jet pilots are suffering from potentially dangerous oxygen deprivation during flight, a safety issue that is raising new questions around the future of the US Navy's aging air fleet.

Navy vet pardoned in 20-year rape case

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
US Navy veteran Eric Wilson thought he was finished paying the price for a crime he did not commit when he was finally released in 2005 after spending nearly eight years in prison. But instead of finding freedom on the outside, he has lived the last dozen years in the shadow of his time behind bars, still branded a sex offender.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 01: National Security Adviser Michael Flynn answers questions in the briefing room of the White House February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Flynn said the White House is "officially putting Iran on notice" for a recent missile test and support for Houthi rebels in Yemen. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Lawmakers demand information on Flynn's Russia ties

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Republicans and Democrats are demanding more information about connections between President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn and several foreign entities -- including the Kremlin-backed media outlet RT.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 01: National Security Adviser Michael Flynn answers questions in the briefing room of the White House February 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. Flynn said the White House is "officially putting Iran on notice" for a recent missile test and support for Houthi rebels in Yemen. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Lawmakers demand information on Flynn's Russia ties

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Republicans and Democrats are demanding more information about connections between President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn and several foreign entities -- including the Kremlin-backed media outlet RT.

Timeline: What we know about the Trump campaign, his administration and Russia

By Marshall Cohen
FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Intelligence Committee Monday, publicly confirming for the first time that the bureau is investigating the relationship between President Donald Trump's advisers and Russia to see if those ties played a role in Moscow's efforts to interfere with the 2016 US election.
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - FEBRUARY 17: U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a crowd during the debut event for the Dreamliner 787-10 at Boeing's South Carolina facilities on February 17, 2017 in North Charleston, South Carolina. The airplane begins flight testing later this year and will be delivered to airline customers starting in 2018. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Trump taps Boeing exec for top Pentagon post

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
President Donald Trump has nominated top Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan to fill the second-highest civilian post at the Pentagon, the White House announced Thursday.
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - MARCH 25: (CHINA OUT, SOUTH KOREA OUT) In this aerial image, the Izumo helicopter carrier awaits its official launch at a port on March 25, 2015 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The Maritime Self-Defense Force officially commissioned the largest ship in its fleet, a massive destroyer that gives it the capability of detecting highly advanced Chinese submarines. The Izumo measures 248 meters in length, has five landing spots on its flight deck for reconnaissance helicopters that can locate submarines. It can carry up to nine helicopters at a time, five more than the Hyuga. The Izumo joined the MSDF's Escort Flotilla 1, which is based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)

Japan's largest warship to train with US Navy

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Japan's largest warship will set sail this summer to train with naval ships from the United States and India as part of the annual "Malabar" joint exercise, a Pentagon official told CNN on Monday.

White House demands deep cuts to State, UN funds

By Elise Labott and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The White House has instructed the State Department and the US mission to the United Nations to cut their budgets for UN programs nearly in half, including US peacekeeping and development assistance, two senior US officials told CNN on Monday.
The Navy's Official Seal

Former US Navy admiral among 9 charged in 'Fat Leonard' scandal

By Zachary Cohen, Jessica Schneider and Laura Jarrett, CNN
A grand jury has returned a sweeping indictment against nine active and retired US Navy members, including a rear admiral and a retired Marine colonel, in the so-called "Fat Leonard" bribery scandal.
israel f35 delivery lee pkg_00002119.jpg

After Trump attack, Lockheed Martin slashes F-35 cost

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Defense giant Lockheed Martin has agreed to sell 90 new F-35 fighter jets to the US Defense Department for $8.5 billion -- a deal that amounts to more than $700 million in savings over the last batch of aircraft delivered.
general joseph votel

Report: Centcom leaders didn't cook ISIS intelligence

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The Pentagon's Inspector General has cleared several senior leaders of US Central Command after investigating claims that they falsified intelligence reports on the anti-ISIS campaign to paint a rosier assessment of progress than was warranted.
A Qadr ballistic missile is launched in northern Iran on March 9, 2016.

US rips 'irresponsible' Iran after missile test

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
US officials sharply condemned Iran on Tuesday as "provocative" and "irresponsible" after it conducted its first missile test since President Donald Trump took office.
Former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 11, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Secretary of State Tillerson nomination advances to Senate

By Zachary Cohen, Zachary Cohen
The Senate voted 56-43 on Monday to end a Democratic filibuster of President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, allowing a final confirmation vote for the former ExxonMobil CEO to take place this week.
Former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 11, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

GOP blocks Schumer moves to rescind Trump travel ban

By Ted Barrett and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Senate Republicans blocked two moves by Democrats Monday to try to reverse President Donald Trump's controversial executive order restricting travel to the United States by Muslims and refugees.
151006-N-KK394-141 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 6, 2015) An F-35C Lightning II carrier variant joint strike fighter assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 prepares for take-off aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The F-35C Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force is conducting follow-on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anderson W. Branch)

Pentagon orders Air Force One, F-35 reviews

By Zachary Cohen, Zachary Cohen
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has directed Pentagon reviews of the $400 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and the new Air Force One being ordered, according to a Pentagon statement Friday.
Fort Carson, Colorado.

US sends troops to Germany, message to Putin

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Four thousand US soldiers have arrived in Germany as part of permanent troop rotations to Europe that the Pentagon said are meant to send a clear message to one country in particular: Russia.
U.S. Navy Bosun's mate, Ben Hansen and his wife Jessica, of Edmore Mich., are photographed in front of the Navy's newest nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford for the christening of the ship at the Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. Former President Ford's daughter Susan Ford Bales will christen the ship.

Report: Pentagon should scrap $40 billion aircraft carrier program

By Zachary Cohen
With an aging air fleet and a shrinking Navy working overtime around the globe, US military officials say the world's most powerful fighting force is at an "inflection point" and needs a serious makeover if it wants to maintain that status now and into the future.
F-15C Eagles from the 67th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, fly participate in bilateral training with other U.S. forces and the Japan Air Self Defense Force Feb 25, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez)

Air Force investing $12B in F-15s

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
A $12 billion makeover is underway for the US Air Force's 1980's-era F-15 fighter, a step towards upgrading an air fleet that one military official recently called the "smallest, oldest and least ready" in history.
151006-N-KK394-141 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 6, 2015) An F-35C Lightning II carrier variant joint strike fighter assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 prepares for take-off aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The F-35C Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force is conducting follow-on sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anderson W. Branch)

$400B fighter jet ripped by weapons tester

By Zachary Cohen
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is drawing sharp criticism from the Pentagon's top weapons tester, who warns the aircraft is "on a path of failing to deliver" its full combat capability.

U.S. Navy's new $13B aircraft carrier can't fight

By Zachary Cohen
The $13-billion USS Gerald R. Ford is already two years behind schedule, and the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier is facing more delays after the Pentagon's top weapons tester concluded the ship is still not ready for combat despite expectations it would be delivered to the fleet this September.
B-21 artist rendering

New stealth bomber's cost is under the radar

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Secrecy is the linchpin of a stealth aircraft's ability to carry out strikes deep within enemy territory, but when it comes to the tax dollars that are going to be spent on the U.S. Air Force's new B-21 bomber, some members of Congress say it is time pull the curtain back.

Pentagon ends transgender ban

By Jennifer Rizzo and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The Pentagon said Thursday it was ending the ban on transgender people being able to serve openly in the U.S. military.
The KC-46A Pegasus deploys the centerline boom for the first time Oct. 9, 2015. The boom is the fastest way to refuel aircraft at 1,200 gallons per minute. (Boeing photo/John D. Parker)

$40B Air Force tanker program delayed

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The U.S. Air Force is going to have to wait six months longer than expected to receive its first batch of KC-46 aerial refueling tankers, another delay for the $40 billion program that is already behind schedule and more than $1 billion over budget.
south china seas disputed island ivan watson pkg_00015514.jpg

Is China weaponizing islands?

By Zachary Cohen
Satellite photos show China has been rapidly building military outposts on disputed islands in the South China Sea, significantly boosting its presence in the already tense region, according to a Pentagon report released Friday.
Syrian troops monitor the surrounding area from their location on the outskirts of Palmyra on March 24.

ISIS terrorizes Europe but loses ground at home

By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
ISIS might have pulled off a string of terrorist attacks across Europe in recent months, but on its home turf in Iraq and Syria it has suffered one setback after another.
The U.S. is considering deploying aircraft and ships to contest Chinese claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said Wednesday, May 13, 2015. The USS Fort Worth conducts patrols in the South China Sea as the Chinese frigate Yancheng trails it. Spec 2nd Class Conor Minto/US Navy

4-year-old Navy ship needs $23M in repairs

By Brad Lendon and Zachary Cohen, CNN
A repair bill of an estimated $23 million and months out of action. That's the cost to U.S. taxpayers and the Navy after the four-year-old littoral combat ship USS Forth Worth tried to operate its propulsion system without enough oil in January.
A flight of F-15C Eagles from the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, flies during a solar eclipse July 22 over the island of Okinawa. The eclipse was a rare opportunity for servicemembers here to witness this rare event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chad Warren)

U.S. F-15s deployed to Iceland

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Demonstrating its commitment to a "free" and "secure" Europe, the United States deployed 12 F-15C Eagles and approximately 350 airmen to Iceland and the Netherlands on Friday, the Air Force announced.
1990's -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II, from the 52nd Fighter Wing, 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in flight during a NATO Operation Allied Force combat mission. The "Warthogs," deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, are specially designed for close air support of ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Greg L. Davis)

Remembering the father of the A-10 Warthog

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The unmistakable roar of the A-10's powerful engines echoed throughout Arlington National Cemetery this month as four aircraft saluted retired Col. Avery Kay for the last time with a rare flyover of the historic burial site.
US troops stand guard near a US F-22 stealth fighter at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on Wednesday.

Who really invented stealth technology?

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Decades after the U.S. Air Force unveiled one if its first stealth combat planes, the B-2 bomber, lawyers are still arguing over the origins and legal ownership of the technology that allows pilots to fly virtually undetected by enemy radar.
160219-N-UK306-011 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2016) Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) transits Naval Station Mayport Harbor on its way into port for a maintenance period. While in Mayport, it will take on equipment for underway testing this spring, before eventually arriving in its San Diego homeport. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Schumaker/Released)

Damaged clutch shut down new Navy warship

By Brad Lendon and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Imagine you just got that brand-new top-of-the-line sports car and you take it out for that first road trip and -- you blow the clutch.
An F-15E Strike Eagle flies a combat patrol mission over Afghanistan recently. The F-15E is from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)

U.S. Air Force to send F-15 jets to Finland

By Brad Lendon and Zachary Cohen, CNN
The U.S. Air Force will send six F-15s to Finland this spring for exercises that will operate out of a base about 100 miles from the border with Russia, military officials say.
A United States Air Force decal is seen on the hearse during the funeral for retired Air Force Lt. Col. Eldridge Williams at the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church on July 21, 2015 in Miami, Florida.

Nuclear missile 'mishap' costs Air Force $1.8M

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Three U.S. Air Force airmen have been stripped of their nuclear certifications after a "mishap" caused approximately $1.8 million in damage to an intercontinental ballistic missile on May 16, 2014, officials said Friday.
Obama speaks with King Salman bin Abd alAziz of Saudi Arabia during their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on September 4, 2015.

Saudi anti-terror coalition challenges U.S. role in Middle East

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
Voices across the U.S. political spectrum have been urging Arab nations to do more in the fight against ISIS, and Saudi Arabia seemed to answer the call when it announced the creation of a 34-nation coalition to combat the "disease" of Islamic extremism.

Amnesty report: ISIS armed with U.S. weapons

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
A new report from a prominent human rights group has found that ISIS has built a substantial arsenal, including U.S.-made weapons obtained from the Iraqi army and Syrian opposition groups.
151023-N-AD372-027 BUSAN, Republic of Korea, (Oct. 23, 2015) Sailors aboard the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), man the rails while participating in the Republic of Korea Navy's Fleet Review. The fleet review celebrated the 70th anniversary of the ROK Navy and served as a symbol of the enduring U.S. and ROK alliance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Abraham Essenmacher/Released)

Report: U.S. aircraft carriers could become ineffective

By Zachary Cohen
Calling the U.S. aircraft carrier the "backbone" of America's global military presence, the Navy's top brass highlighted the risks of failing to maintain a big enough fleet during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee Tuesday.
us special operations troops syria starr dnt lead _00011223.jpg

Can 50 U.S. troops in Syria make a difference?

By Zachary Cohen
When President Barack Obama dramatically shifted his Syria policy last week and announced he would station Special Operations forces in the war-plagued country, Republicans were quick to criticize the move.
150526-N-BQ308-152 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2015) Vice Adm. William Hilrides, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, holds up two fingers to indicate to the F-35B Lightning II pilot to power up for takeoff aboard the amphibious assault ship the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp, with Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 and VMFAT-501 embarked, is underway conducting the first phase of operational testing for the F-35B aircraft, which will evaluate the full spectrum of F-35B measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist William Tonacchio/Released)

F-35 tests fell short, Pentagon report says

By Zachary Cohen
After nearly 15 years of schedule delays and highly criticized cost increases, U.S. military officials and defense contractors confidently proclaimed the much maligned Joint Strike Fighter program back on track when the Marine Corps declared its version of the F-35 fighter jet combat-ready last month.
Photo illustration of the U.S. Navy Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy

Size matters: Is the U.S. Navy really too small?

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
For decades, the United States has had the world's largest and most advanced naval fleet, positioning ships and aircraft carriers in strategic locations across the globe to protect national interests and facilitate free trade.
An F-22 Raptor from the Hawaii Air National Guard 199th Fighter Squadron increases altitude shortly after takeoff at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 6, 2015. F-22 pilots from the 199th FS and 19th FS teamed up with maintenance Airmen from the 154th Wing and 15th Maintenance Group to launch and recover 62 Raptors that day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich)

F-22 Raptor grounded by 20,000 bees

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
The US Air Force's F-22 Raptor may be the most advanced fighter jet in the world but even with $143 million-worth of stealth and supersonic capabilities, it proved to be no match for one unlikely adversary --- a huge swarm of honey bees.
Two F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters complete vertical landings aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during the opening day of the first session of operational testing. As the future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B will eventually replace all aircraft from three legacy Marine Corps platforms; the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released)

F-35 set to make its debut

By Zachary Cohen
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is set to make its debut and one of the nation's top Marines says if recent tests are any indication, things won't go well for the "bad guys."

Navy destroyer damaged by test missile explosion

Zachary Cohen and Barbara Starr, CNN
A missile exploded shortly after it was launched from a U.S. Navy destroyer during a planned test exercise last week off the coast of Virginia, the Navy confirmed to CNN Thursday.
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Obama commutes eight drug offenders' sentences, why not others?

Zachary Cohen and Wesley Bruer, CNN
The Obama administration has consistently supported measures aimed at reforming mandatory minimum prison sentencing for nonviolent drug offenders. But President Barack Obama's recent decision to commute the prison sentences of only eight federal inmates -- incarcerated for drug crimes -- has left advocates wanting more.
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Can squid help make soldiers invisible?

By Azadeh Ansari and Zachary Cohen, CNN
One of the world's oldest organism groups, cephalopods, like squid, octopus and cuttlefish, have survived in Earth's oceans for millions of years.
DoD photo by Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald, U.S. Air Force. (Released) A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon heads out to the combat ranges of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for airpower training exercise Red Flag 06-1, on Jan. 30, 2006. Conducted by the 414th Combat Training Squadron, Red Flag exercises test aircrews' war-fighting skills in realistic combat situations and involve units of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, as well as units of the United Kingdom and Australia. This Fighting Falcon is attached to the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

Is U.S. Air Force superiority under threat?

By Zachary Cohen, CNN
As U.S. Air Force fighter jets and bombers carry out airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Air Force officials are waging a campaign of their own on Capitol Hill.

  • Failure to report Texas gunman's record reflects systemic problem, sources say

    By Zachary Cohen and Curt Devine, CNN
    The US Air Force's failure to properly document Texas gunman Devin Kelley's 2012 court martial conviction for assault on his wife and their child in a federal database used for firearm sale background checks reflects a systemic problem with the Department of Defense's system for sharing critical case information with the FBI, several former FBI and military agents told CNN.
  • This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 29, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) inspecting the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. / (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

    North Korea defector says information more dangerous than US threats

    By Zachary Cohen, CNN
    At the age of just four years old, children in North Korea bow before giant portraits depicting the three supreme leaders of the Kim dynasty -- a ritualistic display of obedience that embodies Kim Jong Un's strategy to maintain his unquestioned grip on power, a former North Korean diplomat told US lawmakers on Wednesday.
  • A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), S.D., take off from Andersen AFB, Guam to fly sequenced bilateral missions with two Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15s and two Republic of Korea air force (ROKAF) F-15Ks in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan, Oct. 10, 2017. This mission marks the first time U.S. Pacific Command B-1B Lancers have conducted combined training with JASDF and ROKAF fighters at night, demonstrating our increasing combined capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob Skovo )

    N. Korea accuses US of 'nuclear strike drill' after bomber flights

    By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
    US Air Force B-1 bombers, accompanied by fighter jets from South Korea and Japan, conducted a flyover near the Korean peninsula on Thursday, according to a statement from the US Air Force -- a move that has drawn harsh criticism from North Korea ahead of President Donald Trump's trip to the region.
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    Lawmakers scrap 'Space Corps' proposal

    By Zachary Cohen, CNN
    Congressional negotiators have rejected the House's plan to create a new "Space Corps" -- omitting the proposal for a new military branch under the umbrella of the Air Force from the final version of a nearly $700 billion bipartisan defense policy bill called the National Defense Authorization Act.
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    US forces capture second Benghazi suspect in Libya

    By Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN
    US forces captured Mustafa al-Imam in Libya for his alleged role in the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, the White House announced on Monday.

  • Air Force says $22M jet crash caused by assembly error

    By Zachary Cohen, CNN
    Investigators have concluded that a $22 million US Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed near Joint Base Andrews, Maryland earlier this year because its engine was improperly assembled and was missing key parts, the service announced Thursday.
  • Emergency personnel respond to a fatal shooting at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (KSAT via AP)

    Air Force failed to relay info that could have stopped firearm sale to gunman

    By Zachary Cohen and Ryan Browne, CNN
    How a man who was discharged from the US Air Force for assaulting his spouse and child was able to purchase the firearms he used to carry out the deadliest shooting rampage in Texas history is just one of many questions facing investigators as they continue to look for answers on Sunday's church massacre that left 26 people dead.

About 

  • Zachary Cohen is a CNN Politics breaking news reporter, covering topics ranging from defense to national security.

    Cohen began his career with CNN as a video journalist, quickly moving to a video producer for CNN Digital. He curated, edited and produced content for the CNN homepage, as well as shot, edited and produced original video content targeted directly to the digital audience.

    Cohen graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Journalism.