On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that Elon Musk's DOGE fed sensitive data into artificial intelligence software as a way to help decide which of the Department of Education's programs were wasteful, to try and slash its budget. President Donald Trump is expected to soon release an executive order that would reduce education spending as much as possible while recognizing that he cannot get rid of the department itself. That can only be done by an act of Congress--Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) recently reintroduced such a bill in the House. As I previously reported, the Department of Education plays a crucial role in making sure disabled kids receive the same access to education across states, and distributes funding for the needed accommodations.

An MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone flies in tests for the Royal Australian Air Force. WASHINGTON -- The US Air Force is set to begin flight experiments with Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a combat drone developed for the Australian air force that may help its American counterpart learn how to operate unmanned aircraft alongside fighter jets. Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote, who leads Air Force Futures, told Breaking Defense in a September 20 interview that the service is "getting ready to take delivery" of a drone prototype through the Pentagon's research and engineering office, also known as OSD (R&E). "It might look a lot like an Australian thing," he joked, referring to the Ghost Bat, which first flew in 2021 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Woomera. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cdr. Tim Gorman confirmed that the research and engineering office is involved in development and experimentation efforts involving Ghost Bat, saying that "OSD (R&E) continually works with the services to validate technologies that are key to advancing and fielding next generation capabilities."

SEOUL – The constant missile and nuclear threats from South Korea's belligerent northern neighbor have racked regional tensions sky-high, but they are a boon for the country's burgeoning defense industry. South Korea has been one of the world's largest importers of military equipment and technology for decades -- mostly from the U.S. -- but in recent years its domestic sector has grown rapidly. Arms exports have soared tenfold in a decade, from just $253 million in 2006 to $2.5 billion last year, according to government data. The country's missiles, howitzers, submarines and warplanes are especially popular in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. Once a largely agricultural backwater devastated by war, South Korea now has companies that have become world leaders in fields ranging from shipbuilding to smartphones, and its arms manufacturers are starting to follow suit.

In the 1950s, when America was hopeful and reckless conjecture was encouraged, prognosticators had some wild ideas about 21st century technology. A few came true, like robot companions. But one concept in particular has endured without quite being realized -- the flying car. Check those special "future" editions of old magazines and you'll find plenty of stalwart citizens commuting to work in hovering sedans, with tail fins. So where did the dream go wrong?

Airbus is one of more than a dozen companies actively developing flying cars. Airbus is one of more than a dozen companies actively developing flying cars. In the 1950s, when America was hopeful and reckless conjecture was encouraged, prognosticators had some wild ideas about 21st century technology. A few came true, like robot companions. The editors of Popular Mechanics gathered their predictions in the 2012 book: The Wonderful Future That Never Was.