Carrier Crisis, Trump's Name Restored
USS George Washington deploys to Mideast; Kennedy Center restores Trump's name, plans renovations.
The USS George Washington, a Pacific-based aircraft carrier, is heading toward the Middle East as concerns mount over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to AP News. The Lincoln has been at sea for more than 240 days — a record-setting deployment — while supporting U.S. military operations against Iran.
Several Democratic lawmakers are now pressing the Pentagon for answers about mental health and supply problems on the Lincoln, AP News reports. The ship's crew has faced shortages and stress after an unusually long stretch at sea.
USS Lincoln's Record Deployment Triggers Crew Concerns
The USS Abraham Lincoln has spent more than 240 days at sea — the longest deployment of any U.S. carrier in recent memory, according to AP News. That record came while the ship supported American military operations against Iran. Crew members have reportedly dealt with mental health struggles and supply shortages during the extended mission.
Democratic lawmakers are demanding that the Pentagon explain the conditions aboard the Lincoln, Hastings Tribune reported. Lawmakers want accountability for how sailors were treated during the long deployment. The push adds political pressure on military leaders to address crew welfare on future long-haul missions.
USS George Washington Dispatched to Fill Mideast Gap
The Pentagon is sending the USS George Washington to the Middle East to take over from the exhausted Lincoln, according to Daily Advance. The George Washington is normally based in the Pacific. Its redeployment to the Middle East signals how stretched U.S. carrier forces have become during the conflict with Iran.
Keeping a carrier in the region is a key part of U.S. strategy. Carriers give the military the ability to launch strikes and show force without needing bases on foreign soil. Swapping one ship for another keeps that pressure in place while giving the Lincoln's crew a long-needed break.
Kennedy Center to Close Two Years, Add Trump's Name
The Kennedy Center's board voted to restore President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade, AP News reported. A plaza in front of the venue would also be named after Trump. A federal judge had previously blocked the name change, saying it was added illegally — but the board moved forward anyway, directly challenging that order.
The venue will close for roughly two years to allow for major renovations. Most of the building's spaces will be shut during that time. The closure and renaming mark a sweeping shift at one of the country's most prominent arts institutions since Trump's allies took over its leadership.
No, Alaska Research Did Not Cause Colombia's Earthquake
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia recently, and a false conspiracy theory quickly spread online claiming a U.S. research program in Alaska caused it, according to AP News. The theory pointed at HAARP, a radio wave research facility. Experts say that claim is completely false.
Scientists say the earthquake was caused by natural movement of tectonic plates — the giant slabs of rock that make up Earth's crust. HAARP cannot trigger earthquakes. This particular conspiracy theory has circulated for years and gets recycled every time a major quake hits, experts note.
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