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Elbridge Colby clears hurdle, moves to final vote to become Pentagon’s top policy strategist
The Senate voted Monday to invoke cloture on Elbridge Colby’s nomination, moving the national security strategist one step closer to confirmation as undersecretary of defense for policy, the Pentagon’s No. 3 post.
The procedural vote, which limits debate and tees up a final confirmation vote, passed by a margin of 53 to 49. Colby’s nomination advanced out of the Armed Services Committee last month, overcoming skepticism from hawkish Republicans like Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., during a closed-door vote.
Three Democrats broke with their party and voted in favor of Colby: Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Jack Reed, R.I., the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.
The Senate voted on cloture for Elbridge Colby, under secretary of defense for policy nominee for US President Donald Trump (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Colby, a co-founder of the Marathon Initiative and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development under the Trump administration, is best known for his role in authoring the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which reoriented long-term military strategy toward a great power competition with China.
He has long argued the U.S. military needs to limit its resources in the Middle East in a pivot to the Indo-Pacific region.
Colby has scored staunch backing from a number of figures in Trump world, increasing the pressure on GOP skeptics to get on board with his nomination.
VANCE VISITS CAPITOL HILL TO URGE SENATORS TO CONFIRM ELBRIDGE COLBY FOR PENTAGON NO. 3 POST
US Vice President JD Vance went to Capitol Hill to urge senators to vote for Colby (Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Vice President J.D. Vance paid a visit to Capitol Hill last month to offer support for his «friend» Colby.
«In so many ways, Bridge predicted what we would be talking about four years down the road, five years down the road, 10 years down the road. He saw around corners that very few other people were seeing around,» Vance said at the time.
«If you look at his long career in defense policy, he has said things that, you know, frankly, alienated Democrats and Republicans. He’s also said things that I think both Democrats and Republicans would agree with.»
During the hearing, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., questioned Colby on his previously stated position, «America has a strong interest in defending Taiwan, but Americans can survive without it.»
«Your views on Taiwan’s importance to the United States seems to have softened considerably,» Wicker told Colby.
Colby disputed that point, arguing he had been sounding the alarm that the U.S.’ «military balance has declined» in relation to China.
DISPUTED DOD NOMINEE IS ‘BEST PERSON’ TO IMPLEMENT TRUMP AND HEGSETH AGENDA, KEY CONSERVATIVE GROUP SAYS
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., right, was at first skeptical of Colby’s nomination (Getty Images)
«What I have been trying to shoot a signal flare over is that it is vital for us to focus and enable our own forces for an effective and reasonable defense of Taiwan and for the Taiwanese, as well as the Japanese, to do more,» said Colby.
When pressed by Cotton during the hearing, Colby said he believes Iran to be an «existential» threat to the U.S.
«Yes, a nuclear-armed Iran – especially, Senator, given that … we know they’ve worked on ICBM-range capabilities and other capabilities that would pose an existential danger to the United States,» Colby said.
He promised to provide «credible good military options» to the president if diplomacy with Iran fails.
It was a different tune than he’d sung in years past.
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«The only thing worse than the prospect of an Iran armed with nuclear weapons would be consequences of using force to try to stop them,» Colby had said in 2012.
«I would say a lot of what I was arguing against at the time, these conversations 15 years ago, a lot of the opponents I felt had a casual or in some cases even flippant attitude towards the employment of military force,» Colby said. «That’s a lot of what I was arguing against. Was my wording always appropriate, was my precise framing always appropriate? No.»
Pentagon,U.S. Defense & Military Politics,Secretary of Defense,Senate,Politics
INTERNACIONAL
El “Codex Gigas”, la misteriosa ‘Biblia del Diablo’, sigue desatando leyendas y asombro
La leyenda que rodea al Codex Gigas ha alimentado durante siglos la fascinación por este manuscrito medieval, conocido popularmente como la “Biblia del Diablo”. Su fama no solo se debe a su imponente tamaño, sino también a las historias sobrenaturales y enigmas históricos que lo acompañan.
Entre los relatos más célebres destaca el de un monje de la localidad checa de Podlažice, quien, tras ser condenado a una forma de ejecución que implicaba ser sellado de por vida en un espacio reducido, habría intentado salvarse comprometiéndose a escribir el libro más grande jamás creado en una sola noche. Ante la imposibilidad de cumplir semejante tarea, según la leyenda, el monje habría invocado al Diablo, obteniendo así su ayuda a cambio de su alma.
El Codex Gigas, cuyo nombre en latín significa “gran libro”, sobresale entre los manuscritos medievales que han llegado hasta la actualidad. Con unas dimensiones aproximadas de 91 por 51 centímetros y un peso de 75 kilogramos, este volumen monumental está compuesto por 310 hojas de pergamino, elaboradas a partir de piel de ternera y asno, lo que habría requerido sacrificar más de 160 animales para su confección.
A diferencia de la mayoría de los manuscritos iluminados de la Edad Media, el Codex Gigas reúne en un solo tomo una variedad de textos independientes. Además de contener el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento, incluye copias manuscritas de obras históricas y científicas del historiador judío Flavio Josefo y del teólogo católico Isidoro de Sevilla. También incorpora una temprana historia de Bohemia, escrita por Cosmas de Praga, así como listas de conjuros y hechizos, un manual médico del siglo XII, un calendario y resúmenes de los alfabetos griego, hebreo y eslavo.
El elemento más célebre del Codex Gigas, y el que le ha valido el apodo de “Biblia del Diablo”, es una ilustración a página completa de una figura demoníaca, representada con cuernos, garras, lengua bífida y grandes ojos blancos.
Esta imagen inquietante, situada entre un texto sobre la penitencia y otro sobre exorcismos, se enfrenta a una página que muestra una ilustración igualmente grande de la Ciudad Celestial, lo que podría simbolizar las dos caras del más allá cristiano. La ilustración demoníaca ha sido objeto de numerosas interpretaciones y es uno de los motivos principales de la fama del manuscrito.
La historia documentada del Codex Gigas resulta tan enigmática como el significado de sus ilustraciones. Los especialistas descartan la posibilidad de que el manuscrito haya sido escrito en una sola noche, como sugiere la leyenda.
En cambio, consideran que fue elaborado entre los años 1204 y 1230, probablemente por una sola persona. Aunque no se puede afirmar con certeza que se produjera en Podlažice, una nota en la primera página identifica al monasterio de esa localidad como su primer propietario conocido. La misma anotación indica que en 1295 el códice fue entregado a otro monasterio, y ese mismo año fue adquirido por una nueva orden religiosa.
A partir de ese momento, la trayectoria del Codex Gigas a lo largo de los siglos puede reconstruirse solo de manera fragmentaria. En 1594, el manuscrito pasó a manos de Rodolfo II, emperador del Sacro Imperio Romano Germánico y reconocido aficionado a lo oculto. Tras ser trasladado a Praga, el códice fue llevado a Estocolmo después de que el ejército sueco obtuviera una victoria estratégica durante la Guerra de los Treinta Años.
Actualmente, el Codex Gigas se conserva en la Biblioteca Nacional de Suecia, donde sigue siendo objeto de leyendas locales. Un texto sueco publicado en 1858 relata la historia de un guardia que, tras quedarse dormido en el salón principal de la biblioteca, despertó y vio el códice flotando en el aire, liderando a otros libros en una especie de danza paranormal. Según la narración, “el guardia quedó y permaneció débil de mente desde ese día y tuvo que ser internado en el manicomio”.
Otra anécdota recurrente involucra al célebre dramaturgo y novelista sueco August Strindberg. De acuerdo con el testimonio de un amigo y colega escritor, Strindberg, quien trabajó en la biblioteca y compartía el interés de Rodolfo II por lo oculto, solía colarse en el edificio por las noches, encendía una cerilla y leía la Biblia del Diablo con la esperanza de entrar en contacto con el inframundo.
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Score another victory for President Donald Trump in the high-stakes political battle between Republicans and Democrats over congressional redistricting.
GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe of Missouri on Sunday signed into law a new congressional map, Missouri First, that is likely to hand Republicans an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of next year’s midterms elections.
Missouri, once considered a swing state that has dramatically shifted to the right over the past decade and a half, is the latest battleground in the congressional redistricting showdown after the passage of new maps in GOP-dominated Texas and a redistricting push by Democrats in heavily blue California.
«I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election,» Kehoe said in a statement. «We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in getting this map to my desk.»
TRUMP-BACKED REDISTRICTING PUSH TURNS MIDWESTERN STATE INTO NEXT POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe of Missouri, applauds while delivering the State of the State address Jan. 28, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Trump, in a social media statement following passage in the GOP-dominated state legislature, called the new map «FANTASTIC» and said it «will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress in the 2026 Midterm Elections.»
The new map targets longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-area district by shifting it eastward to include rural right-leaning voters. The new map would likely flip Cleaver’s seat and give Republicans a 7-1 advantage in the state’s House delegation.
Cleaver has vowed to take legal action if the new map is signed into law by the governor.
«I want to warn all of us that if you fight fire with fire long enough, all you’re going to have left is ashes,» Cleaver said earlier this month as he testified in front of a Missouri Senate committee.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver waits to speak against a proposed congressional redistricting plan at a state Senate committee hearing Friday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)
And pointing to recent public opinion polling, he called the redistricting plan «immensely unpopular.»
And Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune accused Republicans of pushing to «rig our maps and eliminate our representation in Congress.»
ABBOTT CLEARS FINAL REDISTRICTING HURDLE AS TEXAS SENATE PASSES NEW TRUMP-APPROVED MAP
Kehoe’s announcement teeing up the special session came hours after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed into law a redistricting bill passed by the Republican supermajority in the state legislature that aims to create up to five right-leaning congressional districts at the expense of current Democrat-controlled seats in the reliably red state.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, seen being interviewed by Fox News Digital, recently signed into law a bill that redraws the Lone Star State’s congressional districts. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News )
The efforts in Missouri and Texas are part of a broad effort by the GOP to pad its razor-thin House majority to keep control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats.
Trump and his political team are aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House, when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterm elections.
Democrats are fighting back against the rare, but not unheard-of mid-decade redistricting.
State lawmakers in heavily blue California have approved a special ballot proposition this November to obtain voter approval to temporarily sidetrack the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission and return the power to draw the congressional maps to the Democrat-dominated legislature.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California speaks during a congressional redistricting event Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP)
The effort in California, which aims to create five more Democratic-leaning congressional districts and counter the shift in Texas, is being spearheaded by two-term Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is seen as a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender.
With Democrats currently needing just a three-seat pickup in next year’s midterms to win back the House majority, Republicans in Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas and Nebraska are mulling their own GOP-friendly redistricting plans ahead of the 2026 elections. And right-leaning Ohio is under a court order to draw new maps ahead of the midterms.
Democrats, as they push back, are looking to New York, Illinois and Maryland in the hopes of creating more left-leaning congressional seats.
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In Illinois and Maryland, where governors J.B. Pritzker and Wes Moore are discussing redistricting, Democrats hope to pick up to three more left-leaning seats.
And Democrats could pick up a seat in Republican-dominated Utah, where a judge recently ordered the GOP-controlled legislature to draw new maps after ruling that lawmakers four years ago ignored an independent commission approved by voters to prevent partisan gerrymandering.
donald trump,missouri,elections,midterm elections,republicans elections,democratic party,politics
INTERNACIONAL
Rusia lanzó una andanada de misiles y drones sobre Ucrania y dejó al menos cuatro muertos en Kiev
«Guerra contra los civiles»
Rescatistas trabajan entre los escombros tras un ataque ruso contra una zona residencial en Kiev. Foto EFEGuerra Rusia-Ucrania,Ucrania,Rusia,Volodímir Zelenski
El empático gesto de Lamine Yamal con la hinchada del Barcelona tras ganar el Trofeo Kopa
La nueva decisión de los médicos con Thiago Medina: «Le sacan la respiración asistida porque…»
El “Codex Gigas”, la misteriosa ‘Biblia del Diablo’, sigue desatando leyendas y asombro
Javier Milei retomó el contacto directo con Mauricio Macri para reforzar la gobernabilidad y encarar el tramo final de la campaña
Volatilidad cambiaria: los supermercados del interior advierten que reciben listas con aumentos de precios de hasta 7%
Debutó la tarjeta verde en el Mundial Sub 20: quién fue el primer DT en utilizar el nuevo sistema de videoarbitraje que reemplaza al VAR
Mario Massaccesi confesó toda la verdad detrás de su fuerte pelea con Paula Bernini
Flor Jazmín Peña reveló la profunda crisis que tuvo por culpa de Nico Occhiato
Mirtha Legrand bloqueó a una famosa periodista en WhatsApp y ella está desesperada para que le vuelva a hablar
Patricia Bullrich: “Kicillof tiene que hacerse cargo del problema enorme de inseguridad que tiene la provincia de Buenos Aires”
CHIMENTOS2 días agoMario Massaccesi confesó toda la verdad detrás de su fuerte pelea con Paula Bernini
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
Flor Jazmín Peña reveló la profunda crisis que tuvo por culpa de Nico Occhiato
CHIMENTOS2 días agoMirtha Legrand bloqueó a una famosa periodista en WhatsApp y ella está desesperada para que le vuelva a hablar
