Has the proliferation of open-source software, or OSS, opened up security vulnerabilities for the U.S.? A new report from strategic intelligence company Strider warns that the widespread adoption of OSS has outpaced the development of relevant cybersecurity measures, allowing well-trained “advanced persistent threat groups” to insert malicious code into widely used software.

The full study is available here, but one of the big takeaways is that the philosophy of OSS — that is, publicly sourced code available and licensed for use by any party — has allowed state-affiliated actors from Russia, China and North Korea to distribute malicious code. 

Other studies have shown that more than 90% of modern applications contain open-source code and a large portion of commercial code bases incorporate some OSS. 

There’s no doubt that drones play a central role in modern warfare. And the Trump administration views drone dominance as a central component of its broader military and national security strategy.

But is the U.S. focused too heavily on drones? Could the Pentagon make a mistake by shoving manned aircraft such as the F-35 fighter jet to the back burner?

Retired Air Force Gen. David Deptula, now the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, joined the Threat Status weekly podcast and unpacked that complex question. Specifically, Mr. Deptula pushed back on the suggestion from tech billionaire Elon Musk and others that manned aircraft will soon be a thing of the past as militaries across the planet, including America’s, move exclusively to drones. Mr. Deptula cited Israel’s use of the F-35 in its recent, highly successful air campaign against Iran as evidence that more traditional, inhabited fighter jets still play an irreplaceable role in modern military campaigns.

Mr. Trump says he intends to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week as part of his push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting. Mr. Trump also said he wants a three-way meeting with both Mr. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It’s part of the president’s last-ditch diplomatic push to end the war before imposing tough secondary tariffs on Russia’s oil industry. Those tariffs would have a significant impact on the countries that buy Russian oil, including China and India.

Mr. Trump’s announcement Wednesday of a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil would be imposed on top of the initial 25% tariffs on India’s exports to the U.S., which go into effect today.

The first step in a Chinese assault on Taiwan would be to cripple the American military through a space blackout. And the U.S. is dangerously vulnerable right now to such an attack.

Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, paints that grim picture in a new piece for The Washington Times. He says that, absent significant improvement, U.S. satellites could be silenced or shattered. Communications scrambled. Surveillance gaps exposed. Missile warning systems blinking red or not at all.

“Before the first American warship could respond, China would already be moving in,” Mr. Bruno writes.

His piece details five areas where the U.S. needs to focus to protect its assets in the increasingly vital and contested space domain.

U.S.-China competition in space is becoming an increasingly important piece of the broader, century-defining geopolitical competition between the two powers. And a key subplot is which nation makes it back to the moon.

Rep. Brian Babin, Texas Republican and chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, explores that issue in a new op-ed in The Times and argues that the moon is central to America’s national security strategy in space.

“Why does this matter so much? Because returning American astronauts to our closest celestial neighbor isn’t just symbolic — it’s strategic,” he writes. “The moon offers critical resources such as water ice and minerals, and it’s the perfect proving ground for systems before we take the next giant leap to Mars.

“Let’s be clear: China’s space ambitions aren’t about science but power projection beyond Earth,” Mr. Babin says. “If the Chinese plant their flag first, they will set the rules of the road for the moon and beyond. Do we want the first lunar rule book coming from China instead of the United States?”

• Aug. 7 — 2025 Space & Missile Defense Symposium, SMD Symposium

• Aug. 11-13 — Ai4 2025: Artificial Intelligence Industry Event, Ai4

• Aug. 13 — The U.S. Space Force’s Jonathan Farrow on the U.S. Space Warfighting Framework, Atlantic Council

• Aug. 13 — In-Person Two-Day NetBrain Power User Training, NetBrain Technologies 

• Aug. 15 — Deterrence Dynamics in the Asia-Pacific: An Australian Perspective with Christine Leah, National Institute for Deterrence Studies

• Aug. 20 — The Future of U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Cooperation, Center for Strategic & International Studies

• Aug. 26 — The Future of Naval Aviation: A Conversation with Vice Adm. Daniel L. Cheever and Lt. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, Center for Strategic & International Studies