Botched execution exposes lethal injection’s unresolved failures

The brief

Tennessee halted executions after Christa Pike survived a failed lethal injection. Legal scholar Deborah Denno examines Pike’s condition, possible next steps and why execution protocols remain medically and legally vulnerable.

An alleged attempt by a co-pilot to attack a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel raises a different institutional-risk question: how much security can protect passengers from threats inside the cockpit?

Peter Feaver assesses Pete Hegseth’s proposed military overhaul, including reduced general ranks, a stronger warrior ethos, autonomous warfare command and the congressional support needed to implement it.

Sharon Weinberger traces Silicon Valley’s growing role in defense, from SpaceX and Palantir to private funding and political access, while questioning whether faster innovation necessarily makes the country safer.

The closing political discussion weighs possible Democratic gains, Republican bigotry, the Paxton question and election-administration threats against the resilience of American democracy.